From ordering holiday cards early to sticking to your to-do list, here's how to avoid holiday stress

Kick off the holiday season by sitting down and making a master plan. 

"You can keep track of your holiday tasks by creating a master checklist or to-do list," Rashelle Isip, organization and productivity expert of The Order Expert, told Business Insider. "It's easier to track your holiday tasks when they're located in the same list."

You could use a notes or list app, but organizing expert Julie Morgenstern suggested using paper. Your phone is a minefield of potential distractions, she said, but paper gives you the headspace to slow down and think things through.

The next step is crucial.

"Any to-do on your list has to be converted into your calendar," Morgenstern said. "If it's not actually calendered, it's very unlikely that you're going to make time for it."

Holiday card experts at Shutterfly advise ordering your holiday cards one to three weeks before Thanksgiving, in order to avoid potential delays and the extra cost of rush shipping. Here's Business Insider's review of popular online card companies to help you narrow down the options.

"Decorate early," party planning expert Cristy Mishkula and author of the blog Pretty My Party told Business Insider. "Right after Thanksgiving is the best time. This should be the first thing you do in addition to sending out your invitations."

And speaking of invitations...

"The holidays tend to be a busy time for parties, so you want to make sure to get your invites out early so people can plan which events they will be attending," Mishkula said. 

Morgenstern and Isip agreed that the first week of December — or about four weeks before the date of the party — is a good time to invite guests. 

Moregnstern suggested sending out cards during the first week of December. Sure, late card arrivals aren't exactly a tragedy, but in a perfect world, all your holiday missives will arrive before the holidays are over. 

If you're hosting a party, don't leave all your tidying up til the last minute. 

"Start organizing and purging items at the beginning of December, especially in the major places where your party will take place, like the kitchen," Mishkula said. 

Start shopping as early as your schedule allows, but aim to finish up midway through the month, both Isip and Morgenstern said. 

To ensure your packages arrive by December 25, send them by December 14, the United States Postal Service says. (That's for normal ground shipping within the contiguous US.)

If you're running behind, you can pay more for rush shipping. Note these suggested send-by deadlines:

• First Class Mail: December 19
• Priority Mail: December 20
• Priority Mail Express: December 22

And remember that these are general guidelines — shipping time can vary based on origin, destination, and more.

"Purchase non-perishable foods and beverages a week before the party," Mishkula said.

That'll lighten the load for your second shopping trip a little closer to the party date. 

If you celebrate Christmas, Morgenstern suggested finishing up your wrapping by the weekend before December 25. 

That way, you leave yourself plenty of time to relax and enjoy the ramp-up to the holiday celebrations. 

This is when you should pick up all the perishable items you're serving, Mishkula said. 

"One of the big mistakes people tend to make when managing their time during the holiday season is thinking that they can do it all without any effect on their stress levels or general well-being," Isip said. "It's extremely important to remember that holiday preparations are in addition to people's ongoing schedules and commitments; avoid overcommitting during the season."

But if you do end up overcommitting — and staring down a to-do list that's miles long — don't panic. First, estimate how much time each remaining task will take. Then, pare things down using Morgenstern's four Ds: delete, delay, diminish, and delegate.

"Delete items that aren't worth the time investment," Morgenstern said. Then delay things that don't need to happen in December — maybe you send out New Year's cards, for example.

Next, try diminishing items. "Ask yourself, 'Is there a shorter, quicker, easier way to do this?'" Morgenstern said. For example, you could buy 10 gifts at one place instead of visiting multiple stores. 

And finally, delegate. Don't be afraid to ask your loved ones to help out. 

If you're behind schedule, remember that not every task requires the maximum amount of time, effort, and finesse. It's OK if you need to put in a bit less personal effort in order to get something done. 

"Could you have your gifts wrapped at the store, have someone clean the house for the month, have someone mail gifts and cards at the post office, pay someone to walk the dog during the month of December, or place a catering order for a holiday party?" Isip said. 

Maybe you send an email holiday card over physical ones, or host a potluck instead of cooking from scratch. The examples could go on and on. 

"The magic is being able to define levels of performance for each task," Morgenstern said.