The Holiday Headstart

40. 5 Things You Can Do in January to Get Ahead for Next Christmas (Seriously!)

Christmas may feel far away, but it’s never too early to start getting ahead. In this episode, we are bringing back our five easy tasks you can tackle in January to set yourself up for a smoother, more joyful holiday season. Plus, we’ve got creative tips for celebrating lesser-known holidays like Groundhog Day, and we’ll reveal the magic of reflecting on your past holiday experiences to make future celebrations even better. So grab your notes as we give you the tools to stay stress-free and joyous all year round! EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: [01:04] – Tradition Spotlight on Celebrating Groundhog Day [03:20] – Getting Ahead for Next Christmas [04:01] – Tip 1: Reflect and Record [05:55] – Tip 2: Savings Strategy [06:42] – Tip 3: Stocking Solutions [09:13] – Tip 4: Undecorate with Purpose [10:25] – Tip 5: Recipe Roundup [14:27] – This week’s Get A Headstart Tip for saving for back-to-school expenses [15:49] – What’s on our to-do lists this week [16:51] – Our Nice Lists WHAT’S NEXT? 1. Join us next week for more tips on holiday preparation and planning! 2. Check out the Holiday Headstart Playbook for more tools and inspiration. RESOURCES MENTIONED: 1. Grab The Holiday Headstart Playbook [http://theholidayheadstart.com/playbook] 2. Follow on Instagram @theholidayheadstart [https://www.instagram.com/theholidayheadstart] 3. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-holiday-headstart/id1739162255] IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LOVE THESE TOO: 1. Episode 5 – Making a Plan for Gift Giving [https://www.secondstorywindow.net/hh-podcast/organize-your-holiday-gift-list/] 2. Episode 8 – Make Your Christmas Baking Game Plan with the Holiday Headstart [https://www.secondstorywindow.net/hh-podcast/christmas-baking-game-plan/]

39. A Gentle Plan for the Week After Christmas

While there’s so much to manage right now, there’s a gift of slower paced days heading your way. But if you don't think about it even a tiny bit ahead of time, it just... disappears. And then you get to January wondering what happened and why you still feel exhausted. Since there’s not room to add anything heavy to your plate, we’re keeping things light. In this episode, we're walking you through five different "resets" you might be craving after the holiday rush—recovery, connection, catch-up, fun, or closure—and helping you build a bare minimum plan so that the week between Christmas and the new year actually gives back to you. You could literally make your whole plan while you listen. So grab your headphones, finish wrapping those gifts, and let's make sure the week after Christmas doesn't slip away. Highlights from the episode: [00:01:06] - Tradition Spotlight on sibling gift exchange [00:03:35] - A gentle post-holiday plan [00:06:50] - Post-holiday reset 1: recovery [00:08:08] - Post-holiday reset 2: connection [00:08:42] - Post-holiday reset 3: catch up [00:09:29] - Post-holiday reset 4: fun [00:10:12] - Post-holiday reset 5: closure [00:11:17] - Bare minimum plan [00:19:11] - Make your own plan [00:21:25] - This week’s Get A Headstart Tip for making a Christmas lost-and-found box for lost decor items [00:22:48] - What’s on our to-do lists this week [00:25:20] - Our Nice Lists Resources: List any resources mentioned in the episode first, and then the evergreen links below them. * 🔥 Wish Papers for New Year's Eve: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=wish+papers [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=wish+papers] * 📚 Jolabokaflod (Icelandic Book Flood) tradition idea * 🎄 My Minds Eye Glitter Christmas Village pieces * 📺 The Merry Movie Club on Instagram: @themerrymovieclub * 🎬 Merry Christmas Ted Cooper (Hallmark movie recommendation) * Grab The Holiday Headstart Playbook [http://theholidayheadstart.com/playbook] * Take the Holiday Profile quiz [http://quiz.theholidayheadstart.com] * Follow on Instagram @theholidayheadstart  [https://www.instagram.com/theholidayheadstart] * Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-holiday-headstart/id1739162255] More About The Holiday Headstart: Welcome to The Holiday Headstart podcast, where we get intentional about kicking overwhelm to the curb and bringing joy back to your holidays (and every day). We’re Heidi and Emily, two sisters and former elementary school teachers, who’ve taken the simple strategies and practical tips we mastered in the classroom and put them to work in our personal lives.  And we’re here to help you do the same! Join us each week as we share how, with a little planning and a little prep, you can ensure that the days that make life special don’t become the days that make you stressed.

38. Before You Stuff a Single Stocking, Listen to This

Stockings are such a given that most of us never stop to think about whether they're actually working for us. We just keep doing what we've always done—until the stress piles up or disappointment creeps in. In this episode, we're walking you through six key areas to consider when it comes to stockings—from clarifying your "why" to setting boundaries around cost and expectations. We're also tackling something that doesn't get talked about nearly enough: what to do when everyone else's stocking is overflowing… and yours is empty. Whether you're trying to simplify your holiday prep, get everyone on the same page, or just make sure you feel included and cared for this season, this conversation will help you approach stockings with intention instead of stress. Highlights from the episode: [00:01:12] - Tradition Spotlight on kazoo caroling [00:04:04] - Step 1: What matters about stockings? [00:05:05] - Step 2: Who’s included? [00:05:57] - Step 3: Style & setting [00:08:28] - Step 4: What’s the stocking budget? [00:10:52] - Step 5: Stocking timing and traditions [00:11:43] - Step 6: Managing stocking disappointment [00:16:59] - This week’s Get A Headstart Tip for ordering PJs [00:19:38] - What’s on our to-do lists this week [00:22:33] - Our Nice Lists Resources: List any resources mentioned in the episode first, and then the evergreen links below them. * Grab The Holiday Headstart Playbook [http://theholidayheadstart.com/playbook] * Take the Holiday Profile quiz [http://quiz.theholidayheadstart.com] * Follow on Instagram @theholidayheadstart  [https://www.instagram.com/theholidayheadstart] * Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-holiday-headstart/id1739162255] If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love these too: * Episode 11 - Creating New Holiday Traditions [https://www.secondstorywindow.net/hh-podcast/create-new-holiday-traditions/] * Episode 12 - Managing Your Holiday To-Dos [https://www.secondstorywindow.net/hh-podcast/holiday-tasks-docket/] More About The Holiday Headstart: Welcome to The Holiday Headstart podcast, where we get intentional about kicking overwhelm to the curb and bringing joy back to your holidays (and every day). We’re Heidi and Emily, two sisters and former elementary school teachers, who’ve taken the simple strategies and practical tips we mastered in the classroom and put them to work in our personal lives.  And we’re here to help you do the same! Join us each week as we share how, with a little planning and a little prep, you can ensure that the days that make life special don’t become the days that make you stressed.

37. The Holiday List System That Actually Works

In this episode, we're breaking down exactly how to tackle your holiday planning so you can stop white-knuckling your way to January. And we're starting with something that might surprise you—we're celebrating what you've already done. Then we'll walk you through our full system: from making your Ta-Da List, to creating your Tackle List for those tasks you dread, building an intentional to-do list, and timing everything so you're not cramming it all into the last two weeks of December. Plus, we're sharing bonus lists that will save your sanity—like Early Bird Tasks you can knock out now, "one and done" decisions that eliminate decision fatigue, and our favorite TV Tasks for productive relaxing. Highlights from the episode: [00:55:00] - Tradition Spotlight on annual Christmas ornaments [00:07:00] - Make your Ta-Da List [00:11:20] - Make your Tackle List [00:14:04] - Make your To-Do List [00:15:48] - Other helpful lists [00:20:49] - This week’s Get-A Headstart Tip for preparing for guests [00:21:49] - What’s on our to-do lists this week [00:27:52] - Our Nice Lists Resources: * Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater Spray * Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar [https://www.jacquielawson.com/advent/christmas-village] * Grab The Holiday Headstart Playbook [http://theholidayheadstart.com/playbook] * Take the Holiday Profile quiz [http://quiz.theholidayheadstart.com] * Follow on Instagram @theholidayheadstart  [https://www.instagram.com/theholidayheadstart] * Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-holiday-headstart/id1739162255] If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love these too: * The 5 Step Action Plan for Traditions [Episode 6] [https://www.secondstorywindow.net/hh-podcast/action-plan-for-holiday-traditions/] * Unlock the Power of the 3 Cs: Your Ultimate Guide to Holiday Planning [Episode 7] [https://www.secondstorywindow.net/hh-podcast/guide-to-holiday-planning/] * How to Use a Task Docket to Make Managing Your Holiday To-Dos Easy Peasy [Episode 12] [https://www.secondstorywindow.net/hh-podcast/holiday-tasks-docket/] More About The Holiday Headstart: Welcome to The Holiday Headstart podcast, where we get intentional about kicking overwhelm to the curb and bringing joy back to your holidays (and every day). We’re Heidi and Emily, two sisters and former elementary school teachers, who’ve taken the simple strategies and practical tips we mastered in the classroom and put them to work in our personal lives.  And we’re here to help you do the same! Join us each week as we share how, with a little planning and a little prep, you can ensure that the days that make life special don’t become the days that make you stressed.

36. How to Do Halloween Right (Without Doing Everything)

Halloween can sneak up on you fast, so let’s walk through our 10-step system for planning a Halloween that feels magical instead of manic. From figuring out your budget to mapping your trick-or-treat route, we cover everything you need to know to stay ahead of the chaos. If you want to actually enjoy Halloween this year instead of just surviving it, this episode is for you. Highlights from the episode: [00:01:14] - Tradition Spotlight on Joy Lists [00:05:11] - Planning Halloween step 1 - Identify your purpose [00:07:03] - Step 2 - Budget [00:08:35] - Step 3 - Activities and Traditions [00:11:07] - Step 4 - Calendar and Coordinate [00:11:53] - Step 5 - Food [00:15:46] - Step 6 - Costumes and Photos [00:18:52] - Step 7 - Home Prep [00:19:25] - Step 8 - Logistics [00:21:09] - Step 9 - Halloween Night Details [00:22:00] - Step 10 - Lists [00:24:48] - This week’s Get A Headstart Tip for inventorying gift stock piles [00:26:20] - What’s on our to-do lists this week [00:27:45] - Our Nice Lists Resources: * Joy Lists [https://www.instagram.com/dmicheleperry] * ClayMoo [https://claymoo.com/] * Grab The Holiday Headstart Playbook [http://theholidayheadstart.com/playbook] * Take the Holiday Profile quiz [http://quiz.theholidayheadstart.com] * Follow on Instagram @theholidayheadstart  [https://www.instagram.com/theholidayheadstart] * Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-holiday-headstart/id1739162255] If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love these too: * Episode 4: How to Craft Your Holiday Values For A More Meaningful Christmas Season [https://www.secondstorywindow.net/hh-podcast/meaningful-christmas-values/] * Episode 6: The 5 Step Action Plan for Traditions [https://www.secondstorywindow.net/hh-podcast/action-plan-for-holiday-traditions/] More About The Holiday Headstart: Welcome to The Holiday Headstart podcast, where we get intentional about kicking overwhelm to the curb and bringing joy back to your holidays (and every day). We’re Heidi and Emily, two sisters and former elementary school teachers, who’ve taken the simple strategies and practical tips we mastered in the classroom and put them to work in our personal lives.  And we’re here to help you do the same! Join us each week as we share how, with a little planning and a little prep, you can ensure that the days that make life special don’t become the days that make you stressed.