Month by Month: December Checklist :: Things to Do This Month

·         Decorate for the holidays. Spend a few hours getting out all of the boxes of indoor and exterior decorations and on a day with good weather, take care of the outdoor project.

·         Plan holiday dinners early in the month. Add the main items to your shopping list so that you can start picking up the necessary items at the store.

·         Invite family and friendsto parties, dinners or get-togethers early in the month so that people will be able to attend.

·         Make a shopping list for gifts.

·         Send lists for kids to extended family.

·         Prepare holiday cards and letters for mailing.

·         If you’re planning a holiday family picture to send, have this taken early in the month.

·         Buy a tree or set up an artificial tree early in the month.

·         Keep the house clean and tidy by spending a few extra minutes decluttering each day.

·         Schedule time for baking. Spread out the work over the month and you’ll enjoy it more.

·         Plan for cold weather. Make sure you have coats, gloves and scarves ready, along with boots and shovels for clearing snow and ice.

·         Winterize your vehicles. Make sure you and your family will be safe. Add fresh batteries to flashlights at home and in the vehicles.

·         Make early plans for New Year’s Eve. Locations book up fast and if you want to attend a particular event, you may have to act quickly.

·         Wrap gifts early. Don’t wait until the day before the holiday to wrap dozens of gifts.

·         Plan for those gifts that require shipping. If you wait too long, you may not get your gifts delivered in time.

·         Relax. The holidays are about family, friends and taking time out of busy lives to reconnect with all that is important to you.

Other articles you may enjoy:

The Secret to Having a Clean Home Without Really Trying

Tips to Transform a Messy House Into a Clean Home the Easy Way

Ten Quick Ways to Declutter and Get Control of Your Home and Your Life

Anne Mathews is pursuing a graduate degree full-time and teaches part-time at a major U.S. university. If you are interested in writing professionally for this site and others, Ms. Mathews would appreciate the referral bonus: http://www.triond.com/rw/39827.