The holiday season is in full swing, and as Christmas draws near, the to-do lists seem to multiply faster than we can check things off. Whether you’re hosting family dinners, buying last-minute gifts, or getting your home ready for holiday festivities, the final two weeks before Christmas can feel like a race against the clock. But fear not—this is the time to make the most of the final push of organizing before Christmas and set yourself up for a joyful, stress-free holiday.
1. Create Your Final Checklist
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when there’s so much to do. The key to staying on top of things is organization. Take a moment to create a final checklist for these next two weeks. And truly prioritize what really needs to get done versus what you would have liked to get done. This can be a physical list or a digital one on your phone, tablet, or computer. Break it down into categories:
Shopping: Gifts, food, decorations, wrapping supplies.
Home Prep: Cleaning, decorating, setting up guest rooms, meal prep.
Personal: Shopping for yourself, making time for self-care, scheduling rest.
Social: Parties, events, sending holiday cards.
By organizing tasks into categories, you can more easily prioritize and track your progress.
2. Set Deadlines & Use Your Resources
Now that you have your list, prioritize based on what needs to happen what can actually wait until after the holidays. To do lists can get long and feel overwhelming, so setting deadlines can help once your list is prioritized. Aim to have all your gifts purchased by December 20th, so you have a buffer in case anything goes wrong with shipping. Then look at where you can outsource! This is the busiest time of year and even as Professional Organizers, we outsource to help stay organized and get things done. If you are in the Dallas-Ft Worth area or in New England, we have resources to help you in a variety of tasks. Some of our favorite vendors for cleaning, running errands and wrapping gifts we use ourselves!
3. Get Your Home Ready for Guests
With the holiday season comes hosting, whether for family gatherings, dinner parties, or impromptu drop-in visitors. Make sure your home is both festive and functional by focusing on a few key areas:
Cleaning: A deep clean is a great way to set the stage for holiday events. Focus on high-traffic areas like the kitchen, bathroom, and living room. If time is short, delegate chores to family members or consider hiring a cleaning service for a one-time blitz (I just did this and OMG, so glad I did because I could never have had my house look this good!).
Decorating: Now’s the time to finalize your decorations. Put up the tree if you haven’t yet, hang wreaths, and set up any other holiday-specific décor. If you’re hosting a holiday dinner, consider setting your table in advance to save time on the big day.
Guest Rooms: If you’re expecting overnight guests, take a few hours to prepare guest rooms or sleeping arrangements. Fresh linens, extra blankets, and toiletries go a long way toward making guests feel comfortable.
4. Prepare Holiday Meals in Advance
Holiday meals can be a major stress factor, but with a little planning, you can make things run smoothly. Start by creating your holiday menu and determining which dishes can be prepped in advance. For example:
Bake in Advance: Cookies, pies, and other baked goods can be prepared ahead of time and stored or frozen (grateful for my mom as she baked cookies and they are in my freezer as we speak!).
Prep Veggies & Meats: Slice vegetables, marinate meats, or prepare side dishes that can be reheated or cooked quickly on the day of the meal.
Delegate: If you’re hosting a large group, don’t hesitate to ask others to bring dishes, or even offer to host a potluck-style meal to take the pressure off.
By tackling these items early, you’ll ensure that you’re not scrambling last-minute on Christmas Eve and Day, Hanukkah or New Year's Eve and Day.
5. Send Out Cards (or Digital Greetings)
Holiday cards are a tradition that many of us cherish, but they can be time-consuming. If you haven’t already sent them out, prioritize this task in the next few days. If you’re running behind, consider digital cards or a quick photo message to spread cheer. You can even schedule digital greetings to go out at the right time. Or better yet, push this to the New Year and send out New Year cards!
For traditional cards, set aside a couple of hours to address envelopes and prepare them for mailing. Get them out by December 20th to ensure they reach their destination in time.
6. Take Time for Yourself
Amid the whirlwind of holiday prep, it’s essential to take care of yourself. Stress can quickly snowball if you’re too focused on the to-do list and forget to recharge. The final two weeks before Christmas and Hanukkah should be about balancing productivity with relaxation.
Take breaks: Even if it’s just 15 minutes of quiet reading or a cup of tea, a little downtime goes a long way in maintaining your mental health.
Practice mindfulness: Try to take a moment each day to focus on gratitude or simply enjoy the present moment. The holidays are about connection, love, and joy, so don't let stress get in the way of enjoying what matters most.
Schedule a treat: If you are feeling particularly stressed or know you'll have everything done by a certain day, schedule yourself a treat so you can truly enjoy this season. I always schedule myself a 90-minute massage right before the kids get out of school so that as much as I have to do, I take the time to treat myself too!
7. Organizing Before Christmas Means Plan for the Unexpected
Despite our best efforts, things don’t always go as planned. Gifts get lost in the mail, recipes flop, and plans change. Don’t let these hiccups ruin your holiday cheer. Embrace the chaos with flexibility and humor, and remember, Christmas is about the people and moments that make it special, not the perfectly executed dinner or gift. Lastly, if you are looking for more tips on clearing out clutter before Christmas, check out this recent article I contributed to. There are some great tips from myself and other Professional Organizers.
My hope for you is that this holiday season you are able to get everything on your to-do list done and enjoy the season!
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