Do you love Christmas but dread the stress leading up to it? With so many presents to buy, people to see, and meals to make, the run-up to the holiday season can leave you more frazzled than festive.
Getting organized will not only keep you on schedule, but also let you enjoy all those little things individually. This Christmas checklist will help keep you on track!
What to Do as Early as Possible
1. Make a Family Plan
Are you going to your in-laws? Is it your turn to have the family over to your home? Or will you just jet off on vacation for the whole thing? Make a plan so everyone knows where they will be for the holidays, especially during these unprecedented times.
2. Book Travel
If you’re traveling during the holiday season, the prices are unlikely to get any cheaper, so it’s best to look out for offers and book early. Also, make sure any passports are valid! In times of COVID-19, you also want to make sure that traveling is safe for you and your family. If required for your destination, arrange for pre-travel COVID-19 testing for you and your family.
3. Update Your Holiday Card List
Dig out last year’s list and update it with any new addresses or contacts! Holiday cards are especially important this year, when you likely haven’t seen friends and family as much as you usually would.
4. Start a Christmas Gift List
Make a spreadsheet and enter in all the people you need to buy for with a rough budget. Then add in ideas (or their hints!) and start buying things as you see them!
5. Sign up for Deals
The big promotions start earlier than Black Friday itself – especially this year when Thanksgiving is the latest it can be. So sign up for email alerts and make sure you’re the first to know about the big discounts!
6. Make an Activity List
In past years, your holiday season would likely be filled with many important celebrations, from the kids’ pageants to office holiday parties. With many of those events being canceled or held remotely this year, make a list of other fun activities you can do this year.
7. Book Time off Work
Some companies pretty much shut down for Christmas week, whereas in others you may have to fight for the time off. Remember to get your time-off requests in early if you want to take some time away from your home office!
8. Find Good Family Photos
Before you start shopping for holiday cards, dig out the pictures you want to use so you know what design will work. If you can’t find any good shots, it’s time for an impromptu photoshoot!
9. Write Lists for Santa
Chances are, the kids have had their lists ready for a long time! But if not, make it into a fun event and you can even mail them to the North Pole.
10. Buy Your Holiday Cards
It’s best to get your holiday cards made and ordered early so you can actually enjoy writing them! Check out Zazzle’s holiday design contest winners for some inspiration.
11. Plan the Menu
Even if your guest list for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, or any other event is much smaller than last year, now’s the time to look up some recipes and start planning what you’re going to prepare for your close family or friends. Also, remember to order your turkey!
12. Stock up on Essentials
Even if your plans aren’t finalized, there are some items you know you’re going to need that don’t have an expiration date. For example, wrapping paper, snacks, alcohol, soft drinks, batteries for new toys and an advent calendar!
13. Don’t Forget the Teacher
Make sure you pick up a teacher’s gift so you can get it wrapped up and ready to send before winter break. Mugs, custom cookies, or stationery make good options – especially this year when schooling has been much different than usual!
14. Check the Decorations
Rather than find out the lights don’t work when they’re already on the tree, pull out all your decorations, throw out any that are broken, and treat yourself to a new ornament or two!
15. Do Some Freezer Cooking
Once the holidays really kick in, you may not have time to cook every night, so take a few hours one weekend to whip up and freeze some family meals like stews, pasta sauces etc.
16. Make the Cookies and More
It’s never too early to get in the Christmas spirit! Late November is the time to start making your Christmas cookies and any other traditional Christmas treats your family enjoys. If you’re giving festive treats as gifts, pick up some custom stickers to label your creations.
17. Style Your Table
There are so many beautiful and imaginative ways to set a table for a holiday feast. Start pinning ideas on Pinterest and order items like custom place cards and paper napkins now.
What to Do in December
18. Write Your Holiday Cards
Put an evening aside, grab yourself a glass of wine or mug of hot chocolate, crank on the Christmas music and write those holiday cards so they’re ready to send in early December. But if you’re sending cards or gifts overseas, remember to check those last postal dates!
19. Buy a Christmas Sweater
This trend seems set to stay, so make sure you have a new ugly Christmas sweater to pull on for the virtual office party or even just for Christmas Day.
20. Clean the House
If you’re having guests to stay, start deep cleaning one room at a time rather than leaving it all until the night before they arrive. Make sure you have plenty of guest towels and sheets, as well as face masks and hand sanitizer.
21. Pamper Yourself
Book any hair or beauty appointments so you can feel your best, even if only your family will see you! Remember, appointments fill up fast during the holiday season, and this is especially true with reduced occupancy during COVID-19.
A Few Days Before Christmas
22. Plan for Emergency Gifts
Buy a few ‘emergency’ Christmas gifts for anyone you may have forgotten or for someone who turns up with a gift for you unexpectedly! Chocolates or gift cards will work for pretty much anyone.
23. Get the Food Ready
A few days before Christmas, but not the day before, it’s time to take the plunge and do your big food shopping with the fresh items you couldn’t buy any sooner. Defrost any meats in the freezer. Make any desserts or courses you can ahead of the day.
24. Make Some Christmas Eve Traditions
Have some family time, whether that’s singing carols, leaving out a plate for Santa or having a Christmas movie marathon! Then before you go to bed, fill those stockings and leave gifts under the tree,
Christmas Day
25. And… Relax!
Once the kids are up and the meal is in the oven, it’s time to sit down and pour yourself a nice glass of bubbles – you deserve it! Merry Christmas!
Matilda is Marketing Manager in the International Team, bringing Zazzle to customers everywhere from Sydney to Stockholm.
