10 Weeks to an Organized Christmas: Master Plan (printables included!)

(Joining us for the 10 Weeks to an Organized Christmas series for the first time?  Check out the previous posts HERE)

Last year, on about December 10th, I remembered that I had wanted to do a Christmas activity with my girls each day of the month; something that pointed to Jesus, and celebrated who He is, as well as other cute Christmas crafts and such.  But it was already the 10th.  We had made an ornament...one.  By the 15th I realized that I had not ordered my Christmas cards, nor did I have any particularly great photos to use for said cards (Did anyone get a card from us?  I don't think I ever did them).  On the 23rd I hurried to make two more gifts for neighbors that I had intended to gift, but had forgotten.  And that's when it dawned on me...I must be more organized when it comes to Christmas.

If you've been following along in the 10 Weeks to an Organized Christmas, you are probably already feeling quite organized.  You should have a budget written down (and ideas to get any extra money you may be needing for Christmas), a list of people to gift, some basic ideas for gifts, and a good inventory list of your supplies (baking, wrapping, etc.).

Today we will be working to create a master plan list.  Begin thinking about all the things you'd like to do/play/explore/bake/decorate/craft, etc. during December.  Write them down.  Pretty simple, right?  You can also add "deadlines" for yourself if you want (I like deadlines...they make me stay on top of things).

Here are some ideas to include on your calendar:

• Goal dates for completing hand-made gifts
• Goals & ideas for kids activities/lessons/crafts/etc.
• Family pictures 
• Ordering Christmas cards
• Baking activities
• Crafting & Decorating goals/ideas/plans
• Goal date to finish all shopping
• Dates for gift deliveries (friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc.)
• Shipping dates (for any gifts that need to be shipped)
• Family fun events you may want to plan/participate in
• Kids' parties to plan and/or gift exchanges you may be a part of
• Donations and outreach ideas/plans
• Adult parties
• Goal date for wrapping gifts
• Anything else you can think of!

You can include anything and everything on this list.  It is just a list to help you remember to plan ahead for the things you want to do.  Giving yourself deadlines will help you to keep on top of completing things on your list.  I have made up a calendar for you to transpose your list onto, as well as a list for organizing and planning for any kids activities you may want to do in December.  I am planning on doing 25 activities with my kids throughout the month.  I will share some of those with you later.  For now, though, feel free to begin filling in your calendar with your ideas, projects, baking days, delivery days, parties, and deadlines.

Click here to print my December Planning Calendar, as well as a Kid's Christmas Activities Planner.