Get Ready for Christmas Early with these 3 Easy Tasks

Are you Dreading the christmas busy season and want to find a way to get ready for christmas early?

The holiday season is meant to be magical, but for many of us—especially mums—it can quickly turn into a whirlwind of stress, with last minute school events, the finishing of the school year (at least, here in Australia); and if you also have a child’s birthday in your house - it’s a big month or two of organisation!

If you're juggling gift shopping, family traditions, and festive preparations, here are three practical steps to help you organize and enjoy a more meaningful Christmas this year!

Step 1: Ask Your Kids What They Really Want

One of the best ways to simplify gift shopping is to ask your kids what their number-one Christmas gift would be. Start by having this conversation in a calm, distraction-free space—not in the middle of a store where everything around them is suddenly their ‘favourite’.

Encourage them to dream big but guide them toward something realistic. For example, if motorbikes and ponies are their instant replies (as they often are in my house), gently steer the conversation toward something achievable, like a new LEGO set, a board game, or a fun activity they can enjoy during summer holidays!

Taking the time to discover what your child truly wants not only makes your job easier but also makes sure their gifts are meaningful. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to remind them that while gifts are exciting, Christmas is about much more than what’s under the tree.

Find out some tips about ‘Mental Labour in Motherhood: 3 Ways to Help your Brain’ here >>>

Step 2: Get Organized Early

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the mountain of tasks ahead, it’s time to sit down and brainstorm everything that needs to happen between now and Christmas. Break it into manageable chunks:

Gift shopping: Take advantage of Black Friday or other early sales to make sure you are staying within your Christmas budget. It’s so easy to get excited and overspend at this time of year - because they deserve it, right? But it’s NOT fun having a stressful January if you are overdoing it in December.
Meal planning: Research your holiday menu now and start gathering what you might need for your different Christmas gatherings - I often have these simple food we need in a bag in the pantry (obviously non-perishable!). This is especially helpful if you have a few places to go in quick succession - or if you are being relied upon to provide a certain dish for the get-together. (We all know forgetting the Cob loaf dip is a big no-no.)

I created my Christmas Planner and Checklist for myself and you, to print and keep together so all the Christmas function and gift-giving is in one place - including that budget, too! Access it here right now (getting started early, remember), and re-use every single year!

Step 3: Get ready for Christmas by Plan Your Gift Wrapping Ahead of Time

If you're anything like me, with my potentially ADHD brain, I am so organized, I'm all set, I've got all the Christmas presents I need - and it gets to the week or so before Christmas. I finally get to sit down at night when all the kids are in bed (here’s our family bedtime routine btw!) and asleep, to actually wrap them. And then - I don't have sticky tape or I don't have enough wrapping paper or some other thing I need!

So, make sure that you've got what you need of these things. Grab a couple of bulk things of stickytape, wrapping paper, etc. If you do choose to use wrapping paper - I sometimes do when it’s last-minute, but we've been using brown paper for the last couple of years. We can use it as drawing paper afterwards, and the kids love it - and I just feel like I’m not going overboard for Christmas. Also, brown paper is absolutely gorgeous with a stunning ribbon, anyway. There's a little recyclable hack for you!

I love this next idea, I use it regularly, and I'm literally going to do a whole post on around this topic - watch this space! One amazing sustainable hack that I use often, especially for extended family, is to wrap some of our presents in tea towels. Find out more about this here on that new post!>>>

Remember the Reason for the Season

In the midst of all the preparations, don’t lose sight of what Christmas is truly about. It’s a time to celebrate love, generosity, and the birth of Jesus—a reminder of God’s immense love for us. Let this inspire your holiday season to focus on what really matters: connecting with loved ones, helping those in need, and creating joyful memories.

Let’s Simplify Christmas Together!

If these tips resonate with you, be sure to check out my Christmas Planner on Etsy for more stress-busting tools. And don’t forget to share this post (or my podcast here) with a fellow mum who could use a little extra peace this holiday season.

Here’s to a Christmas that’s organized, meaningful, and full of joy!

For more tips and resources, visit me on Youtube at Peaceful Living with Miranda. Let’s make this holiday season stress-free together!

Get Ready for Christmas Early with these 3 Easy Tasks

Are you Dreading the christmas busy season and want to find a way to get ready for christmas early?