Some of you are going to laugh, but I need to tell this anyway: create yourself a Christmas Excel sheet!
Now that you have laughed enough, let me explain why:
1. A good plan makes the big project far easier
There are projects that go well when you simply wing them, but the more details there are to remember, the less likely the outcome is to go smoothly. Having a written plan makes it easy to see what you have already done and what is still ongoing.
2. The Excel sheet gets saved and will save tons of time next year, when you need to do it all over again
Holiday customs do not change that much from year to year. Of course, you might want to switch things up occasionally, but many things stay the same. It is far easier to start planning the new, exciting elements when the things you do every year are already mapped out.
3. You can cooperate and delegate tasks far more easily
I know too many people who arrange the family Christmas alone, year after year. Sharing tasks becomes much easier when they are clearly organised and communicated between participants. The Excel helps with this.
4.You forget fewer things
How many times have you realised you don’t have milk on Christmas Eve while already making porridge? With a plan, it is less likely that you will forget something from the grocery list. Of course, this does not help you once you are already at the shop, but you will notice missing ingredients when you mark them in the sheet.
5. Scheduling
When you think things through beforehand, it becomes easier to plan when everything needs to be ready. Creating a timetable also makes it obvious if your ideas are too much for you to handle — the purpose is not to stress yourself out, after all!
6. Budgeting
Let’s not forget that celebrations can become costly. Especially if you are low on money, it may be necessary to prioritise. When the plans are clearly laid out, it is easy to see what you really want and what could be given up that year.
Your holiday celebrations don’t need to be huge to benefit from a spreadsheet; the truth is that the things to remember are very similar every year, so it is a waste of time and nerves to start from scratch annually. But especially if you plan to organise a large family gathering, just make the sheet — you will thank yourself next year.
A quick search made me discover some Christmas budgeting templates, but I didn’t find any for the reasons I love them most. To me, the biggest value comes from easy grocery list creation and coordinating with other people.
What kinds of methods do you use to help with larger projects?
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