How to Plan a Calm Holiday Season--Part 3--Parent Edition

As I write this, Hanukkah is only days away—and Christmas and Kwanzaa are a mere two weeks away, with New Year’s Day trailing them by another week. Personally, I’m feeling pulled in a million different directions—even though my obligations are not quite the same as those of my clients! Although the pace of our activities seems to inevitably pick up at this time of year, the choices we make can go a long way toward making our commitments manageable. In this blog, I would like to explore a few ways to, as the ChoreVoyant tagline says, simplify your day—both during the holidays and the rush that happens beforehand.

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The Pre-Holiday Rush

Back when I was an orchestra teacher, December was a busy month because of school performances. If you have a child in any performing art—music, theater or dance—then you have probably already experienced those “busy seasons,” whether they coincide with the winter holidays or not. This is also true if you have a child in sports, and especially so if they are on a traveling team.  These commitments, along with general holiday preparations, holiday shopping, and things like the work place holiday party or cookie swap, call for your household management routines to be as quick and simple as possible. I suggest:

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• ‍Take the path of least resistance to dinner. This does not mean ordering takeout every night!  Pre-cut vegetables and rotisserie chicken can keep your family’s hunger at bay, and you feeling like you’ve still put a nutritious meal on the table despite the mad dash. If you have picky eaters where you know that this strategy won’t work, find your most nutritious option that will keep them happy. For example, there are a number of less-processed, white-meat or even vegetarian chicken nuggets on the market at this time. Same for boxed macaroni and cheese. If you have a vegetarian at home, or a gluten-free family member—you have good options there as well. Lentils can be cooked quickly in a rice cooker; steam-in-bag vegetables or rice do not necessarily have to be steamed in their bags—they can be roasted or air-fried as well. Remember, cauliflower can do anything! Also, eco-friendly disposable plate options exist. Compostable plates are available both online and at local grocerystores. This will lighten the load of doing dishes!

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• Batch. Whether it is cooking, baking, or running errands, batching things together can calm the feeling of being pulled in multiple directions. This may require you to carve out a larger block of time to accomplish what you want to—whether it is taking care of errands/shopping over the course of a few hours, or doing “blank canvas cooking” for the week, or holiday baking. Treat this time like an appointment, and don’t fill it with “one more thing.”

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• Tidy as you go. This is a suggestion so basic, it’s annoying. If you use it, put it back where it was stored. If at all possible, when you are preparing a meal or baking—wash that mixing bowl, spoon, or food processor part as soon as you can. Put laundry away as soon as it comes out of the dryer. The few extra minutes spent on these activities can yield bigtime savings by not allowing clutter to accumulate, messes to grow, or a mountain of laundry to be put away. When I really don’t feel like doing these things, my mantra becomes, “I want 8 pm Marcia to be as happy as 8 am Marcia is.”‍

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• Delegate. There’s no reason you have to be the person to complete every task on the to-do list. You can split them with your spouse or partner, divide them up among your entire household—assigning your children age-appropriate tasks, or hire a personal concierge service like ChoreVoyant!

During the holidays

The holiday break may feel even more pressured, for a variety of reasons. Hosting or traveling each have their own stressors that may leave you feeling as if you’ve had no break at all. Perhaps your time off from work is limited, and the only person on a holiday break is your child! Granted, many of our holiday activities provide us with beautiful memories and grateful hearts, but they might also leave you feeling like you have zero down-time! Here are a few ways to create a little more space for you in this “most wonderful time of the year:

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• "No” is a complete sentence. You don’t have to attend or participate in every party, religious service, or family gathering that happens. Choose the activities that are the most meaningful for you and your family. Visits with family and friends can usually get split up across the week between Christmas and New Year’s.‍

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• Carve out at least some time for yourself. Whether you’re a night owl or an early bird, make time for something that you truly enjoy. That might mean enjoying some coffee and quiet time before everyone wakes up, fitting in a quick workout, taking a walk outside, or reading or journaling after everyone is asleep. You will return to everything and everyone else at least somewhat more fulfilled and refreshed.‍

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• Let your relatives spend time with your littles. Grandparents, aunts, uncles—especially those who might be visiting from out of town and don’t get to spend much time with your child—can take them to a movie, a park, ice skating, out for a meal, whatever activity your relative might be up for doing in the company of your child. It will give you a bit of time to do any of the things that make you feel more like yourself, and your relatives get to make some memories with your little one. You know your relatives best; choose the one that you feel certain will take the best care of your child (so you don’t spend your free time worrying about how things are going), and let them know your expectations regarding your child’s food intake, behavior—anything that would give you pause.‍

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• Have at least one day “off.” When I was growing up, New Year’s Day was kind of that time for our family. No obligations; no big celebrations, no visiting or anyone coming to visit. Just a day to relax. Whatever day you choose, try to have it so that no one in your family has anything scheduled.

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The holidays can offer a break from the daily grind—that’s what makes them so magical. However, I stand by my suggestions from part one of this series, that having a non-routine “routine” can make the days of holiday break more predictable for your child and less chaotic for you. We’re talking those regular mealtimes, playtimes, and bedtimes. Additionally, the transition back to the regular school/work schedule may be a bit easier, too—because structure never totally disappeared. Plus, everyone feels better when they are well-rested and well-nourished.

I wish you the happiest of holiday seasons, and all the best for 2026! I hope that these tips and suggestions can serve as reminders to take care of yourself during this time of year, and to slow down and savor the time that you do have with family and friends. Despite what those Hallmark movies depict, your holiday doesn’t have to be picture-perfect. It only has to bring you joy and peace.

From December 22 to January 2, ChoreVoyant will not be offering client services. We are looking forward to working with you in 2026, beginning January 5!

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