December is a sacred month. Full of sparkle and memory-making, meaning and emotion, hope and anticipation. It’s the month we dream about, the lights, the music, the family traditions, the coziness, the joy. And yet, let’s be honest, December can also be one of the most emotionally heavy months of the year. The celebrations and expectations can bring anxiety. The pressure to make everything magical can feel overwhelming. The pace can feel exhausting. The empty chairs at the table can feel extra painful. The crowded calendars and comparisons can drain the joy right out of the season. If your heart has ever felt tight when looking at your December schedule… If you’ve ever cried in your car because you felt behind or not enough… If you’ve ever loved Christmas but dreaded all the demands around it…
You’re not alone.
So many people feel this way, especially women. And that is exactly why scheduling for success matters so much during the holiday season. There is no better feeling than the feeling of peace that comes from living a planned holiday season. Remember, the beauty of the holidays isn’t in doing everything, it’s in protecting what matters most and letting go of the rest.
So, how do we overcome anxiety with intention? How do we create a space of peace instead of pressure? And how do we enjoy the holidays instead of surviving them?
We schedule for success with wisdom and grace. Scheduling for success isn’t rigid or demanding. It’s definitely not for perfection. It’s not about performing or impressing anyone. It’s about creating space for the life you want to live and the peace your soul needs.
Scheduling transforms:
overwhelm → order
anxiety → alignment
tension → tranquility
rushing → remembering
pressure → presence
Why Scheduling Helps Create a Calm Holiday Season
1. Anxiety decreases when clarity increases
Most holiday anxiety comes from trying to hold everything in our heads: Gifts, plans, events, food, commitments, emotions, and expectations.
It’s too much to mentally carry. But when we schedule intentionally, we empty the mental pressure cooker. We can breathe again. When you know what needs to be done, when it will be done, and when you will rest…peace returns.
2. Scheduling protects your emotional health
When holiday anxiety is high, we don’t need more to do, but rather we need intentional space. Create and plan for international rest. Your regular rhythms of rest and rejuvenation are often the first to go over the holiday. Regular rhythms are actually most beneficial in more demanding seasons.
That means writing into your calendar things like:
- Regular Exercise (even though you’re extra busy)
- Worship playlist + hot tea
- Intentional conversation with a friend
- Quiet night in with no expectations
You are allowed to protect your peace. That’s not selfish, it’s spiritual stewardship.
3. Scheduling breaks the cycle of perfectionism
When we plan under pressure, we perform. When we plan for peace, we enjoy. When the chaos, business, and social media feed screams,
“You’re behind.”
“Everyone is doing more.”
“You have to make it perfect.”
Remind yourself that meaning is better than more. Beautiful doesn’t equate to perfect, and what those around you want most is for you to be present. When you schedule, it forces you to create priorities that you are proud of. Scheduling helps us keep our hearts on what matters most.
A December Scheduling Framework for Less Stress and More Peace
Organize your calendar extra thoughtfully through the holidays.
PRIORITY — What’s most important
What are the things that would make this season a win?
Family time, seasonal activities, advent bible reading plan, (take time to look up/reserve dates for activities you would like to do). This helps you get them on the calendar ahead of time and also budget for them.
This also allows you to create a framework (boundaries around your time) where you make the most of your December by doing the things that are most meaningful to you.
PRODUCTIVITY SCHEDULES — What creates structure
Holiday cleaning, stocking pantry with items you use regularly for hosting/baking, eliminating extra clutter in your house/car, putting your holiday clothes in the forefront of your closet, keeping wrapping paper in one place and keeping it stocked and tidy, and having one box where you store your receipts through the holiday season
HOLIDAY SCHEDULES — What prevents overwhelm
Shopping | Wrapping | Events | Baking: Time block these things. When I think through the details of what it takes for me as a woman to make the holidays happen, I find that scheduling time in my days and weeks for these things makes them more of a blessing than a burden.
PEACE SCHEDULES — What lowers anxiety
In the rush of the holidays, allow for rest. Take one hour a week and do whatever you want to this December. That could be watching a Christmas movie by yourself, bundling up for a winter walk, or even a night where you go to bed early. Guard your rest = guarding your peace. Try to keep your normal rest rhythms as much as possible—Nobody wants a grinch.
December Declaration
I refuse to live rushed, overwhelmed, or anxious. I steward my time with wisdom. I choose peace over pressure, presence over perfection, and rest over chaos. God goes before me, gives me strength, and fills this December with calm and joy.
Practical Tips for a Peaceful December
- Create a family December tradition list — and cross off what doesn’t serve peace.
- Plan margin nights every week
- Choose three traditions you want to remember most and release the rest
- Batch errands and tasks so they don’t steal joy from slow moments
- Have weekly calendar check-ins with your spouse or kids
- Say no early and guilt-free — you don’t need to explain peace
- Turn off notifications and turn up worship when anxiety starts building
- Delegate — you do not have to carry Christmas alone
Take some time to exhale as we launch into December because peace is possible!
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