How I Learned to Simplify the Holidays (And How You Can Too)

I used to love the holidays—the twinkling lights, the cozy nights, the excitement of giving. But at some point, the magic started feeling more like stress. Between shopping for gifts, sending cards, planning gatherings, and trying to keep up with work and family life, I felt like the season was running me instead of the other way around.

Sound familiar?

That’s when I decided something had to change. I wanted to enjoy the holidays without feeling exhausted by the time New Year’s rolled around. Over the years, I developed strategies that turned the season from overwhelming to joyful—and I put them together in my free guide, “10 Ways to Simplify Your Holidays.” Today, I want to share a sneak peek so you can start enjoying the season, too.

Start with a Plan

One of the first things I learned was that planning ahead makes everything easier. I used to leave gift shopping until the last minute, which inevitably led to frantic trips, overspending, and a little bit of panic. Now, I make a list of everyone I want to give a gift to and set a realistic budget. Just having a plan in place removes so much stress.

Now that I get to help so many people check “Gifts” off of their to-do list, it makes me do my planning even earlier and it’s not a bad thing!

Embrace Thoughtful Simplicity

I also realized that the simplest gifts are often the most meaningful. A curated gift, a handwritten note, or a personal touch can make a bigger impact than something expensive or elaborate. It reminded me that gifts aren’t about the price—they’re about showing you care.

When people I come across are feeling hesitant about sending gifts, the cost of it always comes up as a concern. Which I get because life (anyone else feeling it these days?) can be expensive, especially around the holidays. 

I was chatting with a client last month about gifts and she brought up how one of her holiday gifts that she sent and how that brought a client back. She purchased one of my lowest tier gifts and yet it still had a big impact on the client and her business. A wonderful reminder and example that thoughtfulness can exceed the investment.

Batch Your Tasks

Here’s a trick that changed everything for me: batching tasks. Instead of wrapping one gift here, writing one card there, and trying to do it all in pieces, I set aside a few dedicated hours to tackle a group of tasks at once. It’s amazing how much mental space that frees up for actually enjoying the season.

Better yet, it was much more fun when I got my husband involved and we could have a “wrapping party” together and could spend time together while getting all of our wrapping done!

Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate

Another lesson I learned? You don’t have to do it all yourself. Getting family or friends involved in decorating, baking, or wrapping gifts can lighten the load—and it makes the process more fun, too.

I encourage my clients to delegate, so why shouldn’t I? Delegating, whether it's for business or in your life can be so helpful. Just because you CAN do everything, doesn’t mean that you should, because you, my friend, still only have 24 hours in the day (like everyone else!)

Focus on Experiences, Not Just Things

Over time, I found that some of the best gifts weren’t physical at all. Tickets to a show, a fun class, or even a cozy dinner together often created more joy than anything I could wrap in paper. Memories last longer than things—and they’re often more meaningful.

In business, it can be difficult to gift an experience especially with multiple limitations but sometimes you can use a small gift to elude to an experience or the gift could encourage ideas that can lead to an experience. I often have created wedding congratulations gifts and it includes date night ideas, and that way it can still lead to an experience! For my fall gifting gram, I often will include a Fall Bucket List, to give them ideas of fun ways to enjoy the season.

Don’t Forget Yourself

Most importantly, I’ve learned to give myself grace. The holidays aren’t a checklist—they’re a season to enjoy. I schedule quiet moments, savor traditions I love, and remind myself that it’s okay if everything isn’t perfect.

My second daughters middle name is Grace, which was inspired by her great grandmother but I also like to use it as a reminder to give myself grace because people rarely give enough of that to themselves. 

If any of this sounds like the holidays you want to have—less stress, more joy—I’ve put together a full checklist of 10 ways to simplify your holidays, with bonus tips and helpful templates to make it even easier. You can grab it for free here!

This year, let’s focus on what matters: connection, gratitude, and simple joy. The holidays don’t have to be overwhelming—they can be magical again.