The holiday season is here and with 2020 behind us, luckily things are feeling a bit more normal with travel, guests, and gatherings. While we’re all eager to welcome back friends and family into our homes, I’m sure we’re not as excited about adding that holiday stress back in! Keep reading for some tips on how to prepare for the holidays to keep you at ease.

Everything starts with a list! 
Set aside some time to write out important dates in your calendar, parties you’re attending and hosting, photoshoots, and everything in between. Seeing everything on a calendar or in a planner is so helpful. Dreaming of family photos or ice skating on the Frog Pond is nice, but planning it on your calendar will make it much more likely to happen! Be sure to prioritize those fun, personal things to give yourself a break from party prep and shopping.

Looking to add more detail to your to-do’s? Create an actual list in the Notes app of your phone so that you won’t lose it on a loose piece of paper. You can also add notes into a calendar event on your phone so all of the information is in one place.

PURGE! Our favorite tip…always. 
As you prepare for people to come over, getting your living space decluttered will help you feel so much lighter. Dedicate a weekend for adding to your donate pile and give the house a deep clean while you’re at it! Checking this off your list will prevent that mini panic that your baseboards aren’t clean before guests arrive. 

Do as much as you can ahead of time. 
Now that you’ve planned, purged, and cleaned, you’re already in great shape. Staying one step ahead is the only way to get through the holidays! This goes for holiday shopping, food and party prep. I always like to buy a few generic gifts for things I tend to forget about (i.e. every Yankee Swap ever)! My go to swap gift is a basket or bin like this one with a few local goodies in it. As you start to buy gifts, wrap as you go. Having a gift wrap station like this keeps everything contained and organized making it easy to stay on track. Try to shop local this holiday season and consider supporting our adorable little block in North Cambridge.

Check-in with yourself. 
Mentally preparing for the holidays is just as important, probably even more important, than any other type of prep you can do! Be sure to set realistic expectations without over committing (guilty), stick to your budget, and try your best to keep up with daily routines. Remember that this season is ultimately about surrounding yourself with your people. Don’t lose sight of that in all the chaos! 

Add those little details! 
Light a candle (our favorite), set the table, and get creative. With all the prepping you’ve done, the finishing touches will be the fun part. Add a sprig of greenery to your gifts or tablescape, a phone charger and bottle of water on your guests’ bedside table, and bake some fresh cookies. Whatever you like to do to give your space a little holiday cheer, you’re ready to sit back and enjoy it!