The stores have their Christmas decorations out at the beginning of October. You can ignore them for a minute, but now, the holidays are right around the corner. Are you totally stressing? Deep breaths my friend.
We are a family of planners. Hubby with his military background, and me being the naturally organized planner (some may call it OCD… I call it naturally organized planner…. just sayin).
There is a method called PACE that the military, special forces, and survivalists use to plan.
Primary
Alternate
Contingency
Emergency
Lace up your combat boots and let’s survive the holidays!
Primary.
This is your preferred course of action.
1. Make a list of your goals, objectives, and actions. What do you want to accomplish this holiday season? Where are you celebrating? Are you traveling or hosting? How many cookie exchanges are you going to participate in? Are you sending a family newsletter or regular cards? What about decorating? Shopping, presents and wrapping? Christmas concerts? Etc… etc. Write it ALL down.
2. Get out your calendar. Write down all of the known events. Will you be attending all of these? Circle the ones you ABSOLUTELY must or want to go to. Now, back up the planning from there.
3. Make a list of everything you can think of – action items – that have to be done. Look at your calendar and note these items where they need to go. For example, if you are traveling to family’s house for Thanksgiving, and this is the only time you will see your nephew, you will need to have his present purchased and wrapped prior to Thanksgiving. Back up further, do you have wrapping paper on hand before Thanksgiving?
If the cookie exchange is on December 6th, then you will want to bake cookies earlier in that week. Back that up even further, you will want to purchase cookie baking supplies and extra flour a few days prior. Got it?
4. When analyzing your events, don’t forget about things like hostess gifts! Etsy and eBay are great places to purchase unique items for these kinds of occasions.
Alternate.
This is your primary backup plan.
1. Go back to those MUST/WANT’s and come up with an alternate solution. For example, if you don’t have the present purchased and wrapped to give to your nephew at Thanksgiving, can you purchase it online and send it to their home? If something comes up and you don’t have time to bake enough cookies for the exchange, can you run to the store on your way and pick up ice or snacks to take along?
2. What stresses you out that you want to take off the list? Instead of writing a newsletter, is a card sufficient? Instead of going to three cookies exchanges, how about one? Don’t pack your schedule so tight that you don’t enjoy everything. It’s ok to say no and take some items off the list.
Psst… want beautiful Scripture + Gratitude printables to celebrate the beauty of the Advent Season? Click below…
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Contingent.
This is when Primary and Alternate fails and you need to have a next-level plan of action.
What is the worst case scenario? If you don’t get the family newsletter or cards out, can you send a nice email to your friends and family? Can you drop your kids off at an event and not go yourself? If you don’t purchase a present for your nephew online, can you send money or a gift card in a card?
While contingency isn’t the most preferred, you still need to be ok if you go here. Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t do everything. Your job is not to do everything, your job to enjoy the holidays with your family.
Emergency.
This is the all else fails or worst case scenario. Christmas 2010, I was knee deep in cancer treatment. I was sick from chemo. Christmas that year was me, Hubby, and my parents sitting in the living room enjoying quiet time together because I was too sick to leave the house. I ate Santa shaped jello because I couldn’t stomach anything else.
Christmas 2011, we had just moved and Christmas was surrounded by boxes in our new house. Those two years were the complete opposite of the “picture perfect” Christmas. But you know what, they were two perfect Christmases because I was with my family and we had each other.
Christmas isn’t about the decorations and presents and all things “perfect.” Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ, and about celebrating love. And that my friends, is all you need for a “perfect” Christmas. So whatever happens, whatever you get accomplished or not, whatever goes wrong…. don’t sweat the small stuff. Take a deep breath and remember what is most important.
And in the meantime, I hope the PACE style planning helps you maintain a relatively stress-free holiday season!
More Christmas Resources You Will Love
Advent Scripture + Gratitude Printables
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Are you Inspired?
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Love, hugs, and enjoying the preparations for Christmas.
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Love your planning strategy (of course :). Good reminder that Christmas is about the people not the stuff .
Hi Susan – Thanks so much! Myself included in a much needed reminder. Hugs, Holly
I LOVE how you said YOUR JOB IS NOT TO DO EVERYTHING, YOUR JOB ISTO ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS. Well said,dear, well said. CHRIST is who Christmas is named for.
Hi Kelly – AMEN my friend! Hugs, Holly
So true. I am glad to read about the two Christmases that were not perfect. Sounds like they were wonderful, because family and Jesus is what it’s really all about…. Thanks for the good tips and the reminder. 🙂
xox, Crystelle
CrystelleBoutique
Hi Crystelle – Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments. Hugs, Holly
Visiting from Natasha’s. Loving your planning! I am pinning to my Christmas board and a new follower!
Hi Terri – You are my new bestie!!!!! Thanks so much for following and pinning! Hugs, Holly
Visiting from Natasha’s. Loving your planning! I am pinning to my Christmas board and a new follower! Oh, and I am a fellow cancer survivor. Five years in October!
And PS – Congratulations on five years and blessings for good health! Hugs, Holly
Holly, Thanks for the reminder and the tips. Hope your Thanksgiving and Christmas are wonderful!
Hi Beth – Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you too have a wonderful holiday season! Hugs, Holly
What a great post. There is already stress in my life due to the holidays! This is a great list. Thanks for lining to the In and Out of the Kitchen party.
Hi Cynthia – It seems like more and more Christmas starts on November 1st, doesn’t it? Hugs, Holly
Loove these tips! Such a thought out and organized post. Christmas is my favorite time of the year, but there’s no denying it can be stressful what with all the holiday parties, overnight guests, extra shopping, etc. I’ve also written about staying sane over the holidays: http://livelovearmylife.blogspot.com/2014/11/avoid-holiday-drama.html. Apparently, great minds think alike(;
Hi Britney – Thanks so much for stopping by and especially sharing your post! Can’t wait to read it! Hugs, Holly
This post has definitely got me motivated to start planning for the holidays!
Hi Lindsey – Thanks for stopping by to say hello and happy early holidays to you! I hope to see you again soon! Hugs, Holly
I think there is so much pressure to do so many things — cookie exchanges, holiday parties, perfect presents, decorations, etc. — that people end up losing sight about the point of the holidays. These are great tips for managing what can be a busy and stressful time of year for people.
Hi Bev – Thank you for the solidarity! We are in the middle of a lot right now, and I’m trying to take my own advice to heart! I hope to see you again soon. Hugs, Holly
Every year I tell myself that next year will be different, and every year it somehow sneaks up on me again and the craziness is crazier than the year before. I am sorry for the circumstances of your “imperfect” Christmases, but at the same time, thankful you had the chance to redefine “perfect” with the change of perspective. I, too, like to plan backwards; it is a great way to make sure the details are addressed before they become stressors. I’m a planner married to the military, too, but never heard of this particular planning system — time to implement it! 🙂 #SITSSharefest
Hi Wendy – Thank you for taking the time to stop by and share. Fortunately, this year, we don’t have a lot of holiday activities, but we are in the middle of moving the in-laws so it’s been a bit crazy and I need to heed my own advice. But thank goodness for planning – any and all kinds – keeps me sane!!! I hope to see you again soon! Hugs, Holly
This is a great post and will really help people this time of year.
Thanks for sharing with us at the Tips & Tricks party. That’s how I found you. Be sure to visit us every Monday!
Hi Lisa – Thanks so much! Hugs, Holly