9 Ways to Plan a Less Stressful Christmas
What causes holiday stress? Shouldn't this be the happiest time of year with our family and friends coming to visit and all the gift exchanges?
In reality, those are the very things that are causing us stress during the holidays.
The hustle and bustle of getting ready for family and friends along with unrealistic expectations, extra chores, and money issues can all be major sources of "holiday anxiety."
3 MAIN CAUSES OF HOLIDAY STRESS
Social and personal expectations. We're all expected to be happy and merry during the holidays whether we feel that way or not. We even expect it of ourselves and feel there's something wrong with us when we aren't in the "holiday spirit."
Too many responsibilities. Shopping, wrapping, cooking, decorating, entertaining and the list goes on and on, and this is all in addition to our everyday tasks.
Financial stress. It's very easy to go a little (or a lot) overboard during the holiday especially when it comes to gifts and meals. We want everything to be perfect and will spend whatever is necessary to make it that way.
How can you change that?
Here are a few suggestions on how to Plan a Less Stressful Christmas and give you the chance to have your best holiday season ever!
1. BE REALISTIC
Take some time for yourself and try to relax. Put the holiday in perspective and avoid trying to please everyone. Most of all, spend quality time with your friends and family, playing games and enjoying everyone's company.
2. USE MODERATION
Don't go overboard on holiday spending and entertaining. Overspending now can create added stress after the holidays are over so try to create a realistic budget and be very careful to stick to it.
3. HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR
Avoid taking the small things seriously. A burnt holiday pie doesn't mean that the entire dinner is ruined. Work through it and improvise!
4. HELP OTHERS
The holidays are a time for giving and helping others can sometimes put your own problems and stresses into perspective.
5. TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF
Find time in your schedule to slow down and enjoy family, friends and yourself!
6. USE THE STRESS-FREE CHRISTMAS PLANNING WORKBOOK
The Christmas Planning Workbook is filled to the brim with everything you need to organize and simplify your holidays so you can enjoy quality time with your friends and family.
7. DO LESS, NOT MORE
It may seem strange to actually relax and enjoy the holidays, but it can make the whole month a lot more fun. The best way to relax is to cut back on some of your activities and consider just attending the ones that you'll really enjoy.
8. REMEMBER YOUR OWN FAVORITE THINGS
It's hard to get in touch with the deeper meaning of the holidays when you're pulled in 20 directions at once. Be sure to stop and take the time to enjoy your favorite traditions as a family.
9. BE FLEXIBLE
Your traditions are not set in stone so start looking for creative ways to update your holiday traditions so that everyone is happy.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS!
Did you find this article helpful? I’d love to hear about it! Feel free to post questions in the comments below. Thanks!
BEFORE YOU GO:
Here are a few more posts you might like:
See my Link Party Directory for a current list of blog parties I attend each week.
This post was featured at the following link parties, thank you for your support! ❤️
All printables are created and designed by Maria, the Krafty Planner Girl
FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY – Please Read Freebies Terms of Use.
(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.)
~ SHARE THIS POST ~
Did you like this post? Do you know someone else who might enjoy it? Please take a minute to share it on Pinterest, Facebook, or your favorite social media… Thank you!
Download free December 2025 planner printables—calendars, planning pages, trackers, & more. Stay organized this holiday season or shop the full planner on Etsy.
Get into the Christmas spirit with this free Holiday Movie Tracker printable! Check off your favorite films and plan cozy movie nights all Season long.
Stay calm this holiday season with these simple tips for planning ahead. Learn how to stay organized and enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas without the stress.
The Pink Christmas Collection is here! Festive notepads, bookmarks, & stickers designed to bring a little joy to your holidays. Shop now for holiday cheer!
Plan a festive Pink Christmas with our December 2024 printables! Stay organized and add a touch of holiday cheer to your planner with these seasonal designs.
Get your home ready for a festive season with this complete guide! From decluttering to cozy decor, lighting tips, & guest prep, create a warm, welcoming space.
The holidays are for celebrating with loved ones. Today, I'll share the benefits of planning ahead so you can relax and enjoy the season without stress.
Prepare for March with our Free Printable Planning Pages! Stay organized all month long with customizable calendars, trackers, and goal-setting sheets.
Dive into February with Our Exclusive Free Printable Planners. Discover February planning tips, important dates, and more to make this month extraordinary.
Download your free printable January 2024 monthly planner today and start planning for a successful and productive year ahead.
Dive into the holiday planning spirit with our guide on creating your master plan for December. Get ready to make this your most organized and joyful December yet!
Download your free printable December 2023 monthly planner today and start planning for a successful and productive month ahead.
Here’s a look at some great ways you can stretch your dollar this year and make the most of your holiday season.
Christmas is right around the corner and I wanted to make it super simple for you to plan and organize your holiday so you can spend time with your family and friends instead of sweating over a hot stove. Here’s a quick round-up of all of my holiday tips and tricks plus a few printables to help you out.
As humans, our sense of smell plays a large role in our everyday lives, whether we realize it or not. Scents have the ability to change our mood, change how we interact with others, and even play a large role in our ability to recall memories. Keep reading to find out how to create a feeling of comfort and love.
Hey my Krafty Planner Pals! I have a new, fun printable for you today… A few weeks ago I told you to be on the lookout for a Christmas version of the doodle match games I’ve been making recently. I love Christmas and this one is my favorite! We’ve been playing with it all week.
We love word searches around here, and since Christmas is just around the corner, I thought I would make this super awesome holiday word search puzzle! Seek and find fifteen Christmas themed words in this free printable word search puzzle.
Hi My Krafty Planner Pals! I’m so excited to share this December Weekly Planning Page Printable with you today! I’ve been using this weekly planning page to keep track of my most important daily to-dos since last January. Click the link below to grab your free printable.
I am so ready for the holidays this year! How about you? The pretty lights, colorful decorations, and the warm cozy feelings of Christmas. Even though many of us will be making adjustments to our holidays this year because of the pandemic that doesn’t mean we can’t still celebrate. This planner has everything you need to plan and organize a traditional Christmas or socially distanced one. Let’s take a closer look…
I'm so excited to show you this month's bullet journal layout! With all of the beautiful colors and Christmas planning, I think it might be my most favorite month yet!
Here's a sweet 25 Days of Christmas Checklist to help plan all of your holiday activities. It has everything from watching your favorite Christmas movie to going on a sleigh ride.
I recently started decorating the house for the holidays and wanted to show you these adorable Christmas coasters I made a couple of years ago.
Holiday foods are some of the most unhealthy foods we eat all year. It's important to plan ahead and make healthy decisions when it comes to food this season.
Here are a few suggestions on how to Plan a Less Stressful Christmas and give you the chance to have your best holiday season ever!
Here are a few tips to help you clean and declutter your home now so you can put a plan in place to maintain it through the holiday season.
A fun Silhouette gift guide to help you choose which products are most useful, worth investing in, and those that would make the perfect gift for your crafty family member or friend this Christmas!
This time of year everyone is putting out a list of their favorite things, Whoopie, Mariah Carey, bloggers everywhere, and of course Oprah! So, today I thought I would share some of my favorite things with you.
Love free printables? Click here to subscribe and get access to exclusive planner pages, creative templates, and monthly freebies delivered to your inbox!
Join the Krafty Planner Club for monthly planners, journaling bundles, exclusive printables, and a supportive community—delivered straight to your inbox!
Browse a growing collection of free printables to help you plan, organize, and create with ease—from planners and trackers to journals, lists, and fun seasonal pages!
Practical planning tips, creative ideas, and free printables to help you organize your schedule, set goals, and make life feel more balanced and intentional.
Explore creative journaling tips, prompts, and inspiration to help you reflect, stay organized, and build a meaningful, consistent writing habit. Learn more...
Recent Posts
Discover why paper planners help college students improve focus, manage time, remember deadlines, reduce screen time, & stay organized throughout the semester.
How to age in place safely in LA’s hillside and multi-story homes. We explore accessibility solutions like home lifts, ramps, and professional planning for long-term mobility.
Protect your business from hidden AI data leaks. Discover 5 simple habits to audit data, vet vendors, and prevent privacy breaches before they happen.
Discover 4 top online invitation platforms for weddings and celebrations, comparing elegant designs, RSVP tracking, pricing, and guest management tools.
Master college life with effective planners! This post covers goal setting, time blocking, monthly overviews, daily task lists, and academic tracking.
Transform your favorite printable planner pages into a stunning custom photo book! Capture your best memories creatively and preserve them for years to come.
Download free August 2026 planner printables, including calendars, weekly and daily pages, a habit tracker, and more to stay organized all month long.
Download free July 2026 planner printables, including calendars, weekly and daily pages, a habit tracker, and more to stay organized all month long.
Discover the 5 best Austin photography studios for professional employee headshots, from enterprise-scale automation to elite executive portraits.
Discover the best replacement windows for coastal homes. Compare vinyl, fiberglass, and aluminum to prevent salt corrosion, leaks, and storm damage effectively.
Download free January 2026 planner printables including calendars, weekly and daily planning pages, habit trackers, and more to start the new year organized.