The Glossy Nest

Seasonal & Home Decor Blog

The Complete Christmas Planning Guide For Busy People

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So much goes into Christmas planning!  If you always feel stressed out and overwhelmed during the holidays, it’s time to get control of the chaos.  Being prepared for Christmas will allow you to enjoy this special time of year even more. 

In this Christmas planning guide, I’ve got some great articles that will help you get ready for the Christmas season.  Check them out below:

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Christmas Gift Planning - How to Plan Christmas Gifts This Year
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48 Hours of Awesome - How to Plan Christmas Day & Eve
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Now or Later? Here's When to Start Planning For Christmas
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Christmas Dinner Planning Guide for the Ultimate Holiday Feast
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Christmas Budget Planning Mistakes - How to Stop Christmas Overspending
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How to Plan Christmas Decorations The Easy Way
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72 Christmas Planning Tips for a Surprisingly Easy Christmas
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{Free Printable!} A Christmas Planning Checklist For This Year
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{Free Printable!} Save Money With This Christmas Budget Printable
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{Free Printable!} Christmas Meal Planner Printable to Prep a Feast
Ultimate Christmas planner printable pages & woman holding planner
Ultimate Christmas Planner Printable - Best Christmas Planner for This Year

An Easy Christmas Planning Guide

You know something?  Christmas is coming!  Whether or not it’s December 1st or May 31st, Christmas is always just right around the corner.

I used to just wing it during Christmas and it always made me feel really stressed out and overwhelmed.

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It took me a few years of getting organized with Christmas holiday planning, but the results were impressive.  I finally felt like I was enjoying the Christmas season.  Things were prepared, organized and surprisingly fun!

A lot goes into Christmas planning.  How do you plan for Christmas? Where to start?  Or better yet – when to start?  Don’t let Christmas sneak up on you this year!

How To Plan The Perfect Christmas

For those that get stressed out and overwhelmed during the holidays, it’s time to create a plan for the Christmas season instead of just winging it.

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Here are some of the main areas I like to focus on for Christmas planning:

Christmas Budget Planning – Christmas comes around every year, so it makes sense to plan out a Christmas budget.

Most of us think that we need to set aside money for Christmas gifts, but there are other Christmas expenses too.  Are you making any of these Christmas budgeting mistakes?

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Christmas Gift Planning – Figuring out what to buy for Christmas gifts can cause a lot of stress during the holidays. 

You’re going to need a way to keep track of all your gift ideas, purchases, stocking stuffers and shopping lists.  Discover my secrets for how to plan Christmas gifts the easy way.

Start by making a list of everyone you want to buy for. Next, consider their interests and preferences to come up with thoughtful gift ideas.

Set a Christmas gift budget for each person to keep your spending in check. Once you have your gift ideas, prioritize them and start shopping early to avoid last-minute stress.

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Christmas Decor Planning – There’s so many cute Christmas decor items on the market.  Every year there’s always new items I want to buy and add to my collection.

But sometimes I forget what I already have on hand.  Learn how to plan your Christmas decorations to create a magical look around your home.

Start by choosing a Christmas theme that reflects your style. Next, make a list of the areas you want to decorate, such as the living room, dining area, and outdoor spaces.

Gather your Christmas decorations, ensuring you have a mix of old favorites and new items. Finally, set aside time to put up your decorations around the house and outside.  Enjoy the process and let your creativity shine!

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Christmas Meal Planning – One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is enjoying good meals with family and friends.

But meal prep and planning can be a lot of work.  Check out this reader favorite guide on how to master Christmas dinner.

Start your Christmas meal planning by deciding on the menu, considering traditional dishes and any dietary preferences of your guests.

Next, create a shopping list based on your menu, ensuring you have all the necessary ingredients. Then, schedule your cooking times, allowing for preparation and cooking of each dish.

Finally, set the table and arrange any decorations to create a festive atmosphere.  You’ve got this!

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Christmas Day & Eve Planning – Apart from eating, what exactly are you going to do on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve to celebrate?  

Maybe you already have a few traditions in mind for those days.  But if you don’t, my guide to planning Christmas Day & Eve activities can help.

Start by creating a list of tasks that need to be done on those days, especially if you’re hosting.  Next, set a timeline to ensure everything is completed on schedule.

Finally, consider any special traditions or activities you want to do on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, making sure to allocate time for relaxation and enjoyment with loved ones.

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Christmas Card Planning – Do you like to send out Christmas cards to family and friends in December?  Christmas cards are a fun way to keep in touch with people you might not see on a day to day basis. 

To plan your Christmas card, start by deciding on a theme or design that reflects your style. Next, create a list of recipients – make sure you have current addresses (or emails if you’re doing a virtual card). 

Choose a photo or artwork that captures the spirit of the season, and then write a heartfelt message to accompany it. Finally, set a timeline for printing and mailing to ensure your cards arrive on time.

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Christmas Party Planning – throwing a Christmas party or get together this season?  It can be a lot of work to organize a party, especially during the crazy holiday season.

When planning a Christmas party, start by setting a date and time that works best for you and your guests. Next, choose a theme or style for the party to create a festive atmosphere.

After that, decide on a Christmas party budget for food, decorations, and entertainment. Then, create a guest list and send out invitations well in advance. Finally, plan the menu, decorations, and activities for your Christmas party.

Getting Ready for Christmas with Printables

Are you someone that likes to map out plans using pen and paper?  Me too!

In my attempts to get organized for Christmas, I came up with a few free Christmas printables that you can use too:

Looking for the ultimate Christmas Planner – the one planner that’s going to get you totally organized and prepared for the holiday season this year? 

If so, my Ultimate Christmas Planner printable is what you need!

Ultimate Christmas planner printable pages

Combining 10 planners into 1, the Ultimate Christmas Planner printable has everything you need to tackle the Christmas season this year.  It includes:

  • Budget Planner
  • Christmas Card Planner
  • Cleaning Planner
  • Cookie Planner
  • Decor Planner
  • Gift Planner
  • Meal Planner
  • Party Planner
  • Traditions Planner
  • Travel Planner
  • & more!

I hope this article series on Christmas planning gives you some good ideas on how to have an organized yet fun holiday this year.  Check out the articles here:

Don’t forget to bookmark this page for reference later!

Pin It For Later!

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