10 Things To Do For Christmas Now

Discover the ultimate get-ready guide for a memorable Christmas! Find creative ideas, tips, and festive inspiration for what to do for Christmas now.

It’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas! In fact, now is the perfect time to begin your Christmas to-do list—and check it twice. After all, if Santa can do it, so can we! Today, let’s look into 10 important things you can do right now to get ready for a magical and stress-free holiday season.

I’m making a list, checking it twice, and doing what’s on it early! Here’s my top 10!

Make A Master Plan And A Christmas Calendar

My best advice is to make a master plan for the Holiday season! Write everything down on it. I like to use the back of my planning notebook to keep all my Christmas plans together. This will save all of us time and angst and help you remember all your plans. And if you are like me, you are the keeper of all family Christmas plans!

You can grab a brand-new, super-helpful 6-page Christmas planner! This year, it’s my go-to for staying organized and making time to enjoy all the magical once-a-year moments we love.

Setting aside a little time to get started is a good idea.

If I don’t write everything down, something is bound to slip through the cracks. That’s why creating a Christmas to-do list is a must for me! Reviewing my list daily helps me stay on top of things and keeps the holiday chaos at bay. I also like to assign a few tasks to specific weeks in my calendar—it’s so much more enjoyable to tackle them gradually than to scramble at the last minute. And let’s be honest, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as crossing something off the list. It feels absolutely fabulous!

The Christmas Planner above has printable lists, a printable weekly calendar, and more for keeping organized and on track!

Think About Christmas Cards Now

It’s time to think about Christmas cards! If you want to send cards with personal pictures, NOW is the time to take pictures and/or pick the design of your card, etc.

I love personalizing my Christmas cards by adding a sentence or two for each recipient. I also enjoy handwriting the addresses on the envelopes—it’s a little touch that feels more personal to me. Some companies will sign your cards, print your names and addresses, and even mail them to you without lifting your finger. But I’d much rather write a few each evening. Is that a bit old school? Probably. But that’s just who I am!

I keep my cards in a basket and my address book beside my favorite TV-watching chair. While Bobby and I relax with a current series, I take my time writing each card. It’s such a cozy way to spread a little extra love during the season!

Wrap As You Buy

I’ve learned this tip the hard way—wrapping all our gifts at the last minute is not fun and certainly doesn’t feel like Christmas joy! I love wrapping gifts and making them look beautiful and special, so I’ve started setting up a dedicated gift-wrapping center in our guest room. It’s been a game-changer!

Since I buy many gifts online, I keep a variety of packing boxes on hand to make wrapping easier. Trust me, wrapping a square box is so much simpler than wrestling with an odd-shaped gift.

Here’s what I’ve found works best:

• Wrap gifts as you buy them to avoid a last-minute rush. Keep an envelope handy to store all your receipts in one place.
• If you have the room, create a wrapping station– I recommend a 3-drawer organizer on wheels to store essentials like sharp scissors, invisible tape, pretty gift wrap, and tags.
• Use a tall plastic kitchen trash can to neatly store your rolls of wrapping paper. It’s compact and keeps everything organized.
• Invest in wrapping paper cutters to make cutting easy and to keep your paper rolls neat.
• Coordinate your gift wrap and tags with your Christmas color palette for a cohesive and festive look.
• Invest in real ribbon! Buy a few new rolls each year to grow a collection you can use for future seasons.
• Collect fun embellishments like mini faux wreaths, small ornaments, real greenery, or other unique touches to make your gifts stand out.

These savvy tips will help you wrap gifts as you go without letting the wrapping mess take over your home. Plus, you’ll enjoy the process so much more when everything is organized and at your fingertips!

You might like to see how to organize and use Christmas ribbons and other pretty things to put on presents HERE. This post is older but has tons of good ideas. And see how to make my favorite and so easy Christmas bow, too!

Plan All Your Christmas Get Together’s Now

The holidays are all about celebrating with family and friends, so start planning your gatherings now! Get those special dates on the calendar and send out invitations early. Even casual get-togethers with a couple of friends deserve a spot on your schedule. Whether it’s a big holiday party or a laid-back catch-up, planning ahead ensures you won’t miss out on making memories this season.

You might like these smart tips for planning a holiday party…

• Send a digital invite with all the details to make it easy for your guests.
• Pick a theme for your party and stick to it, right down to the color scheme—it adds a fun and cohesive touch!
• Don’t overcomplicate things! The “make some, buy some” strategy is a foolproof way to host a successful Christmas party. Plan a simple menu with a mix of delicious deli items and a few homemade favorites.
• Host a holiday potluck. Many hands make light work, and everyone enjoys contributing!
• Keep it casual. Set a simple table, or invite friends over for hot chocolate and cookies. The best part of the holidays is just being together.
• Create food stations. Guests always gravitate toward the food, so spread it out. Drinks in the foyer? Why not!
• Ask for help. A smart friend of mine always enlists someone to co-host her gatherings. You can also hire a teenager to lend a hand for the evening.
• Set the mood with music. Play Christmas tunes to create a festive atmosphere. One friend even has speakers outside her home, so the holiday cheer starts as guests arrive. (Here’s the portable speaker we use—it’s perfect!)
• Amp up the Christmas ambiance by turning on your tree lights, lighting plenty of candles, and letting your home glow with holiday warmth.

These simple ideas will help you host a memorable gathering without the stress!

60+ Christmas Gathering Ideas- Big, Small, And In Between will help you decide on the perfect Christmas party or get-together.

See how to make a pretty and easy Christmas Coffee Bar for your home.

Plan Your Holiday Menus

I’m already thinking of Christmas dinner! Every year, our family has a huge brunch mid-morning with Christmas Breakfast Casserole and a big charcuterie board in the afternoon. Make sure you check out How To Create A Holiday Charcuterie Board, which will show you step-by-step how easy it is to create one perfect for your gathering. Then, we eat a cozy supper in the evening. This Christmas, we will have all our kids, grandbabies, and other family, too!

I’ll be making our favorite Holiday Beef Brisket for Christmas dinner this year (I make it almost every Christmas dinner). It’s a make-ahead dish, so I’ll be free to enjoy Christmas day without a lot of fussing in the kitchen! And it’s company-worthy!

Working ahead so you are not a slave to your kitchen is a great idea. Freeze cookie dough, make soup, and have a stash in the freezer, and remember, make some, buy some.

Here are some of my must-make Christmas recipes…

• The Best Sugar Cookies is a very old recipe, but it is THE BEST sugar cookie!
• Christmas Cookie Box– how to make 5 Cookie Doughs from one Mother Dough with lots of different kinds of cookies.
• Beautiful Cranberry Orange Bundt Cake With An Orange Glaze
• Oh, Christmas Tree Cheeseboard
• Merry No-Bake Christmas Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

Transition Decor From Fall To Christmas

If you have not transitioned from fall to Christmas start, start now! Make sure you read 10 Steps For a Beautifully Decorating Home For Christmas. This has the best Christmas decorating plan and how to execute it, and it works perfectly with the Christmas Planner you can sign up for above.

If you like a woodland look, make sure to see this year’s 2024 Christmas Home Tour: Tips For Decorating With Organics For Christmas.

Here is my Christmas color story for 2024.

With a color palette, shopping for things like wrapping paper, ribbons, and gift tags is so much easier!!

Purge And Organize Your Holiday Decorations

Now is the perfect time to sort through your Christmas decorations. Declutter by letting go of items that are worn out or no longer bring you joy. Make sure you know exactly where your essentials are—like your Nativity set, stockings, tree skirt, and Christmas lights—so you’re not scrambling later!

Toss anything beyond repair and donate gently used items. This will save you a lot of hassle and give someone else a chance to enjoy what you’re passing on. It keeps everything fresh in my mind and ensures all my favorite decorations are ready and waiting when it’s time to start decking the halls!

Start A Christmas DIY

Start those great DIYs you want to make for Christmas now! I’m making another batch of Bleached Pinecones this year. They are so easy to make but take a little time. So, if you like these beautiful blond conifers, start soon!

5 Beautiful DIYs To Craft A Handmade Christmas Home are stunning ways to add your personal touch to your home this Holiday!

Plan Christmas Season Outings

Now is also the time to check out all the fun holiday events planned for your area! Many special Christmas events require tickets.

Are there outdoor Christmas tours? How about planning to chop down your Christmas tree as a family? These little outings are so important to keep the fun, positive spirit of the season alive! It’s our family tradition to do something to kick off the Christmas season the weekend after Thanksgiving. This year, we are going to Longwood Gardens (for all 16 of us) to see their breathtaking displays and light.

Give To Your Favorite Charities

Last but certainly not least, decide on the charities you want to give to or volunteer at over the Christmas holidays! Now is the time to plan your giving and even give early! Check out ways you can help others!

Many organizations sponsor Christmas-giving programs like…

• GIVING TREE
• OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
• TOYS FOR TOTS
• THE SALVATION ARMY’S ANGEL TREE PROGRAM

Now is the time to start getting organized for Christmas! What are some of the Holiday things you plan early? Leave your ideas in the comments.