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Christmas is one of the most stressful times of the year. Plan your countdown to Christmas well advance so that by the time the big day comes you can be nice and relaxed and enjoy the festivities.
Your Christmas Countdown should start no later than 1st of December, even if you’re only putting your plans down on paper - If you have left it to late don't worry these tips will help you.
Leaving your Christmas countdown to the last minute may mean forgetting something important or missing the opportunity to make things as special as you would like.
Christmas Countdown 10 – Make a Plan
Make a plan, know what needs doing, who is going to be assigned to do it and when you need to have it done. Don’t try and do everything yourself, Christmas is a family event, so get your family involved.
Christmas Countdown 9 – Decide on a Budget
Christmas can be a very expensive time of the year. There is no point overextending yourself and then falling into serious debt come the New Year.
Decide on a budget to cover gifts, food, decorations and any other little treats for yourself and family. Don’t calculate to the penny, allow some room for flexibility, but make sure you stay within a budget of what you can afford.
Christmas is just one day, you don’t really want to the other 355 days of the year paying for it!
Christmas Countdown 8 – Wrapping your Gifts
Don’t leave wrapping your gifts until Christmas Eve. If you have been organised enough to purchase everything before December then allocate a day for wrapping all your gifts.
Christmas Countdown 7 – Writing your Christmas cards.
Write your Christmas card list. Keep your list, cards, stamps and address book handy. Whenever you find yourself doing nothing but sitting in front of the TV, write a few cards each evening. This will be far less tedious than doing them all at once.
This year when you’ve finished writing your Christmas cards, why not keep the list. Put it away in that box with the unused Christmas cards, that you dig out each year because you’re one card short – that way you won’t have to write the list again next year.
Christmas Countdown 6 – Plan your Christmas Day Menu
Make a list all the food items that can be prepared beforehand and either frozen or stored. Just as you don’t want to be up wrapping gifts all of Christmas eve night, you also don’t want to spend the entire evening in the kitchen prepping food.
Christmas Countdown 6 – Christmas Decorations
Decide on the theme you are going to use for your decorations and even if you don’t put them up until twelve days before Christmas, make sure you have everything you need, so when the time comes everything can go up at once.
Christmas Countdown 5 – Make Life Easier
If you’ve never tried internet shopping now might be a good time to start. If you really don’t fancy dragging yourself, or your children around the shops, why not have a look and see what bargains you can bag on the internet.
You can even buy your food on the internet and have it delivered.
Christmas Countdown 4 – Delegate
In the final run up to Christmas, certain things can only be done on the day and this where your delegations skills should come into play.
There’s no point slaving for hours over a Christmas lunch that you afe too tired to eat. Make sure everybody is doing at least one task.
Christmas Countdown 3 – Timing
Decide what time you want to sit down to Christmas lunch and plan your food preparation around how long it takes for your turkey to cook, including resting time.
Christmas Countdown 2 – Don’t Panic
Remember why you’re doing it all. If your Christmas is fraught with stress and anxiety then the purpose will be somewhat lost.
Take time to plan everything in advance and remember to get everyone involved but don’t worry if everything doesn’t go to plan.
Christmas Countdown 1 – Put Your Feet Up
Have a happy Christmas.
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