We spend months looking forward to Christmas, so you’d think we’d have everything organised by the time December arrives.
But somehow, the first day of the month rolls around and we suddenly realise there’s still so much to do, buy, book and organise!
Read on for our guide to easy ways to get organised early (now!) for Christmas to make it your most stress-free ever!
10 Easy Ways to Get Organised Early for a Stress-Free Christmas
The presents aren’t bought, the Christmas cards need writing, the cupboards aren’t stocked, and there are suddenly more social events in the diary than there are days in December.
Why didn’t we start sooner? Will we ever get everything done? And how is there never enough time?
First things first: don’t panic!
Getting organised for Christmas doesn’t have to mean spending weeks planning every tiny detail.
A little preparation can make a huge difference and help you enjoy a calmer, more relaxed festive season.
Whether you’re hosting Christmas at home, travelling to see family or simply trying to stay on top of everything, these 10 Christmas organisation tips will help you get ahead and take some of the stress out of the festive season.
1. Make a Christmas plan - and write everything down
Christmas can feel overwhelming simply because there are so many things to remember.
School nativities, work parties, drinks with friends, shopping trips, present buying, food orders and family get-togethers can quickly fill up your calendar.
Instead of trying to keep everything in your head, write it all down.
Create a Christmas to-do list, use a spreadsheet or start a dedicated Christmas planner.
Add important dates to your calendar and keep it somewhere you’ll see it regularly.
A calendar on the fridge or noticeboard can be particularly useful for keeping track of everyone’s commitments and avoiding those dreaded double bookings.
It’s also worth creating a Christmas gift list, complete with a budget for each person. Once everything is written down, it’s much easier to see what needs doing and when.
2. Update your Christmas contacts
If you still enjoy sending Christmas cards, now is the perfect time to check that you have the correct addresses for everyone on your list.
Friends and family move, children grow and contact details change, so a quick check now could save you from a last-minute search later.
If you’re sending Christmas cards abroad, remember to allow plenty of extra time for them to arrive.
And if your children are giving Christmas cards to classmates, ask the school or teacher for a class list if appropriate. That way, they won’t accidentally leave anyone out.
A few minutes spent updating your address book now could save a lot of frantic searching later.
3. Get your Christmas shopping organised
Christmas shopping is one of the biggest sources of festive stress, particularly if you leave everything until the last minute.
Start by making a list of everyone you need to buy for, including family, friends, teachers, colleagues and those often-forgotten stocking fillers.
Set a budget for each person and keep track of what you’ve already bought.
This will help prevent overspending and stop you from accidentally buying three presents for one person while forgetting another!
Shopping online can also save time, particularly for larger or heavier gifts. Just make sure you check delivery dates and order well before the final Christmas posting deadlines.
Looking for inspiration? Take a look at our Christmas Gift Guides and make your festive shopping a little easier.
4. Get your Christmas decorations ready
There’s nothing worse than getting the Christmas decorations out of storage only to discover that half the lights don’t work or your favourite baubles have mysteriously disappeared!
Before decorating, check what you already have and make a note of anything that needs replacing.
Test Christmas lights, check your artificial tree, look through your decorations and make sure you have enough batteries, hooks and other essentials.
If you decorate your home with fresh greenery, wreaths or a real Christmas tree, think about when you want to buy them so they look their best throughout the festive period.
Getting your decorations organised in advance means you can enjoy the fun part without having to make an emergency trip to the shops.
And remember to plan time and supplies to make some DIY Christmas Decorations with the Kids.
5. Start buying Christmas food early
There’s no need to leave all your Christmas food shopping until the last minute.
For anything with a long shelf life, start picking up a few items each time you do your regular supermarket shop.
Biscuits, chocolates, crackers, drinks, sauces, tinned goods and other cupboard essentials can gradually build up your Christmas supplies.
This has two big advantages: it spreads the cost and means you’ll have much less to buy during the hectic final few days before Christmas.
And, perhaps most importantly, you can avoid battling your way around the supermarket on Christmas Eve!
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6. Plan your Christmas menu
Christmas dinner might seem a long way off, but it’s never too early to start thinking about your festive menu.
First, work out how many people you’ll be feeding and check whether anyone has particular dietary requirements or allergies.
Perhaps someone has become vegan so you need vegan Christmas recipes, a family member is gluten-free, or a guest has a food allergy you need to plan around.
Once you know who’s coming, decide what you’ll be serving and create a shopping list. Don't forget to add Christmas Cookie recipe ingredients.
And don’t forget about the other festive meals. If you’re hosting on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day, think about whether you want a full meal, a buffet or something simple like drinks and nibbles.
Planning your Christmas menu in advance means you can order anything you need in plenty of time and avoid the last-minute scramble for ingredients.
7. Get your Christmas cards and wrapping sorted
Wrapping presents is one of those Christmas jobs that can quickly become overwhelming when you have a mountain of gifts waiting to be wrapped.
Rather than leaving everything until Christmas Eve, set aside an evening or weekend to get ahead.
Check that you have enough:
- Christmas wrapping paper
- Gift bags
- Ribbon and bows
- Gift tags
- Sticky tape
- Scissors
- Boxes and packaging
You could even create a small Christmas wrapping station where you keep everything together throughout December.
And once a present is wrapped, label it immediately. There’s nothing more frustrating than looking at a pile of beautifully wrapped presents and having absolutely no idea which one belongs to whom!
8. Prepare your home for Christmas guests
If you’re hosting family or friends, give yourself plenty of time to prepare your home.
Make a list of the rooms that need attention rather than trying to clean the entire house in one go.
Guest bedrooms, bathrooms, the kitchen and living room are usually the most important areas.
Check whether you have enough towels, bedding and spare toiletries for overnight guests. If children are staying, think about anything they might need too.
You can also start decluttering little by little.
Clearing out cupboards, the hallway and other busy areas before Christmas will give you more space for presents, coats and all the extra things that seem to appear during the festive season.
9. Prepare for Christmas travel
If you’re travelling over Christmas, don’t leave everything until the last minute.
Check your travel arrangements, tickets and accommodation details, and make sure you know exactly where you need to be and when.
If you’re driving, it’s worth checking your car before a long journey.
Make sure your tyres, oil, lights and screenwash are all in good condition, particularly if you’re travelling in winter weather.
Heading away with children? Make a separate list of everything they’ll need for the journey, including snacks, entertainment, spare clothes and chargers.
And if you’re staying with relatives, remember that your Christmas packing list may look very different from your usual holiday checklist.
Warm clothes, presents and extra toiletries can take up surprisingly large amounts of luggage space!
10. Make time to enjoy Christmas
It’s easy to get so caught up in organising Christmas that you forget to actually enjoy it, especially the build up during December.
There will always be another present to wrap, another card to write or another job to add to the list.
Try not to put pressure on yourself to create a picture-perfect Christmas.
Make time for the things you actually enjoy, whether that’s watching a favourite Christmas film, going for a winter walk, listening to festive music, meeting friends for a coffee or simply sitting down with a cup of tea while the house is quiet.
Remember, Christmas isn’t about getting everything exactly right. It’s about spending time with the people you love and making memories together.
So make your lists, plan your shopping, get ahead where you can, and then give yourself permission to relax and enjoy the festive season!
And if you’re looking for more ways to make the most of the busy Christmas period, don’t forget to find some me time in all the Christmas busyness.
Your Christmas Organisation Checklist
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t try to tackle everything at once.
Start with these simple jobs:
☐ Write your Christmas to-do list
☐ Add important dates to your calendar
☐ Make a Christmas gift list and budget
☐ Check Christmas card addresses
☐ Start buying non-perishable food
☐ Plan your Christmas menu
☐ Check your Christmas decorations and lights
☐ Buy wrapping paper and gift tags
☐ Prepare your home for guests
☐ Check Christmas travel arrangements
☐ Pack early if you’re travelling
☐ Most importantly, make time to enjoy yourself!
A little Christmas planning now can save you a lot of stress later, leaving you more time to enjoy what the festive season is really about.
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