Anyone with a big family knows that there doesn’t need to be a “season” to host people on short notice. Be it birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, or New Year, there’s a good chance your home will be the hot spot. We all know how expensive and time-consuming it can be to host get-togethers, especially during Christmas, so everybody could use some tips and tricks to navigate the holiday season.
If you plan well, you can manage the crowd efficiently without breaking a sweat. To help streamline things, here are some tips that will help you manage your Christmas get-together without getting overly stressed.
Plan and prepare for your Christmas get-together early on
Hosting a Christmas get-together is a different ball game altogether. From decorations to food and seating arrangement, everything has to be planned to a tee. We all know that when done at the last moment, it results in absolute chaos. So, to avoid any last-minute stress, plan at least a month in advance. Start by sending out the invites, confirming the number of guests, their food allergies or dietary restrictions (if any), and so on.
Once you have all the information you need, plan the budget, menu, holiday gifts, and decor. With everything penned down, look for money-saving deals (both online and offline). Grab the items at a discounted price whenever you can. If you have some time on hand, you can also pre-cook certain dishes, freeze them, and serve them over the period of your Christmas get-together.
Stock up on non-perishables, toiletries, and any other items you think your guests will need. This way, most of your work for the get-together will be taken care of way before your guests arrive. This trick will leave you with ample time to enjoy quality time with friends and family.
If you are yet to prep for your Christmas get-together, it’s time to divide and conquer. Make a list and divide it among your family members to help get things done on time without much stress and panic. Also, don’t shy away from calling in reinforcements when the situation calls for it. Get your friends to assist whenever they are free to manage the chaos that is last-minute preparation.
Designate proper sleeping places for your guests
No matter if the guests are having a sleepover or will stay till the New Year’s celebration, having a well-designated sleeping area will make things easier for you. The guest room, family room, office, or kids’ bedroom, no matter where you put them, make sure it’s welcoming and easy to set up at a moment’s notice. Inflate air beds a day before the guests arrive and refill them before bedtime so you don’t have to worry about them for the rest of the visit.
Make bedding grab-and-go by storing coordinating blankets in their pillowcase. Put surge-protector power strips everywhere they will be sleeping so they don’t blow a fuse with their electronics. Even placing a few books or magazines under a lamp by the bed and a laundry bag will make things easier. Adding a stand-up mirror to the room to finish one’s morning routine without hogging an in-demand bathroom is a great tip to make hosting Christmas get-togethers easier for you.
Keep certain things within the reach of children to avoid all the running around
This is an essential tip for a stress-free Christmas get-together. If you plan to host families with little ones, they will ask for water, plates, spoons, games, snacks, etc. So, instead of running around fulfilling their requests, designate an area or an easy-to-reach cabinet for the munchkins to grab their things as and when needed.
For instance, you can keep paper plates, plastic spoons and sporks, snacks, games, toys, colors and coloring books, etc., in a cabinet for the children to help themselves. Giving individual water bottles to each toddler will also help you save some time and energy. This way, you will get to spend more time with the adults.
So, take note of these hosting tips and tricks and get the Christmas get-together preparation started for a merry time with your loved ones. Do not fret as you can still make things work if you plan it all strategically.
