10 foolproof hacks to help Christmas go as smoothly as possible
1. Take time off
Well in advance of the big day, carve out a few days of annual leave and devote the time to Christmas preparations. I always try to segue these onto a weekend in November, for example, so I have lots of time to organise myself and complete the jobs I need to do, from sorting out the kitchen cupboards in readiness for festive goodies to shopping for gifts.
2. Create separate lists
Whatever you do, make lists. I divide mine into 'food', 'drink' and 'presents' and save them until next year to use as reference. Lizzie Grant, a professional organiser and Founder of Declutter on Demand, a UK-wide based team of professional organisers, recommends using a scheduling app such as Trello to create to-do lists specifically related to Christmas. 'This will keep you on track and take the stress out of trying to remember everything you have to do,' she says. 'Digital lists are great because you can easily update them when you're out and about. Creating these lists once thoroughly will mean you
3. Gather recipes and serveware
Once you've written your lists, review them and be realistic about what you're actually going to have time to do – do you really need to make three different kinds of stuffing? I love cooking for Christmas but have been guilty of over-confidence on occasion. One good way to keep calm in the Christmas kitchen is to print out all the recipes you need in advance and gather them together in a wipe-clean folder, ordering by actual meal/day if necessary.
Also, dig out those large dishes, special crockery and other serving essentials the week before. Wash, dry and store in a safe place so there's no last-minute panic when the pans need dishing up at Christmas lunchtime.
4. A quick-fix tree solution
I love Lizzie's tip for cutting out the stress when you're decorating the Christmas tree. She says if you're running out of time to decorate, or discover at the last minute that you don't have enough decorations, place the tree in a corner of a room so that the back and sides are against the walls – 'that way you only have to decorate the front'.
Of course, organising decorations and baubles into colour-coded boxes when you packed them all away in January will help, so remind yourself to do it this year.
5. Clear out kitchen cupboards
Have a thorough sort out of your kitchen cupboards at the beginning of December, chucking out anything that's out of date, replenishing herbs and spices that are running low, and checking kitchen kit is in working order. 'You don't want to be making stressful last-minute dashes to the shops just before Christmas,' says Wendy Miranda, customer ambassador for home and kitchen retailer Lakeland: 'So are your knives sharp enough? Do you need a new set, or do they just need a good sharpening? Is the non-stick on your pans and roasting tins still good enough? Check now and avoid stress on the big day itself.'
See full list HERE from House Beautiful