By Jellyn Gueco

If you’re the kind of person who starts getting stressed out as soon as you hear Jose Mari Chan singing non-stop wherever you go, then you’re probably already breaking out in a cold sweat with the holidays just barely three months away. Every year, you keep telling yourself that you’re not going to get yourself worked up this time, but somehow, you still end up panicked and exhausted.

Well, not this year! Here are five practical (and realistic) hacks you can start doing right now to make sure you enjoy the festivities to the fullest.

Hack #1: Start decluttering before putting up decorations

Only in the Philippines do we get so excited about the holidays that we put up decorations months before Christmas! But before you take out your trees and parol, take the time to declutter and reorganize your home first. This will free up space for your decors and make them look more impressive.

But do you know that decluttering will not only free up space in your home? Studies have shown that decluttering your space can have an amazing impact on your mental wellbeing! It can help relieve anxiety, boost your mood, and give you mental clarity.

You can start decluttering by clearing up any visible clutter then proceed to the more hidden places. You can also do a room-by-room declutter every weekend. If you feel that the job is too big for you, consider decluttering for at least 15 minutes every day to kick off the process.

Hack #2: Finalize holiday plans ASAP

Remember last year when you spent months checking out party venues or looking for “Piso Fare” travel deals, only to end up staying home? Don’t let that happen again. Many of us follow the advice of planning early but most of the time, we procrastinate and fail to commit to a decision.

Sure, waiting for the best deals or prices can be tempting. But let’s be real, there are certain things like venue rentals and airfare that won’t magically get cheaper if you keep waiting. So, the secret to the best-laid plans is to finalize them as soon as possible.

If you’re traveling, choosing your destination early helps ensure that the rooms and flights are still available. You can select hotels that don’t require an advance payment if you’re worried about finances. If you’re planning a holiday party, booking a venue early on gives you the upper hand to negotiate a better price.

Hack #3: Assign tasks

to other people

Don’t go into Darna mode and try to accomplish everything on your own. This mindset is one of the major reasons you end up overwhelmed during the holidays. The obvious solution is to delegate tasks.

Create a checklist of tasks and assign each of them to family members or friends. By assigning these tasks early, there’s a less likely chance they’ll say no and you can make sure they have enough time to do what needs to be done.

Once you’ve assigned the task, make sure to check in with them every couple of weeks to see if they’re able to get it done. Don’t hesitate to reassign tasks if you feel that someone is not capable of doing it.

Hack #4: Schedule your holiday shopping in batches

You have made a list and you have checked it twice but that’s not enough to reduce the stress of holiday shopping. Just the thought of getting all your holiday shopping done in one go can be terrifying.

You can categorize your shopping list either by recipient, location, or type of item making it easier for you to plan your shopping trips. For instance, if you’re starting your shopping in October, week 1 can be for friends, week 2 for work colleagues, week 3 for children, and so on. This will save you a lot of time and effort because you only need to go to certain stores for each category.

Another advantage of shopping in batches is that it allows you to better manage your holiday budget. Unlike when you shop for everything all at once, you can spread out your expenses over several weeks.

Hack #5: Always practice self-care

Just because you’re saving up for an expensive gift for your partner or you’re trying to make sure you have enough cash for your December Tokyo trip doesn’t mean you should forget all about self-care.

Self-care does not need to be expensive. It can be as simple as getting a pedicure, watching a few episodes of your favorite K-drama, or having your favorite dessert.

The holidays can be exhausting physically, mentally, and emotionally so make sure to take some time for yourself and indulge in activities that help restore your energy levels.