It’s the week before Christmas, and the whirlwind is real. Your to-do list is long, your time is short, and the pressure feels intense. But here’s the truth: Christmas isn’t about perfection. It’s about connection, joy, and being present for the moments that matter most.

Today, we’re here with a pep talk to help you find peace in the chaos. Join us as we share helpful strategies for slowing down, focusing on what really matters, and finding those precious pockets of joy. So tune in, take a deep breath, and let's navigate this holiday season together with intention and calm.

Highlights from the episode:

[1:53] - Slow down and breathe

[3:33] - Write it all down

[5:46] - Find pockets of joy

Resources:

• Grab The Holiday Headstart Playbook
• Take the Holiday Profile quiz
• Follow on Instagram @theholidayheadstart
• Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

What’s Next?

• Plan Your Reset: Set aside time after the holidays to reflect, recharge, and gently ease back into your routines.
• Reflect & Learn: Jot down what worked well this season and what you’d like to adjust for next year. Use tools like the Holiday Headstart Playbook to capture those insights.

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love these too:

• Episode 12 - How To Use a Task Docket to Make Managing Your Holiday To Dos Easy Peasy
• Episode 14 - Top Christmas Tip: Use a Script to Save Your Sanity on the Big Day

More About The Holiday Headstart:

Welcome to The Holiday Headstart podcast, where we get intentional about kicking overwhelm to the curb and bringing joy back to your holidays (and every day). We’re Heidi and Emily, two sisters and former elementary school teachers, who’ve taken the simple strategies and practical tips we mastered in the classroom and put them to work in our personal lives.

And we’re here to help you do the same! Join us each week as we share how, with a little planning and a little prep, you can ensure that the days that make life special don’t become the days that make you stressed.

Do you feel overwhelmed trying to keep track of everything during the holidays? Today, we’re sharing one of our best-kept teacher secrets: creating a script for big days like Christmas. A script is more than a plan—it’s a minute-by-minute outline that acts as your safety net, support system, and freedom-giver during hectic events. Listen in as we unpack how this simple tool can help you stay organized, enjoy the holiday, and preserve your energy.

Highlights from the episode:

[01:04] - Tradition Spotlight on Christmas Night adventures

[05:09] - 3 Reasons you need a script

[08:16] - How to write your Christmas Day script

[13:19] - This week’s Get A Headstart Tip for making a Christmas Morning basket

[15:59] - What’s on our to-do lists this week

[17:42] - Our Nice Lists

Resources:

• Grab The Holiday Headstart Playbook
• Take the Holiday Profile quiz
• Follow on Instagram @theholidayheadstart
• Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love these too:

• Episode 12 - How to Use a Task Docket to Make Managing your Holiday To-Dos Easy Peasy
• Episode 13 - Holiday Housekeeping: How a December Upkeep Plan Will Save Your Sanity

Show Notes: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/hh-podcast/holiday-planning-script/

Mentioned in this episode:

Take our FREE holiday profile quiz at https://quiz.theholidayheadstart.com/

In this episode, we tackle the stress that comes with the holiday season and explore proactive strategies to manage overwhelm. Instead of waiting for the inevitable meltdown, we’ll discuss how to build a plan that simplifies your responsibilities while ensuring your home stays functional and festive. From revisiting your personal holiday values to crafting a Minimum Upkeep Plan (MUP), you’ll walk away with practical tools to navigate the season with more joy and less chaos.

If you have the Holiday Headstart Playbook, grab it now to follow along. Don’t have it yet? Download it here.

Highlights from the episode:

[01:00] - Tradition Spotlight on Grinch Dinner

[09:43] - What a Minimum Upkeep Plan (MUP) is and why it’s essential during December

[13:54] - Cleaning styles: Beat-the-Buzzer, One-and-Done, and Bespoke Cleaning

[14:57] - Tools and pages in the Holiday Headstart Playbook to streamline your routines

[16:31] - This week’s Get A Headstart Tip for planning for Winter Break

[17:37] - What’s on our to-do lists this week

[18:49] - Our Nice Lists

Resources:

• Muslim man celebrates first Christmas
• Grinch Playlist
• Book Club Hotel
• MDesign Shower Caddy
• Grab The Holiday Headstart Playbook
• Take the Holiday Profile quiz
• Follow on Instagram @theholidayheadstart
• Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love these too:

• Episode 4 - How to Craft Your Holiday Values For A More Meaningful Christmas Season
• Episode 7 - Unlock the Power of the 3 Cs: Your Ultimate Guide to Holiday Planning

Show Notes: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/hh-podcast/holiday-housekeeping-december-upkeep-plan/

Mentioned in this episode:

Take our FREE holiday profile quiz at https://quiz.theholidayheadstart.com/

In today's episode, we are diving into the festive yet sometimes daunting task of holiday planning. From managing the expectations and potential pitfalls of putting up your Christmas tree to smart strategies for tackling your gift lists and holiday checklists, we've got you covered. Learn how to streamline your holiday tasks with our unique approach to task dockets, helping you to turn overwhelming lists into manageable actions. Plus, discover a fun tip for getting a head start on next year's plans. Get ready to embrace an organized and joyful holiday season with practical tips and ready-made strategies!

Highlights from the episode:

[01:09] - Tradition Spotlight on decorating the tree

[04:38] - Introduction to the Task Docket

[09:22] - Filling out your to-do lists

[16:05] - This week’s Get A Headstart Tip for getting ahead on your decorating

[18:05] - What’s on our to-do lists this week

[19:34] - Our Nice Lists

Resources:

• Grab The Holiday Headstart Playbook
• Take the Holiday Profile quiz
• Follow on Instagram @theholidayheadstart
• Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love these too:

• Episode 6 - The 5 Step Action Plan for Traditions
• Episode 7 - Unlock the Power of the 3 Cs: Your Ultimate Guide to Holiday Planning

Show Notes: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/hh-podcast/holiday-tasks-docket/

Mentioned in this episode:

Take our FREE holiday profile quiz at https://quiz.theholidayheadstart.com/

Welcome back to the Teacher Approved podcast! In today's episode, we're sharing 10 easy steps for starting a new tradition. We discuss the significance of traditions in building a healthy, happy, connected life and provide a comprehensive guide to starting new traditions with purpose and intention.

Plus, stick around for our "Get a Head Start Tip" on planning your holiday sensory experiences and an insight into what we're personally working on this week. Join us as we unfold the magic and reduce the stress of the holiday season.

Highlights from the episode:

[01:03] - Tradition Spotlight on Sinterklaas

[03:58] - Importance of Traditions

[05:56] - 10 Steps for starting a new tradition

[16:45] - This week’s Get A Headstart Tip for planning your holiday sensorium

[18:28] - What’s on our to-do lists this week

[20:17] - Our Nice Lists

Resources:

• Really Big Coloring Book
• Faking Christmas
• Book Buddy app
• Touch of Dutch
• Grab The Holiday Headstart Playbook
• Take the Holiday Profile quiz
• Follow on Instagram @theholidayheadstart
• Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love these too:

• Episode 4 - How to Craft Your Holiday Values For A More Meaningful Christmas Season
• Episode 6 - The 5 Step Action Plan for Traditions

Show Notes: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/hh-podcast/create-new-holiday-traditions

Mentioned in this episode:

Take our FREE holiday profile quiz at https://quiz.theholidayheadstart.com/

Managing the Christmas Elf tradition can feel daunting, especially as the holidays get busy. In this episode, we explore a 5-step process to create Elf Magic that keeps things joyful and manageable. With the help of our Elf Magic Made Easy planner, we’re giving you the tools to make elf planning a plug-and-play experience.

Join us as we explore the magic of holiday traditions and share creative tips for managing them without stress. Make it a season full of joy for both you and your family!

Highlights from the episode:

[01:11] - Tradition Spotlight on Stir-Up Sunday

[06:19] - Step 1 for Creating Elf Magic: Clarify Your Mindset

[08:09] - Step 2 for Creating Elf Magic: Build Your Framework

[10:47] - Step 3 for Creating Elf Magic: Know Your Limits

[13:19] - Step 4 for Creating Elf Magic: Gather Your Ideas

[16:06] - Step 5 for Creating Elf Magic: Make Your Plans

[18:19] - This week’s Get A Headstart Tip for recording Elf memories

[20:02] - What’s on our to-do lists this week

[21:41] - Our Nice Lists

Resources:

• Elf Magic Made Easy Planner
• Grab The Holiday Headstart Playbook
• Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
• LivLab Bins
• Santa's First Christmas
• Take the Holiday Profile quiz
• Follow on Instagram @theholidayheadstart
• Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love these too:

• Episode 6 - The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your Holiday Traditions

Show Notes: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/hh-podcast/elf-on-the-shelf

Mentioned in this episode:

Take our FREE holiday profile quiz at https://quiz.theholidayheadstart.com/

In this episode, we reflect on where we stand with our holiday preparations. With Halloween behind us and Thanksgiving quickly approaching, this is the perfect moment to pause, celebrate what we've accomplished, and figure out what still needs to be done before Christmas. We follow a simple, three-step process: first, we evaluate our progress so far, then make some course corrections, and finally, create a plan for moving forward.

We share some of our wins, like staying on track with the Holiday Head Start playbook and prepping gifts for our neighbors. There are things we wish we had done earlier, but we’re managing our expectations and not aiming for perfection. Of course we share plenty of practical tips for how listeners can make their own holidays a little less stressful.

We hope listeners will be encouraged to evaluate their own progress, manage expectations, and consider making Thanksgiving dishes in advance to enjoy more downtime during the holidays.

Highlights from the episode:

[01:15] - Tradition Spotlight on Pie Night

[03:34] - Taking Stock week

[17:17] - Course correcting

[21:39] - Plan for moving forward

[24:06] - Reflection questions for taking stock

[26:04] - This week’s Get A Headstart Tip for making Thanksgiving dinner in advance

[28:23] - What’s on our to-do lists this week

[29:53] - Our Nice Lists

Resources:

• Grab The Holiday Headstart Playbook
• Take the Holiday Profile quiz
• Follow on Instagram @theholidayheadstart
• Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love these too:

• Episode 4 - How to Craft Your Holiday Values For A More Meaningful Christmas Season

Show Notes: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/hh-podcast/holiday-prep-check-in

Mentioned in this episode:

Take our FREE holiday profile quiz at https://quiz.theholidayheadstart.com/

Ready to kick off your holiday baking season? Join us as we dive into the joys and challenges of holiday baking! From long-cherished traditions to finding that perfect recipe, we’re sharing tips and stories to inspire your festive creations.

Not a cooking enthusiast? You're not alone! But there's something magical about holiday treats. Discover how to prioritize your favorite recipes, plan ahead with premade doughs, and balance the joy of baking with the hectic holiday schedule. Plus, a fun chat on festive traditions and our favorite seasonal treats.

Get ready to make your holidays delicious, memorable, and perfectly planned. Tune in to the episode and get all of our tips for creating your personalized holiday baking plan.

Episode Highlights:

[01:01] - Tradition Spotlight on making a meaningful Thanksgiving decoration

[02:30] - Baking memories

[03:44] - Baking priorities

[07:28] - Making a baking plan

[18:32] - This week’s Get A Headstart Tip for making upcoming grocery lists

[20:00] - What’s on our to-do lists this week

[22:10] - Our Nice Lists

Links & Resources:

• Hallmark Better Together Plush Characters
• Cozy Flameless Candles
• Grab The Holiday Headstart Playbook
• Take the Holiday Profile quiz
• Follow on Instagram @theholidayheadstart
• Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love these too:

• Episode 5 - How to Organize Your Holiday Gift List

Show Notes: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/hh-podcast/christmas-baking-game-plan/

Mentioned in this episode:

Take our FREE holiday profile quiz at https://quiz.theholidayheadstart.com/