How to Plan Ahead for Holidays and Celebrations

You know I love deciding things in advance.

• Picking the upcoming week's meals on Saturday.

• Deciding on my priorities for the week.

• Selecting my next book before I've finished my current read.

That way, in the moment, when I may or may not have the energy to think critically, all I have to do is the thing I already decided I was going to do.

There's no "what should we have for dinner?" or "what project should I work on next?". I already know.

Last weekend, as I was putting together my kids' Easter baskets, completely relaxed and unrushed, I realized it was because I had decided in advance.

I created a template for Easter baskets that makes things so much easier.

For most holidays, celebrations, and special occasions, I make decisions in advance by following a formula or a template just like I do for everyday things like meal planning and setting priorities.

I'll use Easter baskets as an example since it's top of mind, but the idea is applicable to so many other things.

Several years ago, I decided that my kids' Easter baskets would follow this formula:

• Swimsuit

• Book

• Activity (small Lego set, pokemon cards, craft kit, etc.)

• Candy

In the month leading up to Easter, I don't have endless options from which to choose. I don't have to search Pinterest and Instagram for ideas on what to put in an Easter basket. I already know. And all I have to do is choose the swimsuit, book, activity, and candy. Done!

What's also interesting is that my kids have come to rely on and expect these things too. They know they're going to get a new swimsuit and a book and it doesn't take away from the surprise. They look forward to it and enjoy the baskets just as much.

Other templates I've put in place are for things like Christmas stockings, birthday celebrations, and even Valentine's Day and other smaller events.

Everyone knows that for your birthday you get to choose the cake, the restaurant where we'll take you for dinner, and that your birthday banner will get hung in the living room too.

Even my in-laws have caught on and started creating their own templates. For birthdays they take each grandkid out for ice cream and to pick out a new book from our local bookstore. It's 1:1 time and an experience they look forward to each year.

Templates like these are similar to traditions if you think about it.

They're the activities and events that you remember from childhood.

I'll never forget the ghost-shaped cutout cookies my mom made for me every year on my birthday. Or the Oreo cookie ice cream cake I enjoyed on my sister's birthday in the summer.

And looking back on it, what a relief that must have been for my mom. That she didn't have to come up with something new or decide what to make from a sea of endless dessert options. She just focused her time and energy on baking cookies and making ice cream cake.

If you want to get started creating your own template, make a note about what you did and what you got the kids for each occasion.

If something worked really well or your kids loved something, take note so that next year, you can simply repeat it.

Then use those things that worked really well to create your own formula so you can take the guesswork out of it.

Now that I've sold you on deciding in advance and repeating what works year after year, I have to warn you about something that happens, even to me.

You're going to second-guess your decision.

You're going to be walking through Target and see all of the cute Easter items on display and want to check to make sure there's nothing better.

You're going to see pictures on Instagram and worry that you're not doing enough.

That's normal. And it's not a problem.

And I want you to remind yourself that your template, your formula is perfect because it works for you.

It's what makes things easy and less stressful so that you can relax and enjoy the event instead of scrambling and trying to figure out what to get or bake or do.

Let your decision be ENOUGH.

If the idea of creating a series of templates for all of the events in your life sounds fun and like exactly what you need, I want you to do consider doing a Planning Intensive with me. This is just the type of project that we can complete together, start to finish, and then some. I have openings for April and May and would love to help you make life and all of those special occasions easier and more enjoyable. Start by booking a consult and we'll go from there.