Simple Christmas Planning List

Stress-Free Planning for the Christmas Season

I’m a huge fan of precise planners, thorough checklists, and detailed schedules. But sometimes you just need a quick, easy-reference guide to keep everything straight. This simple Christmas planning list is the perfect way to stay on track with what needs your attention during the busy holiday season.

Make a Plan

The first step is making decisions about things that are best planned ahead. This would include things like travel plans, setting a budget, deciding whether you want to host a Christmas party, or even if you plan to send Christmas cards. You definitely do not have to do all these things, but it’s a good idea to consider these ideas in advance so that you have plenty of time to plan for what you do choose to include in your Christmas season.

travel plans
budget
gift recipient list (who you will give gifts to)
advent plan
holiday decor (will you stick with what you aways do or try something new)
traditions (ask your family what is most important to include in your Christmas season)
Christmas Eve/Christmas Day plans (where, when, guest list, general meal plan)
hosting (will you host a holiday party or event)
Christmas cards (will you send them?)
Christmas tree (will you cut one down, go to a tree lot, or put up an artificial tree)
volunteer (will you plan to volunteer during the season)

Make a List

Your next step is brainstorming possibilities. Make a list of Christmas activity ideas, gift ideas, or who you want to send Christmas cards to. This step helps clarify what you want to do and provides specific suggestions to help you get started.

gifts you’ve already purchased
gift idea lists for specific people (family, friends, hostess gifts, teacher gifts, service provider gifts)
Christmas baking list (treats to make, supplies needed)
Christmas music playlist
movies to watch
Christmas card recipients
seasonal activity ideas (events, crafts, kids’ activities)
menu planning (Christmas Eve, Christmas breakfast, Christmas dinner menu, etc.)

Read: 12 Meaningful Advent Activity Ideas

Banner with arrow, available in Etsy shop

Make Note

Now that you’ve made a plan, made your lists (and checked them twice!), it’s time to make note of the details.

reflect on last year
Was there anything you want to repeat? Anything you want to avoid doing again? What would make the season special or meaningful for you?
check on wrapping supplies and decor inventory
Make sure you know where to find everything, gather tape and scissors, totes to put away decor you want to trade out for holiday items.
add events to your calendar
School events, holiday concerts or plays, parties, anything that has a date and time associated with it
schedule time for your priorities
Christmas traditions important to your kids, shopping, baking, getting a tree. Make sure you think about when you can make those things happen.
set up a way to manage gift giving
Use a gift list app like Giftster, a Google sheet, Amazon wish lists, or even a small notebook you can carry with you.
have a place to keep notes
A note on your phone works well for this, but you could also use a small notebook if you carry it with you. Note things you want to remember for next year, supplies you run low on, the specific item your friend raved about that would make a great gift. Don’t rely on your memory, write it down!

Download a free Christmas planning list

Make It Happen

The final step is to make it happen. Don’t wait till the last minute. Anything you can do in advance, do in advance. Shop early, bake early and freeze the cookies, wrap and ship early, set the Christmas puzzle out on December 1st, make the Christmas playlist in October!

Here are the big things most of us need to make happen for Christmas.

cleaning the house in preparation for the season
Clean out the fridge, clear out the clutter, clear out a space for Christmas decorations
Christmas decorating
You probably need 1-2 days to decorate the tree and put up some lights or decor. Take pictures of what you like so you can repeat it again next year!
Christmas shopping
This can be time consuming, so make sure you make a plan, make a list, and make notes as you go along. It’s ok to take shortcuts like gift cards, family gifts, and especially online shopping. Ask for ideas and wish lists. Most importantly, don’t wait till the last minute.
Christmas activities
Keep it simple, prioritize the events or traditions most important to your family, and remember to enjoy the moments.

Simplify the Season

The key to making it happen is to prioritize a few things that are most important. Trying to do too much is likely to end in frustration and irritability. There are ways to simplify and make things easier for yourself during the busy holiday season.

purchase multiples of an item to give in specific circumstances
For example, candles for hostess gifts, coffee gift cards for service providers or teachers
choose one or two signature treats to bake and gift to neighbors
choose a specific gift wrap for each family member and eliminate the need for gift tags
Cut off a small piece of each and label it so you don’t forget whose is whose. You can tuck a little piece in each stocking so each person can identify which wrap is theirs.
make decisions in advance about what you will and won’t say yes to
Maybe you leave Sunday afternoons free for family activities, or automatically say no to anything on Mondays and Wednesdays because they are already busy. Choose one or two organizations to donate to and everything else is a no for this year. Ask your kids to share which Christmas activities are their favorites and allow them to choose one each. There’s no obligation to do anything else unless it fits easily into your schedule and budget.
simplify food decisions
Make a few meals for the freezer in advance of December. Plan to get takeout on Fridays. Have breakfast for dinner every Monday. Buy the pie instead of making your own. There are lots of ways to make things easier on yourself during a hectic season. Think about what you can do in advance, purchase pre-made, or set on autopilot to eliminate decision making.

Make It Meaningful

Christmas is a season of anticipation. As Christians, we look forward to the celebration of the birth of Jesus, and believe the season is intended to be filled with joyful expectation.

Most kids enjoy some amount of tradition. It doesn’t have to be big and you don’t have to do a huge variety of things, but choose something that your family does together year after year. Make gingerbread houses together. Read the nativity story by candlelight. Set up a hot cocoa bar and decorate the tree together. Have a Christmas movie marathon. Light advent candles.

Remind yourself of the reason for the season. Right in the middle of the stress, chaos, and noise. Be thankful for something. Give to someone who truly needs the gift. Slow down and do less. Laugh together.

Christmas doesn’t have to be a season of entitled kids, resentful moms, and disconnected families. Think deeply about what matter most and how to make the season meaningful and memorable. As you begin your Christmas planning, start with that end in mind.

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