A simple way to organize holiday to-do’s.
I know, I know, it’s only October! With the exception of those fanatics who follow the supermarket calendars and are already putting out Christmas decor, most of us haven’t wrapped our heads around Halloween yet. (Kudos to you all who have finished decorating your house for trick-or-treating!). All the same, we all know the mayhem and stress that can come crashing down when it comes to holiday plans. So much to do, and so little time!
But with a little thinking ahead, it just might be possible to avoid the holiday headaches. How great would it be to get things done on time (or even ahead of time) so that we can relax, smile, and enjoy those we love during these special times of celebration?
To try to make that vision a reality, I’ve found this tip from Pam Young and Peggy Jones’ Sidetracked Home Executives to be a great one. Introducing: The Christmas Chart.
Context
The theme of the book is how to help anyone (not just those “born organized,” or as Young and Jones call them, “BO’s”) stay on top of household tasks. Not only is the book hilarious — the authors are thick-as-thieves sisters — but it also has great practical ideas. Even with the strong ’80s vibes (when “wax kitchen floor” was a standard chore), the advice to schedule each and every task still rings true. I applied their method to Google Ccalendar. Personally, I find it much easier to tackle “Clean main floor bathroom at 10am on Tuesdays” than to calculate its priority among the 15 other tasks on a daily checklist.
The Chart
One key step in Young and Jones’ method is to arrange household tasks in a series of charts. Most of the year-round tasks are categorized by room (Kitchen, Bathroom, Living Room, etc), but some big events — such as annual holidays — merit their own chart.
The beauty of this organization method is that it goes beyond the simple checklist, which can easily become overwhelming. Some tasks might take more time, some have earlier deadlines, and some might require assistance. The chart allows us to spell out those personalized details so that we can tackle each task in due time and in peace.
Once the chart is in order, you can schedule each task by adding it to your online calendar, daily planner, or whatever other tool you use. And with each completed task, we get the satisfaction of seeing the chart fill up with lovely check marks! (or stars, or stickers, or whatever). You can combine all the tasks into one big chart, or you can break them up into smaller categories. I have one chart for Christmas prep activities and another to keep track of gifts.
Below is my basic personalized Christmas Chart, as well as a sample gift tracker. At the end of this post, I’ve also included blank versions that can be downloaded or printed.
Christmas Activity Chart
Gift Tracker
Christmas Activity Chart (Blank)
Gift Tracker (Blank)
I made my Christmas Chart this month, but depending on your tasks (such as long-term homemade gifts), you could start as early as you like. Planning far enough in advance can open many doors to making holiday dreams come true — like budgeting enough time to finish a quilt, try a new recipe, or even grab a souvenir gift while on summer vacation.
You can adjust, personalize, and decorate The Chart however you like. And of course, it can be used for any big event besides Christmas — other holidays, family vacations, or even weddings. Hopefully, this simple tool can be a great help in making this Christmas very merry for everyone at home.
Happy organizing, and happy homemaking!
Further Reading
Pam Young & Peggy Jones, Sidetracked Home Executives: From Pigpen to Paradise
