How A Christmas Planning Book Can Help You De-Stress This Holiday Season

As the holidays approach, many of us start to feel the weight of all the things we need to do in order to make it the "most wonderful time of the year." Between buying gifts, decorating the house, preparing holiday meals, and organizing family gatherings, it's no wonder we're all feeling a little stressed out! But what if I told you that there was an easy way to take some of the pressure off and actually enjoy the holidays? That's where a Christmas planning book comes in! In this blog post, I'll be explaining all the ways that using a Christmas planning book can help you get organized for Christmas. We'll be covering topics such as cards and gifts, food and shopping, decorating & housework, as well as fun family traditions and festive bucket lists. So grab a cup of hot cocoa and get cozy, because by the time you're finished reading this post, you'll be ready to tackle your holiday to-do list with ease! 

A Christmas planner is essentially a journal designed specifically for helping you plan out your holiday season. It includes sections for keeping track of important dates and deadlines, gift ideas, budgeting, menu planning, and more. There are also usually spaces for jotting down notes and brainstorming ideas. Basically, it's everything you need to stay organized during the hectic holiday season! 

The first step is to decide what type of planner will work best for you. There are lots of different styles and formats available, so take some time to browse through your options until you find one that seems like a good fit. A simple notebook or journal is a good place to start your planning or you can get more specific Christmas planners that guide you through Christmas organisation. Our Christmas planning book has sections for organising each aspect of Christmas. This guided approach is great for making sure nothing in missed out and everything goes smoothly.

Once you've got your planner picked out, it's time to start filling it in! Begin by thinking through how you want your Christmas to be and start setting some goals for yourself. What do you hope to accomplish during this holiday season? Make sure to write your goals down in your planner so that you can refer back to them throughout the month. 

Once you have your goals set, it's time to start adding in important dates and deadlines. When does your office party take place? When is your family's annual cookie-baking day? When is your child's school winter break? Jotting down these dates will help ensure that nothing gets lost in the shuffle.

Now let's talk about budgeting. The holidays can be expensive, so it's important to create a spending plan ahead of time and stick to it as best as you can. In your planner, make note of how much money you have available to spend on gifts, food, travel expenses, etc. Then start assigning budget amounts to each category. Once you've got a good idea of your overall budget, you can start thinking about specific gift ideas for each person on your list. 

Next up are gift ideas. Start brainstorming now so that you're not scrambling at the last minute! Not only will this save you time and energy later on, but it will also help prevent last-minute impulse purchases that end up being unwanted or unused. Start with your closest family and friends and make a list of gift ideas for each person. Once you've got that done, you can move on to your extended family, co-workers, and other acquaintances. Not sure what to get someone? Take a look at our stocking stuffer lists for some ideas.

Sending Christmas cards is a great way to show your loved ones how much you care. But let's be honest, it can also be a bit of a hassle. Christmas cards usually require advance planning in order to get them mailed out on time, so it's important to start early! In your planner, make note of the last Christmas posting dates and begin brainstorming your Christmas card list. Once you have your list, start addressing the envelopes so that they're all ready to go.

If you love decorating for Christmas, then this is the section for you! Make note of any big projects that you want to tackle this year, such as hanging Christmas lights or putting up a Christmas tree. You can also use this space to jot down ideas for new Christmas decorations that you'd like to try out. When it comes time to actually start decorating, refer back to your planner so that you know exactly what you want to do and where you want to put everything.

Christmas shopping can be a lot of fun, but it can also be very overwhelming. Start making your list early and add items as you think of them throughout the year. That way, come Christmas time, you won't have to worry about forgetting anything. When it's time to start shopping, refer back to your list and budget to make sure you stay on track.

If you'll have guests staying over Christmas then getting your house ready can be a big job. In your planner, make a list of all the cleaning tasks that need to be done and start tackling them one by one. Christmas is a busy time of year, so it's important to get as much done ahead of time as possible. Housework is always more enjoyable when it's not done at the last minute!

Christmas is a great time to try out new recipes, so why not use your planner to jot down some ideas? Whether you're cooking a big Christmas dinner or just want to make some Christmas cookies, make sure to jot down any recipes that you want to try in your planner. You can also use it to make note of any special dishes that you'll be preparing for Christmas dinner or other holiday gatherings.

Is Christmas dinner at your house this year? If so, start planning your menu now so that you have plenty of time to shop for ingredients and prepare everything in advance. Christmas baking is another great way to get into the holiday spirit. Whether you're making cookies, cakes, or other treats, make sure to leave yourself enough time to get everything done.

If you're hosting Christmas dinner, then you'll definitely want to use your planner to make things run smoothly. In the days leading up to Christmas, refer back to your planner to make sure you have everything you need. Make a grocery list of all the ingredients you'll need for your Christmas recipes. Then, on Christmas Day, consult your planner again so that you know exactly what needs to be done and when. This will help ensure that everything comes out perfectly!

Christmas is a time for tradition, so make sure to jot down any that you want to continue or start this year. If you have kids, they'll love getting involved in the Christmas preparations and will be sure to remember all of the fun traditions that you do together for years to come. Our Christmas planner includes a section dedicated to Christmas bucket lists with space to write down things like "movies to watch", "food to eat", and "people to see" so you can make the most of your holiday season.

Last but not least, don't forget about all those little details that need attending to during the holiday season! Use your planner to make lists of things like decoration needs, errands that need running, cards that need addressing...basically anything and everything that needs doing between now and Christmas Day! By taking care of these things ahead of time, you'll be able to relax and enjoy the holiday season stress-free.  Organizing Christmas can be a lot of work, but it's so worth it when you get to sit back and enjoy all of the fruits of your labor. By using a Christmas planner, you can take the stress out of Christmas and actually enjoy the holidays for once!

A Christmas planning book is an essential tool for anyone looking to de-stress this holiday season! By taking care of all the small details ahead of time, you'll be able free up your mind (and schedule!) so that you can actually enjoy spending time with your family and friends. So what are you waiting for? Grab yourself a planner today and get started on making this holiday season the best one yet!