The holidays are supposed to feel joyful, but let’s be honest—between hosting, traveling, shopping, cooking, and coordinating family schedules, things can get stressful fast. Technology is meant to help, but when everyone’s home at once, it can sometimes feel like just one more thing to manage.

The good news? A few small tech habits can make a big difference and help everything run a little smoother during the busiest time of year.

1. Reduce tech friction before guests arrive

A little preparation goes a long way. Before family or friends show up, make sure your Wi-Fi name and password are easy to find, and consider setting up a simple charging station so devices don’t end up scattered throughout the house. Even better is setting up a guest network, complete with it's own name and password, so you don't have to share your main Wi-Fi password with vistors. It’s a small touch that makes hosting easier and keeps everyone connected without chaos.

2. Keep an eye on deliveries and visitors

Holiday packages have a way of arriving at the worst possible times—right in the middle of dinner prep or while you’re away visiting family... or maybe even when the spouse is home, and their gift is in the box! Smart home tools like Arlo cameras can help you keep an eye on deliveries and unexpected visitors. A quick glance at your phone can save you stress and give you peace of mind, even when you’re not home.

3. Set tech boundaries that actually work

Technology doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Consider choosing one or two moments to unplug—maybe during a meal or while opening gifts—while still letting tech support everything else. Streaming a favorite holiday movie, playing music throughout the house, or sharing photos digitally can still be part of the fun. One way you can set some boundaries for the family is by setting time limits or pausing internet access for specific devices... while there are many ways to do this, Pioneer customers have access to this via SmartWifi ! 

4. Have a simple backup plan

Even the best tech can have an off moment. Knowing who to contact or where to check for help can keep a small issue from becoming a holiday headache. With local support and reliable service, problems get resolved faster—so you can get back to enjoying time with the people around you. Remember, if you do happen to have an issue, you can turn in easy tickets via your SmartHub account — so there's no need to wait in the call line! 

From all of us at Pioneer, we hope your holiday season is filled with less stress, more connection, and plenty of time to enjoy being together.

Heads up! Pioneer customers have access to SmartWiFi , which makes a lot of this easier—like setting up guest Wi-Fi, managing connected devices, and creating screen-time breaks. If you haven’t explored it yet, it’s worth checking out.