There is nothing worse than sitting in traffic on a cold winter night, feet wet from melted snow, just because you realized you didn’t have Scotch tape at home.
I used to be right there in the crowds, chasing down Christmas until the night before.
But I’ve spent years refining the holidays since. I adopted and adapted routines that stripped out the chaos and brought in something that felt almost radical: ease. Actually being peaceful at the time of year when the world promotes peace with tinsel and twinkle lights. Imagine that.
Somewhere along the way, I decided I didn’t want to do that anymore. I love the holidays far too much to spend December stressed out by them. I also spend a lot of time regulating my nervous system, and there is nothing that can hijack it faster than the holiday hustle.
I know how annoying this sounds. It’s October. Trust me, I am not here to make you feel anything less about how you do the holidays. The people who know me well often ask for my tips, and last year I arrived on the Substack scene just as the holidays were unfolding. Yep, I started my Substack while everyone else was scrambling to beat the shipping deadlines. This year I have the advantage of time. And so do you.
So I’m sharing four things I have used for years in hopes that you might steal one or two and give yourself a little more peace and ease come December. Nothing profound. Use, refine, share or ignore. They are simply things that have made my life easier.
1. Listen & Take Notes
Like I said, these are simple tips. This one might be the easiest.
All year long, I pay attention when someone I love mentions something they want, something they need, something they would never buy for themselves, or even something they just happen to admire. I use my Notes app to keep track. Often, though, if I see something that immediately makes me think of someone, I buy it. It goes into the Christmas stash and I move on. I even have a dog toy already purchased for my beloved pup. I don’t end up in HomeGoods that often these days, but if you have a pet, they are locked and loaded in that department.
For me, this makes gift giving far more intentional. By the time December rolls around, I don’t want to be staring at six names still on my list and buying things just so I can cross them off. That’s when I start buying a gift because I need a gift, not because I found something that made me think of the person receiving it.
I’d much rather remember something you casually mentioned in February and surprise you with it ten months later. To me, that’s the fun of giving someone a gift in the first place.
2. Create a Hard Stop
Decide in advance when you want to be done shopping. This year, my hard stop is October 31. In years past, it has actually been September 15, which I realize may sound slightly ridiculous when most people haven’t even bought their Halloween candy.
This year, I am giving myself some space, in part because when this lands in your inbox, I will be in the midst of a program that requires a digital detox. After a full week unplugged (more on that to come), I’m not sure I will be eager to jump right back in where I left off on my shopping list.
Give your family a heads-up and your deadline. I promise, this helps. If there is something they really want, they know when they need to tell you. Otherwise, they are leaving it up to you.
3. Holiday Cards Without the Mayhem
I adore sending and receiving holiday cards. I take great pride in being the first envelope in everyone’s mailbox.
After years of stuffing, licking and stamping nearly 400 cards for friends and my late husband George’s business associates, I found support. (Because let’s be real, if you knew George, you know involving him would have resulted in a good-natured MESS, likely involving spilled red wine.)
Enter: Paper Culture. My secret weapon for years.
This isn’t groundbreaking, and more and more friends are discovering it, but their offering is exceptional. You upload your address list once (yes, it takes a little time to convert your current system into a spreadsheet…but you only have to do it once), and they handle everything else: printing, stuffing, stamping and mailing. You even choose your preferred mailing date.
Their customer service has been incredible too. Years ago, they accidentally mailed my cards at Halloween. (Yes, Halloween.) They immediately resolved it with a full refund and future credit. The upside? I received a flood of hilarious messages from friends, so I still consider it a win.
The best part? They almost always have a promotion, and if you subscribe, they remind you. I wait for one before ordering.
Once your spreadsheet exists, it’s easy to update when friends move…and suddenly the holiday-card project that once consumed days becomes a task that takes minutes.
The hardest part is choosing the design, but that’s the fun part anyway.
4. Wrapping. The Easiest Way to Put a Bow on It.
This might be my favorite tip to share. It’s a simple, beautiful, year-round system that I am always grateful for. I take great pride in this one because it is foolproof and borderline life-changing.
I love gift giving, so of course I was the person with a closet overflowing with wrapping paper, spools of half-used ribbon, crushed paper and smashed bows. Every time I went to wrap a gift, the fun of it all was stripped away by the mess I had to untangle first.
And I am definitely NOT a craft person. TBH, the idea of wandering through Michaels or Hobby Lobby in December, or really any time of year, sends my nervous system into overdrive.
Here’s my entire system with links to everything you need:
Kraft Paper. Always and only. I use it for every occasion. And to be clear, it’s not the thick brown art paper or postal wrap (I learned that the hard way), but the true thin kraft wrapping roll. It’s simple, chic and incredibly versatile. I no longer have a bucket of wrapping paper rolls I need to store throughout the year. I buy one 100-foot roll, and I keep one extra roll on hand. That’s it.
Grosgrain Ribbon, Purchased the Smart Way. This is what gives your gift personality and makes kraft paper the only paper you need. You can dress the box in any color or pattern. Here’s the simple solution, though: skip Michaels and Hobby Lobby. You will overspend and end up with a fraction of the ribbon you need. I buy my ribbon in bulk from Uline.com, where you can choose the color, width and roll size (50 to 100 yards). If you haven’t used Uline before, they ship FAST, which is also great if you’re in a pinch. My staple colors include cream, white, red, blue and pink. I find the easiest storage solution is actually a paper-towel holder. The spools spin on the rod, making it the easiest hack. I also limit my ribbon to what the holder can actually hold, which is about five rolls. Otherwise, I know myself. I’ll end up right back where I started with a closet full of ribbon.
Merchandise Tags. I use these as my gift tags. I keep them in cream, white and kraft. Amazon or Michaels is perfect for this. Uline sells them by the thousand, which is a lot of tags. I avoid the “holiday” looking tags. Remember, this is about creating simplicity. Holiday-specific tags don’t work for birthdays. Save yourself the money and go with something you can use year-round.
Miscellaneous Items. I keep the following on hand in a bin specifically for gift wrapping so when the time comes, I am not scouring the house looking for what I need: craft scissors, tape on an actual dispenser that I can refill, a few extra tape refills and a few different colored fine-point Sharpie pens. Red for the holidays. Black, green and blue for everything else. Use a shoebox or any small container to store these items. It doesn’t need to be pretty. It just needs to be contained and accessible.
That’s the entire operation. One roll of paper, a handful of ribbon, simple tags and one bin with everything else I need. Here are two links to find everything you need. The Kraft System and The Ribbon.
That’s it. Four tips. Nothing profound, but they work.
And yes, I realize we are still in October. But that is sort of the point. Do a little of this now and perhaps there will be one less night in December spent sitting in traffic with wet feet because you ran out of Scotch tape.
I’ll be home with the Prosecco.
BONUS TIP: GET PAID TO SHOP
I almost forgot this one because I’ve been using it for so long that it’s become second nature. It’s too good to leave out.
Before I buy anything online, I check here first. And trust me, it’s worth it $$.
Holiday ease, delivered.
Always EDITing,
Leslie
P.S. This one may feel a little different from what I’ve been writing lately. A little levity seemed timely right now. Sometimes I simply want to share what makes my life a little easier in hopes it might do the same for you. I hope you stick around for all of it.
And now I want yours. What’s the one thing you do that makes the holidays easier? Leave it in the comments. I’m always looking for a good idea. Isn’t that what being here is about after all?
More of my recent work:
The craft paper tip is genius. I envision a large portion of your readers adopting it
What a great list! So many good tips! I especially love the idea of using craft paper; it’s great! Your organization skills are admirable! You are the master of sending Christmas greetings!
And Rakuten! Wow! I’m going to do this going forward! Thanks for all of your tips!