Simplify Your Holidays with These Essential Apple Hacks

The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration, but a whirlwind of activity can lead to stress and chaos. That’s where Apple gear and apps can really make your holidays easier.

Apple apps can simplify your planning and gifting and make your home more inviting. The best news is that you probably already have everything you need to make holiday entertaining and travel a success. All you need are a few smart tech hacks to ease your holiday chaos and let you focus on what truly matters.

Use Apple’s Smart Home Gadgets for Holiday Prep

I use the Apple Home app to help with things like lighting and security during the holidays. By pairing products like Nanoleaf Shapes with HomeKit, I can create a lighting scene that gives holiday vibes. I have also created some shortcuts that let me turn on holiday lighting for entertaining or just for relaxing in my home, with all the pretty lights set the way I like them.

Security is another area where Apple comes in handy. I have an Arlo Home Security System connected to Apple Home that lets me keep track of deliveries left at my front door. I also have a couple of indoor cameras that help me keep an eye on things when I’m entertaining and can’t be everywhere at once.

Use Apple Reminders and Notes for Planning

I’m an Apple Reminders and Notes fan, and I use them to keep me on top of my holiday game. I leave myself Reminders with time triggers to ensure that I’m getting everything on my list done. Whether it’s cleaning, remembering to pick up Uncle Ted’s favorite soda, or a nudge to help me get all the wrapping done before the last minute, Reminders are essential to my holiday game plan.

Notes is equally important. I create a set of Notes early in the year (like, January or February early) that include things like shopping lists for the people I plan to buy for. I can begin adding to those lists when I randomly think of something or hear one of the kids talking about something they want.

I also have store-specific notes that include lists of items to purchase while I’m in that store. By the time the holiday crunch time rolls around, I’m organized and ready for whatever entertaining I have going on.

Apple Pay and Safari Make Gift Finding (and Giving) Easy

Apple Pay and Apple Wallet have become my default method of payment for almost everything these days. It’s so much easier to set up a credit card and then just double-press the side button when I need it. I don’t have to dig through my wallet to find the credit card I left in my back pocket, which is now in the washing machine while I’m standing at the checkout counter with a full basket of groceries for my dinner party.

I also like using Safari when I’m shopping online. In addition to the extensions that can help you find coupons and shop for the best price, it has other handy features, like saving web pages to view offline when I see something I want to dig into when prying eyes aren’t looking over my shoulder.

Don’t forget Apple Pay Cash rewards if you have an Apple Card. It’s wild how fast those rewards add up. I use them to treat myself once everyone else is taken care of.

Apple Can Even Make Travel Easier

If you’re traveling—and who isn’t—Apple has a few tricks to make that easier, too. Consider using AirTags in your luggage to help keep track of your bags (or your purse or your keys) while you’re traveling. I nearly walked out of a restaurant and left my purse behind; fortunately, the AirTag in the bottom of the bag helped me realize it before I even got buckled into my car seat.

Tools like Apple Maps can help you plan your trip over the river and through the woods. Maps can give you information on the best places on the route to buy gas or charge your EV and even help you avoid the traffic jam that is guaranteed to push your arrival back by two hours.

Holiday entertaining (and travel) doesn’t have to be all chaos and stress. At least, it doesn’t for me. My Apple gear and apps keep me on task while making those tasks even easier at time when I need all the help I can get.