The Holiday Debrief- Wrapping Up the Festive Season with Purpose
The end of the holiday season can feel bittersweet, but for me, it’s also an opportunity to reflect, reset, and prepare for the year ahead.
Over the years, I’ve developed a couple of traditions to wind down the season with intention. One of these is taking down my Christmas tree and decorations on December 26th, Boxing Day here in Australia. The other is what I like to call a holiday debrief, where I jot down notes about what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d like to adjust for the next year.
Here’s how these practices help me ease out of the festive season while setting the stage for a smoother, more enjoyable holiday experience next time.
I know some people might have a whole notebook or binder for this type of activity, but I like to keep it simple. I usually write in my journal about the experiences and take some notes on my phone note app under ‘Christmas’ with my gift lists, budget and other ideas.
Taking Down the Decorations on Boxing Day Works Best for Me
For me, the 26th of December is the perfect day to pack away holiday decorations. The festive spirit is still in the air, making it less of a chore and more of a mindful transition. Starting the new year with a clean, uncluttered house feels refreshing and symbolic. It’s a clean slate for the months ahead. Plus, the longer I leave the decorations up, the less motivated I am to deal with them later. Tackling this task while the memories are fresh keeps it from feeling like a burden.
The Holiday Debrief Allows You to Take Notes While Memories Are Fresh
The holiday debrief is my way of reliving the joy of the season while capturing insights for the future. This simple exercise helps me identify traditions worth continuing and activities that may not have been worth the effort. Here’s how it works:
Reliving the Highlights: Take a moment to reflect on what brought you the most joy. Was it a new tradition or an unexpected moment?
Evaluating Effort vs. Reward: Note which activities felt like more effort than they were worth.
Creating a Blueprint: Use these notes as a guide to plan your next holiday season.
Planning Early for a Stress-Free Holiday Season
You might think it’s over the top, but I start thinking about the next Christmas before the new year even begins. Early planning ensures I can enjoy the season rather than scrambling at the last minute. For example, one of my favorite traditions is completing my gift shopping and wrapping in September. I’ve been doing this for six years, and it is so much more enjoyable than staying up past midnight on Christmas Eve with a stack of presents still to wrap
This has become somewhat of a habit for me now but if you’re new to this, here are a couple of tips to make this happen:
Set Up a Sinking Fund: At the start of the year, I begin saving monthly toward my gift budget. This ensures I’m financially prepared for this shopping spree by September.
Keep an Ongoing List on Your Phone: anytime you come across something that might be a good gift idea for someone. I prefer not to buy early because I tend to misplace things or forget about them if I’ve done the thing too far in advance.
Plan Early for Common Stressors: Whether it’s outfits for holiday parties or stocking stuffers, addressing these needs ahead of time minimizes stress.
Reviewing Your Spending: Was It Worth It?
A key part of my debrief is reviewing holiday expenses. Break down your spending into categories such as gifts, décor, dining out, holiday outfits, or hosting events. Ask yourself:
Did the money you allocated reflect your priorities?
Were there areas where you felt you overspent or underspent?
For example, I realized that hosting holiday gatherings was more trouble for me than it was worth. Now, I prefer meeting friends for dinner instead. It’s less stressful, and I’d rather allocate my budget to treating them to a meal than hosting them at home.
Updating Lists and Adjusting for Next Year
Holiday lists can evolve over time, and a debrief is the perfect opportunity to update them:
Gift Lists: Do you need to add or remove anyone? For instance, this year I decided to stop sending Christmas cards and instead focus on a heartfelt gift or greeting on the day itself.
Planning for New Traditions: I work in a larger office now, so next year I’m planning to bring in homemade baked goods as gifts.
Holiday Attire: I’ve often scrambled to find something to wear for holiday parties. This year, I bought an outfit in August, and it made a huge difference. I very much dislike the feeling of having to settle for something at the last minute. I dress up so few times throughout the year that I enjoy wearing something special on party days.
Scheduling Festive Activities for Yourself
Holiday movies and baking are two activities that put me in the Christmas spirit. Whatever brings you joy, consider scheduling it ahead of time so it becomes something to look forward to rather than an afterthought.
If you have done your Christmas shopping in September and taken all of the planning steps it’s very likely that you will have some leisurely time on your hands. Well done, you!
Conclusion: Setting Yourself Up for Success During the Holiday Season
A holiday debrief is a simple but powerful way to reflect on the past season and set yourself up for success in the next. You can create a holiday season that feels more intentional, enjoyable, and stress-free. It’s never too early to start preparing for the next celebration!