Easy Christmas Holiday Tips
For Family Life

Easy Christmas holiday tips for organizing your family's holiday season.

Sure, turkey leftovers may still be lingering in your fridge. But there's no escaping the reality just about everywhere else in your home and beyond: It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. Ready or not.

Icicle lights have popped up on neighbors' rooftops seemingly overnight. Seasonal jingles and sentiments are suddenly everywhere.

It's enough to make even the most festive of souls feel Grinch-like. After all, merrymaking of the Christmas sort takes heaps of work - and time. Or does it?

As the holiday season approaches, I've put together a practical week-by-week guide. This guide is designed to help you manage all the holiday preparations before Santa's arrival, ensuring a stress-free and enjoyable holiday season.

This guide is a treasure trove of helpful holiday tips , each one designed to bring joy to you and your loved ones in the weeks ahead. It's a testament that holiday organization is not just possible, but can also be a source of joy and excitement.

Easy Christmas Holiday Tips by Week

Easy tips for organizing family life during the holidays.

Bring out the holiday decor!

Week One. (Nov. 29 - Dec. 5)

Easy Christmas holiday tips for making your home festive. Add a few holiday throw pillows; affix a strand or three of white lights, garland, or ornaments up and down the interior banister; get down that box of decorations, and you're on your way.

Rearrange the living room to make space for the tree. Then, make plans for the family to pick and decorate the tree. Together. Consider a celebratory dinner following the Christmas creation.

Plan to finish most of your Christmas shopping this week. This way, you'll have ample time to savor the holidays without the stress of last-minute shopping or inflated gift prices. Make the most of this special time with your loved ones.

Print your Christmas card list. Add, change, or delete addresses as needed. If you don't have those addresses on a computer labeling program, this is the year to set aside the time to do it.

Week Two. (Dec. 6 - 11)

Take the kids' holiday pictures if you'll include a photo with your family card this year. Have them developed. Make your copies onto photo paper using your home printer. Trim with pinking shears or create an unusual trim of your own.

Send cards. Create a place to display the cards you receive.

Make sure your party clothes are clean. If you can wash them, these luxury clothes care tips can help you safely remove stains.

Wrap creatively - you'll both conserve and create a memorable, personal gift. Consider using the kids' artwork for a wrap, or make your own from inexpensive butcher-type paper. Buy a few large holiday stamps and some red, green, gold, and silver paint, and allow the kids to stamp on their decorations. Let dry overnight.

Finalize holiday travel plans.

If the gathering's at your home, ensure the guest room is entertaining-ready. If the guest room is your office or your child's room, plan now which area you'll clear out to make room for guests' clothes.

Create a welcoming guest basket of creature comforts: clove or other scented seasonal soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, bath salts or bubbles, a travel alarm clock, and any other necessities your guests may need.