Have you ever found yourself scrambling on Christmas Eve to complete way too many tasks—wishing you hadn’t procrastinated and that you had gotten your Christmas preparations done earlier? This is no way to enjoy a silent night in celebration of peace and joy.
In order to avoid that scenario and stay on top of things this year, here are eight things to complete before the night before Christmas.
Send Cards
As early in the season as possible, get your holiday cards out the door. This can be a tedious task, but the effort is worth staying in touch with family and friends and showing your loved ones that you’re thinking about them. Put on some Christmas music or a holiday movie and sit down with your stamps, your printed address labels, and your cards and get that task done.Plan Meals
What meals do you need to plan in advance for this holiday season? Christmas Eve? Christmas morning? Christmas dinner? Make a thorough list and ensure you’ve got your groceries in the house or ready to pick up when needed. If you’re baking cookies or other items as gifts, ensure you’ve got those ingredients in house as well.Wrap Presents
It can be tempting to put off wrapping presents, but the earlier you begin tackling this task, the less stress you’ll have at the last minute. Ideally, as gifts come into your house, you can wrap them up and hide them away. Otherwise, set aside certain times when you’ll be able to focus on gift wrapping and get the job done. If you’re truly too busy this time of year, consider outsourcing this task.Clean House
Another great task to outsource is the house cleaning before celebrations ensue. If not in the budget, carve out time to make sure the kitchen’s ready, guest spaces are prepped, and everything is fresh and clean and ready to go.Guest Prep
Speaking of guests, if you’re hosting overnight guests this season, ensure your linens are fresh and ready and consider stocking your guest room with water, phone chargers, and anything else that will help them feel welcome and comfortable.Travel Prep
For many, this time of year is also travel time. If you’re heading out of town, ensure you’re packed in advance and that you’ve tied up any loose ends that need tying, such as pet care, work coverage, and school notes.Fill Stockings
Have you ever gotten to Christmas Eve and realized you forgot about stockings? Keep stockings in mind when you do your grocery shopping or run errands and look for simple, small items that would make great stocking stuffers. Chocolates, accessories, travel games, and small toys make stuffing stockings easy.Plan Activities
If you’re too busy, the holiday season can pass you by without really getting to enjoy the activities that make it so special. If there’s an experience you’d love to share with your family or friends, take the time to make the arrangements and make it happen.Christmas can make life busy and hectic, but it’s also a delightful celebration of all that matters most. Take time to handle the to-do’s of the season so you can enjoy the heart of the holidays.
