Do you want to organize for Christmas early this year so you can actually enjoy your holiday season? These are the things you should do in November to free up some time during the holidays so you can actually enjoy Christmas this year.
Christmas time is such a magical and exciting time of year, but without careful planning it can be extremely stressful. I want to share 11 things you can do right now to organize for Christmas and allow you to actually enjoy it.
You are going to learn how to organize for Christmas by getting a jump start on your cards, gifts, schedule fun events and more…
If you follow my tips, you are going to take the stress out of your holiday season and get more meaning out of the time you spend enjoying family, friends and time spent giving.
This post is all about the best ways to organize for Christmas in November that you need to start right now.
Start To Organize For Christmas Today
Tip #1 Deal With Your Christmas Cards Completely
What do I mean by this? I mean I want you to decide if you are going to send cards and if the decision is yes… You need to make them, order them, sign them, address them, stamp them and get them in the mail by December 1st. Christmas cards are a huge time sink for me. I do a photo card of my kids every year and I am happy I do it, BUT it takes a lot of time, energy and effort that I don’t want to do in December. Trust me when I tell you that you shouldn’t procrastinate working on Christmas cards… it’s a BIG mistake.
Here is a card I created on Shutterfly:
Check out Shutterfly.com for cards and other photo projects.
(Shutterfly runs amazing deals early in the season. You will save tons of money if you create and order your holiday projects now.)
Tip #2 Declutter And Create A Wish List During The Process
December is the month of gifts. People are going to ask you what you want, what your kids need and if you want to be included in the Secret Santa. Before things start rolling in and get out of control, it’s time to get some things out. Take a weekend or a week (if you have a lot of work to do) and dedicate it to purging unwanted and unused items. This will help you in a few ways. It will allow you to create physical space in your home, but more importantly it will show you what you might actually want or need. Do you need new gym leggings? Are your sneakers worn out? Is your sock drawer full of mismatched or dull socks? Decluttering will bring you clarity. It’s worth the time, I promise.
Need some inspiration? Check out this book in hard copy or listen on audio while you work:
Click Here to buy this book on Amazon. It’s a fast fun read that will get you going on your purge.
Tip #3 Decorate Early
Are you planning to put up outdoor lights or decor for the holidays? Think about this… would you rather put them up in early November when you can still get a few days above 60 degrees OR on a snowy, icy December day? Putting off outdoor decor could possibly make you miserable. It’s fun to get out there on a fall day and take the time to get those lights just right. And, don’t forget about indoor decor. Put up your tree after Thanksgiving and make it a family tradition. It can be so fun to decorate with family and friends.
How cute are these:
Click Here To View These Snowflake Path Lights On Amazon
Or this idea for your front door or garage door:
Click Here To Check This Out On Amazon
(There are so many options and ideas to play around with, but starting this early will make it more fun and way less stress.)
Tip #4 Finish Your Gift Shopping This Month
Brainstorm a list of everyone you need to buy for this holiday season and start shopping now. Get cash for people you plan to tip. Spend time thinking about what you can gift that will be used and appreciated. Often popular gifts are sold out in December or if you find something very customized it might not arrive in time. Giving yourself more times usually means you are giving more thoughtful and meaningful gifts.
If you are looking for a way to track your gifts and budget you might want to check this out:
Click Here To Buy This Adorable Gift Tracker On Amazon
Tip #5 Book Your Favorite Pet Sitter/ House Sitter For Any Travel Days Ahead
Are you traveling for the holidays? If you are, you need to book pet and house sitters early. Booking early means less stress at the last minute before a trip. Our family has two amazing dog sitters that will stay with our sweet bulldog while we are away. Both girls work from home and actually move into our house and take care of everything while we are gone. We are extremely lucky! I have learned to book them as soon as we even think we might go away. So, if you haven’t booked your sitter yet, this is your reminder!
If you are booking a pet sitter, you might want to read:
5 Simple Pet Sitter Instructions That Will Make Leaving Easier
Tips #6 Line Up Snow Plows, Service Your Generator and Clean Your Gutters
If you live in a colder climate you know how important your snow plow and generator guys are. And, if your gutters are stuffed with leaves, you need to get them cleaned out before the snow flies. These people keep your driveways and walkways safe and keep that back up generator running all winter in case you lose power. Reach out to your guys and make sure you are on their schedule and in their plans. And, don’t forget to tip them!
If you’re not sure who to tip or how much – I’ll admit, I need some guidance myself… check this out:
Everyone You Should Remember To Tip Over The Holidays And How Much To Give
(This is a blog post by Real Simple Magazine – this is a great place to start)
Tips #7 Plan A Baking Day
Pick a day in December to bake with your family, friends or even just alone! Homemade treats are great gifts because they are made with love and can be wrapped up beautifully for loved ones. You can also find charity bake sales to get involved in, donate them to a local business or even ship them to surprise friends. There is just something fun about a holiday movie, some flour and a fun product to share in the end.
If you are looking for a little inspiration, check out this 5 star best selling book on amazon:
Click here to purchase this beautiful book on Amazon in hard cover or kindle edition.
Tips #8 Book Travel Early
Oh… please tell me you have booked your travel! If not, this is your wakeup call to get online and get it done now. So many people are flying, booking hotels and renting cars. Don’t find yourself stressing at the last minute.
The best time to book Christmas flights is October or early November – so now!
The best time to book a rental car for the holidays is actually 6 months in advance. If you’re booking the car now you still might find cars, but maybe not deals. Either way, if your car isn’t booked, it’s time to do it!
If you’re staying in a hotel for Christmas you’re in luck. You actually get the best price if you wait until the month of December to book the room. I would still choose a few hotels and inquire about rooms available, but maybe hold off on booking if you want the best price.
Tip #9 Book Fun Festive Outings Early
It just doesn’t feel Christmassy if you don’t book a few festive events. In our town, they bring in actual reindeer to a local nursery. The kids love it and it makes for some really cool photo opportunities. Watching classic Christmas movies, sledding, hot cocoa on a snowy day, festive music, attending a tree lighting, caroling, attending a church service, ice skating, going on a drive to see Christmas lights… so so many more activities. I keep a “brain dump” page in my journal to keep track of all of the fun things I can do during December. It’s hard to remember everything!
If you want more structure, check this 5 star Christmas planner:
Click here to purchase this Christmas planner on Amazon.
Tip #10 Order Holiday Specific Items
There are so many fun things to have around for Christmas like: wrapping paper, gingerbread houses, advent calendars, Christmas pajamas, poppers for the dinner table… and more. Now is the time to buy these items to have them ready for your holiday. Here are a few of my favorites:
I love these pre-assembled houses from Amazon. Click here to purchase them!
Sometimes I find my wrapping paper at Home Goods. But, if you’re shopping ahead and want to get a set with paper that go together, check this out:
Click here to buy this reversible wrapping paper on Amazon.
If you haven’t had poppers on your holiday table… you’re missing out on some real family fun!
Click here to buy these fun-filled poppers on Amazon.
Advent calendars are a huge deal in my house during the month of December. If you haven’t added them into your holiday traditions, try it this year! Order them now to find the perfect calendar for each member of your family. If you’re stumped, try a basic chocolate one like this:
Click here to try out this Lindt chocolate advent calendar for the month of December.
Looking for matching family pajamas? You really need to buy these early to be sure you can get the sizes you need. You also need to be sure they will arrive in time. Here are my favorites:
Click Here To Order Your Pajamas Today.
Hanna Anderson has the best quality family pajamas, and they also come in tons of colors and styles. If you hurry, they are 40% off right now – it pays to shop early! Your family Christmas morning photos will look amazing when you all match.
Tip #11 Plan Volunteer Days/ Ways To Give To Others
Don’t forget to schedule in some time to volunteer this holiday season. And, while you’re at it, you can add a few things to your gift list to donate to a family in need. This is a great time of year to give back to your community and there is always a lot of opportunity if you’re looking for it.
If you want to approach this in a different way check this out:
Click here to purchase this highly-rated advent calendar from Amazon
This is a giving Advent calendar that will give you small acts of kindness for each day of December.
This Post Was All About Ways To Organize For Christmas.
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It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”
