Can you think of better occasions than Christmas and New Year to treasure the company of your family, savor delicious meals, and engage in enjoyable activities?
Following these tips will help you get the best out of your holidays while alleviating any pressures about completing your responsibilities.
After managing the holiday chaos myself for my previous job, I firmly believe that planning ahead and getting organized is key to a successful holiday season.
Yes, that’s the formula for unnecessary stress.
Turning things around and reclaiming the joy isn’t as challenging as it sounds.
So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed with all the tasks ahead, here are 20 ways to get organized for the holidays.
Keep reading.
Table of Contents
20 Ways to Get Organized this Christmas and New Year
1) Holiday binder
Create a folder containing all of your holiday details. As the holiday planning and shopping season starts, this will simplify your search for everything you need.
Your binder must contain your holiday timetable, gift ideas, spending limit, and buying lists.
Use the binder as well to track all your invitations and planned visits to avoid overlaps in your schedule.
2) DIY decorations
If you’re looking for minimalist and low-cost DIY decorations, try these alternatives:
- Repurpose worn books and magazines as artistic inspiration.
- Select and cut out appealing images or phrases, and arrange them into custom decors.
- Reimagine vintage Christmas cards from past holidays for crafting paper crafts.
- Cut up old wrapping paper into miniature bits and exploit them as a fresh version of confetti to enrich our household ambiance.
- Transform your outdated or old planner as a springboard for inspiration. Detach pleasing images or phrases to incarnate into decorations.
3) Pre-lit tree
Using a pre-lit tree makes your Christmas setup easy. Your only task is to station it on the stand and connect the plug to power.
You can now avoid chaos on the knotted-up strings of lights that are almost impossible to untangle!
Some pre-lit trees include a built-in timer to switch the lights on at night – a plus if you’re preoccupied or forgetful.
4) Use an app
Many alternative apps can help you get organized. You can search online, try it, and choose what works for you.
I recommend Todoist or Notion because it holds the top spot on my organizational tools.
It’s easy to navigate and allows you to create different projects, lists, tasks, and holiday appointments. After using it, you’ll find yourself less stressed and more prepared for the holidays.
5) Gift-wrap station
If you will be wrapping gifts in bulk this Christmas, you need a gift-wrap station.
Setting up a gift wrap station allows you to store all essential gift-wrapping materials in one spot efficiently. It will save your effort searching for items when wrapping presents.
Ensure your gift wrap station includes these important supplies:
- Wrapping paper
- Bows and ribbons
- Scissors
- Tape
- Gift tags or labels
- Pens/markers
- Gift boxes
- Tissue paper (for padding inside gift boxes)
- Stickers or seals
- Table or a large, flat surface
6) Advent cleaning
As we reflect on Christ’s first coming, it can also be an excellent time for cleaning up!
I have 3 specific blogs to help aid your cleaning and organization efforts.
- Clean Space Clean Mind: Why Tidying Up Is Good For The Mind?
- Your Room is a Reflection of Your Mind: What Does Your Bedroom Say About You?
- How to Start Decluttering When Overwhelmed?
Turn to these references when initiating your advent cleaning. You’ll find tips and details on how tidying up can lift your spirit and clear your mind.
7) Divide and conquer
“Share the load, lighten the road.”
Facing the long to-do list for Christmas and New Year’s might stress you. You can split duties with your family.
For example, If there’s lots of cooking, enlist a helping hand for chopping or cleaning.
You can also hire a maid service to assist with the cleaning. It’s a reasonable arrangement as it spares you the stress of dusting and vacuuming.
8) Christmas box
As the holidays draw closer, you may feel the pressure of the to-do list. If so, try this easy fix: set up a Christmas box.
Convert a piece of paper into a box-like structure, captioning it with “Christmas” in stand-out letters. Then store items like holiday ornaments, wrapping papers, and previous year’s decorations in the box so you easily find them later.
Adopting this practice can make you realize that you can manage Christmas effortlessly.
9) Inventory
If you have a spacious home, it’s smart to take inventory of what you have. You can avoid buying duplicates and overbuying this way, and you will pinpoint gift gaps.
Tallying your items before holidays is also practical to guarantee enough supplies. This will prevent you from lacking items like wrapping sheets or ribbons.
Place the inventory chart in your holiday binder and revisit it when necessary.
10) Card tracking
If you have yet to mail your Christmas and New Year’s greetings, consider these useful tips:
- Gather a directory of people you want to send cards to.
- Arrange your cards into groups (family, friends, school friends, etc.).
- Review your list and confirm the addresses are still accurate.
This approach gives clarity on the exact count of cards you should buy.
Not only did tracking the cards make you simplify the process, but it also enhanced your connection with your social circle.
11) Online grocery shopping
E-grocery shopping is ideal for facilitating a well-organized Christmas and New Year season. With so much on your plate, sparing time to purchase important items can be a struggle.
You can wrap up all your tasks in a short time through E-shopping,
Here are companies that are popular for online shopping:
- Amazon
- eBay
- Walmart
- Etsy
- Best Buy
- Home Depot
- Apple
- Ikea
12) Prep packed freezer meals
Advance meal preparation and freezing is an outstanding approach for cutting costs and alleviating anxiety throughout the hectic holiday period
When multiple freezers are available, you can diminish stress if you allot one to storing pre-prepared meals before, during, and after the holiday season.
13) Recipe masterlist
We love Christmas. We love the music, the smells, the decorations and most of all: the food!
Save up a recipe collection and insert it in your holiday binder. It helps you review past celebrations to ensure the approaching holidays are as memorable.
14) Budgeting spreadsheet
A budget sheet is an ideal approach for monitoring your financial status.
You can also manage your cash flow during these months—from gifts for friends and family members to travel costs for visiting loved ones who live far away.
15) Scheduling downtime
Set aside moments for self-care. Go for a walk, take a nap, or watch a movie.
Reserve some spots in your schedule for downtime. You’ll be re-energized and ready to face what lies ahead.
16) Decorate gradually
If immediate decoration feels burdensome, don’t push it! Kickstart decor with stuff already at home—it’s a simple start towards building that holiday mood without over-commitment.
Keep supplementing with more decor pieces throughout December until every corner of your home space is perfect for display.
17) E-invitations
Combine time and budget savings by mailing your Christmas party invite online.
If you favor the DIY route, countless free invitation templates await on the web. You can customize them with your photos, text, and colors.
My favorite is Canva. It’s an easy-to-operate tool that produces a professional-looking invitation in a matter of a few clicks.
Then, you can share them through different platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
18) Emergency kit
You’re likely skilled in retaining a neat environment if you are anything like me. However, I fall short when handling unforeseen emergencies.
So, here are some items you should pack in your Christmas emergency kit:
- First-aid kit: Contains bandages, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, medical tape, a digital thermometer, pain relievers, and any necessary medication.
- Spare Christmas lights: If a bulb goes out, you’ll be ready with replacements.
- Extra batteries: For toys, remotes, or other battery-operated Christmas gifts.
- Basic tools: A small kit with a screwdriver, pliers, etc., can be handy for assembling toys or fixing decorations.
- Emergency contact list: Include numbers of doctors, the nearest hospital, poison control, and non-emergency police numbers.
- Power bank or battery-operated charger: In case of a power outage.
- Extra gifts: Keep a few generic gifts wrapped and ready if someone shows up unexpectedly.
- Fire extinguisher: Essential for any household during the holiday season when fireplaces and candles are common.
- Sewing kit: For any unexpected wardrobe malfunctions or gift unwrapping-related accidents.
- Ice melt or sand: Useful for keeping walkways safe if you live in a region with snowy and icy weather during Christmas.
- Flashlights and candles: Useful in case of a sudden blackout.
- Backup roast: Having a backup in the freezer would save the day.
- Extra wrapping paper and ribbon: For last-minute presents.
19) Schedule gift opening
Christmas is a time of gift-giving and receiving. To make things easier, why not allocate some time at the start of the last month to unwrap all the presents with your loved ones?
You’ll find it amazing how much time you can reclaim, plus there’s no concern about missing out on anyone’s.
Also, you could include your kids and take pictures of each gift as they open it. This will serve as a delightful pastime and a record of what everyone received during the holidays.
20) Post-holiday plan
An organized post-holiday plan is significant. It’s time to review your stuff and decide what to keep, what to donate, and how to sort them within your home.
It’s safe to say that Christmas has come and gone. With the decorations packed, lights shut, and the chaos of wrapping papers, decor boxes, and disordered furniture, now is the time for full-scale organization.
Ways to Get Organized (FAQs)
How can I make myself more organized?
To become more organized:
• Draft your daily task lists, then organize them by priority.
• Set aside specific time for each task and follow the timeline.
• Clean your space regularly, and keep your belongings in designated spots.
• Use digital devices or applications for alerts and keeping notes.
How can I be more organized as a student?
As a student, you should:
• Use a planner or online tools to handle your time efficiently.
• Keep your study section tidy and ensure each subject has its folder.
• Establish a routine, and follow it diligently.
• Break down your large projects into manageable subtasks.
• Regular rest can enhance your productivity.
What makes me organized?
Being organized means:
• You plan out your activities, allocate priorities, and exercise efficient time management.
• Keeping your space neat, you stored everything in its correct location.
• You experience less stress and improved effectiveness when completing tasks.
• You tend to use memos, notifications, and scheduling systems for smooth workflow.
What to do next?
Take care of yourself during this time. These 20 ways to get organized this Christmas and New Year are here to make your festive season less overwhelming.
Undoubtedly, the weeks before Christmas can give you an overwhelming feeling. You’re occupied with gift wrapping, preparing meals, and making sure everything’s in place for the holidays.
Still, there are realistic ways to address these feelings, making it possible to be well-prepared so you can truly appreciate this festive period.
Hey! If you found this post useful, check out these organizing tips and tools, too:
