The festive season is upon us, and for those who thrive under pressure, it's time to gear up for the Christmas countdown. With just a handful of 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 Christmas planning for a stress-free festive season.

Christmas planning step 1. - Creating Your Christmas Countdown Spreadsheet

To kickstart your Christmas preparations, grab a spreadsheet and mark the days remaining till the big day. By breaking down the tasks into smaller, daily goals, you can navigate through 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. -Prioritising 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. -Setting 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. - Streamlining 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 minimize 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. - Organising 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. - Acknowledge the Power of 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.

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 dorkey 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 and 2025.