It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it can quickly become the most stressful time of the year if you’re not careful. Between shopping, baking, and wrapping, it can be difficult to make time for life’s necessities, let alone have enough time to plan and throw an unforgettable Christmas party. But throwing a Christmas party doesn’t have to be overwhelming, or time consuming. When you do it right, a Christmas party can be fun without becoming too stressful. Here are some steps for how to plan a Christmas party without losing your mind.

Make A Plan

Decide what kind of party you’d like to throw, whether it’s an adults only affair, or a family party, a formal event, or a casual get-together. Choose the type of food and drinks you will serve. Your menu will depend on the type of party you’re planning. Choose some activities for your guests, like a gift exchange, or a fun game for the kids. Write down the who, what, when, and where for your Christmas party. A well-planned activity is much easier to carry out. Remember to keep it simple. If planning parties is not one of your strengths, consider using a day planner like ours :) STARTplanner to help.

Make a Schedule

So now that you’ve decided on the details of your party, now’s the time to schedule out your tasks. Make a list of everything that needs to be done – everything from cleaning your house, to buying ice, to baking your dessert. It’s okay to take a few days to make this list, as you might think of more things to add as you go throughout your day. Once you have your complete list, start scheduling. Put each task on a specific day on your calendar. Move tasks around to make sure you’re not trying to accomplish too much on one day. For example, don’t put 12 to-do’s the day before your party, with only 2 to-do’s the day before. Spread out the work load as much as possible so you’re not over scheduling yourself the day of your party. It can get overwhelming trying to remember everything that needs to be done all the time. When you use a calendar, you only have to focus on completing today’s tasks. If it’s on the calendar, it’s off your mind.

Prepare Ahead of Time

With your schedule in place, start accomplishing your to-do’s. If you have finished all of your to-do’s for the current day, consider looking to the future and seeing if there is anything else you can complete from another day’s to-do’s. Do everything you can ahead of time. Whether that means baking something and putting it in the freezer, or deep cleaning your house a few days early, or ordering something from the caterers, earlier is always better. Continue to complete your to-do’s and your party will be a success!

Don’t let planning a Christmas party ruin the fun of the holiday season. Christmas parties don’t have to be over-the-top to be a success. The important thing is to celebrate the holidays with the people you love. Follow these steps to make your next Christmas party your best one yet.