An organised Christmas may seem like something you see in a Hallmark Movie, but trust me – it’s entirely possible, and I’m going to show you how!

Is it just me, or is Christmas coming around quicker each year? Love it or loathe it, the Christmas season will soon be upon us. If you tend to feel overwhelmed at this time of year, you might be wondering if there is a way to make it easier. 

October may seem a bit early to be talking about Christmas but with so many things to do, getting organised and planning early will make the whole process feel much less stressful – and much more enjoyable!

Here are my top tips for creating your most enjoyable, calm and organised Christmas ever…

 

Seven ways to enjoy an organised Christmas

 

Start Early

It’s never too early to start planning and prepping for Christmas. Do what you can now to allow more time to truly enjoy the festive season. 

Sit down with a cup of something warm, and think about the kind of Christmas you want this year. 

Do you want to start any new traditions or leave some older traditions behind? 

Are there things you’ve been doing year after year that you don’t really enjoy that you would prefer to stop doing? 

What would you love to do that you’ve never found the time for?

Let go of perfection. There are no rules. Create the Christmas you want. 

Write down everything you need to take care of, categorise, break down into manageable chunks and rearrange into a list you can check off as you go.

 

Declutter

Clear space in your home ahead of time for decorations and all the new things that will find their way into your home on Christmas Day. 

While it’s different for everyone, the key areas to declutter at this time of year include children’s bedrooms, playrooms and wardrobes, guest room, entryway, kitchen cabinets, pantry and fridge/freezer. 

If it feels overwhelming, set a timer and do a little each day. Wait until nearer the time to launder and freshen up the guest bedding to keep it smelling fresh and looking great when your guests arrive.

A word on decluttering Christmas decorations and festive accessories… Handing in a bag of Christmas decorations to the charity shop in January after you’ve taken your tree down, might seem like a charitable thing to do but it’s really not the best time. It’s now that they can sell those donations. 

It is also a better time for you to make decisions when you are actually using your decor and your feelings are fresh in your mind. Don’t keep using things that don’t make you smile when you look at them. Christmas decs become a collection. The more your collection grows over time, the more overwhelming and burdensome it can feel when you prepare to decorate for the season. More decorations equal more work, more time, more energy and, if you’re not careful, it can make your space look too busy and cluttered too. 

You don’t have to keep everything you’ve ever bought or were given. Styles change and decor colours change. The baubles you bought in 1999 might not suit your tree style now. Do you really need to keep that huge serving plate you only use once a year?

I know it can be difficult if decorations evoke memories and bring emotions to the surface but unless it’s a family heirloom that you know you need (and want) to keep, ask yourself if you actually like it. Often we hold onto things because we feel guilty letting go, especially if they were handed down or gifted to us. If something makes you feel bad or brings up negative emotions, maybe it’s time to say goodbye. 

Curate a home you love full of things that you love. Surround yourself at Christmastime with the decorations that mean something to you and hold a special place in your heart. 

So, if you were planning on clearing out some of your decorations and seasonal items after Christmas, think about donating them now instead. You might just make someone’s Christmas!

 

Start saving for next Christmas now

This might seem crazy. I mean, we’ve not even had this Christmas yet! But hear me out… 

Doing this will give you more than an organised Christmas next year, it will give you peace of mind too. And yes, starting with this month’s pay, will make a BIG difference! 

Do you struggle to keep your spending under control at Christmas time?

Are you purchasing on credit with the “I’ll worry about it later” feeling at the back of your mind? Or do you spend blindly, hoping on a wing and a prayer that you’ll have enough to see you through? You have an overdraft anyway, so it’ll be fine, won’t it? 

If this is you and you usually wake up on January 1st with a debt hangover, make the change NOW to avoid repeating the same pattern again next year.

Christmas is on 25th December every year! We can predict it. It’s not a surprise and we know it’s going to happen. 

So… if you want plenty of pennies in the pot next year to cover all the extra spending on gifting, decorations, clothing, food and drink, socialising and experiences, start planning your Christmas budget on paper now in 3 easy steps:

1. Work out roughly how much you usually spend in each category and total it up. Be prepared. It can be a shock when you see it in black and white. Check your bank/credit card statements, receipts & gift list.

2. Set a realistic budget for next year and divide it by 12 to find out how much you need to save each month. If you think you’ll need £1000, that’ll be around £83/mth, if you’ll need £2000, it’s £167/mth and so on. 

3. Arrange to put that money aside every month starting with your Oct/Nov/Dec pay. Cash in an envelope or a standing order into a separate account, do whatever works for you. 

You’ll thank yourself later I promise!

 

Christmas menu

Plan your menu in advance and book your supermarket delivery slot early (these are often released at the beginning of November). If you order your turkey, make sure to do that soon too. 

You don’t have to do everything yourself. If you’re having guests, delegate and see if they can help by prepping and bringing a course along with them – that’s one less thing for you to do. 

If you’ll be shopping in-store for your ingredients, plan a date in the diary when you will do this. Make a list. Store cupboard ingredients can be purchased gradually over time and fresh ingredients closer to the big day. 

Make sauces early, prep your veg the day before and if you can do without your table for a few days, set it in advance and make it look beautiful. It will save you so much time on the day.

 

Christmas gifts

Create a list of everything you need to buy and who you are buying for. Saving it on your computer or notes app on your phone will be helpful as you shop and can be updated each year. 

If you’re pushed for time, make things easier by shopping online. 

When buying gifts, try to stick to your budget and buy gifts that are practical or consumable that won’t end up as clutter. Avoid those novelty gifts that seem like a good idea at the time, they rarely are! Experiences and vouchers are your best bet if you’re unsure what to buy. 

Pro tip: Wrap gifts as you buy them to save time in the long run.

 

Christmas cards

This is a tradition that seems to be slowly disappearing. With the cost of mailing continuing to rise and more modern methods becoming available, people are sending fewer Christmas cards these days. 

Decide if you will be doing traditional cards this year or whether you will send digital cards instead. Or maybe a mix of both. Canva is an excellent resource you could try for creating free digital cards you can send to your loved ones. It was something new I tried last year and I loved the creative aspect as well as the cost saving, and I think they were very well received!

Whether you send ‘real’ cards or digital cards, you will need a list. Write or type your list. A list on your computer or mobile is a great idea and will be there for you to use year after year. It can be easily edited when changes need to be made. 

Buy your stamps now and write your cards in plenty of time. You can find the 2023 Royal Mail last posting dates here. 

 

Prepare a Christmas morning survival kit

Lastly, for a relaxing day that runs as smoothly as possible, gather all the little things together that you know you will be looking for…

• Scissors
• Sellotape
• Bin liners in different colours for rubbish and recycling eg white, grey, black
• Screwdriver
• Pliers
• Matches
• Batteries of various sizes
• Camera
• Pen and paper (to note down who’s received what from whom – invaluable for writing thank you notes!)
• Fully charged smartphones so you don’t miss those special moments!

 

I hope these tips have left you feeling excited about the upcoming festive season and will help you create a stress-free, calm and enjoyable organised Christmas this year and for many more to come. 

Time to treat yourself to a glass of fizz – you’ve earned it!