The holiday season has a way of sneaking up, and before we know it, Christmas is just around the corner. If you’re short on time and need to pull together a joyful and memorable celebration, there’s good news: with a little planning and organization, you can still create a festive season without the stress. Here’s a step-by-step guide to last-minute Christmas planning that’ll keep you organized, relaxed, and ready to enjoy every moment.

Step 1: Brainstorm Your Holiday Activities

Start by listing all the activities and projects you want to include this holiday season. Don’t hold back—think about everything from decorating and gift shopping to family gatherings, holiday cards, and baking cookies. Break your list into two categories:

• “Must Do” Activities: These are essential items, such as buying gifts, planning holiday meals, or attending family events.

• “Would Like to Do” Activities: These are the things you’d enjoy but aren’t strictly necessary. This might include watching holiday movies, visiting festive light displays, or baking special treats.

By separating essential tasks from those that are optional, you can focus on what really matters while leaving room for extra fun if time allows.

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Step 2: Set Your Budget

Once you’ve outlined what you want to do, now you must make sure you have the money to do it. Determine how much you can spend on each category, such as gifts, decorations, food, and activities. Setting a clear budget helps you prioritize and prevents overspending.

Think about assigning a budget to both “must-do” and “would-like-to-do” activities so you know where you can splurge a little or where you may need to cut back.

Step 3: Tackle the “Must Do” Activities First

Start with your “must do” list to ensure that important tasks are taken care of. These items may include:

• Buying gifts for family and friends

• Planning and shopping for holiday meals

• Decorating your home

• Scheduling family events or get-togethers

Focusing on your “must do” activities first will help you avoid last-minute stress and keep the most important parts of your holiday on track.

Step 4: Divide Tasks Between November and December

Think about which activities need to be done sooner rather than later. Some “must-do” tasks, like gift shopping, may be better done in November to avoid shipping delays. Other tasks, like food preparation, might be better left until closer to Christmas. Here’s an example breakdown:

• November Tasks: Early shopping for gifts and decorations, planning events, and initial holiday decor.

• December Tasks: Wrapping gifts, food preparation, and final decor touches.

Setting a clear timeline for each month helps you pace yourself, allowing for a less rushed and more organized approach.

Step 5: Break Down Each Project into Steps

Each major project should be broken down into small, manageable tasks. For example:

• Holiday Meal Planning: Decide on the menu, make a shopping list, and purchase non-perishable ingredients in November. In December, purchase fresh ingredients and set up a cooking schedule.

• Gift Shopping: Make a list of recipients, set a budget for each person, brainstorm gift ideas, and shop early to avoid last-minute stress.

Breaking projects down into actionable steps makes even big tasks feel manageable and allows you to chip away at them over time.

Step 6: Map Out Weekly Goals for Each Month

For both November and December, set up a week-by-week plan. Below are a few examples of what this could look like for you:

November

• Week 1: Finalize budget and gift list; shop for decorations.

• Week 2: Start gift shopping; order online items with longer shipping times.

• Week 3: Purchase non-perishable groceries; make and send holiday cards.

• Week 4: Continue with gift shopping and wrap gifts as they arrive.

December

• Week 1: Complete gift shopping and wrapping.

• Week 2: Finish any holiday decorations; prepare for family gatherings.

• Week 3: Buy fresh food items and make-ahead dishes; finalize Christmas Eve or Christmas Day plans.

• Week 4: Focus on last-minute tasks, and enjoy quality time with family and friends

With a clear weekly outline, you can tackle small bits at a time, ensuring everything stays on schedule without overwhelming yourself.

Step 7: Consider Regular Activities

Look at your normal weekly commitments, like work, exercise, family time, and assess how much extra time you realistically have for holiday tasks. This can help you avoid overloading your schedule and keeps everything manageable.

Step 8: Plan Each Day for the First Week

Once you have the weekly schedule in place, break down the first week into a daily plan. By setting aside specific time blocks for holiday tasks, you’ll know exactly what needs to be done and when. Each week, take a few minutes to map out the next week’s tasks, adjusting as needed to stay on track.

Step 9: Move on to Your “Would Like to Do” List

If you find extra time, start working on your “would like to do” list. Prioritize based on what sounds the most fun and fulfilling, but don’t stress if you can’t fit everything in. For example, you could dedicate a Sunday to watching holiday movies or schedule an evening to bake cookies with the family.

With these steps, you’ll be ready to navigate the holiday season with a clear, stress-free plan. Remember that the goal is to make the season enjoyable and memorable, so keep it flexible and don’t hesitate to scale back if you need more downtime.

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Continue to use the planner packet year after year! Get organized this Christmas and use again for all other Christmases to come.

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