Plan Your Best Christmas Ever
The weeks leading up to Christmas are always busy. There are gifts to buy, parties to attend, festive food to prepare and decorations to put up. There is a lot to do!
If you put some thought into your priorities before the busyness of the holiday season gets to full momentum, you can set yourself and your family up for a great Christmas. Before it gets too busy, set aside some time to plan your best Christmas ever.
1. Create your vision for Christmas
What are your favourite memories from last Christmas? What does your dream Christmas look like? Who would you spend it with? Where would you be? What memories would you like to create with your family this year? Not all of our dreams come true, but when we take time to dream, we can often take steps towards some of those things. It may not be perfect, but it can still be meaningful.
2. Plan your gift-giving
Giving and receiving gifts is a wonderful way to express your love to friends and family. But it can also be stressful and expensive, especially when not carefully planned. Begin by writing a list of people you need gifts for and think about the personal interests of each of them. A gift that is personal does not need to be expensive to be meaningful. Check out my post about What to Give a Minimalist for Christmas for some ideas.
3. Plan your menu
Food is such an important part of the Christmas celebration. Plan your menu carefully so you can enjoy the day without being stuck in the kitchen. Include dishes you can prepare in advance. Delegate dishes to other cooks so everyone gets to contribute. Consider including a few dishes you can order in to lighten the load or have as a back-up plan if you run out of time.
4. Plan your calendar
The Christmas season can sometimes be extra-busy. We can’t do everything, so having a prioritised plan can help us make the best decisions when the invitations start coming in. Remember to give yourself time for cleaning and preparation, time to get the shopping done and time to rest and enjoy the season.
5. Review your plan
When you have created your plan for Christmas, review it carefully and make sure you are following your priorities and setting yourself up for success. Make sure you have included some of your dream Christmas activities in the plan. Make sure what you have planned will bring you and your family joy and make special memories to cherish. Ask yourself, “How will I feel about this Christmas if everything goes to plan?” If you are not happy with the answer, update your plan.
6. Post-Christmas Review
Spend some time after Christmas reflecting on what you loved and what you can learn from this Christmas. Note the changes you would like to make for next year.
