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Holiday Organizing Checklist

Overwhelmed by all the season’s good tidings (invitations, gifts, wrapping, and decorations)? Print out this list of suggestions from organizing expert Jodie Watson and you’ll have a happier Yule.

1. Create a holiday planning binder to stay on track over the holidays. In it, place lists for gifts, cards, invitations, menus, grocery-shopping, and to-dos. Include a countdown calendar to help you plan when you will get everything finished. Spread the workload over a number of weeks to avoid last-minute stress.
2. About a month before the holidays, write a list of the people for whom you will be buying gifts, ideas for what you’d like to get them, where you will purchase them, and the estimated amount each present will cost.
3. Window-shop online to narrow down your ideas before you head out to stores.
4. Consolidate gift-shopping trips and purchase a few gifts at one time. Plan to have all your purchasing completed at least two weeks ahead of time. Wrap and label them as soon as you get home.
5. Keep all your entertaining supplies—table linens, candles, china, glassware, silverware, party place settings, and decorations—in one go-to place so you don’t waste time searching for seasonal items.
6. Designate a space for gift wrap items— and once that space is filled, don’t buy more supplies! Consider using all white paper and dressing up packages with colorful bows and ribbons.
7. Plan ahead for next year. The week after the holidays, buy discounted cards, decorations, and wrapping paper and restock your station.