Seven Foolproof Tips for a Perfect Holiday

If you’re like me, you can’t help but aspire to provide the perfect holiday experience for your loved ones. For many of us, the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the season are something we look forward to throughout the rest of the year. However, achieving the perfect holiday experience is often easier said than done, especially when you need to find time to balance it all. The picture-perfect scene of a group of people huddled by the fire while enjoying hot cocoa and unwrapping presents does not magically materialize out of thin air on the night before a holiday celebration. This takes preparation, planning and intention. We've got seven foolproof tips for pulling off the perfect holiday celebration.

1. Personalize Your Gifts

The key to great gift giving is to successfully pair functionality with personality. Instead of something generic such as a gift card, opt for something a little more personal. For example, a carefully curated holiday gift box handpicked by you with all of their favorite treats and goodies shows how much you care. What’s more, items that serve a purpose are likely to be cherished in a way which novelty products and generic presents typically do not.

2. Prevent Package Theft

Thanks to online shopping you can find the perfect gift for everyone on your list without going to the local shopping mall. However, as holiday deliveries spike, so does package theft. To ensure that someone doesn’t steal your packages from your porch, follow these package theft prevention tips.

3. Deck the Halls

For many people, the holidays aren’t the same without the ornaments, tinsel, garland, lights and traditional decor. This is true whether they are willing to admit it or not, so don’t feel bad about indulging your own desire to deck the halls. Chances are it will help others get into the holiday spirit regardless of their outwardly indifferent demeanor.

4. Don’t Overextend Yourself

Between close relatives, distant relations, good friends, neighbors, and coworkers it’s easy to find yourself overcommitted to attend a plethora of parties and holiday functions. Before accepting every invite, pause to consider your other standing commitments and responsibilities before agreeing. It’s easier to enjoy yourself if your time is more focused rather than shuffling from one to another to keep up appearances.

5. Celebrate & Remember

While the holidays can seem a little less bright if you’ve lost a loved one, they’re also a great way to celebrate those people. Focus on the happy memories spent with them during this special time of year, share fond memories and funny stories. Refuse to let the specter of death interfere with the joys of life the holidays will always represent.

6. Spread Joy and Cheer

The holidays are the perfect time to give back to your local community. If you’re passionate about a specific cause, consider organizing a charity drive or giving to others by way of gifts, food and time. Giving back can be as big or small as you want and it can be a great way to get the whole family involved.

7. Enjoy in Moderation

Lastly, it’s always important to enjoy the many wonderful offerings of the holidays in moderation. Cookies and other treats are a part of the holiday season just about everyone looks forward to, but try and avoid stuffing your face unchecked from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. The same goes for alcohol. It’s okay to enjoy drinks during the holidays but please do so responsibly.

I look forward to providing the perfect holiday experience for my loved ones and myself every year. The task of it is no simple feat, but there are a few foolproof and reliable methods of making it happen, as long as you’re willing to give them a try.

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