Last year I promised myself as stress-less Christmas. I even wrote a post shortly after Christmas to remind myself what to do. Thanks 2015 self — you had my back.
It’s early November and I am determined to have Christmas fairly well sorted by the time the kids are on summer holidays. Then there will be nothing to do but lie in the sun, play with the kids, sip drinks with umbrellas in them and feel smug.
Here’s my plan. Feel free to join me and use any of the pretty printables. (I am much more inclined to organise myself with a pretty printable to help me.)
Christmas Cards
I know a lot of people have moved onto e-cards, but let’s face it — most people would prefer to get mail than another jangly thing in their inbox. If you are going the electronic option, consider giving something. We love the JL Advent calendar each year and you can buy it as a gift and send to others.
If you are intending on going retro and back to old-fashion Christmas cards, here are my tips:
- Buy a few of the smaller sized cards for the cards you need to post. The savings will add up. The full list of Aus Post prices for within Australia are here and the international prices are here. Be careful about adding stickers etc. as they do increase the weight and you may not be able to send under the “card only” prices.
- Consider which cards could be hand-made by the kids.
- To decide on your list, review your Facebook friends, your LinkedIn contacts and go through your last 2 – 3 weeks of emails. If anyone has been particularly kind this year, either professionally or personally, I think it’s nice to let them know you are thinking of them and are grateful.
- Set a week aside for writing cards and spend half an hour each evening getting it done. Maybe pour some wine, put on some tunes and enjoy the lost art of connecting through hand-writing.
- You can recycle the cards you receive into some great Christmas craft.
This printable might help with card organisation.
Christmas Presents
The aim this year is to have everything bought and wrapped before the last school bell rings. In order to do so, here is my cunning plan …
- Ask the kids to write their letters to Santa sooner rather than later. After all, Santa needs to be organised. I like the idea of “something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read” as a guide on buying for kids.
- Buy and hide the “Santa” wrapping paper. My seven year old is getting mighty suspicious and I don’t want things ruined for the three year old, who has only just gotten over the “Santa terror”. The years in between are VERY short.
- Talk to the adults in your circle about how you’d like to handle gifts. My parents have a “no presents for adults” policy but my mum will inevitably make something for each of us. My husband’s family operates a not-so-secret Santa so that the adults all receive one present that they REALLY want. Rather than exchanging gifts with girlfriends, you might want to donate a handbag filled with useful gifts to Share the Dignity.
- Create a secret Pinterest board and gather present ideas there. If you see something in the shops that you think would be perfect for a person on your list, snap it and save it to the board. If something IS perfect and you have the funds, just buy it. Seriously, you know you will end up doing so anyway.
- Pinterest is also a great way to source easy hand-made presents that are perfect for school friends. Our school has a no candy cane policy at Christmas (which I agree with) but it’s fun to share something small.
- If you are making any personalised presents, like photo books or mugs with photos printed onto them, start now so that you aren’t rushing at the end. I’ll be making one for my three year old who LOVES photo albums and this way I can write little stories alongside the pictures.
- If you are making things for your loved ones, make sure you note all projects down and give yourself plenty of time. Making things with love at leisure is one of life’s greatest joys. Making things in a rush is one of life’s stresses. And we are aiming for stress free.
- Take a special note of any December birthdays and make a fuss. Please don’t wrap in Christmas paper or only given one present. It’s not easy being a December baby.
This printable might help with present organisation.
In all the Christmas, remember yourself. The whole point of being organised this year is so I will ENJOY the celebrations and down time. I just want to bask in the whole season and feel as free and fabulous as the kids do. So I WILL be booking in a manicure, pedicure, massage and facial between now and New Year. The haircut was already booked in weeks ago.
What are your organised Christmas tips?
Oh you are so organised! I really don’t want to leave xmas presents to the last minute this year. Too stressful. Thanks for the reminder about the xmas paper and Santa, that nearly got me last year.
Renee Wilson recently posted…A broken bone, birthday, and brave little girl
It really is – and then everyone has run out of the “must have” toy and you negate all your online options.
Wow – that is SUPER organised….
Lydia C. Lee recently posted…Australia – the lucky country?
Thanks – it’s all in the hope that Christmas will be less stressed!
Such great ideas! We used to spend a small fortune sending Christmas cards to the mother country but now we’ve gone all environmentally friendly and send ecards and make a donation to charity instead. Win, win! I love your printables and am in awe of your organisational skills! You know how to Christmas like a boss!
Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid recently posted…20 Places to Eat and Drink in Vancouver
Postage is so expensive! I love the charity idea.
Love how organised you are. I wish I had an ounce of that or some enthusiasm.
On one hand I just want to bury my head in the sand and pretend its not November and Christmas isn’t just around the corner. On the other hand, I’m seriously thinking about just not doing Christmas at all. Hubby is at sea for a month before. He is back for a week (hopefully two) over Christmas/New Years and then back out to sea for a month with work. Our three girls have had a stressful time with exams (yr 9, 11 & 12) and it would be nice to just relax and do nothing. We are also in temporary accommodation with our tree in storage which will make things even more challenging.
I think maybe just spending the money on an awesome get away while your hubby is home would probably make everyone happiest?
You are way more organised than me. Love it! Great tips here!
Amy @ HandbagMafia recently posted…Rochelle Courtenay: Share the Dignity
Thanks lovely – hopefully they are a little bit helpful.
I used to be so good at doing Christmas cards but it all sort of fell apart when I had kids!
Bec @ Seeing the Lighter Side recently posted…My Top 6 Parenting Guilt Moments
Me too – hoping to be better this year.
Holy crap. Reading this blog post is my Christmas organisation hack. I’m useless at being organised… always ends in a rush hoping the postmen are working extra fast and I’ve even been known to borrow the Santa wrap from other people ON CHRISTMAS EVE because I ‘forgot’.
Melinda @ United States of Mama recently posted…Evelyn
That’s a great way to ensure that the kids don’t get suss on the Christmas wrap though 🙂
I LOVE all of these tips. My aim this year is to be finished with Christmas prior to the kids finishing school, but that is only 3 weeks away, so maybe I’ll be finished theirs instead. I have already started shopping and wrapping, so we are on the way!
Nicole @ The Builder’s Wife recently posted…Rude, Condescending and Incompetent
I swear as soon as the kids are let out of school, the days just fly. It’s like time moves at warp speed. Good luck for getting it done in the next three weeks.
Your printables are so gorgeous Robyna! I vow to be more organised EVERY year – I now laugh at myself before anyone else does when I mutter those words. Great tips here, thank you – this may just be my year! 🙂 Xx
I hope it is – you deserve a happy and stress-free season.
I have not done a single thing yet, but my lists are not too long and I usually find by the end of November I am all sorted! xx N
Nikki@Wonderfully Women recently posted…How To Turn A Gourmet Food Hamper Into A Delicious Christmas Lunch.
So much easy when you don’t have an army to buy for. Very glad we have reduced the Christmas presents on the adult’s side.
These are such great tips. We are definitely trying to be well organised this year with our third baby due very soon and my daughters 3rd birthday still to happen before Christmas, I am very pleased we have managed to organise most gifts already! (hopefully the kids don’t find my hiding spot because it is growing rapidly!) I buy bits a pieces when I see them through the year and online shopping has definitely been a preference this year. I love that for the adults on both sides of our family we do a “secret santa” where we just buy one decent gift for one adult. We are each allocated someone different and that person gives us a list of ideas. This helps so much to minimise the stress of trying to think what to buy! Hope you have a wonderful relaxed Christmas this year Robyna. I really like the goal of having it done before school holidays hit.
My hiding spot is currently the back of my husband’s car – hopefully they won’t think to look there! Have a wonderful Christmas.
I’m usually pretty organised when it comes to Xmas but it does creep up quickly! I’m determined this year to avoid the shops in December and so plan to have all my gift shopping done then.
Sarah @sarahdipity recently posted…Taking Stock
Definitely best if you can avoid the shops in December.
Such great tips! A definite yes to the Santa wrapping paper – now my tornadoes are getting older it’s something I need to consider!
You need to get sneaky as they get older.
Cute printables! I buy Christmas presents all year round, so all I’ve got left to buy is a toy/game type present for each of our kids and we’re done. Hubster and I are saving our present to each other for a second honeymoon/tenth anniversary trip early next year, and all nieces, nephews, grandparents, aunts and uncles are sorted! Phew! #teamIBOT
That IS super organised. Such a great feeling when it’s all under control.
I love being organised too! I’ll be downloading your present printable list to use. It’s much better than my current scrappy list I’ve started!
Ingrid
http://www.fabulousandfunlife.blogspot.com.au
Ingrid @ Fabulous and Fun Life recently posted…Recent Empties
So glad you found it helpful.
I love your organisation. I’m a bit the same way for Christmas and will (should) be sorted by end of term. Though you did remind me about the different wrapping paper. 😉
Karin @ Calm to Conniption recently posted…The Ultimate Rabbit Hole #92: Health Week
We have the “Santa” paper well hidden 🙂
I love the suggestion for creating a Pinterest board for presents and other related ideas for Christmas. This will save such a lot of time, thanks for sharing this great idea. #IBOT
annette charlton recently posted…Who Wins? Parisian Rival Cafes
It’s such a quick and easy way to keep track of wish-lists.
My thing was always to get those “santa on the beach in boardies” cards and post them to my overseas friends. But I don’t think I’ve done that in a number of years.
They’d look awesome against all the snow scenes.
I love all your organization charts. Great for keeping in mind all the things that you have to do around the holidays… which is normally a lot. Thank you for sharing!!!
SO much. I worry that if I don’t plan early, it won’t happen.
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