The December Survival Guide: How to Delegate the Festive Season To Your Virtual Assistant
Brace yourself, because we definitely need to talk about Christmas.
I know it feels like Winter has only just arrived. But we're now in prime Christmas planning time, and if you're not thinking about it yet, don't worry we're here to help.
Here's what's happening right now: restaurants and event venues have been spamming our inboxes with Christmas party emails since July (I kid you not).
The good spots are getting booked. VIP clients are securing private dining rooms.
The best chalets in the Alps are being snapped up. Gift lists are being compiled.
And if you're trying to plan the festive season yourself whilst running a business and keeping family life together?
December is going to be absolutely full on - but we want to help you organise and enjoy it.
The Christmas Workload Nobody Talks About
Let's be honest about what "Christmas planning" actually means and what tends to land on your plate:
The corporate side: staff party venues, team gifts, client entertainment, VIP dinners, budget checking, dietary requirements, Secret Santa coordination, office closure planning.
The family side: present shopping for littles and loved ones, buying wrapping and ribbons, school nativity attendance, festive days out so the little ones enjoy it, family gatherings, food shopping, festive meal planning or booking a chef and more.
The personal side: festive trip booking, door-to-door travel arrangements, house sitters, gift lists for teachers and team, last minute beauty appointments.
And all of this whilst your actual work doesn't stop, the children still need feeding, and you're expected to feel festive.
No wonder December feels like running a marathon whilst juggling baubles.
What You Can Delegate To A Lifestyle VA
Here's the good news: nearly all of it can be delegated. A Lifestyle VA can help you handle the entire festive season planning and coordination, leaving you to actually enjoy the mulled wine and moments with your loved ones.
Corporate Christmas Planning
Team gatherings and staff parties. Your Lifestyle VA can source venues using their little black book of contacts, compare menus and packages, negotiate pricing, coordinate dietary requirements, manage RSVPs, arrange transport, and handle all the back and forth. You simply approve the final choice and turn up on the night.
VIP and client entertainment. Those valued clients you want to wine and dine? Your Lifestyle VA secures the best private dining rooms and restaurants well in advance (because yes, they book up quickly), coordinates dates that work for everyone, arranges menus, sends invitations, and manages confirmations. You just show up ready to schmooze over mulled wine cocktails and canapés.
Corporate gifting. Whether it's client gifts, supplier thank yous, or team presents, your Lifestyle VA can research really thoughtful options within your budget, source and purchase everything, arrange personalisation or branding, coordinate delivery, and even handle thank you notes.
Family Christmas Coordination
Present shopping and wrapping. Share your gift list (or let your Lifestyle VA create one based on what they know about your family), set the budget, and they'll handle the rest. Research, purchasing, even posting to distant relatives. No more dashing about the week before Christmas in a panic.
School and activity coordination. Nativity plays, Christmas jumper days, end of term parties, teacher gifts, class contributions. It can be alot. Your Lifestyle VA tracks it all, ensures nothing is missed, and handles the admin so you can just enjoy watching your little one dressed as a shepherd.
Family gathering logistics. Hosting this year? Your Lifestyle VA can effortlessly coordinate menu planning, shopping lists, dietary requirements, seating plans, and even arrange additional help if needed. Travelling to see family? They'll handle the logistics and ensure you're not forgetting anything crucial.
Festive activities and experiences. Want to take the family to see the Christmas lights, visit Santa, or attend a festive lights show? Your Lifestyle VA researches options, books tickets, coordinates timing with your calendar, and arranges any special touches.
Holiday And Travel Planning
Christmas market city breaks. Fancy exploring those magical German Christmas markets in December? Your Lifestyle VA researches the best cities, finds accommodation, books flights, curates an itinerary of markets and experiences, arranges restaurant reservations, and provides you with a complete travel pack. You just pack and go.
Ski holidays and winter escapes. Perhaps you fancy snowboarding down Italian slopes between Christmas and New Year? Your Lifestyle VA arranges it all from sourcing the perfect chalet to booking ski passes, arranging lessons, coordinating transfers, even hiring a private chef if you want. The entire thing, sorted.
House management whilst away. Travelling over the festive period? Your Lifestyle VA coordinates house sitters, pet care, plant watering, mail collection, and ensures your home is secure and cared for whilst you're creating memories elsewhere.
The Details That Make December Magical
Advent planning. Want to do advent calendars, Christmas film nights, festive baking, or special activities with the family? Your Lifestyle VA can create a plan, source supplies, and coordinate timing so it actually happens rather than becoming another thing you feel guilty about not doing.
Decorating and atmosphere. From sourcing the tree to coordinating decorator services, ordering wreaths, or arranging festive flowers, your Lifestyle VA can handle the aesthetic side so your home feels festive without you spending weekends up ladders.
Card coordination. If you send Christmas cards (personal or business), your Lifestyle VA manages the entire process: maintaining updated address lists, sourcing cards, coordinating any family photos needed, writing or arranging printing, and posting in good time.
The Difference It Makes
Imagine a December where you're not stressed, overwhelmed, and counting down the days until it's all over.
Imagine actually enjoying the staff party because you're not exhausted from organising it.
Imagine sipping a hot toddy and snuggling to watch your favourite Christmas movie instead of hunched over your laptop googling ‘presents for 10 year olds…’
Imagine watching your children's excitement over the panto you’ve got booked without mentally running through tomorrow's shopping list.
Imagine Christmas morning feeling magical rather than like the finish line of an endurance race.
That's what delegating the festive season looks like.
When To Start Planning
Right now. Seriously. But don’t worry - that’s what we are here for!
The best venues, restaurants, and experiences book up months in advance. Travel costs increase the closer you get to the dates. Gift shopping becomes frantic rather than thoughtful when left until December.
Starting in October or November means by the time December arrives, everything is already arranged. You're not planning Christmas—you're enjoying it.
How We Can Help
At The Lifestyle VA, we create a complete Christmas plan tailored to your family, your business, and your preferences. We handle the research, booking, coordination, and follow through, checking in with you only for key decisions and approvals.
Some clients hand over their entire festive season. Others delegate specific elements perhaps the corporate side whilst managing family personally, or vice versa. We work with whatever level of support makes December feel manageable and enjoyable for you.
The goal isn't to remove you from Christmas. It's to remove the stress, the overwhelm, and the endless admin so you can be present (pun intended) for the parts that really matter - moments in time you can enjoy and remember rather than rush.
Christmas should feel magical, not like a second job.
You've worked incredibly hard all year. You deserve to actually enjoy the festive season rather than just survive it.
Ready to make this your easiest, most enjoyable December yet? Book a call now to discuss your Christmas planning needs. The sooner we start, the more relaxed you'll feel when December actually arrives.
Or if you're already a client, start chatting with your dedicated Virtual Assistant now—they can't wait to get onto it for you.
