I put together these Christmas Hacks because the holidays often feel like ‘Tis the Season… to be overwhelmed
Some days it feels like Christine Baranski’s character Ruth in A Bad Moms Christmas was right: “Moms don’t enjoy, they give joy—that’s how being a mom works.” My hacks won’t include stealing a tree from a store like in the movie, but I get the urge to just have everything done. Between planning, shopping, budgeting, arranging travel (most years), decorating, cooking, and locating that dang elf, it’s a lot.
I’m exhausted just typing that.
Here’s the most important tip before the hacks: lower your expectations for yourself. If you don’t bake cookies from scratch, no one’s going to lock you up. If you don’t drive across town for the biggest light display, your kids will still light up at the neighborhood lights. Memories are made with you, not by perfect presents, perfect cookies, or the perfect tree. The real gift is quality time with the people who love each other.
So let’s free up more of that time. Here are practical, simple Christmas hacks that actually help.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.
Christmas Hack 1: Do Your Christmas Shopping Online
Shopping online saves time and energy. Even before COVID, malls in December were chaotic: crowds, parking, long lines. For most purchases, the convenience of online shopping—delivered to your door—far outweighs braving the mall.
Christmas Hack 2: Reduce the Number of People You Exchange With
Gifts take time to choose, wrap, and manage. If your group is open to it, suggest reducing gift exchanges or doing a Secret Santa/drawing names. Frame the change as an effort to reduce clutter and focus on meaningful moments; people tend to respond well to that reasoning.
Christmas Hack 3: Hang Your Wreath from the Inside of the Door Using a Hook
For years my metal wreath hanger kept preventing the door from closing. Now I use an adhesive hook on the inside of the door and loop a strap or ribbon over the top. This keeps the wreath centered, avoids scraping weatherstripping, and eliminates a bulky hanger on the exterior.
Other adhesive wreath hooks exist for the front of the door, but the inside-hook trick works well if you want a clean exterior and easier centering—especially on double doors. When January comes, you won’t have to remove and reapply hooks on the outside.
Christmas Hack 4: Wrap Each Child’s Gifts with Different Paper
This classic trick from my mom saves time and confusion. Assign a wrapping paper color or pattern to each child so you don’t need to tag every single present. Using tissue paper can be even quicker and easier than full wrapping paper for many gifts.
Christmas Hack 5: Institute a “Give to Get” Practice
Kids often have more toys than they use. Encourage them to donate items they no longer play with so new gifts don’t overwhelm the house. Framing it as making space for others and as part of the holiday spirit teaches generosity too.
Christmas Hack 6: Print Your Christmas Card Labels
Handwriting card addresses can be time-consuming. If you send many cards, set up printable address labels—year one takes work, but year two and beyond is much faster. Updating addresses and printing labels saves hours compared to writing each envelope by hand.
Christmas Hack 7: Keep a Running Gift Idea List on Your Phone
Small moments through the year reveal good gift ideas. When someone mentions something they want or need, jot it in your phone. That way you avoid guesswork or impulse buys, and you’re more likely to give something they’ll actually use and enjoy.
Christmas Hack 8: Repurpose Small or Cheap Toys into Ornaments
Don’t toss those tiny toys that came in meal kids’ meals—turn them into ornaments. Tie ribbon or hot-glue a loop and hang them on the tree. It’s an easy way to preserve a sentimental item or keep a child happy by featuring a favorite toy on the tree.
For keepsakes, toys from a baby mobile or a first favorite toy make meaningful, low-cost ornaments that evoke memories year after year.
Christmas Hack 9: Use Paper Clips as Ornament Hooks
If you find a new ornament without a hook, a paper clip bends into a perfectly fine hanging hook. It’s a simple, safe workaround—especially with young kids—so you’re not searching for specialty hooks when decorating time arrives.
What’s your favorite Christmas hack?
Share a simple tip that saves you time or makes the season easier—then enjoy more of the moments that matter most.