Who can believe Thanksgiving is next week? Wow. And while it kicks-off the month of festivities, it also kicks off a month of busyness and chaos that creates stress and reduces happiness for many.
I wish I could tell you there’s a magical Christmas something to stop, but so far Santa hasn’t responded to that wish. However, you can minimize chaos and reduce stress with a little planning.
1. Make a list of everything you need and want to do between now and New Year’s Day. When I say everything, I mean get detailed, like every holiday party you already know either you or a family members is invited to attend, the people you want to see, decorating inside and out, wrapping gifts, etc. It’ll be pretty long. You’ll forget things.
2. Look at the list and star your must-do’s. For example, if you’re hosting Christmas Dinner, you’ll have to have time to plan the menu, shop for food and cook.
3. Get a calendar, or print one online, and start dividing up when you’ll do everything that was starred. Be honest and realistic about how long it takes – if anything error on the side of allotting more time than anticipated. Does it take you two days to decorate your house top to bottom? Schedule that if it’s a must do. Can you hire someone to hang the outdoor lights to free up time? Can you make your holiday gift list when you’re traveling for Thanksgiving? Can you decide to shop during your lunch hour say two days a week? Schedule it. Of course, you’ll need to allow for those co-worker and customer lunches. The point is get what has to be done on a calendar. Try to plan one or two tasks a day because that’s realistic and you’re human so you’ll need some sleep.
Check your vacation days and if needed plan your three-day weekends now, or take a day off in the middle of the week.
4. Once you get all of your must-do’s scheduled, then you can start scheduling your want-to-do’s, the items you didn’t star. Start with the one or two you want to do the most.
5. Be realistic. You won’t get everything done. It won’t go as planned, list or not, but at least you have a to-do map. Being organized probably won’t alleviate the chaos, but it does minimize the stress.
BONUS THOUGHT: For those of you have have the Secret Society of Happy People’s Playful Membership, wear the Happiness Happens wristband. Honestly, I’ve never worn any wristband before this one, but when I wear it and chaos strikes, it does remind me that Happiness Happens. And we’ve also added our new Secret Society of Happy People’s Thirty-One Types of Happiness Guide to the membership if you decide you need a membership with Society stuff.
It is possible to happily co-exist with chaos, especially when we plan for it.
What are your tips for happily co-existing with chaos? Other not-so-secretly happy people want to know so please share below.
Written by Pamela Gail
Pamela Gail Johnson founded the Society of Happy People in 1998.
The Society is grounded on Pamela’s four key Practical Happiness Principles:
Pamela identified 31 Types of Happiness that are on the SOHP App Happiness Counter to make it easier to recognize moments of happiness.
Pamela also plans and organizes the Society of Happy People's annual happiness celebrations:
She's also a speaker, trainer, and author.
A few of her personal smile starters include her monthly book club, yoga, traveling and meeting new happy people.
The holidays can be very stressful for many people. You want so much to enjoy the days but there seems to be a never ending list of things to get done and that can be exhausting. Great tips you have to co-existing so that everyone can also enjoy the season.
Yes, the holidays can be very stressful for many people. These tips will help us a lot during this busy season. Thank you!
I LOVE THIS!!!! 🙂 What a fantastic site! Love your useful content – but I love the CONTEXT of your content even more, if that’s even possible. Sitting here with a smile on my face, thanks to you, and it’s no secret! 😉
This article was like music to my ears! I am an obsessive organizer so this is awesome! Starting my calendar today!! Thanks!!
Thank you so much for encouraging to keep things in order for the holidays to enjoy these days even more than I already do.
Excellent points, especially about making a list of the must dos and the want tos! I love calendars for keeping track of everything, too…the stationery store is my favorite store of all! LOL
I need one of these list. I get all over whelmed and start hating the Holidays. Thanks.. I Am going to try this..;)
I love this post
and thanks for giving the tips on how to stay organized for the holidays.
I’m taken to my happy place each time I think on my purpose in life. My passion drives me to share with others while I am on my journey to designing my ideal life. When I’m focused nothing can get in my way…not even unhappiness.
It is so important not to burn out doing all the things we want to do for the holidays. Setting time aside and doing things bit by bit is best. Like you said you won’t get everything done so take the pressure off yourself..
If I’m not happy with something I try to stop and think of what I’m grateful for. It may not solve the problem but I don’t have to get upset over it.
The holidays in the states are hectic for sure. In South Africa, they pale in conparriosn. But I truly do miss the holidays as i have known them! I think a little holiday “chaos” would be well recieved by me right now! Great article!!
I agree when you stated that “Being organized probably won’t alleviate the chaos, but it does minimize the stress.” Having a guide, a system, and good planning just makes everything easy. =)
It seems small and simple, but my family started using http://www.Giftster.com and app for building and sharing holiday (and birthday) gift wish lists. Cutting down on the back and forth of emails (and reminders and NO gift ideas, etc) and not having to return duplicate gifts is a BIG thing to cut down on the holiday chaos. And it’s free too!