Between shopping, family gatherings, cooking, and decorating, the holidays can start to feel like one long to-do list. These practical holiday hacks will help you spend less, simplify your plans, and make more room for the moments you actually enjoy. Choose a few that work for your family—you don’t have to do everything to make the season meaningful.
Holiday Hacks to Help You Survive The Season
The holidays are supposed to be a time of peace, love, and joy. A time for families to come together and enjoy each other’s company. A time to help others, to smile at strangers, to marvel at something as simple yet stunning as a string of lights on a tree. They definitely shouldn’t be something we feel like we have to “survive,” right?
Yet, in our fast-paced world of one-upmanship, overindulgence, and an intense desire to “go viral,” the holidays have become more about competition than contentment. Who can afford the latest and greatest phone or gaming system? Which of us has the most Pinterest-worthy mantle decor or Instagram-worthy charcuterie board? Who gets the most likes and shares on their “random” acts of kindness? Yep, we’ve even managed to turn charity into a competition.
The holiday hacks below aren’t your typical “use tinsel to make your tree look fuller” or “store your ornaments in plastic cups to keep them from breaking” survival tips. Those are great and all, but instead, we’ll focus on holiday hacks for a truly healthier and happier season from the inside out. Take a look and you’ll see what I mean!
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Jump to a section:
- Everyday Habits During the Holidays
- Holiday Planning and Boundaries
- Ways to Save Money
- Easy Decorating and Wrapping Ideas
Everyday Habits During the Holidays
Did you know that the average person gains about 1-2 pounds during the holiday season? While that may not sound like much, many people never get rid of those excess pounds, which means they just keep adding up holiday after holiday. It is possible to have your fruitcake and eat it, too, though if you follow these healthy holiday hacks!
1. Eat before a party
If you’re heading to a cocktail party where you know they’ll be serving lush holiday treats like cakes, cookies, and decadent cheeses, eat a good healthy meal before you go. That way you’ll be less tempted to snack on unhealthy treats. Even if you’re going to a sit-down dinner party, eat a little something ahead of time. While it would be rude to fill up and eat nothing at the party, if you’re not starving you won’t be tempted to grab seconds and thirds.
2. Drink more water
While this is sound advice all year round, if you’re staying hydrated, you’ll be less likely to reach for another cookie. Why? Because hunger and thirst are often confused with each other. In other words, you may think you’re hungry for another tasty treat when in actuality you’re just thirsty. Plus, water helps you feel fuller, especially if you guzzle it before heading to the dessert table. Not to mention our bodies can’t live without it, so this hack literally helps you survive the holidays!
3. Make healthier cookies
You don’t have to ditch the holiday cookies entirely (where’s the fun in that?), but you can make them a little healthier overall. If you’re recipe calls for cream cheese, opt for avocado or Greek yogurt instead, for example. Swap out half (or all) of the white flour for whole wheat flour (or even better, coconut flour). Top them with dried fruit instead of icing and sprinkles. Will they taste exactly the same? No, probably not. However, you may just discover a new (and healthier) favorite that will become a holiday tradition. Mind you, they’re still cookies and should only be enjoyed in moderation!
4. Trick your taste buds
Give those taste buds what they’re craving without all the extra fat and calories. These little holiday hacks will keep you in check but still enjoying your sweet treats, I promise. Try drinking pumpkin spice herbal tea instead of that Grande Latte. Sprinkle a couple of mini dark chocolate chips into a teaspoon of almond butter to satisfy cookie cravings. Enjoy frozen grapes and berries instead of candy, or try these whipped cream Santa strawberries! Your taste buds only know whether something is sweet, sour, salty, bitter, or umami, not whether it’s in the shape of a cookie or cake.
5. Trick your nose, too!
Taste buds are only half of the equation. If you really want to satisfy that cookie craving, you have to get your nose involved, too! Try these easy tricks to make your house smell like the holidays . The aroma from the oranges and cinnamon coupled with a teaspoon of almond butter really helps with the holiday mood. These holiday hacks will bring memories and make you feel like Fall right at home no matter where you live. Trust me, you’ll be surprised by how well it works!
6. Make holiday shopping healthier
While most of us do the vast majority of our holiday shopping online, we still hit the malls and mass retailers for stocking stuffers and other small items, right? Well, turn those trips into a workout session. Park far from the door in the back of the lot (it’ll save you the stress of trying to score a good spot, anyway) and get a good power walk in both going to and from the store.
Here’s a tip that’s good for both your physical and financial health: before you plunk down money on something you’re not sure you really need, take a stroll once around the entire mall or perimeter of the store to think about it. If you decide halfway around the mall that you really don’t feel like going all the way back for it, then it wasn’t meant to be!
7. Make healthier cocktails
First, ditch the eggnog, it’s pretty much the worst offender out of all the holiday cocktails. Even the mocktail version is loaded with calories and fat. Now, about those other cocktails. Alive.com recommends using real fruit instead of sugary mixers. Try these detox waters as your base! You can also ditch the alcohol entirely and make it a mocktail instead. Mocktails are definitely popular and great holiday hacks to keep you healthy!
Holiday Planning and Boundaries
Your emotional well-being matters during the busy holiday season. These holiday hacks can help you simplify your plans, set comfortable boundaries, and make more time for the people and traditions you enjoy. You don’t have to accept every invitation or do everything yourself to create meaningful family memories.
8. There’s an app for that (so use it)
Apps like Santa’s Bag, Christmas Gift List and hundreds more like it help you organize your shopping lists and track your purchases. While this is great for your financial health as well, staying organized throughout the holidays can take enormous pressure and stress off your mind. Most of the apps are free! Just search “gift trackers” in the App Store or Google Play store to find one you love.
9. Do at least one genuinely random act of kindness a week
Kindness isn’t just good for those receiving, it’s also incredibly beneficial for those on the giving end. Give yourself just one rule: no bragging on social media. Do it just for you and the other person, not for the kudos, likes, and shares. It doesn’t have to be anything grand. Even paying for coffee for the person in line behind you will brighten up their day (and yours, too).
10. Learn how to gracefully turn down a party invitation
One of the most helpful holiday hacks is learning to say “no” without feeling guilty. A calendar packed with parties and events can leave little time to rest or enjoy your own family traditions. If declining invitations makes you uncomfortable, prepare a few friendly responses ahead of time.
Try saying, “Thank you so much for thinking of us! We won’t be able to make it, but we hope you have a wonderful time.” You can be warm and appreciative without giving a lengthy explanation. Protecting your time leaves more room for the celebrations you truly want to attend.
11. Shop online as much as possible
Shopping online is one of the simplest holiday hacks for avoiding crowded stores and giving yourself more time to compare prices. Keep a gift list handy, check shipping costs before ordering, and pause before adding extras to your cart. A little breathing room can help you make thoughtful purchases and stick to your budget.
12. Buy local when you can’t shop online
For those items that you can’t get online, head to smaller local stores. How does this benefit your emotional health? First, once again, you’ll avoid the overwhelming stress of fighting against a crowd in huge stores. Second, you’ll be helping out a family, since your purchases put food on their tables and keep roofs over their heads. Remember, kindness benefits you as much as the person receiving it!
13. Start a meaningful gift tradition
Keep the kindness coming by starting a tradition that focuses on the joy of the holidays rather than the commercialism of it all. If you need ideas, check out this list of 30 meaningful gifts. Try doing one for your family (swap gifts for experiences, start a “pass it along tradition,” and so on) and one that helps others (donate to a worthy cause, volunteer, etc.).
14. Set realistic goals, not unrealistic resolutions
Ditch the word “resolution” from your holiday vocabulary! There’s a reason why 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. They’re typically way too unrealistic and worded in a way that makes us feel like we’ve failed if we hit even the tiniest setback. For example, if you resolve to work out at the gym 5 days a week, but then you get sick three weeks into it and lose track, you’re likely to just give up on the resolution entirely.
On the other hand, if you set a simple “I will be more active this year” goal, literally every step you take is a step in the right direction. When you set a realistic goal that doesn’t hinge on super-specific actions, you’re more likely to follow through because a single setback doesn’t feel like an immediate failure. So, rather than resolving to give up all sugar and carbs, make healthier eating in general a goal. Rather than resolving to read a whole book a week, set a goal to read something (anything, even a single article in the news) every day.
15. Start a gratitude jar
An attitude of gratitude can go a long way towards helping you survive the holidays with your Christmas spirit intact! Start and end each day by jotting down at least one thing that you’re grateful for, and pop it into your jar. Encourage family and guests to do the same thing when they come to visit. Then, on New Year’s Eve, sit down together and read all of the notes that you’ve left. It’s a good way to reflect on what matters at the end of the year!
Not sure what to write? These 50 things to be thankful for can help everyone get started. Encourage each person to name something specific, like a friend who checked in or a moment that made them laugh.
Ways to Save Money
Your financial health is almost as important as your physical and mental health. While money can’t buy happiness, lack of it can definitely cause stress and unhappiness, which in turn can affect your physical well-being! These holiday hacks will help you survive the season without going bankrupt.
16. Plan well ahead for Black Friday
Once upon a time, we had to wait until the week before the big day to gain access to the ads. If we were lucky, someone from the store would “leak” the ad online a few weeks early. Now, though, you can find official Black Friday ads weeks (and even months) in advance. For example ads for Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Sam’s Club and a few other stores are already available on sites like TheBlackFriday.com. Start making preliminary lists now so you’re not scrambling on Thanksgiving to come up with your shopping plan.
17. Download store apps for the best coupons
Right now, before the shopping season officially begins, download all your favorite store apps and sign up for their newsletters. Use a throw-away email if you don’t want to be inundated with spam all year round. Many stores offer coupons for signing up, but it takes a few days for those emails to arrive. You don’t want to find out that your 20% off coupon won’t arrive until after Black Friday! Check the apps throughout the season for other exclusive coupons, too.
18. Take advantage of price matching
Some stores will price match year-round while others offer it during the holidays when the competition for your money is at its fiercest. If you find a lower price elsewhere, show it to a store manager and ask if they’ll match it. Likewise, if you find a lower price in their online store, ask for the discount. While it won’t always work, you’re more likely to hear a “yes” than a “no” because stores know that giving you a 10% discount on one item means you’ll stay there to buy other items at regular price.
19. Crowdsource holiday meals
Rather than hosting a dinner party that involves you buying and cooking the entire meal, host a huge potluck. Ask each guest to bring something that’s a tradition in their family and share a story about it at the dinner table. Not only will you save money, but you’ll get to try new foods and learn more about your friends and family.
20. Opt out of card swaps
Sure, it’s fun to open up your mailbox to a flood of green and red envelopes from all over the world, but it sure is expensive to return the good cheer! A single stamp costs very little and if you have a square or oversized card, that price jumps up by a few more cents. Factor in the cost of the cards themselves and it gets very expensive very fast to send out greetings to everyone on your list.
Instead of sending paper cards (which, honestly, aren’t really all that eco-friendly anyway), start a new e-card tradition. Make it a fun challenge to see who can find the wildest and wackiest (or most meaningful if you prefer) e-cards! Choose a day for everyone on your list to send them and watch your inbox flood with cheer and joy.
21. Ship rather than pack your gifts
If you’re flying out to visit family and bringing gifts from home, try shipping them a few days early through UPS or FedEx rather than packing them in your bag. First, compare shipping costs with baggage fees to send gifts. Second, for a few dollars more, you can insure your gifts. Most airlines will tell you upfront that they aren’t responsible for damaged items, and baggage handlers aren’t known for their gentleness.
Another option is to buy gifts online and have them sent directly to your host’s house with strict orders to not open them until you’re all together. Even better: opt out of gift exchanges and spend the money on a fun experience to do together while you’re visiting.
22. Shop on Free Shipping Day
Speaking of holiday hacks about shipping, a lot of stores (more than 400) participate in Free Shipping Day, which falls right in the middle of December approximately, but be sure to double-check ahead of time. Some stores ship free on that day regardless of your order size. Others may have a minimum order requirement. Keep in mind, though, that since it falls less than 2 weeks before Christmas you run the risk of not receiving it in time.
23. Plan free activities throughout the season
Holiday activities can get just as expensive as gifts and food. Between Winter Wonderlands with hefty entrance fees, breakfast with Santa at expensive restaurants, movie tickets to see the latest holiday film, and so on, it’s easy to blow your entire budget on activities alone. Yes, it’s better to spend on experiences versus things, but why break out the credit card when there are so many free ways to experience the magic of the season together?
Instead of paying to see the latest holiday flick, host a family movie night and share your favorite childhood Christmas specials with your kids. Skip the professional (and expensive) production of A Christmas Carol and head to a local school production instead. Go sledding instead of skiing. Take a tour of your own neighborhood to see the lights instead of paying for entrance into a holiday theme park. You’ll not only save a ton of money, but you’ll be able to focus on each other instead of a crowd.
Easy Decorating and Wrapping Ideas
I was apprehensive about including decorating holiday hacks because they don’t really fit in with the “healthy holiday” theme I’m going for here. But I started thinking about how much joy I get from Christmas decorating, and how that joy helps alleviate stress. So, in a roundabout way, these hacks do fit the theme. 😀 Plus, who doesn’t love a good tip or trick to make life easier?
24. Make your own wreath form with cardboard to save time & money
Wreath forms are oddly expensive for something that’s either styrofoam or some twisted wire. Save money (and a trip to the craft store) by just up cycling strong cardboard. It’s easy enough to figure out how to make one on your own, but if you need some guidance check out the video below for a simple tutorial.
25. Build your own cardboard fireplace for Santa
With a few good cardboard boxes, you can easily make your own faux fireplace to decorate for Christmas. This is a great sanity-saver, too, if you have kids who are worried that Santa won’t be able to get into your house without a fireplace. Check out the tutorial video below.
26. Try these cardboard Christmas decorations, too
Still have plenty of leftover cardboard? Turn it into festive decorations with these creative holiday hacks. The craft ideas below are a fun way to reuse boxes and enjoy some family crafting time!
27. Make Healthier DIY Advent Calendars
Forgot those store-bought advent calendars that are filled with cheap chocolate. Make your own and fill them with healthier treats like small toys, and wholesome snacks. There are SOOO many different ways to do this. Use tiny decorative mittens (found in the Dollar store), make them out of paper or paper bags, or even use empty toilet paper tubes!
28. Ask for your tree trimmings
One of my favorite budget-friendly holiday hacks is to ask for the leftover branches when you buy a real Christmas tree. Many tree lots trim the lower branches to help the trunk fit into a stand, so ask if you can take those clippings home. Use them to make a homemade wreath, like the one in the video below, or add fresh greenery to your holiday decorations without spending extra.
29. Fill glass bowls and vases with small ornaments
One of the easiest holiday hacks is to fill clear vases, glasses, or bowls with small ornaments for an instant festive centerpiece. Use leftover ornaments that no longer have hanging loops, as long as they have no sharp edges. Mix colors and sizes, then place your arrangement on a dining table, mantel, or entryway table for a cheerful touch without buying expensive decorations.
30. Make your own DIY Wrapping Paper
For something designed to be completely torn apart and thrown away, wrapping paper is absurdly expensive! Just decorate your own out of the brown paper that comes in pretty much every Amazon box, butcher paper, or other inexpensive plain paper. Or better yet, let your kids decorate it!
Final Thoughts
The best holiday hacks are the ones that make your life easier and leave you with more time for the people you love. You don’t need perfect decorations, expensive gifts, or a packed calendar to create a season your family will remember.
Choose a few ideas that fit your budget and routine, ask for help, and give yourself permission to skip what adds unnecessary stress. A simple meal, a familiar tradition, or an evening spent laughing together can become the memory everyone treasures most.
it’s a good leisure time activity which is also done by with family on weekend.
Thank you so much for sharing these incredible holiday survival hacks! The tips on staying emotionally balanced and maintaining financial health during this busy season are especially helpful. I love the idea of starting a gratitude jar—it’s such a beautiful way to reflect on the positive moments of the holidays. Your emphasis on meaningful traditions over materialism truly resonates with me. Thank you for reminding us to focus on joy, kindness, and connection during this festive time!