The festive season will be with us before we know it so it seemed the perfect time to share my top tips for planning the best Christmas. It can be one of the busiest times of year for lots of people, and if you already have a lot on with work and family life, planning Christmas can soon become very overwhelming.
In the run up to Christmas I’ve been thinking a lot about how to fit everything in around work and family. No one wants Christmas to feel rushed and thrown together. It’s not the best way to enjoy the festive season now is it?
Hopefully you’ll find some useful tips here for planning Christmas and it will help you focus on being able to enjoy the festivities. What I want for you is to enjoy your Christmas holiday as you have been busy all year. Lets avoid arriving at December 25 in a flurry of last minute activity, so you can relax and enjoy this precious time with your family and friends.
Tips For Planning The Best Christmas For Busy People
Get Your Christmas Checklists In Order
If you haven’t already got your Christmas lists sorted, write down everything you need to do and all the gifts you need to buy. A few Christmas lists are going to help keep you organised. Get a list for who you are going to buy for and what you are getting them. Start taking note of the toys your children want and things your friends and family have mentioned in passing as possible gift ideas. A Christmas meal planner can be really useful for this time of year and will help stop that Christmas shopping list spiralling out of control too. A list for Christmas activities will ensure that you all have the fun you deserve this time of year.
When you have got all your Christmas lists written up, go through them one more time, as you might need to make some decisions about what you can realistically achieve with the time and budget you have available.
Order Online For Christmas Presents and Food Shopping
My Christmas food shop was booked weeks ago to be honest. Those online delivery slots get snapped up fast at Christmas time so you need to book this now! If life is really busy, I would also suggest using online shopping and getting your presents and food delivered. It can save you so much time and stress. Don’t forget to use a cash back site like TopCashback so you can start saving some money towards next Christmas.
Sometimes You Do Go Shopping At Christmas
Some people just prefer to go to a shop and look at what’s on offer. I think we all visit some shops over Christmas, whether we use online ordering or not. If you are busy, make going to the shops as quick and easy as possible. Make good use of your lunchtimes or late night shopping so you can visit the shops during weekdays and avoid the queues.
It might also be a good idea to book some holiday from work and go shopping for the day. This way you haven’t got the children to worry about, and you can factor in some down time for yourself, which is so important at this time of year.
Don’t Miss The Christmas Show!
Thinking about all of those nativity plays and Christmas concerts that happen this time of year, make sure these dates are in your calendar and that you have booked the time off work to go. Make sure you have these scheduled as in advance as possible so that you can also plan your workload around these busy times.
Organise Your Christmas Holiday Request
Christmas holidays in the office can be a real bone of contention, so it’s best to have a conversation about when people can take their holiday as soon as possible. Knowing what time you can take off over Christmas will allow you to plan and prioritise how you want to spend your time in the run up to the festive season.
Don’t Over Commit at Christmas
Busy people have a tendency to over-commit. They are so used to being busy, they just keep saying yes. Busy people need a break to recharge their batteries and start the New Year on the right foot. Once you know what all your Christmas commitments are, and how much time you have available, make sure that you don’t over-stretch yourself. It might mean saying no to some people, but make an arrangement to get together with them in the New Year. It’s always nice to have something to look forward to in January, isn’t it?
So, I really hope that these Christmas planning tips have helped and you’re feeling focused about getting ready for all the festivities. You deserve some downtime too, and even more so you deserve a Christmas to remember. If it passes by in a whirlwind of stress, you are going to miss out on the relaxation you need and making those lasting memories with your family and friends.
If you found this post helpful please share it with your friends and followers who might enjoy it too. If you have a tip for planning the perfect Christmas, please do share it in the comments below,
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Great tips. My to do list seems to be getting longer all the time though. Every time I cross something off I add 3 more things on. Not helped by both the cooker hood and kitchen light blowing up in the same week!
Great advice
Dont over commit is the one i need to practice more
It is such a busy time of year but I love making lists! Also I know that come Christmas Eve I can sit back and just enjoy everything as it’s too late to do anything else.
These are some great tips. I’m a huge fan of making lists so I have about 5 on the go for the various aspects of Christmas. Fortunately I’m organised this year but there’s still plenty of time for it to all go wrong!
It is getting so close! Great tips – I have lists of my lists! Oh to be organised. Kaz x
This post is so helpful, I can’t agree more with the lists! I always write lists for everything and it helps so much! xo
+100 to the lists! Some great reminders here, thank you!
Cannot believe how close it is now! Really useful tips, I know a lot of people who could put them to use 🙂
Some fab tips! And I did enjoy 5 mins with a cuppa reading this too ?
Thanks for sharing,
Leigh at Fashion Du Jour LDN x
Fab tips, its always the thing i hate most about shopping even more so i now have 3 little ones in toe
So many great tips, I’m busy all the time but at Christmas it just gets mental. Lists are an absolute must x
Great advice, just what I need. Thanks for sharing x
I’ve been so disorganized this year, I’ve left it so late I’ve just not had the feeling for Christmas at all due to personal reasons. I’m normally a list person but this year I’m finding it difficult to get my list together. I must pull myself together & get on with it.
Over committing is definitely a problem, I tend to agree to go everywhere and then get ill by Boxing Day!
I think this will come in handy for next year for me
All good advice, all I need to do is take note and apply it