This year the holidays will look a little different for everyone. While the usual gatherings and activities might not be possible, there are still many activities you and your household can get ready for before the holiday season starts in earnest!
Inventory decorations
For many it might be too early to put up decorations, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pull out what you have and start to do an inventory of your collection. Go through what items you have available and where you want to use them. Check through ornaments to make sure nothing is cracked or broken and test out lights to make sure no bulbs are burned out. By going through what you already have, you can avoid purchasing unnecessary decorations and also make sure you have time to order anything that might need replacing.
While the weather is still nice, it is a good idea to get outdoor lights and decorations up (even if you don’t turn them on for a couple of weeks). If you have a tree in storage you can pull it out and make sure it is still in good shape or look at ordering in a real tree in advance. Plan out your strategy and holiday decorating early so even if circumstances change, you have everything you need.
Prepare gifts
If you haven’t already completed your holiday shopping, check out our post on getting a head start on your holiday shopping whether online or in-store. Regardless of where you are at with your gifts, it’s a good idea to sort out what materials you have to wrap, decorate and distribute gifts to your family and friends.
Check how much wrapping paper you have left over from last year and estimate how much more you might need. If you already have an idea of what gifts you are purchasing, think about what else you might be able to use. How about reusable gift bags or boxes? In our current circumstances, you may also want to consider whether more sturdier materials are needed if they are being mailed or delivered in advance.
As always, at Calm Order we recommend when possible to consider giving a gift that doesn’t involve any clutter. This is especially important now when limiting physical contact is essential. You can still personalize electronic gifts by designing a festive e-Card or video message. Check out our post for clutter-free gift ideas!
Get packages mailed
With online ordering and mailing gifts more popular than ever this year, it is extremely important to prepare any gifts for friends and family out of town well in advance. Look into delivery times and options for wherever you need to send gifts and make sure you have everything packaged correctly and in the mail before those timelines. To make the process easier, consider if there are other options, like arranging with family and friends to send gifts at a later date. Online certificates or video announcements can also be sent in place of physicals gifts until they can get to their destination in time.
Plan festive crafts
To keep you and your family entertained during the holiday season start researching and planning for holiday baking and crafts. Pull out the festive cookie cutters, construction paper and other supplies to see what might need replacing or replenishing. Not only do these activities keep everyone in the holiday spirit, but they can also turn in to cost-effective decorations and gifts! Many of these materials can be purchased online or at stores with curb side pick-up to make planning safe and easy. While it is not safe to do activities with others in person, you can always consider hosting virtual craft and baking nights to get other family and friends involved.
