The Ultimate Family Holiday Planning Guide: How to Make the Season More Joyful and Less Stressful
By Jess + Amanda, founders of Jam
The holidays are supposed to sparkle, not spiral. Yet every year, that magical season can feel more like a marathon of logistics—gift lists, school concerts, travel plans, parties, and that endless mental tally of what still needs to be done.
That’s why Jam teamed up with Fair Play, the movement that makes invisible labor visible, to create the Jam × Fair Play Holiday Guide—a step-by-step system to plan, delegate, and actually enjoy the season together.
Why the Holidays Feel So Overwhelming
Between shopping, decorating, wrapping, and hosting, most families carry an invisible checklist that never ends. Research from Fair Play calls this “the mental load”—the behind-the-scenes work of remembering and coordinating everything. It tends to fall hardest on moms, leaving them exhausted before the first cookie sheet hits the oven.
The guide helps name that invisible labor and share it fairly, using structured family check-ins and shared tools—like the Jam family calendar app, which keeps every event, to-do, and reminder in one place.
The Four Pillars of a Calm Holiday Season
1. Emotional Clarity + Intention
Before you say yes to every invite or tradition, pause to ask: What do we actually want our holidays to feel like this year? The guide encourages families to define joy and let go of autopilot obligations.
2. Communication + Teamwork
Fair Play shows that clear communication builds fairness. Set expectations early about who’s handling what and how to support one another.
3. The Holiday Family Planning Meeting
Bring everyone together—partners, kids, grandparents—to map out events and commitments. Jam makes this simple with color-coded calendars, shared to-dos, and smart reminders.
4. Frameworks, Lists + Templates
From gift tracking to hosting checklists, the guide’s templates help you skip the guesswork and start sharing the workload.
How Jam Simplifies It All
Make it stand out
Jam brings every pillar to life. Forward school emails and let Jam On It auto-populate events. Create shared shopping and to-do lists so each person can pitch in. Add deadlines, assign responsibilities, and watch the chaos quiet itself.
Ready to Lighten the Load?
This season, make the holidays a shared project, not a solo sprint.
Download the Jam × Fair Play Holiday Guide and start using Jam for free to plan, share, and celebrate together.
FAQs
What is the Jam × Fair Play Holiday Guide?
It’s a free resource co-created by Jam and Fair Play to help families plan the holidays with less stress using frameworks, conversation prompts, and ready-to-use lists.
How can Jam help my family during the holidays?
Jam syncs everyone’s calendars and lists in one app, making it easier to see who’s doing what and when—no missed concerts or double-booked dinners.
Is the guide really free?
Yes. You can download it instantly and use all its lists directly in Jam.