Last Minute Christmas Checklist To Ensure You Have Everything You Need for the Big Day

Last Minute Christmas Checklist To Ensure You Have Everything You Need for the Big Day

When December arrives, the typical household jumps into full Christmas mode! The twinkling tree stands tall in the living room, the festive tunes play on repeat, and adults scramble to ensure they have everything in place and ready to go.
Each year, however, it’s the ‘little’ things on our to-do list that often get overlooked. The turkey you spent hours preparing and cooking looks stunning and is ready to eat, but where’s the cranberry sauce? The kids are delighted with their new toys, but didn’t you just use the last of the batteries? You’ve just received Auntie Mary’s card, but did you remember to send yours?
Sometimes, the little things aren’t little at all; the little things can make or break the day. Here’s the last-minute Christmas checklist you didn’t even know you needed!
Finish shopping for gifts
For many of us, we make a good start with gift-buying as early as possible and, once we feel assured that we’re already somewhat prepared, we take the foot off the accelerator. As advanced as possible, make sure you’ve finished shopping for gifts before the big day – and remember to try not to go overboard!
If you’ve purchased a nice travel bag for your wanderlust friend, don’t feel obligated to then buy a journal, neck pillow, sleeping mask, and beauty travel kit on top. It really is the thought that counts this year.
Wrap gifts
Ah, the part of the festive season that many of us dread! If only Santa’s helpful little elves really did exist, right? Wrapping gifts can feel like a chore for many of us, and one that we often leave until as late as Christmas Eve. This year, try to get all your gifts wrapped up as early as possible, so that you can enjoy the build-up to the big day without the burden of bows and tags.
Stock up on the ‘bits and bobs’
Don’t underestimate the importance of the ‘bits and bobs’. You know, the knick-knacks that never seem important until you suddenly realise that you’re without them. Batteries for toys and electronics, matches for candles, napkins for mealtimes… toilet paper for, well, we all know what for. As part of your last-minute to-do list, stock up on all these little bits so that you’re covered.
Food shopping
If you’re super organised (we’re not judging if you aren’t!), you’ll have likely purchased the main ingredients for your festive lunch much earlier in the month, but closer to the day you should double (if not triple) check you have every single ingredient. Again, it’s often the ‘little’ things we forget to buy, such as condiments and seasonings. Don’t let a bland Brussel sprout spoil all your hard work!
Post Christmas cards
Popping some Christmas cards into the post box may seem like a simple task that you can do any time before Christmas Day, but that’s actually not the case. For example, you may just forget to post them, stumbling across the pile at the bottom of your handbag in a horror on January 3. In addition to this, you must be wary of Christmas last posting dates. It may just be a card to you, but to a friend or relative, it could have the power to make their Christmas special.
Clean the house
In an ideal world, we’d get the boring stuff out of the way as quickly as possible. However, reality means it may make more sense to do this task as close to Christmas Day as possible, especially if you have pets or children! Add these chores to your last-minute to-do list, including cleaning the fridge, scrubbing the oven, and hoovering and mopping all floors.
Hand out gifts to friends and family
If you’ve kindly bought a gift for somebody who will not be there with you on the big day, make sure you remember to give them the gift before the day arrives! It could be a case of popping by their house for a hot chocolate and a catch up, and to exchange the gifts, or sending it off by post if they don’t live close enough to you. Just be mindful of those Christmas last posting days we mentioned above.
Do something charitable
In the run-up to Christmas Day, it might be a good idea to focus on one charitable gesture or activity that’s within your means. If you can, buy a gift for a vulnerable child, or give a homeless person a blanket, water, snacks, and gloves. While this may not directly impact your own Christmas, it’s a gesture that could make a resounding difference to the Christmas of somebody in need. That will count for more than you realise.
Don’t forget to enjoy yourself!
Technically, you don’t need to add this point to your to-do list, but you should absolutely try to remember it during all parts of the festivities. Often, this season can put so much pressure on us, and the unrealistic attempt to make everything ‘perfect’ can feel so overwhelming that we forget to enjoy ourselves.
Once everything has been ticked off your last-minute to-do list, allow yourself to relax and quite simply go with the flow. You’ve done everything you can to make sure everything is ready and in place, and that’s more than enough. Don’t forget the ‘merry’ in ‘Merry Christmas!’ and have a lovely time with your family.