I know, I know… it’s almost the end of July. The pool towels are hanging all over and the temps are scorching, and here I am talking about Christmas again. But stick with me, because this isn’t about rushing the season. It’s about something most of us have learned the hard way, the earlier I start, the smaller each step gets. And small steps are the only kind I want these days.
Why “getting ahead” isn’t the same as “getting ahead of yourself” There is a version of holiday planning that stresses me out. The color coded spreadsheets, a shopping list a mile long, and decorations up before Labor Day. If that’s you, great! It’s not just me, that’s not what this is.
This is about doing one small “bit” now so that December doesn’t overwhelm you. It’s the difference between wrapping gifts calmly with a cup of coffee in December, and wrapping them at 11p.m. on December 23rd wondering where the month went. We’ve all done the latter and I can tell you the calm one is better.
When people hear “get ahead on Christmas”, they picture a long to-do list. All you need to start is three places.
- Home: Not decorating. Just noticing what needs a little love before the season gets busy and out of control. Do you need to get the guest room ready for visitors? Do you need to wash your good table cloths if you’re hosting dinner? Nothing big or flashy… just a little something so that the December you isn’t freaking out in October. Because let’s face it once Halloween comes, the holiday season is packed with activities, holidays, parties, and more.
- Schedule: This saves when you pay attention. Glance at your calendar at what is already there for November and December. School events, company parties, work deadlines, birthdays… mark it and *see* it. You can’t have peace in a season you haven’t even looked at yet.
- Mind: This is the quiet one. The one I still struggle with. But honestly, it’s the most important. Ask yourself: what actually mattered last Christmas and what didn’t? What do you want to let go of this year? Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do in July has nothing to do with lists at all. Decide to give yourself grace when things don’t go perfectly in December.
If you’ve been following along with my Christmas in July posts, you know I’ve already started my own gift list and budget. Not because I have it all figured out, but because doing it in July means December has fewer decisions waiting for me. Every small thing I do now is one less pulling me away from the things that are important to me in December.
You don’t have to do this the way I do it. But if you would like a simple place to put these thoughts instead of just carrying them around in your head, I made something exactly for this. The One Small Thing Reset. It walks you through these same three categories in one clean page.
Here’s what I want you to take away from this… you don’t have to have it all together in July to get ahead. You just have to start somewhere small. That’s it. That’s the whole system. December will come whether we’re ready or not. I would just rather be a little more rested when it comes.
With love,
Mindy
