Christmas is so much more than a one day event. It’s a tradition that stops the nation! It consists of a solid month of celebration and at the very least almost 3 months of planning. In other words, it’s a very important event that deserves all the attention that it gets.
Such a big event doesn’t just happen, it requires meticulous preparation and planning to ensure that everything turns out just the way you had hoped. You can be one step ahead of the game by having a simple checklist of the important things that you need to get done for the Christmas season.
Where will you celebrate Christmas?
This is one of the very first things that you should to organise. Who will host this year’s Christmas celebrations? Maybe you already have a rotation system, but get in contact with everyone who you expect will be attending and come to a decision as early as possible. You can also use this time to starting planning the menu and what everyone will bring to the table. It’s never too early to think about food.
Get out the calendar and jot down your Christmas events
With kids at school, the city alight with Christmas decorations, and the summer sun in the air, December will no doubt be a busy month of catch-ups and celebrations. You won’t want to miss out on any of those end of year events, from taking the kids to see the lights and school concerts, to work Christmas parties and catching up with family and friends from near and far. Make sure each and every event, no matter how big or small, is put in the calendar so when the next invitation pops up you know exactly if and when you’re free and nothing gets missed or forgotten.
Make a gift list and get buying
Who will you see on Christmas Day and who will you make time to visit during December? No doubt there will be plenty of people that you will want to show how much you care or say thank you to with a special gift. Once you know who these people are and when you will be seeing them, write down the presents you need for the kids and what you will bring your friends. Whenever you’re at the shops, keep an eye out for what you need and get it done bit by bit. This saves a big, stressful last minute dash or worse still, being caught with nothing! Another helpful hint when it comes to gifts is to wrap your presents as you buy them. Doing this saves having to devote a big chunk of your valuable time down the track, when you are probably busy with plenty of other things to get done as well.
Organise Secret Santa.
Secret Santa is a great way to simplify gift giving amongst your friends and family. One of the most important things for a successful Secret Santa is making sure that you plan it with plenty of time for everyone to get organised. No later than mid November you should co-ordinate with everyone that will be participating and sort out all the details – assign/draw out who will be buying for who, decide on a budget and any other details that everyone needs to know. This will give you plenty of time to get your Secret Santa gifts planned and organised.
Check your supplies and get decorating
You might not put your Christmas Tree up until 1 December, but there is no reason why you can’t begin decorating the rest of your house right away. A gorgeous wreath on the front door, a festive centrepiece on the dining table or stockings hanging on the mantle can really start to spread the festive cheer. With so many amazing Christmas décor options, why wait until December hits to enjoy them? Getting your decorations out early also gives you plenty of time to see what you have and decide what else you might want, or need, to add for this year’s display. Use this time to check that your decorative lights and any musical or light-up ornaments you have are working properly. You might need to do some repairs or purchase batteries. If you will have any new guests for Christmas this year, do you need to order any personalised baubles or stockings?
At The Christmas Cart we have an amazing range of Christmas décor items for almost every Christmas theme that you can imagine. Visit our website The Christmas Cart for design inspiration and tips, and to buy everything that you need to create your chosen theme in your home.
Celebrate Christmas!
If you have used a checklist such as this one to get organised early, you will be well on your way to being ready for Christmas. With celebrations booked, food organised, decorations hung and presents bought, you can busy yourelf with the important job of enjoying the magic and joy that is Christmas time!