Keep One Calendar of Events
With school events,
Christmas tree lightings, dinners, holiday plays and shows, parties, get-togethers,
traditions, bucket list to-dos, and loads of other events to attend this time
of year, it’s so important to WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN. I cannot tell you how many events end up
overlapping for us this time of year so it’s of utmost importance to use the
same calendar to write down all events so you don’t double-book. Just the other day I went to write down a new
event that we wanted to attend, but when I went to put it on my calendar I saw
that we already had an event planned for that evening. Now we just have to decide which one is more
important and make a choice, but at least we didn’t commit to something only to
realize we couldn’t attend.
Keep a Master To-Do List & Start Checking Things Off Early
I’m a MAJOR list girl so I
have master lists for each month of the year (I’ll elaborate more on this when
I do my planner/how I stay organized post soon). My December list has every single thing on it
that I could ever need to remember for the month of December including
important to-dos, Christmas traditions, and Christmas bucket list items. Some of the items on my list include:
-
Christmas
shopping
-
Christmas tree
lighting at B’s work
-
Christmas tree lighting
downtown
-
Watch Christmas shows
-
Watch Christmas movies
-
Visit Santa
-
Drive around and
look at Christmas lights
-
Plan annual
girls’ Christmas Scarf Exchange
-
New Christmas
PJs for kids
-
New ornaments
for kids
-
Outfits for
entire family for Christmas Eve mass
-
Plan Christmas
breakfast menu
-
Christmas dishes
I need to bring for family get-togethers
And the list goes on… and on
and on and on. :o)
I pull this list out each
year and transfer all of the events and to-dos to my planner which ensures that
nothing is forgotten. This also enables
me to spread stuff out evenly throughout the weeks leading up to Christmas so that
way we’re not trying to cram everything in at the last minute. I love having this complete overview of the
season and spreading everything out over the 6-8 weeks before Christmas significantly cuts down on stress.
Make a Gift List and Check it Twice
I don’t know about you, but
we have a ton of people who we buy gifts for every year… parents, siblings, the
kids, the kids’ teachers, kids from our outreach program at church, etc.
Each year around September, I
make a list of every single person for whom we have to shop. I leave a few blank spaces in between each
person’s name so I can write down gift ideas in pencil, and then when I actually
purchase the gifts, I write them down in pen along with a running total in
pencil of how much we’ve spent on each person. Once I'm completely done shopping for someone I cross their name out in pink highlighter. This method really comes in handy for the kids since we are buying stuff
for them for several weeks leading up until Christmas.
This ensures that we don’t overspend and it also ensures that we spend
around the same amount of money on each of them.
I prefer to use the paper/pen/pencil
method for my lists, but an Excel spreadsheet would be great for all of you
e-list makers. Either way, just be sure
to keep track of everything! Having a
complete list of everything we’ve purchased also serves as a reminder of everything
that I have hidden away. If it’s all
written down then Santa knows exactly what he needs to leave out on Christmas
Eve and he doesn’t forget anything! ;o)
Below is an example of my list from last year. I blocked out how much we spent on each person because there's no need to put our business out there. ;o)
Below is an example of my list from last year. I blocked out how much we spent on each person because there's no need to put our business out there. ;o)
Set Reminders
Now that you’re organized to
the max with all of your lists, you just need to make sure that you stick to
the plan! You can be as organized as you
possibly can and still forget something.
That’s why it’s important to set reminders! When in doubt, put a reminder in your planner
(or set an alarm on your phone) a couple of days before something important has
to be done and then set one more reminder that day to ensure you don’t
forget.
Anybody else receive visits from that pesky little elf?! Haha.
ENJOY!!
It's the most wonderful time of the year and it'll be over in the blink of an eye so enjoy it to the fullest! If you find yourself getting too stressed just try to remember the real reason for the season. :o)
I have used this method for several years now and it really works for me. How do you stay organized this time of year?
Anybody else receive visits from that pesky little elf?! Haha.
ENJOY!!
It's the most wonderful time of the year and it'll be over in the blink of an eye so enjoy it to the fullest! If you find yourself getting too stressed just try to remember the real reason for the season. :o)
I have used this method for several years now and it really works for me. How do you stay organized this time of year?
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And don’t forget to follow your hosts!
I am the same way with list. I make list for every freaking thing. If I don’t write it down it won’t happen!
ReplyDeleteHow to you plan your blog content??
I also make a list of who I'm buying for and how much I've budgeted for them. Then I write down what I actually spent and bought for them. I keep this list in my purse (just on a sheet of paper!) in case I'm out somewhere and buy something. I love buying presents for others!!
ReplyDeleteSarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts
I love how neat you write. i'm jealous lol. I love how you do this stuff tho! perfect way to stay organized all year long!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips!! I agree, writing everything down is key!! I've almost already double booked things! I wish I had as neat of handwriting as you lol
ReplyDeleteLOL at moving the elf. Glad I don't need to worry about that one, I'd for sure forget! Right now I have a list on notepad on my phone of the things I'm hoping to get my kids for Hanukkah and I put check marks in when I have the gift in my possession!
ReplyDeleteI have used the app Santa's Bag for the last few years and it is a life saver! You put in recipients and a budget then go in and put ideas throughout the year. You can put gifts in for each recipient with a price, whether it was ordered or purchased, what store, where you hid it, etc. You also can archive each year!
ReplyDeleteThis is why I do not have the elf in our house! But love the list, we do this as well.
ReplyDeleteI set an alarm in my phone to move the elf too. that is too funny. I am all about making the lists. I have way too many holiday lists going right now.
ReplyDelete"Move the friggin elf before bed," Bahahahahaha! I had to make a list within the lists of lists of ideas for the elf so that I wouldn't become frantic every night. Hahaha! Shoot, I should have shared that today. I'm determined to have it all together for Christmas this year, so thanks for sharing your Christmas organizational ways - lots of great ideas!!! I loved this!
ReplyDeleteThe friggin elf alarm is too funny. I like the master list idea- this would be really helpful if I could come up with something like this. - Shannon@slayitagainshan.com
ReplyDeleteGirl, if I don't have it written down it doesn't get done! My short term memory is terrible!
DeleteYou know, I honestly have no idea how to set the alarm on my phone; but I definitely need it for that darn elf. Last year I had a real problem because now my boys are often staying up later than me!
ReplyDeleteAhhhh yeah I don't know what I would do if I went to bed before the kids. I would have to retire the elf before it got to that point. Haha.
DeleteI love the idea of using one calendar to plan. Haha the elf alarm is such a good one! Sierra Beautifully Candid
ReplyDeletehahahaa re elf-- my kids are such snoopers they will read my phone though! And I thought I was a list person LOL. #listgoals
ReplyDeleteThe elf alarm is genius. I will be implementing that ASAP!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea to have a master list - I really need to get on that band wagon...it seems like you are always talking about your master list and how helpful it is!! And yes, alarms for me are key - I always use them at work on emails, like if the next day is someone's birthday and I need to bring something in, I always have a reminder go off right before I leave work so I remember!
ReplyDelete