Grab your very own free printable list of things to do in December around the house and in your life to help you stay on track with everything. There’s lots of inspiration and ideas to add to your planner for December, including some fun facts about this month. There’s even a quote!
This is part of the HOW TO GET ORGANISED ALL YEAR series of articles – with a detailed TO DO list (and free printable!) for EVERY month of the year waiting for you. CLICK HERE to get them all.
December’s the time of year when…
Christmas is just around the corner, expectation is in the air, children are starting to get excited for the holidays, and a few days off at the end of the month are waiting for most of us. December is here!
There’s absolutely no getting around the fact that the festivities will totally dominate whatever you are getting up to, and you want to be prepared so you can enjoy them too!
Here are some ideas and help on things to do in December, to make the most of the month and make it count.
It all seems magical at this time of year – especially when children are involved! But with this time comes the possibility of a lot of stress, spending and time restraints – which we need to minimise as much as possible so we get to enjoy the build up as well.
With so much going on over and above our usual schedules, it can often be a time that feels overwhelming to people.
Trying to juggle all the commitments you have, social / family / home / job etc…. can be too much.
That’s why I have tried to get you to get lots of the prep done already (in October and November – using the Christmas Planner Countdown) as by now you’ll be feeling more prepared and able to attend all those wonderful social occasions that are happening this month without feeling guilty that there are jobs to do at home still.
If you haven’t been able to get much of the prep done before now, then why not have a real blitz in the first week in December – get everyone involved and delegate as much as possible.
December should be about the fun and excitement of Christmas as much as possible – so start to enjoy yourself and remember, as long as the basics have been done, the rest will follow (and if they don’t, will it really matter in the end?!)
TIP – To try and compensate for the extra busy-ness that you are inevitably going to face this month, try and have a complete break from your TO DO list. I always leave December for only Christmas related tasks as that’s plenty!. The other jobs can wait….
Things to do in December
Regular monthly tasks
There are some things that, as a homemaker, you need to do each and every month. Without them, you will start to fall behind pretty quickly.
I wrote a post about these 3 main tasks to do each month HERE if you want to read the full article, but the quick list is here: –
#1 – Check your diary
- Add in any special dates (there are some written further down this post if you need any help on the main dates to remember).
- Add in dates specific to your life (birthdays, events, appointments etc….).
- Get some dates in the diary for your social life – and book babysitters well in advance
- Have a general view of what’s coming up, so nothing is a surprise
#2 – Sort all cards and gifts
- Make sure all presents and cards for December are on track to get to the recipient at the right time (post or hand delivered)
- Check that you have got all the presents and cards ready for January
- Buy all presents and cards for February
#3 – Check your bank statement
- Are all outgoings correct?
- Are all incomings correct?
- Are you on track with your budget?
Homemaking tasks To Do in December
#4 – Decorate the house for Christmas
You may have already done this (based on when your own familys tradition is) – but a lot of people choose the first weekend of December as the time to decorate their home.
Have fun!
Related: Christmas Tree Decorating Tips – Inspiration and Ideas!
#5 – Get those end of year tasks done
There are some things that HAVE to be done at the end of the year – home maintenance, planner tasks, etc… – so get your list out and work through them asap!
Related: Crucial Things To Do At The End Of The Year
#6 – Get in the festive mood
Above all else this month – ENJOY IT!
Watch a Christmas Movie with your kids, create some family traditions, spend time with friends and family – and just have lots of fun!
Deep dive tasks for December
#7 – Take stock…
The end of the year is always a great time to take stock of what’s working and what isn’t – both in your personal life AND in your home.
Have a house meeting and get chatting! – You never know what you’ll find out!
#8 – Yearbook creation
My absolute favourite thing to do right at the end of the year is to create that years yearbook.
I gather together all the photos of the year, and scan/take photos of cards and other items I want to keep as memories.
Then I choose the best ones – and add them all to a photo book.
It’s a fantastic way to keep memories of each year, and takes up MUCH less room than all those photos and stuff if they were all kept…
Related: How to Create a Photo Book
TIP – I always look early for deals on Photo Books because they can be expensive – so my advice is to wait until you see a deal and grab it!
TIP – I get as much of the sorting out done in December as I can (between Christmas and New Year is a great time) BUT I also want to add in photos of New Years Eve – so I will finish off the book at the start of January.
Free printable for December
If you’d like all these TO DO’s in one easy to use checklist, then you’re in exactly the right place!
The gorgeous TO DO list has everything I’ve talked about in this post written down for you to print off and tick as you finish each task:
Want a copy?
Your very own copy of this gorgeous (and helpful!) printable is waiting for you in the Free Printables Library. To get FREE access to the entire library simply click the button below – hope you enjoy!
Important dates in December
Here are the specific dates to remember this month – but don’t forget to add your own important dates to your diary (including Birthdays, Events, Appointments etc….).
- Winter Solstice 21st
- Christmas Eve 24th
- Christmas Day 25th
- Boxing Day 26th
- New Years Eve 31st
December Facts
- DECEMBER BIRTHSTONE – Turquoise
- DECEMBER FLOWER(S) – Narcissus (and the Christmas Plant is the Poinsettia – I love to have a few of these dotted around the house, especially the more unusual white ones)
- DECEMBER ZODIAC SIGNS – SAGITTARIUS November 22nd to December 21st and CAPRICORN December 22nd to January 21st
Gift ideas for December Birthdays
I LOVE buying gifts for people because it’s a chance to show them that you care for them and they are someone who means a lot to you.
There are lots of gift guides and gift giving inspiration for different people on the site already, so take a look HERE, but if you want something specific to the month then why not use the September Facts in the section above, and take inspiration from them?
I’ve put a couple of ideas below to get you started, and I really hope they inspire you:
#1 – TURQUOISE VASE Stunning, and would look great in most homes.
#2 – CAPRICORN KEYRING – Beautiful and simple – would be a great addition to a handbag or wallet!
And that’s all the things to do in December related to your home life that will keep you nicely on track all month.
Yes, there are a few things to do (mostly admin for the end of the year!) – but above all else ENJOY! – you’ve worked hard this year, you deserve it!
If you can think of other things to add, or you’d like to share how you get on this month, then I’d LOVE to hear from you.
Why not join the fun in our Facebook Group – Organise My House HQ. There are loads of like minded people there ready and waiting to cheer you on!
