After Christmas Organization

Along with putting away the decorations, I like to take the few days after Christmas to get organized so I can enjoy a Stress Free Christmas next year!

 Christmas Snapshot

The first thing that I do is fill out The Peaceful Mom Christmas Snapshot. (Click here to go to the download page. Click again to download and print.)

While everything is still fresh on my mind, I write down what I enjoyed about this Christmas and what I didn’t. I write down anything that was particularly stressful and how I can improve that problem for next year. I also ask my family for their input.

Christmas Folder

If you watched my Stress Free Christmas Video Series (click here to view) you know that I like to use a folder to stay organized during the holidays. The folder is used for the current’s years items such as the children’s wish lists, my master gift list (print one here), address list for Christmas cards, Christmas stamps, receipts, etc.

During the week after Christmas I remove the children’s wish lists and anything else particular to this year (such as receipts) and move them to my Christmas Binder.  I leave the Master Gift List and address list in the folder for next year.

(Note: I noticed that most of the best photo developing deals were in the month of November. This next year I plan to have our family photo taken the first week of November so I can be ready for the deals!)

Christmas Binder

My Christmas Binder is divided into 5 sections:

Activities

Copy of The Peaceful Mom Christmas Activity Planner and Calendar (print here)

Copies of previous years calendars.

Ideas for activities like neighborhoods with good light displays, ice skating locations, local tree lightings, etc.

Crafts

Magazine articles with cute crafts

Copy of  The Peaceful Mom Advent Activities List (print here)

Other Advent Ideas (many came from this book)

Ideas for fun activities to do at home

Food

Copy of The Peaceful Mom Christmas Menu Planner and Grocery List (print here).

Christmas Dinner Ideas

Recipes for our favorite Christmas desserts

Recipes for baked goods to give as gifts.

Gifts

Copy of The Peaceful Mom Christmas Gift Master List (print here) and Christmas Gift Planner (print here).

Children’s Gift Lists from previous years (in page protectors)

Recipes for bath salts and soap.

Ideas for gifts to make

Spending

Receipts for purchases

Shopping Lists

(I like to keep up with how much we spent each year to compare. I know, I’m a nerd.)

The week after Christmas I add the items from this year including our Christmas Snapshot and I take a look through the binder and remove anything that is no longer relevant.

Stocking Stuffers

One of our family’s favorite traditions is opening stocking gifts on Christmas morning. I like to purchase little gifts that I think the children will enjoy throughout the year so I have a plastic zipper bag labeled with each child’s initials which I store in an undisclosed location (in the event that anyone in my family is reading this!). I put the gifts in the bags and then I take a look at them the first of December to see what I might need to fill in.

The day after Christmas I take the bags and put them away in preparation for all of the goodies I will find in the coming year.

If you will take a few minutes this week to prepare for next Christmas you will have a much more enjoyable December in the coming year! 

What are some things you do to prepare for next Christmas? Leave a comment and let us know.