Hosting your annual holiday party can be one of your favorite memories of the year. To achieve this, you can avoid many of the expensive, anxiety-inducing pitfalls seen in drama-filled seasonal movies. With these tips, a stress-free, cost-effective, and fun-filled way to celebrate the holidays is just around the corner.
1. Host a movie marathon
Watching a movie is the perfect way to end a long, mandatory conversation and feel-good holiday activity. Prepare a list of movies that you know your guests will enjoy. Add a bit of comedy to the party to add some laughter.
If you want to reduce stress, consider getting rid of your old DVDs and Blu-ray discs. Using these instead of streaming can reduce your carbon footprint every time you watch a movie again. It can also save money on theater tickets for recent Christmas releases.
2. Encourage low-cost, edible gifts
It can be awkward to attend a holiday celebration without gifts for some or all of the attendees. You never know what others are going through this time of year. It is recommended not to give low-priced or low-priced gifts, but rather edible gifts to take the stress out of gift-giving.
If everyone comes with homemade hot cocoa or cookies, no one will put on airs or feel inferior for not spending that much. It’s also a more environmentally friendly option. It prevents over-consumption caused by wasteful white elephant exchanges and eliminates the risk of unwanted gifts going into landfill.
3. Make mocktails
A recent survey found that 21% of Gen Z will host sober holiday parties in 2024. Alcohol damages people’s wallets, health and the environment. Just because it’s an expectation doesn’t mean you need it. Instead, create a menu of festive mocktails. Here are some typical ingredients for developing an idea:
- Soda, cider or grape juice
- eggnog
- Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves
- Seasonal juices such as pomegranate, apple and cranberry
- Hot cocoa and various chocolates
- Mint
4. Wrap gifts together
Host a gift wrapping party with friends and family and have everyone bring paper and tags to share. Set up workstations throughout your home so people can go to separate rooms when confidentiality is needed. Wrapping many gifts for others can be daunting, but you can reduce the stress by lending a helping hand.
5. Keep the kids busy
Attending festivals requires even more multitasking when children are present. Invest your energy in their enjoyment by encouraging quality time with them while providing them with plenty of affordable, eco-friendly activities to entertain them during their adult interactions. Consider the following points:
- Prepare pre-made cookies and decorate them with icing in multiple colors
- Print holiday-themed puzzles or paper games
- Set up a card-making station to let them express their holiday cheer
- Create a scavenger hunt that takes the kids to a specific area of the party where you can spy on them
6. Dinner
Cooking isn’t everyone’s ideal holiday task. Set up a registry with guests to ensure everyone brings something unique and useful while being mindful of potential dietary restrictions. Let people bring their own containers for leftovers so they don’t contribute to the 92 billion pounds of food waste that accumulates in the U.S. every year.
7. Arrange appropriate activities
Does your mom hate crossword puzzles? Are you embarrassed when your bestie sings Christmas carols or performs karaoke? Consider each guest’s likes and dislikes so there’s less tension at the party. You can also arrange games and other entertainment activities. This is done so that anyone can pick up and play something without having to make a mandatory itinerary.
8. Create a slideshow
Create a slide show of happy winter memories to play during the party. It reminds loved ones how much you care about them and focuses the celebration on positive memories rather than potentially stressful ones. You can even make it a collaborative activity. Let everyone submit or send images digitally.
9. Filter the invitation list
Spend time with the people you care about most this holiday season by setting boundaries. Reduce the number of people you are willing to handle at an event. If necessary, hold two gatherings—one for family and one for friends. You want to strike a balance between playing the role of owner and enjoying the company. This requires a smaller turnout.
10. DIY Decorations
Just like a gift-wrapping party, host it before the main event and create DIY holiday decorations. Families that host an annual celebration and exchange gifts can have everyone bring and share craft supplies to make things. When people are finished, have everyone install and display their creations to reduce time-consuming decorating. Inspire your guests with these ideas:
- wreath
- decoration
- Small tree-like clay works
- Tree skirts and other knitted works
- Paper snowflakes and other origami
- door hanger
- Dried orange or gummy garland
Buying new decorations every year is a growing problem, with a trajectory comparable to fast fashion and its unsustainable record.
11. Rethink tradition
Are there any holiday traditions that stress you out? Is it a difficult experience to pick a tree every year? Do you have difficulty watching a certain movie because it reminds you of a deceased loved one? Ditch these and replace them with modern ideas that bring more smiles instead of struggles.
12. Don’t make phone calls during holidays
When you spend time planning a complicated party, it can be frustrating to see people on their phones. Try to enforce strict phone rules so guests can focus on face-to-face connections rather than indulging in digital distractions. It can prevent resentment from building up on you and awkward confrontations with loved ones.
13. Give back
If you have a greater purpose for your seasons, a lot of holiday stress will disappear. Donate time, food, textiles or money to a charity that needs it most. It may include women’s or homeless shelters and soup kitchens.
stress free season
It’s time to change the way you think about holiday celebrations. You can make it cheap and eco-friendly while adding a fun factor. This year, if you adopt even one of these tips, you’ll reduce potential stress. Which job will you start working on?
About the author
Jane is an environmental writer and the founder and editor-in-chief of Environment.co, where she reports on sustainable and eco-friendly living.
