Today, I’ve got 10 ideas of things you can do now in October, to free up extra time for the busy holiday season. The more you can get done now, the more time you’ll have available to enjoy every minute of the holidays with your family and friends. It would be so worth it. A little work upfront now will help you have a more calm, organized holiday season.
So, here are just 10 ideas to get you started. Pick one, pick all, or add some of your own.
Visit Extended Family
Most of us are so busy with our own family, that we don’t have time to visit our parents, grandparents, or siblings this time of year. Why not take a weekend in October and make it a fun fall weekend getaway to visit family? Read my post, How To Plan A Weekend Trip, for a handy checklist.
Establish Healthy Habits
You’re probably wondering why i would suggest this right before the holidays. It’s because of the holidays that we need to do this. You’re going to be so busy through November and December that you’re going to need all the energy you can get. We won’t have time to feel tired and sluggish. I’m absolutely talking to myself here, too.
I’m going to take a full 4 weeks before Thanksgiving week to commit to an exercise and healthy food plan. With 4 weeks, I hope to feel better, look better, and hopefully be about 4 pounds lighter. Then, my goal is to maintain the lower weight and healthier habits all through the holidays. Can you imagine how wonderful it would be to not have “lose weight” as a new year’s resolution?
Shop for winter clothes and holiday outfits
Before the stores get overcrowded, get out there and get some shopping done. You might miss out on pre-Christmas sales, but you’ll be home cozy by the fire, while everyone else is sweating about what to wear to those parties.
Enjoy some quiet personal time
Rest up now before the craziness. Enjoy the fall weather, grab a book, and just relax, while you can. Don’t feel guilty about it, either. It will put you in a better mindset for the busyness that’s coming soon. You deserve it.
Save Money for Christmas Shopping
The holidays are notorious for overspending, but we can balance that out a little with some creative saving strategies. For one thing, there are lots of low-cost things to do in October. I’m thinking pumpkin patches, apple orchards, get-togethers with friends. You might even want to clean out some closets and see what you can sell at consignment stores or on Ebay. Then, take the money you’ve saved and pay off credit cards or put in a special savings account for Christmas shopping.
Deep-Clean the House and Prepare for Guests
Through the month of October, try to do some special cleaning projects and deep cleaning. Then when you’re over scheduled during the holidays, you can get by with just a quick house cleaning. Now is also a great time to organize the closets in guest rooms and, of course, get your clothes organized in the master closet. Check out this post for Preparing For Overnight Holiday Guests.
Catch Up On Major Work Projects
Look ahead at your work calendar. If you have major projects with a deadline in November or December, start them now, so you’ll have more time to get them done. If you stay on top of your deadlines, then you won’t have to work late, when you really need to be at a Christmas party or School Play.
Start Planning For The Holidays
Get a head start on everyone else by scheduling your special events before the weekends get booked with other family commitments. Also, look at all your events coming up during the holidays, and plan when you will do all your shopping, baking, decorating, and celebrating. Plug everything into your calendar and leave enough time in between to get everything done without being stressed.
Start Making Christmas Decorations, Ornaments, and Gifts
You might not be in the mood to start Christmas crafts, but you’ll be so glad you started early. You can start now and enjoy your evenings during the holidays sitting by the fire with your cocoa. Or you can spend your evenings staying up too late trying to get everything made in time, and feeling exhausted the next day. It’s the holidays. You won’t have time to feel tired. I would choose the relaxed evenings with hot cocoa by the fire.
Another option, and my personal favorite, is don’t pressure yourself to make a lot of homemade gifts and decorations. I’m honestly not good at crafts and I prefer shopping instead. However, if you really enjoy it, just please start early.
Get Your Family Picture Taken
Fall is a beautiful backdrop for family photos. And what a perfect way to get a photo ready for a Christmas card? Remember, if you take a weekend to visit extended family, make sure you take lots of pictures. Then, go home, make a photo album and send it back to them. Great gift idea, right?
Well, there’s 10 ideas to get you started on a more organized holiday season. I can actually think of several more, but we only have a limited amount of time, right? Whatever you can start on in October will be a good head start for the busy holiday season.
So, which one are you going to do? And what else do you like to do in October to save time? Please share in the comments below.
Till next time, have a fabulous fall day!