If you've decided to enjoy Thanksgiving and wait until after that wonderful holiday to start focusing on Christmas, here's some suggestion and ideas put together in a Countdown to Christmas Checklist to help you stay organized and on track.
Please tweak and edit to suit you.
If you could go one step further, put these bullet points into your calendar to make sure they make it into your week's activities! This will help prevent a backlog of tasks all demanding your attention in a shorter time-frame.
4+ WEEKS BEFORE (WEEK OF NOVEMBER 30): • If you send cards, buy them now to get the best selection.
If you send photo cards, take the photo if you haven't already and start the ordering process.
Purchase stamps if needed.
~ Want to simplify? Only send cards to people out of state, send an electronic homemade card or video, or skip cards completely! • Start collecting any coupons and/or catalogues you think you might use from stores and sites you prefer to visit.
I keep a very nondescript folder on my desk to collect these coupons.
• Create a gift list.
Do your thinking BEFORE heading out to shop.
You may event want to put a dollar amount next to each recipient's name to keep you within budget.
There's nothing worse than wandering a hot mall aimlessly amid crazy crowds with no idea what you're looking for.
Keep the list in the folder too until you're ready to start shopping.
~ Want to simplify? Scale down the amount of gifts you're buying by doing family grabs vs.
buying for each member individually, swap gift giving for a family vacation, or give less gifts and do a family activity of some sort.
• Start shopping and try to check off 50% of your gift buying list.
If you shop on-line, start now especially for special orders to ensure timely arrival.
Flip through your folder to grab any coupons and your list.
Based on where I'm going I make a separate list to take with me and paperclip the coupons to the list in order to help remember I have them! THREE WEEKS BEFORE (WEEK OF DECEMBER 7): • Purchase Christmas tree,wreaths, and/or roping if you use it.
• Decorate tree and put up your Christmas decor, indoor and out.
This may require another shopping trip in order to replace lights, garlands etc.
~ Want to simplify? Don't feel compelled to put out every decoration or ornament you own.
Eliminate what no longer speaks to you.
• Continue shopping for at least 25% more of your gifts or if possible, complete the list.
Since you've been very busy this week with decorating, maybe this is when you do your on-line shopping vs.
in-store.
TWO WEEKS BEFORE (WEEK OF DECEMBER 14): • Address and mail your cards and any packages.
• Pick up remaining gifts and stocking stuffers.
• Prepare a food shopping list if you are hosting Christmas dinner or attending a party elsewhere and need to bring along a dish or just making some of your favorites.
• If you haven't already, go out to participate in some FUN Christmas activity.
It could be seeing the lights in the city, skating, or going to a play (there are MANY small local theaters that offer great shows for great prices).
FINAL WEEK (THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 21): • Complete your wrapping.
TIP: I always write down what I need for gift wrap, bows, gift tags, tissue paper each year on a sticky note and put it in my calendar for the following Christmas.
Most of this stuff gets packed away so it's not always easy to see what you have on hand.
Nothing worse than running out of something in the middle of wrapping! • Do your cooking and baking.
If you have a baking specialty, these make great teacher gifts sent in along with a card from your child.
It's a busy time of year, no matter how you slice it.
Don't be so hard on yourself to create the "perfect" Christmas.
Take a breath and enjoy some of the beauty the season has to offer with the people who matter most to you.
Merry Christmas!!
Please tweak and edit to suit you.
If you could go one step further, put these bullet points into your calendar to make sure they make it into your week's activities! This will help prevent a backlog of tasks all demanding your attention in a shorter time-frame.
4+ WEEKS BEFORE (WEEK OF NOVEMBER 30): • If you send cards, buy them now to get the best selection.
If you send photo cards, take the photo if you haven't already and start the ordering process.
Purchase stamps if needed.
~ Want to simplify? Only send cards to people out of state, send an electronic homemade card or video, or skip cards completely! • Start collecting any coupons and/or catalogues you think you might use from stores and sites you prefer to visit.
I keep a very nondescript folder on my desk to collect these coupons.
• Create a gift list.
Do your thinking BEFORE heading out to shop.
You may event want to put a dollar amount next to each recipient's name to keep you within budget.
There's nothing worse than wandering a hot mall aimlessly amid crazy crowds with no idea what you're looking for.
Keep the list in the folder too until you're ready to start shopping.
~ Want to simplify? Scale down the amount of gifts you're buying by doing family grabs vs.
buying for each member individually, swap gift giving for a family vacation, or give less gifts and do a family activity of some sort.
• Start shopping and try to check off 50% of your gift buying list.
If you shop on-line, start now especially for special orders to ensure timely arrival.
Flip through your folder to grab any coupons and your list.
Based on where I'm going I make a separate list to take with me and paperclip the coupons to the list in order to help remember I have them! THREE WEEKS BEFORE (WEEK OF DECEMBER 7): • Purchase Christmas tree,wreaths, and/or roping if you use it.
• Decorate tree and put up your Christmas decor, indoor and out.
This may require another shopping trip in order to replace lights, garlands etc.
~ Want to simplify? Don't feel compelled to put out every decoration or ornament you own.
Eliminate what no longer speaks to you.
• Continue shopping for at least 25% more of your gifts or if possible, complete the list.
Since you've been very busy this week with decorating, maybe this is when you do your on-line shopping vs.
in-store.
TWO WEEKS BEFORE (WEEK OF DECEMBER 14): • Address and mail your cards and any packages.
• Pick up remaining gifts and stocking stuffers.
• Prepare a food shopping list if you are hosting Christmas dinner or attending a party elsewhere and need to bring along a dish or just making some of your favorites.
• If you haven't already, go out to participate in some FUN Christmas activity.
It could be seeing the lights in the city, skating, or going to a play (there are MANY small local theaters that offer great shows for great prices).
FINAL WEEK (THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 21): • Complete your wrapping.
TIP: I always write down what I need for gift wrap, bows, gift tags, tissue paper each year on a sticky note and put it in my calendar for the following Christmas.
Most of this stuff gets packed away so it's not always easy to see what you have on hand.
Nothing worse than running out of something in the middle of wrapping! • Do your cooking and baking.
If you have a baking specialty, these make great teacher gifts sent in along with a card from your child.
It's a busy time of year, no matter how you slice it.
Don't be so hard on yourself to create the "perfect" Christmas.
Take a breath and enjoy some of the beauty the season has to offer with the people who matter most to you.
Merry Christmas!!