Plan the Perfectly Organised Christmas With These Top Tips
With Christmas just around the corner, there is so much to get done: present-buying, food shopping and generally getting the house ready for your guests, just to name just a few. The more organised you are the more you’ll be able to enjoy things, and these top tips are really going to help you out.
Make a list, check it twice
If you write something down you’re far more likely to get it done than if you just rely on your memory. So make lists of everything that needs to get done, from presents to food. Write down the names of people you need to buy for, jot down gift ideas and even price budgets if you’re feeling economical. Make a shopping list before you hit the shops or order online, then pin it up on your wall and add to it as you need to.
Save the day
Your calendar is another key tool at this time of year and if you rely on the one on your phone it’s a good idea to transfer that onto paper too. That way it’ll refresh your memory about upcoming events and put you ahead of the game, rather than relying on a reminder 10 minutes before you’re supposed to be there! So whether you need to remember to post Christmas cards or to attend a friend’s Christmas drinks, you shan’t forget!
Do Secret Santa
There are so many people to buy for and not a lot of time to get it done, so organizing Secret Santa amongst your friends and family is a great idea. It saves a lot of time and money, and it’s great fun too. There are online tools you can use to randomly assign each person if time and distance mean it’s not possible to do it the old-fashioned way by pulling names out of a hat.
Think about gift cards
Gift cards are a good way of saving money and time too. Take a look at your present list and link individuals with certain stores or outlets. Most people secretly would love to choose their own gift so it’ll be highly appreciated. As an added bonus there’s no gift-wrapping to do, which is a great timesaver, and less paper means less mess and it’s better for the environment.
Pre-prep food
We all know the rush of preparing food for a group of guests, and it can be stressful, rushed, not to mention messy. You may find that you can save time by pre-preparing some of the food you’ll be serving. Of course some things you’ll want to take out of the oven fresh in time for dinner, but there will be dishes that you can have pre-prepared and then just reheat to serve. Chopping can take up a lot of time and create mess, so start chopping certain vegetables and herbs in advance of cooking; simply store them nicely and take them out when you need them on the day.
Make the house gleam
If you’re planning on having people round it’s a good incentive for doing a really good clean. Before Christmas week you can give the house a good once over and check that everything is in working order. If you’re throwing a party it’d be good to brush up on your bathroom cleaning skills too. There’s always that one guest ready to scrutinize every aspect of your home! And in case of any disasters in the loo, here is a handy guide for how to unblock a toilet. Nothing will ruin your party!
Plan journeys in advance
We’re all busily buzzing around over Christmas, so roads will be hectic. If you’ve got any long journeys to do, make sure you know how to get there long before you set off. Look at alternative routes and check to see which areas are best avoided and make a packing list of things you want to take in the car. Try and leave yourself plenty of time to get to your destination in case of delays.
If you get ahead and get organised there’ll be no need to stress too much. From writing down lists to knowing how to unblock a toilet in the case of a minor disaster, these top tips can help you relax and enjoy everything about Christmas.
