The most stressful thing for me is when something appears on my calendar that requires some sort of creativity, shopping, etc. and I have DONE NONE OF IT!!! What usually happens is that I get it done but it sucks the joy out of me (and let’s be honest, everyone in my house becomes miserable too!!)
So….what is the solution? How can I still find JOY in these things??
PLAN AHEAD!!!
You have to be intentional about this or you can fall back into the same place I was in. There is 1 easy step to do this:
After each holiday, start planning for the next one!
It sounds so simple but yet it is something that we can so easily forget. For many of us, we are so excited that all of the stress from that one holiday/vacation/summer is over that we cannot even begin to think about the next thing. BUT, I have found that I have more joy throughout the entire year when I can plan this way.
This is why right after Christmas, I start looking towards Valentines Day.
Right after that, I start looking towards Easter.
After that, I start planning the summer with my kids at home (as well as their birthdays).
Then, I start looking at Halloween.
You get the picture….I think!
The main thing is that I start early thinking, planning, and buying for the next thing. This helps it not to sneak up on me.
OHHHH…speaking of buying for the next thing: I do Christmas and birthdays a little bit differently when it comes to saving money.
I start planning Christmas around June of every year but I start saving for Christmas in January. For us, we buy almost everything on Amazon so we have started buying Amazon gift cards every month from Kroger (because then you get double the fuel points) and then save them up for birthdays and Christmas.
I would love to know how you plan ahead for special events or holidays. Comment below!!
