The holidays should be a time of joy and connection—not a recipe for overwhelm that drives you bananas. As a young child, I remember watching my mother take on everything herself: shopping, hosting, decorating, cooking. She did it all beautifully, but by the time the turkey hit the table, she looked ready to fall asleep in the mashed potatoes. If she had delegated, she might’ve actually enjoyed the season instead of just surviving it.
Here’s the good news: a little planning now can save you a ton of stress, time, and sanity later. Think of it like an investment—give 10 minutes of planning, and you’ll gain hours of peace, calm, and even joy.
1. Create Your Holiday Task List.
- Grab a notebook, a spreadsheet, or my free Holiday Planner (more on that below!) and write down everything. Decorating, shopping, baking, wrapping gifts, cleaning the house, and prepping meals. Big tasks, tiny tasks—get it all out of your head and onto paper.
- You’ll feel immediate relief when it’s no longer swirling around in your brain.
2. Decide What Can Be Delegated.
- Now the fun part: looking at that list and deciding what you can offload.
- Pro tip: If it doesn’t require your special touch, it’s fair game.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
🎁 Gift Wrapping & Shopping:
- Delegate to the kids: Turn it into a fun activity—let them wrap gifts (perfection isn’t the goal). Bonus: they’ll be busy, and you’ll get a little peace and quiet.
- Delegate to your partner: Give them a list and send them shopping. (Pro tip: Include photos or links—fewer texts asking, “Is this the right thing?”)
- Delegate to tech: Use curbside pickup, delivery services, or apps like Amazon Prime. Your happiness is worth the delivery fee.
🧹 Cleaning & Decorating:
- Hire it out: A house cleaner can make your home sparkle before guests arrive—and clean up after the party, too.
- Team effort: Assign decorating tasks to family members. Put on festive music, hand someone the lights, and call it “quality time.”
🥘 Cooking & Hosting:
- Potluck it: If you’re hosting, ask guests to bring a dish. Nobody will mind, and you’ll have one less thing on your plate—literally.
- Outsource dessert: Bakeries exist for a reason. Buy the pie.
- Delegate food prep: Got teens or in-laws hanging around? Hand them a peeler or a chopping board. (Idle hands are a holiday chef’s best friend.)
📦 Errands & Odds and Ends:
- Hire a “task rabbit”: Apps like TaskRabbit or Instacart can help with last-minute errands, grocery runs, or even assembling that 57-piece toy kitchen.
- Divide and conquer: Give everyone in the family 1-2 small tasks to check off. The collective effort makes a huge difference.
3. Only Do What Only You Can Do.
This is your holiday, too. Save your energy for the moments that matter most:
- Picking out the perfect gifts for loved ones.
- Creating your signature dish.
- Being present for traditions that fill your heart.
Everything else? Delegate, automate, or simplify.
4. Make a Budget & Gift List.
Get super clear on who you’re buying for, what you’re buying, and how much you’re spending. Create a spreadsheet (or use my Holiday Planner) with these three columns:
- Who to buy for
- What to buy
- How much to spend
Don’t forget the sneaky costs: wrapping supplies, décor, party hosting, and travel expenses. Knowing where your money is going will save you from that post-holiday “Where did it all go?!” panic.
5. Plan Now, Relax Later.
Here’s the deal: Take 10 minutes today to map out your tasks and delegate what you can, and you’ll save hours later. It’s a 10-for-60 trade you won’t regret. Because let’s be honest—there are better ways to spend your time than frantically untangling string lights or panic-wrapping gifts at 2 a.m.
Want to make this even easier?
I’ve created a Holiday Planner just for you! It’s like having your own holiday command center. This simple, streamlined tool will help you:
- Map out tasks so you know exactly what needs to be done.
- Organize your budget and gift list to avoid overspending.
- Identify what can be delegated so you’re not doing everything.
No more scattered sticky notes or late-night stress. Just calm, organized holidays where you can focus on what really matters—being present, finding joy, and actually enjoying the magic of the season.
Click below to download your free Holiday Planner and give yourself the gift of happiness this holiday. Because when you take 10 minutes to plan, you’re giving yourself hours to savor the season.