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How to use tech to stay sane over the holidays

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. While this season brings so much joy and happiness, it can also bring an overwhelming feeling of stress. I know I get stressed during the holidays, planning and preparing everything for Christmas. Over the years I’ve learned to lean on technology to help me stay organized and sane during this chaotic time.

Making Lists

One of my favorite apps I have on my phone is EverNote. EverNote is a great way to organize all kinds of lists: grocery, gifts, schedules, packing, etc. It makes it so easy to organize my lists and notes for the holidays. I especially enjoy all the features that the app provides including the ability to take photos for their notes, and record audio.

My favorite app I use for grocery lists is Anylist. Once you figure out your menu for Christmas, which by the way I like to gather inspiration from Pinterest for recipe ideas, Anylist will sort the food into sections to make it easier to find food items at the store. You can also add your family members so that they can easily add items they need too.

I always use Google Sheets to keep track of what I am buying, where what I bought is, and how much I’ve spent. It helps me budget Christmas a bit better. I also use Google Sheets to plan meals and assign chores during the holiday weeks. I sometimes use the app Trello to create my weekly and daily “to-do lists.” Not only does it keep me accountable, but you can use it to keep your children accountable too.

Scheduling

Doodle is another program I use to be able to see everyone’s availability in my family and friends. Of course, through this pandemic, I would hope that everyone is socially distancing, but who says you can’t meet up virtually on zoom! Doodle is a great way to organize that and find the best time to video chat with your loved ones over the holiday.

I have learned to use Google Calendar with my family, and have everyone input their schedules. Being able to visualize everyone’s schedules is so helpful when trying to figure out transportation with children. Whether they drive and need a car at a specific time, or even if they are younger and need to be picked up or dropped off, Google Calendar makes it easier to figure out those times and communicate about them.

When I am driving, I love to use Google Maps or Waze. Especially when I am going shopping so frequently, the roads can be very congested during holiday times. Google Maps and Waze show me the quickest route to my destination and help me avoid all the traffic.

Gift Giving

A super-easy way to shop for your loved ones is if you know exactly what to get them. I always have my family make wishlists on Pinterest, Amazon, Google Docs, Google Sheets, or even EverNote. These programs make it so easy to get an idea of what they need and want for Christmas.

It can be difficult finding gifts for everyone. I get my inspiration through Pinterest, Searching with specific keywords (example: Gifts for Music Lovers), and even blogs (example: we have a post on 25 Fun Educational Gifts under $25 for Teens and Tweens).

If you need gifts that can be delivered electronically, as last-minute gifts I use e-gift cards, video games from Steam, App games from iTunes, ebooks, subscriptions (magazines, Spotify, software, Kiwi crate, snack boxes, Birchbox, etc.).  Sometimes when you are traveling during the holidays, you cannot bring a large gift with you, so you can take a photo of the gift, or create a QR code and link the gift to the code to save space during your traveling.

Want a way to keep your children occupied – and help them to make gifts that are easy to send and cost nothing to make? Take a look at our Creating Digital Gifts unit study for 5th – 12th grade. These gifts are great because not only will students learn some techie skills, but they can personalize the games, etc they create to provide a meaningful gift especially to family members who they might not see at Christmas.

These are some of my tips with technology to stay sane during the holidays. Feel free to comment on other ways that you stay organized and sane!!

And if you homeschool and want more technology help, be sure to listen to my podcast, Homeschooling with Technology.

How to Use Tech to Stay Sane Over the Holidays
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Meryl van der Merwe

Meryl homeschooled her 4 children and during that time started teaching at the local homeschool co-op. She still teaches there - as well as online at FundaFunda Academy. In addition, she coaches homeschool Science Olympiad and Quiz Bowl teams and an inner-city First Lego League team. In her spare time she loves reading and traveling.
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