The festive season is upon us, and for those who thrive under pressure, it's time to gear up for the Christmas countdown. Whether you have weeks or only days left, the key to a seamless celebration lies in effective organisation- in our case, “Christmas Planning”. As with any significant project or event, a well-thought-out plan can turn the seemingly overwhelming tasks into manageable steps. So, let's adopt a project management approach to make this Christmas memorable without the stress. Let’s get started on Christmas planning for a stress-free festive season.
Christmas Planning Step 1: Create Your Christmas Countdown Spreadsheet
To kickstart your Christmas preparations, grab a spreadsheet and mark the days remaining till the big day. By breaking tasks into smaller daily goals, you can navigate the holiday hustle with ease. Begin by identifying your top priorities: Christmas cards, presents, and the all-important Christmas dinner or lunch.
Christmas Planning Step 2: Prioritise Your Tasks
Start by asking yourself: Who needs a Christmas card, what presents should be bought, and what's on the menu for the grand feast? List these tasks on your spreadsheet or create separate lists for cards, presents, and the Christmas dinner. It's crucial to keep an eye on your budget for both gifts and food to avoid any last-minute financial stress.
Christmas Planning Step 3: Set Up Your Wrapping Station
Make the gift-wrapping process a breeze by setting up a dedicated wrapping station at home. Ensure it's stocked with wrapping paper, sticky tape, and scissors so you can wrap presents efficiently as you check them off your list.
Christmas Planning Step 4: Streamline Your Christmas Dinner
When it comes to the Christmas feast, stick to tried-and-tested recipes. Avoid the temptation of experimenting with new dishes to save time and minimise stress. Take inventory of your ingredients, determine what can be purchased in advance, and create a kitchen list for a seamless cooking experience.
Christmas Planning Step 5: Organise Your Kitchen and Meal Prep
Compile a comprehensive list in your kitchen, detailing the ingredients needed and the order in which dishes will be prepared. This step-by-step approach ensures a smooth cooking process and helps you stay on track during the chaotic holiday season.
Christmas Planning Step 6: Use Lists and Create a Countdown Plan
The debate on the usefulness of lists may persist, but for larger projects like Christmas preparations, they are indispensable. Embrace the countdown plan, keeping the order of Christmas cards, presents, and food in mind. Tick off achievements one by one, reducing stress and keeping you on the path to a successful celebration.
Christmas Planning Checklist
Make a countdown spreadsheet of the days left
List who needs a card, what presents to buy and what is on the menu
Set a budget for gifts and food
Set up a wrapping station with paper, tape and scissors
Choose tried-and-tested recipes for Christmas dinner
Check your ingredients and buy what you can in advance
Write a kitchen list with the order dishes will be prepared
Tick off each job as you go
Embrace the Spirit of Christmas
Even though we have approached this Christmas planning as a right-brain time management process to complete, don’t forget to enjoy this time of year. For us in Australia, yes, it is hot, shops are busy, so is work, but before we know it, we can kick back, relax and enjoy our December / January break.
Let’s finish on something dorky and help you truly immerse yourself in the Christmas spirit, channel your inner caroler with a festive tune: "I’ve been making my lists, checking them twice, crossing chores off, oooh it feels nice… Santa Claus is coming to town."
My Christmas wish for you:
With this Christmas planning countdown plan in place, you'll not only survive the Christmas chaos but also savour the joyous moments that make the season special. Happy planning and Merry Christmas.
Note: part of this article was originally an Illawarra Mercury article updated and refreshed in 2022, 2025 and 2026.
Want to stay organised after Christmas too?
How to Organise Your Home and Paperwork shows you how to organise your home and paperwork, step by step.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Treat it like a project. Make a countdown spreadsheet, list your cards, presents and Christmas dinner, set a budget, and tick off jobs one at a time.
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Cards, presents, a gift and food budget, a wrapping station, a Christmas dinner menu, an ingredients list and a kitchen list showing the order dishes will be prepared.
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Stick to tried-and-tested recipes, take an inventory of your ingredients, buy what you can in advance and write a kitchen list so you know what to cook and when.
