How to Throw an Effortless Christmas Party

The holidays are a stressful time. When you aren't decorating the house, you're out shopping for gifts. When you aren't corralling the kids (who enjoy a lengthy stint away from school), you're entertaining the in-laws. Who can find the time - on top of all the other seasonal obligations - to throw together an enjoyable holiday gathering? 

Luckily, you don't have to run yourself ragged to throw a memorable, magical holiday party. With a few tips and some outside help, you can make space to relax this December. Here's how. 

Order In 

Who says you have to toil over a hot oven just because it's the holidays? People are often happy just to be together - regardless of whether the table is stacked with homemade food. 

Therefore, an easy way to take the stress out of your holiday gathering is to order in instead of cooking. Order a variety of foods to meet everyone's needs, and present it family-style on the dining table. Look for food delivery platforms that offer fast, free delivery, so you don't have to stress about arrival times or service fees. If you live in Miami, for instance, just research food delivery services in Miami that don't charge fees. 

With the time you save staying out of the kitchen, you can focus on what really matters around the holidays: spending quality time with loved ones. 

Use What You Have

There's no need to go far out of your way to decorate for the holidays, especially if you already have Christmas decorations on hand. 

Bring a few strings of Christmas lights indoors and hang them around the dining room for a bright bit of seasonal ambiance. Make a centrepiece with a few clippings from the Christmas tree. And reuse the bows from Christmas presents to liven up cutlery settings. By repurposing existing Christmas decorations, you save time and money.  

Start Early 

Send your invitations early, so you get a clear sense of numbers well in advance. This allows you to plan the party with ample lead time. 

In the days leading up to the big gathering, get all the preparations out of the way. Schedule your food delivery through an online website or app. Pre-mix a few pitchers of winter-appropriate cocktails. Decorate the table (the family can eat elsewhere for a couple of nights!). And delegate deep-cleaning tasks to each family member. 

Clean As You Go 

The garbage and recycling can quickly pile up over the course of a festive party. If you don't stay on top of things, you're in for a nasty surprise come Boxing Day morning. 

Set up three bags (garbage, recycling and compost) somewhere conspicuous, and ask that guests kindly dispose of their bottles, napkins and gift wrapping when they no longer need them. They're usually happy to help. When everyone leaves, simply pop the bags in their respective cans outside before heading to bed. 

This year, you deserve a little relaxation. Order your holiday meal from a local food delivery service, use existing decorations, prepare early, and ask everyone to pitch in for the cleaning efforts. With all that work off your plate, you can sit back and enjoy the company.