I love the holidays, but a few seasons of making all the âmagicâ for my family taught me just how quickly they can drain me. Of course, I look forward to the holiday decor, the recipes, and the family traditions, yet the behind-the-scenes work of being the default holiday planner often leaves me running on empty. And I know Iâm not alone: the American Psychological Association reports that 38 percent of people feel their stress spikes around this time of year.
Parents carry a hefty to-do list year-roundânot just the tasks themselves, but the planning, remembering, and emotional energy behind them (AKA the mental load). During the holidays, that load only grows. On top of our regular routines, weâre gift shopping, playing âSanta,â planning extensive Elf on the Shelf stunts, managing interactions with extended family, and so much more.
Itâs a lot, and itâs completely normal to feel overwhelmed this time of year. Thatâs why taking care of ourselves becomes even more essential. If youâre feeling stretched thin, youâre not alone. Here are a few ways Iâm easing the mental load this seasonâand how you can, too.
Doing everything yourself doesnât make the holiday magic any more âreal.â Sometimes, the most meaningful thing you can do is give yourself support. Consider outsourcing a few tasksâespecially the ones that drain you instead of bringing joy. For the moms on our team, one of the most effective ways to lighten the load is using Shipt for same-day delivery. Itâs a simple, sanity-saving way to knock out errands without ever leaving the house, and our editors truly swear by it.
With Shipt, you can get same-day delivery from more than 100 national retailers and beloved local grocers, including Albertsonâs, Michaels, Target, and PetSmart. While Shipt is most known for same-day grocery delivery, the ability to also order decor, gifts, toiletries, craft supplies, and last-minute holiday necessities makes it our go-to tool during the busiest time of year. You can add special requests to your order (like âextra ripe avocadosâ or a specific brand of decor), and shoppers with Shipt will text with you directly. Theyâre known for their attention to detail and thoughtful substitutionsâwhich makes a huge difference during chaotic holiday weeks.
Planning smarter, not harder
The mental load of the holidays can feel overwhelming when everything comes at once, but a little planning can go a long way. Instead of tackling tasks as they pop up, I focus on triaging what really needs attention and organizing my time strategically. Some strategies that help me stay on top of things include:
Prioritizing high-impact tasks: Identify what will matter most to your family and focus on those firstâwhether itâs a meaningful tradition, a special treat, or a festive projectâso your energy goes toward what truly brings joy.
Creating a holiday command center: A visible checklist, calendar, or digital board keeps all tasks in one placeâgifts, events, meal prep, and deadlinesâso nothing slips through the cracks.
Batching errands and shopping: Group items by store, category, or type of task. This way, one trip or one focused session can cover multiple needs, saving both time and mental energy. Services like Shipt make it even easier by delivering from local stores same day.
Prepping in small daily chunks: Even 10â15 minutes a day, wrapping gifts, prepping treats, or organizing supplies, prevents tasks from piling up and makes the season feel manageable.
Streamlining and simplifying traditions
One of the things I love most about the holidays is the heartwarming feeling of familiar traditions. Trying to honor too many routines and rituals, though, can transform them into stressors. This year, Iâm prioritizing the ones that bring the most joy and meaning and letting go of those that feel like just one more thing on my to-do list.
On top of evaluating family traditions, Iâm also looking for ways to simplify some of the traditions that are important to my family. For example, every year, my kids look forward to delivering treats to the local fire station. And while in the past theyâve enjoyed baking them with me, for them the thrill is mostly about showing up at the station bearing gifts. This year, weâll leave the baking to someone else by delivering goodies purchased at our local holiday market.
Gift giving doesnât have to be overwhelming if you approach it strategically. I start by tackling the âhardestâ gifts firstâthe ones that require the most thought, time, or hunting around. Once those are squared away, the rest of my list feels much more manageable.
You can also use services like Shipt to make gift-giving even simpler. Shipt even has a new gifting feature that lets you order quick gifts with same-day delivery, which works great both locally and long-distance. Choose gifts from your recipientâs local stores, write a personalized message theyâll receive through text, and a shopper with Shipt will deliver it straight to their door. Shipt will even text them with order status updates. This is especially helpful when I inevitably forget to send a gift to that one great aunt who lives dozens of miles away. Same-day delivery has my backâno stress, no guilt.
Simplifying meal planning and prep
The holidays are busy enough without feeling like every meal has to be a production. One of the easiest ways to lighten the load is to plan ahead for your familyâs everyday meals. Start by creating a short list of go-to breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that everyone enjoys. Rotate these staples throughout the week so youâre not reinventing the wheel every day.
Batch prep where you can: wash and chop veggies, cook proteins, or portion out snacks in advance. Even 10â15 minutes in the morning or evening can save mental energy later. Freezer-friendly meals like soups, casseroles, or homemade breakfast sandwiches can also be lifesavers, giving you ready-to-go options on hectic days.
Being mindful of spending
Managing money after the holidays can be just as overwhelming as the season itselfâbut small strategies can prevent that post-holiday stress from taking over. Here are some ways to help you stay intentional with both spending and tracking finances:
Set a clear gift budget per person or category and stick to it. Knowing your limits ahead of time removes the stress of last-minute impulse buys.
Use tools to consolidate spendingâtrack online orders, receipts, and subscriptions in one place so nothing slips through the cracks.
Prioritize experiences over excess: Even small gestures like family game nights, holiday movie marathons, or a cozy treat can create lasting memories without breaking the bank.
Plan a post-holiday âfinancial resetâ: Set aside a few minutes in early January to review spending, reconcile credit card statements, and plan for upcoming expenses. It prevents lingering stress and helps you start the new year clear-headed.
Setting realistic expectations: for yourself and others
If youâre the one carrying the mental load at the holidays, chances are youâre responsible for it in other areas of life, too. And, unfortunately, real lifeâlike laundry, dentist appointments, and coordinating childcareâdoesnât pause for the holidays. You canât do it all, so donât waste your energy trying.
This year, Iâm giving myself permission to take things off my list or to do them differently. I wonât be saying yes to every invitation. I might even (gasp) bring store-bought cookies to a baking swap. This way, Iâll be sure to have the energy to focus on what truly matters to my family and me. After all, the holiday season is about creating meaningful memories, not trying to achieve perfection.
One of the most effective ways to reduce the mental load is to delegate responsibilities. So, go ahead and assign tasks to family members and friends, like meal planning, grocery shopping, or decorating. Even young children can get involved. And if you need extra backup beyond what your household can cover, Shipt is another simple way to share the load, especially for restocking groceries, grabbing forgotten items, or ordering supplies you donât have bandwidth to pick up yourself.
Practicing self-care
The stress that comes from the mental load of the holidays can wreak havoc on both our physical and mental well-being. Move your body regularly, get enough sleep, and set boundaries where needed. Youâre not required to socialize with anyone who makes you uncomfortable, even if theyâre family. If self-care has had to be placed on the back burner recently, consider the following:
Take a hot bath with a holiday-scented candle
Read a low-stakes holiday rom-com book
Plan a date with a close friend
See a ballet, play, or concert for a night out of the house
Perhaps half of what makes holiday stress management difficult is the immense expectations we set. This year, itâs my goal to embrace imperfections. Whatâs great about that is sometimes they make perfect memories. Instead of feeling defeated when the pie comes out burnt, laugh it off and pick up one from the store. Run out of wrapping paper? Transform the newspaper in the recycling bin into festive wrapping.
Sometimes it feels like the holidays are made up of approximately one million individual tasks. At the end of the day, though, theyâre composed of memoriesâour own as well as those of our loved ones. We deserve to experience every ounce of the joy we create for others, even at the expense of the to-do list.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Caitlin Weaver, Contributing Writer
Caitlin is a writer and editor living between Atlanta and Toronto. She has covered an extensive range of parenting, wellness, and empowering motherhood content for The Everymom. When not chasing her two young boys, she can be found on her yoga mat or tackling her ever-growing TBR pile.
As the Branded Content Editorial Assistant, McKenna collaborates with our sales team by creating both written and social media content, collecting and analyzing performance data to report back to our partners, and assisting our editors with their everyday tasks to ensure a smooth and productive process.
