Christmas in November

By Ann Kirsten Nov 5, 2020 | 7:59 AM

photo credit: iStock/Prostock-Studio

As we approach the holiday season, this year seems extra stressful. With quarantining, masking and all the political drama we’ve faced, getting ready to celebrate our savior’s birth can seem like a chore instead of a joy.

I’ve seen loads of pictures on social media of houses already decorated for Christmas! And, in these times, I get it. People just want to mark things off of their to-do lists before they’re completely overwhelmed.

Here are some other things you can do right now to make your Holiday season a little more peaceful:

Make a list. Write down all the people you have to buy for (don’t forget teachers and service people). Add any gift ideas (I start nagging my people for ideas in October!). Update the list as you buy.
Christmas Cards. Make a list and update your addresses. Buy your address labels, stamps and cards right now. It’s perfectly acceptable to mail your cards the day before Thanksgiving. One less thing to do in December!
Stockings. Write down your family member’s sizes and needs. Stockings are the perfect place to put new socks, underwear, etc.
Bake and freeze. With remote learning, baking can be worked into your kids’ school lessons. Wrap the cookies and pop them in the freezer. You’ll be done with your holiday baking before December rolls around.
Advent List. As you think of ideas for family fun, jot them down. It may be more challenging this year because many activities have been cancelled, but we can still have fun. Some ideas: Take a Christmas lights drive, watch the old movies you enjoyed as a kid, order Christmas books from the library and have a reading night.
Wrap as you buy. One year my “single-mother sister” had to wrap every present (including stocking gifts) on Christmas Eve after she got off of work. She sobbed and wrapped gifts well into the night. It broke my heart when I heard about it and I’ve wrapped as I’ve bought ever since.
Make a spot. Have one area of your house be your Christmas area. Put everything you buy in that one spot: gifts, cards, stamps, everything! You’ll be so happy you did (no more searching for “Where did I put that?”).
Empty Book. Small journals are cheap and I keep one in my purse in November and December. I write everything Christmas in there: Stocking stuffer lists, gift lists, to-do items, menus, parties, sizes, etc. Then, when I’m out and about, I have everything I need to finish more items on my lists.
Social Calendar. This year your social calendar might look different. But, you still need to keep track of birthdays, dates that holiday movies drop, and sale dates. Update it regularly so you have one less thing to think about in December.
Groceries. Stores are already having sales on baking supplies and party food. Buy now and freeze it. No long December lines at the store!