Make Christmas easier with this simple Christmas to-do list

A Christmas to-do list can help make everything that comes with Christmas less overwhelming, by breaking larger tasks down into smaller ones, and giving you timelines to help you get it all done on time.

In this post you’ll find a simple Christmas to-do list organised by when to tackle each task, from September and October through to Christmas week. 

You’ll discover what to prioritise early, including booking Christmas activities, setting a budget, and starting your gift list.

You’ll also learn what jobs to tackle in November and December, such as meal planning, shopping, wrapping gifts, and preparing your home, and how to make notes after Christmas, so next year’s Christmas planning is easier.

When going through this to-do list, you don’t need to do everything. Pick the tasks that matter to your family, work through them at your own pace, and use this list to make Christmas more manageable.

Looking for simple ways to get organised? Download your FREE toolkit packed with planners and checklists to help make family life easier. Get it here.

Bookmark this post for future reference on Pinterest. Thank you!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclaimer for more information. 

How to use this to-do list

This Christmas to-do list is designed to help you spread your Christmas preparation over several weeks, rather than trying to get everything done in December.

Start with the section that matches where you are in your Christmas planning, then work through the tasks that are relevant to your family. 

You don’t need to complete every item on this list, some tasks may not apply to you, while others may be things you prefer to do earlier or later.

The aim here is to get the bigger jobs out of your head and onto a list, so you can focus on one small batch of Christmas preparations at a time, and so you can reduce the mental load that comes with this time of year.

If you’re starting later in the year, don’t worry about catching up on everything. 

Simply start with the current section and prioritise the tasks that will make the biggest difference to your family’s Christmas.

September and October

When it comes to starting to prepare for Christmas, you don’t need to start doing everything in September and October, but getting a few of the bigger jobs started early can make the weeks leading up to Christmas much easier.

Here are some Christmas planning activities you may like to start getting organised during these months.

Book Christmas activities and events

It always surprises me how quickly Christmas activities and events can sell out, so having an idea early about the types of activities and events your family would like to do over Christmas is a great idea.

Some activities and events you may like to consider booking are:

• Father Christmas visits
• Christmas light switch-ons
• Christmas markets
• Pantomimes and shows
• School events
• Christmas fairs
• Family days out

If tickets aren’t available find out when bookings open and add a reminder to your calendar.

It’s also useful to add other important dates to your calendar, including family visits, annual leave, and any appointments you need to make before Christmas.

Set your Christmas budget

Christmas spending can add up fast, so decide how much you want to spend before you start shopping.

Your Christmas budget could include:

• Gifts
• Food and drinks
• Christmas activities
• Decorations
• Wrapping paper and gift tags
• Christmas cards and postage
• Stocking fillers
• Travel
• Hosting

You can keep a running total as you spend, making it easier to see how much of your budget you’ve used.

Starting your Christmas budget early also gives you time to look for ways to reduce your spending, such as agreeing on a Secret Santa with extended family, or deciding which Christmas activities are actually important.

Start your Christmas gift list

If you’d like to start a Christmas gift list, the best way to do this is to add everyone you need to buy for to your list, then write down a few gift ideas for each person.

Some people you may need to add to your Christmas gift list are:

• Children
• Partner
• Parents
• Grandparents
• Extended family
• Friends
• Teachers
• Neighbours
• Work colleagues
• Secret Santa
• Hosts

You may also decide to keep track of whether each gift has been bought, delivered and wrapped, so you can see what still needs doing.

It can also be useful to keep a few spare gifts at home for unexpected invitations or gifts, and keeping a completed gift list will help you avoid buying the same things again next year.

Check advent calendars

If your family loves advent calendars, add them to your to-do list early, and check when your preferred calendars are available and order them before they sell out.

If you’re making your own advent calendar, give yourself plenty of time to decide what will go inside it and make sure you buy advent calendar fillers gradually, rather than trying to find everything at the last minute.

Check Christmas food delivery slots

If you’re planning to have your Christmas food delivered, check when your supermarket opens their Christmas delivery slots.

Once you know the date, add it to your calendar so you can book your slot when it becomes available.

November

By November you can start working through more of your practical Christmas checklist items, such as:

Buy gifts

Start buying gifts for the people on your Christmas gift list, and if ordering gifts online, keeping a record of the retailer, order date, and expected delivery date can be useful.

Buy stocking stuffers and Christmas Eve box items

If your family has Christmas stockings or Christmas Eve boxes, start buying the items you need.

Ideas might include:

• Pyjamas
• Socks
• Books
• Small toys
• Chocolate
• Hot chocolate
• Bath products
• Craft activities

Buying these gradually means you don’t have to remember everything in December.

READ MORE: 100 easy Christmas stocking stuffers for kids

Check Christmas supplies

Before Christmas gets too close, check what you already have at home before buying more.

Some Christmas supplies you may need include:

• Wrapping paper
• Gift tags
• Sticky tape
• Ribbon
• Christmas cards
• Christmas crackers
• Batteries

Check your Christmas decorations at the same time and replace anything that’s broken or missing, rather than discovering you need it when you’re ready to decorate.

Declutter key areas

You don’t need to completely declutter your home before Christmas.

Instead, focus on a few areas where clearing some space will genuinely make Christmas easier, such as:

• Toys
• Clothes
• Fridge and freezer
• Pantry
• Areas where Christmas gifts will be stored

If your children have toys or clothes they no longer use, sell items in good condition, or donate them before Christmas.

The aim isn’t to create a perfect home, it’s simply to make a little more space for the Christmas items coming into your home and to help get your family organised for this time of year.

Plan Christmas meals

Food is a big part of Christmas, so adding meal planning to your to-do list can make the festive period much easier.

Think about all the meals you’ll need to provide, including:

• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Day breakfast
• Christmas Day lunch or dinner
• Boxing Day
• Family breakfasts
• Easy lunches
• Leftovers
• Snacks and baking

Write down the meals you want to make, then create a shopping list for the ingredients.

Don’t forget practical items such as:

• Foil
• Cling film
• Baking paper
• Napkins
• Bin bags
• Food storage containers

Write letters to Santa

If your children write letters to Santa, check your postal service’s website for the final posting date so you give yourself enough time to get the letters written and posted.

Write and send Christmas cards

If you send Christmas cards, check that you have an up-to-date list of everyone you want to send one to, and make a note of any address changes so you’re not trying to find them at the last minute.

Once your Christmas card list is ready, set aside some time to write your Christmas cards and get them posted.

If you find yourself having to write a large number of cards, split this activity over a couple of evenings, rather than trying to do them all at once.

This is also a good time to check that you have enough cards, envelopes and stamps.

Wrap gifts

If you prefer not to have a huge pile of presents waiting to be wrapped in December, start wrapping gifts as you buy them.

Alternatively, set aside an evening to wrap several gifts together and keep your wrapping supplies in one place so you don’t have to search for tape, scissors or gift tags every time you wrap a present.

Early December

By early December most of your Christmas planning should be done, so you can start focus on getting practical jobs finished, and making time for the things your family enjoys.

Here are some things to tackle early December.

Decorate your home

Choose when you’d like to decorate your home and add it to your Christmas checklist.

I like to decorate my home on the first weekend of December.

When decorating your home you might want to do it as a family, or spread the job over several days.

Here are some decoration ideas:

• Christmas tree and lights
• Christmas wreath
• Christmas bedding
• Christmas village
• Table decorations
• Festive ornaments

Finish Christmas shopping

Check your gift list and make sure you’ve bought everything you need, and don’t forget less obvious gifts for:

• Teachers
• Hosts
• Secret Santa
• Spare gifts

Finish wrapping gifts

If you didn’t wrap all of your gifts in November, now’s the time to finish.

Once I’ve finished wrapping all my gifts, I like to keep presents together in one place, so they’re easy to find when needed.

Plan Christmas traditions

Christmas isn’t just about getting things done. Make sure your Christmas checklist includes traditions your family enjoys.

These could include:

• Baking Christmas treats
• Reading Christmas books
• Watching Christmas movies
• Visiting a Christmas market
• Going for a Christmas walk
• Doing Elf on the Shelf
• Visiting family and friends
• Going to a pantomime or show

Choose a few traditions that your family loves rather than trying to fit everything in.

And don’t forget to leave some space for yourself. A quiet coffee, reading a book, meeting a friend, or simply having some time alone over the festive season will be much needed.

Prepare for guests

If you’re hosting over Christmas, start preparing your home.

You might need to:

• Confirm your guest list
• Check dietary requirements
• Prepare guest bedrooms
• Wash spare bedding
• Check you have enough towels
• Arrange seating
• Check you have enough crockery and glasses
• Buy extra food and drinks
• Borrow or buy anything you’re missing

Doing these jobs gradually means you won’t have to prepare the entire house just before your guests arrive.

Christmas cleaning

You don’t need to deep clean your entire home before Christmas.

Instead, make a simple Christmas cleaning checklist based on the areas that will actually be used.

This might include:

• Cleaning the kitchen
• Cleaning the bathroom
• Tidying the living room
• Changing guest bedding
• Clearing space for gifts
• Checking the fridge and freezer
• Preparing the dining area

Spread these jobs over the weeks before Christmas rather than trying to do them all at once.

Christmas week

By Christmas week your to-do list should be mostly ticked off. 

The focus now is on fresh food, final checks, and making sure you’re ready to enjoy Christmas.

Buy fresh food

Complete your final food shop focusing on the fresh ingredients you’ll need for Christmas meals.

Check your meal plan and shopping list before you go so you don’t forget anything important.

Check all gifts have arrived

Go through your gift list and make sure everything has been delivered.

Check that:

• Everyone has a gift
• Gifts are wrapped
• Stocking fillers have been bought
• Christmas Eve boxes are ready
• Teacher and host gifts are ready
• You have any spare gifts you need

Fill Christmas stockings

Fill your children’s stockings and keep them somewhere safe until Christmas Eve.

If you’re using a Christmas Eve box, prepare those at the same time.

Prepare your Christmas Day schedule

If you’re hosting Christmas or have a busy day planned, write down the main things that need to happen.

You could include:

• Breakfast
• Opening presents
• Christmas activities
• Christmas lunch
• Family visits
• Christmas walk
• Christmas films
• Dessert
• Bedtime

Your Christmas Day plan doesn’t need to be scheduled for every minute. It’s simply there to make sure you remember the practical things that need to happen.

Do final preparations

Before Christmas Day arrives, check whether there’s anything else you need to do.

This could include:

• Charging devices
• Checking travel plans
• Preparing the guest room
• Setting the table
• Chilling drinks
• Preparing food
• Checking you have enough batteries
• Putting presents under the tree
• Preparing Santa and reindeer treats

After Christmas

Once Christmas is over, spend a few minutes making notes while everything is still fresh in your mind.

Ask yourself:

• What worked well?
• What didn’t work?
• What did the family enjoy?
• What food did we have too much of?
• What did we run out of?
• Which gifts worked well?
• Did we stay within our budget?
• Which activities would we do again?
• What could we buy or book earlier next year?
• What would we skip next year?

Keep these notes with your to-do list so you can use them when you start planning next Christmas.

A Christmas to-do list – a recap

A Christmas to-do list can help take some of the pressure off Christmas by giving you a clear place to keep track of what needs to be done.

By spreading your Christmas preparation across September and October, November, early December, and Christmas week, you can tackle tasks gradually, instead of trying to do everything at once. 

Booking Christmas activities, setting your budget, and starting your gift list early can give you a head start, while meal planning, shopping, wrapping gifts and preparing your home can be tackled as Christmas gets closer.

Remember you don’t need to complete every task in this Christmas checklist. Choose the things that are important to your family, and leave out anything that doesn’t add value to your Christmas.

The goal isn’t to have a perfectly organised Christmas. It’s to make the practical preparation easier, so you have more time and energy to enjoy the festive season with your family.

And once Christmas is over, take a few minutes to note what worked well, what you would change, and anything you want to remember for next year. 

Those little notes can make your next Christmas to-do list even easier to work through.

Ready to get more organised?

If you enjoyed these tips, don’t forget to download your FREE Organised Mum Life toolkit packed with simple planners and checklists to help make family life easier. Get your FREE toolkit here.

What’s the first thing you like to get organised for Christmas?

Like this post? Share it with others on Pinterest – Thank you!