Practical Christmas Planning

How I Organize My Christmas Planning

My 2025 Planning Binder and all its sticky notes

A few years ago, I was visiting friends who are just as passionate about Christmas as I am. During that visit, my friend Karen showed us her collection of Christmas binders — each one clearly labelled by year. Every binder held everything she needed for that specific season.

Inside were sections for recipes, meal plans, tree décor, parties, gifts, storage, and more. When she begins planning a new year, she shifts forward only what she needs, while still being able to look back at ideas and notes from previous seasons. Each binder becomes a snapshot of that particular Christmas — practical, creative, and reflective all at once. Over time, they quietly tell the story of how her celebrations have evolved.

Karen is also someone who opens her home for tours each year so others can enjoy her beautiful décor and many themed Christmas trees. All she asks in return is a donation to the local food bank. Because of that, her planning is far more complex than mine needs to be — but her system inspired me. Not as a way to do more, but as a way to keep memories, ideas, and plans together so the season feels calmer and more intentional.

The most important thing I took from her approach wasn’t organization — it was flexibility. These binders aren’t about deadlines or pressure. They are collections of ideas and options meant to make life easier. Plans can change. Energy can shift. The goal is always to enjoy time with the people around you — that’s what truly matters.

My Christmas Planning System

I still use a physical binder, but I also keep a digital project book where I can copy and paste notes, save ideas, and add clickable links. The two work together, depending on how and where I’m planning.

How I set it up each year

I begin with calendar pages for October through January. These pages are intentionally informal — I scribble dates, ideas, reminders, and notes. I use them to track commitments and availability, but also to set gentle goals. For example, I might mark December 1 as my target date for finishing gift shopping — a guidepost, not a rule.

Sections in My Binder This Year

Planning & Practical

• Budget

• Baking

• Holiday meal menus

• Party menus (for gatherings we host)

• Simple meal ideas for busy days

Decor & Atmosphere

• Decor plans

• Table decor ideas

• Tree plans

Food & Recipes

• Recipes I plan to use or revisit

Gifts & Cards

• Gift ideas

• Gifts purchased

• Wrapping supplies

• Christmas card lists (mailed, virtual, or phone calls)

Creative & Fun

• Holiday crafting ideas

• Fun and games (like choosing a new jigsaw puzzle for the season)

Personal & Lifestyle

• Wardrobe choices and what may need replacing or purchasing

• Ideas for community holiday events we might attend

Memory Keeping

To remember: a card from a friend, a
gift, dog cookie recipe, and more,

• A sentimental section with plastic sleeves for items like photos from outings or concert programs

• Inspirational quotes, stories, and prayers to help keep me grounded

• A notes section to record challenges, successes, and moments I want to remember

Closing the Season — and Opening the Next 

In January, I set up a new binder and digital document for the coming year. It’s labelled, dated, and ready — not as a to-do list, but as a place to gather ideas slowly. When the season returns, everything is there to inspire me, support me, and make space for what matters most.

Christmas planning, for me, isn’t about control. It’s about creating room — for joy, flexibility, memory, and presence.

Over time, this binder has become the quiet foundation of my Christmas blog — a place where ideas, resources, and reflections live together, making it easy to return to the season without starting over.