“I don’t want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need…” and thats a plan!
25 Days of Christmas 2016
Originally posted 1st December 2016
#1 | The Plan
Christmas is a busiest time of year, and therefore needs a lot of organisation. If you’re one of those people who can wing it and everything comes off perfectly, then you’re a rare breed indeed. However, for most of us that isn’t the case, so it’s best to get organised.
Below I’ve listed some key dates I think are really helpful in planning out the month ahead.
1st December: Make a List and Check it Twice
Early Christmas prep is lists galore. If you’re a fan of making lists then enjoy an early Christmas present, because you’re about to make a lot of them. Personally, I start by detailing the friends and family I need to buy cards for, so I know how many I need to buy. I then make a separate list for the family and friends who I plan to purchase gifts for, and set a budget for each of them.
Usually that budget goes out of the window, but it’s the thought that counts. Right?
I also tend to make a third list. This one is to set out dates of when I will purchase, write out, wrap and give everything out to everyone on time.
The final list is a Christmas list for myself. People will always ask what I want and I genuinely never know. If I give myself some time to jot down some ideas, it seems to work out for everyone.
2nd December: A Thoughtful Card
This year the 2nd December is my card shopping day. Remember those lists we made? They’re about to come in handy. Rather than circuit the shop, or the website, scrambling to remember who we need to buy for, or how many bulk cards we need, we have all that information ready to go!
2nd December might seem a little early however, I like to try and beat the crowds in store and ensure the cards will arrive in time if purchasing online.
Sometimes I like to write out my cards in a festive colour like gold or silver. My sister one year decided to stick candy canes to the cards she gave out, as an extra touch of festive cheer which I thought was a wonderful idea.
This is also the perfect time to buy some wrapping paper. In my house my family members each get their own wrapping paper, so it’s easier to tell who’s gift is who’s when it comes to getting them from under the tree Christmas morning.
3rd December: Christmas Tree
For some the 3rd December is far too early to put up the Christmas Tree. For others, they’ve had theirs up since the day after Halloween. When to put your tree up is always personal preference.
In our house, our tradition is that the Christmas Tree is taken down from the loft, put up and decorated on the first Saturday of December. We also hold the tradition that mum is the only one who gets to touch the tree. This is all her doing, I promise. There is hell to pay if you mess with her tree. However, in all fairness, it always turns out looking incredible.
4th December: Online Christmas Shopping
Some people love going around the shops during the festive season. They enjoy the hustle and bustle of the crowds, the personal touch of shopping in person for the items they want to purchase.
I’m guessing here because I am not one of those people.
Personally, I find online shopping much less hassle. Besides that, I live in a somewhat smallish town and I love going online armed with a list of ideas and, quite literally, a world of potential gift options at my fingertips.
I find online shopping so much easier and less hassle than going into combat somewhere on the high street. When the parcels arrive I’m usually at work, so it’s always fun to walk in and see stacks of boxes ready and waiting for you to get wrapping, but I’m getting ahead of myself!
Once again, 4th December can seem either very early to start purchasing gifts, or very late. Once again, my main goal is to ensure they arrive with time to spare – so the earlier in December, the better.
10th December: Writing Christmas Cards
I enjoy writing out Christmas cards for everyone all at the same time. I usually get on a roll with it and I love writing out different people messages from the heart, sometimes based on how I feel when I think about that person, and other times based on the year we’ve just shared together.
11th December: Christmas Movie Day
Your cards are written, stacked and ready to go for when you start meeting people over the festive period.
The gifts you plan to give are all (or mostly) ordered and on their way for you to wrap and give to your friends and family.
So what now?
Well, now we take a breath. We’ve done good! Plus it’s the festive season. Yes it’s the busiest time of year, but it’s also the greatest time of year. It’s also a very social time of year, and so it’s always important to give yourself some time alone to relax, unwind and recharge your social battery.
As it’s December my favourite way to do this is to either curl up with a book, enjoying a Christmas Movie Day or partaking in some festive baking. Be sure to pour yourself a decedent hot chocolate (make it festive by adding gingerbread syrup or a candy cane) and immerse yourself in some Christmas activities.
17th December: Christmas Get-Together
Depending on how packed your schedule is, I would say always try to make time to have a small get-together with your friends around Christmas. It’s always so much fun and always worth it.
Last year I decided to invite a friend round and I decorated the whole place. We watched Christmas movies, listen to Christmas music and we had a fantastic evening. Other options include going out to a restaurant, or to their house. A get-together with friends does not need to cost the world, and it shouldn’t.
Have a few friends over and maybe dust off some old board games, nothing says Christmas quite like leisurely passing your friend in a game of Monopoly while they’re sat in Jail. Maybe put a spin on Scrabble and only allow festive-themed words? Christmas themed Pictionary or Charades? The possibilities are endless.
18th December: Clear Up and Check List
Everyone wants their house to be nice, neat and ready for the big day.
I know there are people out there who enjoy cleaning and find it therapeutic. (I happen to be friends with one of these rare unicorns). However, I am not one of those people. In fact I despise cleaning with a passion. I find it dull and tedious. Having said that, I do enjoy it when the place looks nice.
So if you’re like me and you want all the benefits with none of the work, I feel you. Maybe try blasting some Christmas music to try and make the time more enjoyable.
Also, are you ready for another list? Because here comes the Christmas Shop! Make sure your list includes everything from food, drinks, crackers, snacks and may the odds be ever in your favour.
23rd December: It’s Christmas Eve Eve & Another Christmas Get-Together
On the week run-up to Christmas myself and a group of friends have a tradition where we all meet up round one persons house. We have picnic/party food, play board games, watch Christmas movies and exchange Secret Santa. This idea was thought up years ago when some of us were working and others were at Uni and it’s been so successful we’ve kept it going! It’s definitely one of the highlights of the season and one I absolutely adore.
24th December: Don’t Panic! It’s Christmas Eve..
Ah Christmas Eve. That day famously known for last minute shoppers and inevitable panic because the shops are closed tomorrow and what if we forgot something??
I remember one year my parents had to dash to Tesco and get my sister a bunch of random gifts because they noticed my pile looked bigger than hers – that was a great year.
More recently though Christmas Eve usually consists of either a take-away or picnic food (I do love this tradition), watching a Christmas movie (Die Hard, anyone?) and opening one ‘random’ gift in the evening (thanks for the PJ’s Mum!).
Christmas Eve is time spent with family and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
25th December: IT’S CHRISTMAS!
Christmas is finally here! So what are you waiting for?
Open your gifts, and watch in delight as your family open the ones you picked out specially for them.
Eat to your hearts content, watch The Queens Speech, Top of the Pops and other Christmas Specials.
Enjoy the Christmas Dinner and after dinner charades.
This right here is what the entire month has been building up to, and now we get to sit back and enjoy the day.
(Just kidding, you still need to cook the dinner… then you can sit back and enjoy!)
That’s a Wrap
This is a general idea of how I like to plan the month of December. I hope this has given you some ideas. You may totally disagree with me and if you do let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear your traditions!
