Easter Preparations Made Simple: A Stress-Free Holiday Guide
"Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance" - Coco Chanel
Let's face it - Easter can be a bit chaotic. Between decorating eggs, planning meals, entertaining the family, and trying to keep the house looking decent, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But it doesn't have to be that way! As someone who's always juggling work, family, and the daily commute, I've learned a few tricks to make Easter preparations less stressful and more enjoyable.
Planning Ahead: Your Easter Command Centre
I'm not naturally organised (far from it), but I've found that creating a simple Easter command centre a few weeks before helps tremendously. For me, this is just a dedicated page in my planner with:
A shopping list (broken down by store)
A meal plan
A prep timeline (what can be done in advance)
Family activities we want to fit in
Having everything in one place means I'm not frantically searching for that scribbled note about what ingredients I need for hot cross buns.
Food Prep That Won't Drive You Mad
As someone who follows a protein-heavy diet, I make sure our Easter meals have plenty of options without causing me to spend the entire holiday in the kitchen.
Easter Lunch Made Simple
For Easter lunch, I focus on dishes that can be prepped ahead:
Roast lamb with garlic and rosemary (prep the marinade the night before)
Make-ahead veg sides (chop carrots, parsnips, etc. and store in water in the fridge)
Batch-prepared roast potatoes (par-boil, rough up, and freeze ahead of time)
The freezer is your best mate here. I prep and freeze as much as possible the weekend before, so when Easter Sunday rolls around, I'm not stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is having fun.
Protein-Packed Easter Treats
Rather than loading up solely on chocolate eggs, I make some protein-friendly treats:
Dark chocolate bark with nuts and seeds
Protein-packed hot cross buns (using protein powder in the dough)
Boiled eggs decorated with natural food dyes for a savoury option
Decorating Without the Faff
Easter decorations don't need to be elaborate or expensive. I keep ours simple and reusable:
A small wooden Easter tree that comes out, this has become a family tradition
Fabric bunting in spring colours that can be washed and stored
Plant pots with spring bulbs (far better than cut flowers - they last longer and can go in the garden after)
When the weather's nice, I'd much rather be setting things in the garden than faffing with elaborate decorations indoors. Simple touches make the house feel festive without creating more work.
Easter Baskets That Don't Break the Bank
Living in the UK, we don't go as mad with Easter baskets as our American counterparts seem to. However, I do like to put together something small for family members:
A quality chocolate egg (support local chocolatiers if you can)
A practical gift like gardening gloves or seeds
Something homemade - perhaps lavender sachets or bath bombs
A small craft activity for kids to do over the Easter break
I prepare these a week or so in advance and store them in the loft so there's no last-minute scramble.
Family Activities That Create Memories
With limited time off work, I want to make the most of the Easter break with activities that don't require hours of prep:
Egg hunts in the garden (weather permitting - have a backup indoor plan!)
Nature walks to spot signs of spring
Seed planting for summer veg and flowers
Simple crafts using materials we already have at home
My family particularly enjoys our annual egg-rolling competition down the hill at the local park. It's free, gets us outdoors, and always results in proper belly laughs.
Easter Cleaning - The Sensible Approach
Rather than killing yourself with a top-to-bottom spring clean before Easter, focus on the areas that matter:
Living spaces where you'll entertain
The dining table and chairs
Guest loo if you're having visitors
Front door and entrance (first impressions count)
I use my own homemade cleaning products (vinegar, bicarb, and essential oils) which are cheaper, less toxic, and work brilliantly. No need for fancy sprays that cost a fortune.
When Things Go Wrong (Because They Will)
The hot cross buns burn. The kids have a meltdown. It pours with rain during the egg hunt. These things happen! Having a sense of humour and some backup plans makes all the difference:
Keep some shop-bought treats in reserve
Have indoor activities ready in case of typical British weather
Remember that perfect holidays exist only on Instagram - real family time is messy and that's fine
Work-Life Balance During Easter
As someone who works full-time, I know how precious time off is. I make sure to:
Set clear boundaries about checking work emails
Prep as much as possible the weekend before
Share responsibilities with family members
Lower expectations about what needs to be "perfect"
My Easter Week Timeline
Weekend before: Deep clean key areas, prep and freeze what you can
Monday/Tuesday: Buy non-perishable items, prepare decorations
Wednesday: Fresh food shopping (early to avoid crowds)
Thursday: Prepare dough for hot cross buns, boil eggs for decorating
Good Friday: Bake hot cross buns, decorate eggs, final house touches
Saturday: Prep veg, set the table, organise egg hunt
Easter Sunday: Enjoy with minimal stress!
The Joy of Easter
For me, Easter is about new beginnings, spring freshness, and precious time with family. It's not about creating a picture-perfect tableau that would stress even Martha Stewart.
Keep it simple, focus on what brings you joy, and let go of the rest. After all, the whole point of the resources I share is to make life easier, not to add more tasks to your already full plate. If you need more help, try out our done-for-you Spring Planner Bundle which includes an Easter planner too!
So there you have it - a straightforward approach to Easter that leaves you time to actually enjoy the time together rather than just preparing for it. Because when the weather finally turns nice, I know where I'd rather be - outside in the garden with a cup of tea and a hot cross bun, not stuck inside faffing with elaborate preparations!
