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The holiday season can be challenging for military families, especially when facing a permanent change of station (PCS) or potential deployments. Moving close to the holidays introduces a unique set of obstacles—balancing celebrations with the logistics of packing, shipping gifts, and maintaining family traditions. Here are practical strategies to ensure a joyful, organized holiday season amid a PCS move.
1. Declutter Early and Lighten Your Load
A PCS offers the perfect opportunity to declutter before the holiday season. Downsizing makes packing smoother and reduces moving costs. To avoid stress:
- Donate or sell unused items. This will free up space for new gifts and keep your household manageable when unpacking in a new location.
- Involve the whole family: Have children sort toys or clothes they’ve outgrown to turn decluttering into a pre-holiday project.
- Digitize sentimental items: Scan family photos, children’s artwork, or holiday cards to save space.
Streamlining your belongings will reduce moving burdens and create a fresh start in your new home.
2. Plan Holiday Shipments Early
If family members are stationed overseas, plan gifts with USPS’s military mail deadlines in mind. Here’s a quick look at USPS shipping deadlines for military destinations to ensure delivery by December 25:
- First-Class & Priority Mail: December 9
- Priority Mail Express Military Service (PMEMS): December 16
- Space Available Mail (SAM): November 6
You can also use free military care kits from USPS, which include flat-rate boxes and mailing supplies. Taking care of gift shipping early will help you avoid delays and ensure your packages bring holiday cheer to deployed loved ones.
3. Maintain Traditions, Even from a Distance
Traditions are essential to military families, especially when facing separation. Even if your family is scattered across different time zones, here are ways to stay connected:
- Virtual celebrations: Plan a video call to decorate the tree or open gifts together, keeping the spirit of togetherness alive.
- Create care packages: Sending small holiday-themed items, like a family photo ornament or handwritten notes, keeps connections strong.
- Pre-holiday celebrations: If PCS overlaps with the holidays, celebrate early with a “Christmas in whichever month you can” to create memories before parting ways. Maintaining family rituals—even modified ones—provides continuity, particularly for children experiencing frequent relocations.
4. Prepare for PCS During the Holidays
PCS orders near the holidays require extra planning to stay organized and festive. Here’s how to manage both:
- Pack strategically: Separate holiday decorations and essential items into easy-access bins so they can be unpacked first in your new location.
- Ship gifts directly: Ordering online and shipping to your next duty station or loved ones can save space in your moving boxes.
- Work with your installation’s family services: Many bases offer support through holiday programs, like toy drives or community meals, easing the burden during relocations.
Staying organized ensures that both the move and celebrations go smoothly, without losing the holiday magic.
5. Be Flexible and Stay Positive
Relocating around the holidays can feel overwhelming, but flexibility is key. Embrace the changes and try to create new traditions wherever you are. Holiday joy doesn’t depend on location—it’s about who you share it with. Whether you’re decorating a palm tree at a tropical duty station or making snowmen at your new base in Alaska, adapt and find the beauty in each new experience.
Navigating a PCS during the holiday season takes preparation, but with early planning and the right mindset, you can maintain family traditions and create new memories—whether at home, abroad, or en route to your next destination. Stay organized, ship gifts early, and embrace the season’s challenges with flexibility. These efforts will ensure a smoother transition for your family while keeping the holiday spirit alive.
