August is the sweet spot for getting ahead without the pressure. This month, we're sharing five practical tasks that will make your December so much smoother: from coordinating gift exchanges early to booking photographers before they're booked solid. Plus, we'll help you tackle DIY gifts before the last-minute panic sets in and make sure those fall birthdays don't get lost in the holiday shuffle. If you've been following along with our monthly prep series, you're already ahead of the game—and these five tasks will keep that momentum going strong.

Episode Highlights:

[00:01:05] - Tradition Spotlight on back-to-school pencil cookies

[00:04:50] - Task 1 - Draw names now for gift exchanges

[00:05:55] - Task 2- Start shopping for advent calendars

[00:07:38] - Task 3 - Buckle down on DIY gifts

[00:09:25] - Tip 4 - Book your family photographer 

[00:10:49] - Tip 5 - Plan any birthdays from September to January

[00:13:07] - This week’s Get A Headstart Tip for using Miss Freddy’s tips to organize and store kid memories

[00:16:19] - What’s on our to-do lists this week

[00:20:24] - Our Nice Lists

Resources Mentioned:

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

If you enjoyed these episodes you'll love these too:

• Episode 20: 5 Things for January
• Episode 23: 5 Things for February
• Episode 27: 5 Things for March
• Episode 28: 5 Things for April 
• Episode 30: 5 Things for May
• Episode 31: 5 Things for June
• Episode 32: 5 Things for July

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.