I know, I know - what can I say - it is never too early to start a to-do list ;)
So here is my go-to to-do list to prepare for my favorite holiday season.
- Early November - start your holiday gift shopping. I actually start in August, but I realize this may be a little ahead of the game for most. My rationale in starting so early is to ensure I am not rushed through the process. I spend a lot of time thinking about the gifts I purchase, wanting to ensure that the recipient will truly enjoy their gift. The point here is to avoid hasty last minute purchases that will wreak havoc on your budget and may not really be what you had hoped to give.
- Early November – stock up on holiday essentials, including, but not limited to: wrapping paper, ribbons and bows, holiday cards and tags, and scotch tape. There is nothing worse than running out of essentials when you are mid-way through wrapping your gifts.
- Early November - since I live in the great Canadian North, the temperature can be quite chilly at this time of year and putting up outdoor decorations in sub-zero weather in knee deep snow is really not the most pleasant experience. So lights get strung while I can still feel my fingers. I have not turned them on as of yet, but at least they are already hung and ready to shine brightly when I'm ready to flick the switch.
- Mid November - start planning your holiday calendar. There are so many events, parties and commitments that are crammed into a 4 week period and I am always amazed at how quickly we get booked up. To ensure you get to spend time with the people you want as well as tend to your preparations without feeling like you are running a marathon, make a list of the people you want to see and the events you don't want to miss. Once you have your list, now you are ready to mark off your calendar and send any invites or RSVPs. Be sure to include time for special activities such as cookie exchanges, holiday art projects, etc.
- Mid November - this is a great time to prepare meal plans for any parties you intend on hosting. Once you have finalized your calendar, you will have a better idea of the number of meals you will be tending to. Having your meal plans outlined early will also allow you to take advantage of any sales at the grocery store.
- End of November - in order to fully enjoy the holiday spirit, I like to put up my indoor decorations at the end of November. By the time December rolls around I am in full holiday spirit with a large chunk of the preparations tended to, leaving me to focus on spending time with the people I care about.
- Early December - prepare holiday cards. Now if you shop at Costco, you may have noticed they have been carrying stock since August or September. Yup, that is indeed when I purchased my stash. I like to schedule an evening where I play my favorite holiday tunes and sit down to write special holiday messages for the people I care about. A glass of wine or spiked eggnog never hurts either!
As you can see from the above, a lot of my preparation is actually done in November. This leaves me the month of December to enjoy all of the activities and time spent with family and friends. By having an action plan, I'm sure not to overlook anything and it helps reduce my stress during a very busy season.
Happy holiday organizing!
No comments:
Post a Comment