13 tips on how to get organised for Christmas

Last Updated on May 1, 2024

Christmas is a very busy time, and just thinking about everything that needs to get done can cause overwhelm, and even mum burnout.

There are some things that you can do to get organised for Christmas early, to minimise the overwhelm that comes with the festive season.

Here are 13 tips on how to get organised for Christmas, so you can enjoy the holiday season, instead of being overwhelmed by it.

Break down your to do list

One of the best ways to get organised for Christmas is to write a Christmas to do list, and break down the larger to do items into smaller, more manageable tasks.

Once done, write down the latest date that each item needs to be done by, and schedule each item in your calendar, so you get them done.

Keep this list for future Christmases, and add to it whenever you think of something else that needs doing.

Make gift buying simple

Write a list of everyone that you need to buy for, and what you’re going to buy them, and buy as much as possible online so you don’t have to visit the shops during the hectic Christmas period.

When placing online orders, check the retailer’s Christmas delivery deadlines to make sure you receive your gifts on time.

If you’re not sure what to buy someone, a gift voucher is a great idea.

Buy emergency gifts

Buy some emergency Christmas gifts just in case there’s anyone you forget to buy for, or in case you receive an unexpected gift and want to return the favour.

Some emergency gift ideas include biscuits, chocolates, stationery, bath products, and gift vouchers.

Have a dedicated Christmas storage area

Find one location in your home where you can hide the Christmas gifts you’ve purchased, that can’t be accessed by little people.

Having just one location means that when it’s time to wrap your gifts, you’re not searching all around your home for them, and you won’t forget where any of them are.

Stock up on wrapping supplies

Make sure you have plenty of wrapping paper, cards, gift tags, and ribbon, and buy extra to use next year.

You may also like to schedule a day in your calendar to wrap all of your Christmas gifts so you don’t have to wrap gifts at the last minute.

Christmas cards

If you’d like to write Christmas cards this year, write a list of everyone you want to give a card to along with their address, and update the list each year.

If you’d like to post Christmas cards but don’t have time, you may like to consider emailing digital Christmas cards.

Create a Christmas meal plan

One of the best ways to get organised for Christmas is to plan your Christmas meal, including main meals, breakfasts, lunches, Christmas baked goods, snacks, and party food.

Once you’ve decided on your Christmas meals, write down the ingredients you need, and work out a timeline of when each meal needs to start being prepared and cooked, so everything is ready at the same time.

Schedule a Christmas food shop

If you want to get your Christmas food home delivered, make sure you book a slot as early as possible to avoid missing out.

If you’ll be visiting the grocery store to do your Christmas food shop, make sure you’ve written a grocery list, and visit the store on a day that you have enough time to get it all, with an extra day to get any items with a short shelf life.

Make what you can in advance

Another way to get organised for Christmas is to make whatever you can in advance.

For example, some sauces can be premade and put in the fridge, and some desserts, biscuits, and sides can be frozen in advance.

If you do freeze something in advance, make sure you take it out of the freezer with enough time to defrost before you need it.

Get your home ready

There are some areas of your home that will benefit from a good declutter before Christmas.

Decluttering toys is one of these decluttering projects, which is good to do before Christmas so you have space for any new toys that your children receive.

Another area is decluttering your fridge and freezer to make space for your Christmas food purchases, as well as decluttering your Christmas decorations by donating any you no longer want, or throwing out anything that’s broken.

If family or friends will be staying with you over Christmas, start to get the spare room ready, or find somewhere they can sleep comfortably.

Stock up on cutlery and crockery

If hosting, make sure you have enough cutlery, crockery, and serving ware, which you could buy or borrow, or to save time washing up, you could buy recyclable versions of these.

Make a clean up plan

Cleaning is something that I’m planning on doing differently this Christmas, because it’s so easy to look at the state of our homes during this time and get overwhelmed and resentful about everything extra that we have to do.

Making a clean up plan detailing different cleaning tasks that can be spread over different days could include:

• Throwing out recyclables.
• Putting new gifts away.
• Storing gifts that can be used at a later date.
• Donating anything that’s not needed.
• Washing dishes.
• Composting or throwing out leftovers that won’t be eaten at a later date.
• Storing leftovers that you know for sure will be eaten.
• Taking down Christmas decorations and storing them away.

Schedule everything

The best way to get organised for Christmas is to ensure that you schedule everything that you need to do into a calendar, or Christmas planner, so everything that needs to get done is done.

I hope you’ve found some tips on how to get organised for Christmas that will save you a lot of time, and sanity over the holidays and so you can enjoy some time at home with the family.

Do you have any tips on how to get organised for Christmas?