The Ultimate Holiday Checklist

We recently wrapped up our 2 week fall organizing challenge, which was so much fun!  Have you ever asked yourself why people participate in these crazy challenges?  Have you participated in one of these challenges yourself?  Nothing feels more rewarding than checking items off a list! Life is much easier when the home is running smoothly and schedules are definitely a big part of that.  When life gets busy…sometimes it is hard to keep everything straight.  Creating a checklist, especially a holiday checklist, is a great way to take things off your mind without letting things slip through the cracks.    

I have always been a checklist person! I especially use them during busy times. When I have a lot on my mind, I find myself forgetting to put snacks in the kids backpacks or notice I am less productive at home during the day.  When everything is just “hanging” out there, it’s hard to move forward.  A checklist helps give us a plan of attack!  Now throw the holidays on top of that…and there is more stress, not to mention a lot more to manage! 

I really want to soak up time with my kids and enjoy the little things this year.  To do that…we have to start preparing now.  That is where the holiday checklist comes in!  So let’s get started.

The Ultimate Holiday Checklist To Reduce Stress At Christmas!  

I will break down each category for you.  Feel free to complete them in any order you would like!  My goal is to have everything on the checklist completed by December 1st, except for the family time activities.  Then all of December, we can enjoy these family activities without the stress of having to get everything else done!  

Holiday Cards

This year among many is a great year to send Christmas cards!  Everyone could use a little cheer or a note to say you’re thinking of them.  The key is to get cards out early.  I typically try to have my cards ordered by Thanksgiving and out the first week of December.  Make sure to start collecting addresses if you need to and get your stamps early. Then you’ll be all set to go when you have your cards.  

If you like to send photo cards, start working on your picture…well about now, so you can order your photo cards and get them back in time!

Christmas Gifts

I am not the only one this year that wanted to get an early start, several of my friends and family have begun christmas shopping already!  I hope to finish my Christmas shopping this weekend and in fact, we have already drawn names for family christmas gift exchanges. 

Why start so early?  Well, with it being 2020 and covid, items could take longer than you think to receive or supplies could be limited.  Can you just imagine if wrapping paper is the next toilet paper! You don’t want to end up with spongebob birthday paper.  OK for those of you that are type A and like your paper to match your tree, you’re on my side right?!    

Anyways if you have not started yet, I would highly recommend it!  Look through each check in the gift section and get to work.  If you have already started or are almost finished…enjoy checking it off! 

Plus, the earlier you finish shopping, the more time you have to cuddle with your kiddos or admire the Christmas tree and your matching paper (wink, wink).  

See how I made these Christmas bows below, click HERE.

Holiday Decorations

Decorations may be the easiest one to check off.  Some of you may have your tree up already.  I normally pull out all my tubs of decor the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I love putting them up Thanksgiving weekend and getting to enjoy them for the full month of December.  I just can’t get enough of Christmas decor!  I definitely decorate more for Christmas than any other holiday.

I love the smell of fresh pine in the house and I can’t believe that it is only a couple weeks away!

Check out 3 Christmas gadgets that make Christmas easier, Click HERE.

Holiday Parties

Parties will definitely look a little different this year!  Large gatherings might get cancelled and you may have to be more creative with small gatherings as well.  With all the uncertainty, it would be a good idea to make extra dough up or freeze some desserts that you could pull out in a pinch.  

Virtual parties are always an option, you could have a gingerbread contest between families and then present them to each other on a zoom meeting. 

Another great idea is to have a Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt!  Each family can be in their own vehicle to look for lights.  Three other families did this with us last year and it was such a blast!  Our kids absolutely loved it and we will definitely want to do it again. Veteran tip, print off a list for each kid in the car and yourself, otherwise everyone will fight over the one copy!

Things will likely slow down in the party department this year and that will leave more time for the next category!

Family Time

It’s not too often I want to plan family activities in December.  Honestly, because normally every weekend is already spoken for.  However, with all of my other Christmas shopping, decorations and cards done in November it leaves more time for fun in December.  You will notice I left all the checkboxes blank under family time.  This allows you to come up with family activities that your whole family will enjoy!  Here is a list of activities to help inspire!

• Sledding/skiing/snowboarding
• Caroling 
• Christmas light scavenger hunt 
• Make gingerbread houses
• Christmas movie night
• Craft night- make ornaments or make fleece no sew blankets to watch your movie with.
• Make christmas cookies and decorate them
• Bring a gift or groceries to someone in need
• Go ice skating
• Put shoe boxes together For Operation Christmas Child
• Make a snowman
• Game night in Pj’s
• Winter bonfire

Holiday Checklist

Click here to get the Ultimate Holiday Checklist and stay on track for the Holidays!  Reduce your stress with each check!  

The Holidays may throw us a lot of unexpected turns, and can be stressful at times.  Planning will help, but remember to focus on the true meaning of Christmas!  Celebrating the birth of our Savior.  Make sure to share the joy of this season with all of those around you, even if it is from a 6ft distance!  

Thanks so much for checking out my post!