October 30th, 2009
Every year, it seems as though the stores try to rush the holiday season earlier and earlier. But when is it really too early to start thinking of the holidays?
For many, Thanksgiving still marks the official kick-off of the Christmas holiday season. But for others, waiting until Thanksgiving means feeling rushed, overwhelmed, and falling behind the curve.
It seems as though once Thanksgiving arrives, we are officially in “party” season for the holidays, which can certainly make us feel as though we are falling behind if we haven’t gotten an early start. Some families choose to put out their Christmas decorations on or immediately following Thanksgiving, and holiday cards are often mailed during the first week of December.
But when stores and retail outlets start putting out the Christmas supplies and decor before Halloween, aren’t we jumping the gun a bit?
It’s hard to get in a Christmas mood when you’re finishing up Halloween costumes and buying orange and black candy and decorations.
The good news is that you don’t have to buy into the buying frenzy. If you don’t like rushing the season — then don’t. Wait until YOU feel comfortable starting your holiday shopping and choosing decorations. After all, nobody wants to get tired of Christmas before it’s even arrived!
You might find it helpful to map out a to-do list in a backwards fashion. In other words, think of what you’ll need to have accomplished by Christmas day, then work backwards from there. If you know you need to ship gifts prior to December 15th to avoid exorbitant shipping costs, then plan to have all your gifts (at least those to be shipped) wrapped by December 10th so you can get to the post office before the 15th without feeling rushed. And if you’re going to have all the gifts wrapped by December 10th, then you’ll want to have finished your shopping by December 7th, and so on.
Putting these small, manageable milestones on your calendar now will keep you from getting overwhelmed with last-minute drama, AND will keep you from feeling like you’re rushing the season.
So, when do you start holiday planning and shopping? Leave us a comment; we would love to know!
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