Hey friends! So whether we like it or not, the holidays are pretty much here, and if your schedule’s anything like mine, this time of year can be a little crazy. Today my friend Jessica’s helping us with that – sharing some really great advice to help us tackle our never-ending to-do lists this season.
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The holidays are here, which means your schedule is about to get even more packed than it already is. Between celebrating with family and friends and participating in your favorite holiday traditions, your schedule is likely booked from December first, straight until the ball drops on New Year’s Eve.
While the holidays bring happiness, cheer and celebrations with the ones you love, that crazy schedule, along with extra spending and a little too much family time can make it more stressful than jolly.
Every year you make a promise to yourself (and others) that next year you will finally slow down and actually enjoy the holidays—but does it ever actually happen?
This year fulfill the promise you’ve made to yourself and others and learn how to multi-task your way through the holiday season. Below are some tips for getting it all done while staying sane.
Shop On-the-Go
We know that ladies are multi-tasking pros, but when it comes to the holiday season, they’re ninjas. The Holidaze 2018 survey found that 45 percent of women plan to shop on-the-go on their mobile devices this year—as opposed to just 27 percent of men—so this is your cue to do the same.
No more wasting precious time in line at your local department store, visiting five different boutiques to find the perfect gift, or online shopping at 10pm after another long day at work. There are hundreds of easy-to-use shopping apps that allow you to browse and purchase everything from your phone or iPad while Uber-ing to a holiday party or taking the subway to work in the morning.
Check out some great shopping apps that will help you find the perfect gift while on-the-move:
Gilt: Gilt is a mobile shopping app that features incredible deals (up to 70 percent off) on clothing and home decor from top designers like Marc Jacobs, Stuart Weitzman and Le Creuset. You can even find deals on unforgettable experiences, like skydiving or dinner cruises, in major cities across the U.S.
Get the app: Apple and Android
Target: Instead of driving to your local Target, where you’ll inevitably spend more and get stuck in a 30-minute line, download the mobile app. You can shop with the app just like online or in-store, with access to the store’s entire inventory. You can order items quickly then choose to pick it up at the store or have it delivered to your home.
Get the app: Apple and Android
RetailMeNot: If you’re on a strict budget this holiday season, download the RetailMeNot mobile app. This money-saving app finds great deals and coupons from thousands of popular retailers, so you can shop and save while on the go. The app even features a “Savings Map” that allows you to see all offers near your current location.
Get the app: Apple and Android
Choose Party Dishes Based on Your Meals
One of the most time-consuming tasks of the holiday season is prepping food for the holiday parties you’re attending. Whether you’ve offered to bring cookies or a full entrée, base your offering on what you know you’re likely to eat at home. This way, you can multi-task when prepping.
For example, if you tend to eat a lot of winter salads—think, faro, squash, kale and feta—offer to bring that to one of the parties. This way, you can make a large batch, keep some for your lunches or dinners at home, and then take the rest to the party.
Do the same for holiday treats. If you’re cooking a batch of cookies for work already, consider whether you can bring dessert to a holiday party that’s happening right before or after. If you’re spending time in the kitchen, you might as well make the most of it and multi-task your party offerings.
Look for 2-for-1 Deals
This time of year is filled with huge discounts and deals, especially in the last few weeks leading up to Christmas. If you’re shopping list is long, look for 2-for-1 deals, so you can buy once but get a gift for two people.
This works well for gag gifts, or gifts for your friends because you’re likely looking for generic or simple gifts anyway. You can even make it fun and get the same gift for siblings, like matching pajamas, so it doesn’t look like you were just multi-tasking.
To find the best BOGO deals, head to your favorite deal app and filter to see items with this discount. For example, RetailMeNot has an entire section solely dedicated to BOGO deals so you can quickly and easily find what you need.
Multi-Task This Holiday Season
Use your mulit-tasking skills to make this holiday season less stressful and more joyous. These simple tips make it easy to shop on-the-go, make the most of your time in the kitchen, and get more with each gift purchase you make. Don’t let the holiday chaos get you down—instead, take matters into your own hands and get it all done with a smile on your face.
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Jessica Thiefels is an entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Jessica Thiefels Consulting. She’s been writing for more than 10 years and has been featured in top publications like Forbes. She also writes for Business Insider, Virgin, Glassdoor and more. Follow her on Twitter @JThiefels and connect on LinkedIn.
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