Skip navigation

How to plan a Christmas celebration

A family Christmas celebrationPlanning a Christmas celebration can be tough for even the most organized of planners. After all, it seems like there is always one more gift to buy, one more present to wrap, one more RSVP to get, and one more hotel reservation to organize. Whether this is your first time planning a Christmas dinner or you're 20th, there are a few ways you can make sure that your celebration goes off without a hitch. Careful organization and preparation goes a long way in making sure you keep your sanity while making sure that your guests have a great time.

Write it down
First off, make a list of what you need to do and when you need to do it. Do the flowers need to be ordered by December 1st? Write it down. Does Uncle Rick still need to RSVP? Write it down. Do you need to pick up the turkey? Write it down. The more thorough and complete your list is, the better prepared you'll be as Christmas approaches. Make sure you keep track of everything you need to do, when you need to do it, and how much you'll be spending. Try to prepare as many things ahead of time as possible to avoid last-minute rushing around. For example, consider buying your turkey a few weeks advance instead of a few days.

Delegate
It's also important that you remember to delegate responsibilities whenever possible. Do you really need to be the one to pick up Grandma from the airport? Is it something that your teenage son can handle? Do you really have to be in charge of baking all of the pies or can your nieces help out? Whenever possible, ask your relatives to assist you with tasks. This not only enables them to feel included, but it also gives you the opportunity to take a break from handling everything. Remember that being in charge doesn't have to mean you're in charge of everything.

Minimize gift-giving
Consider minimizing gift-giving as a way to reduce stress surrounding the holiday. Sure, gifts are an important and exciting part of Christmas, but it's not the only important part. Instead of getting a gift for everyone on your list, consider doing a Secret Santa or a White Elephant gift exchange. You could assign each person someone to shop for or you could have each guest bring a gift and then trade presents during the party. This will cut down on anxiety for everyone, but it will also reduce the financial burden of the Christmas season.

Remember that no matter how busy or overwhelmed you feel, Christmas is a time to celebrate with your family. Take the time to stop worrying about whether you have enough cookies and instead focus on having a good time. Your family comes to your celebration to enjoy your company, not simply to eat your food, so don't be embarrassed or ashamed to take some time to just have fun hanging out with them.

Copyright © Lorraine on NiceAnswers.com 2017

Editor's Note: Find below links on other related Christmas topics;
Tips on planning a child oriented Christmas party
How not to get overwhelmed by Christmas
How to minimizing gift giving for Christmas
How to find the perfect present

Rating

Unrated
Edited