My Tips for Getting Christmas Ready.

It is hard to believe it is already early November!

As my kids put their Halloween costumes away, I've started thinking about Christmas and how I can make it less frantic than last year.

Do you have the same thoughts at the end of each year?

How can I make this more manageable next year?

Here are my tips for getting organised for Christmas so that you can enjoy it all with your kids and still find some time for yourself to focus on your business and other priorities, too.

- I buy a cheap Christmas t-shirt early for my kids as I find it very helpful for all the Christmas parties and school breakups.

- I book Santa photos early, so they are out of the way. My kids are four and six, so I don't know how many more years they will be keen on a Santa photo. But while they are, I will keep booking them as they have had one each year since they were babies!

- Write a Christmas present list and start working through it early. Save whatever money you can as sales and discounts pop up, particularly around Black Friday sales. Delegate what you can to your significant other, too.

- Get on top of wrapping and writing cards early so it doesn't get too crazy in the days before Christmas.

- Buy a few generic presents to have on hand as things pop up you weren't expecting.

- Try to make what you can, especially for teacher presents. Baked goods, craft items and cards are all great. Pinterest is my go-to for lots of ideas.

- This year, I will try to put some meals in the freezer as I got so slack with cooking through December, and we could have eaten much better.

- Build in rest, exercise and good eating to feel better after the silly season.

- Schedule catch-ups with people after Xmas, too. Friends and family try to squeeze something in before Xmas, but the Boxing Day week and January are available, too. It is often a lot easier, and everyone, especially my kids, is much more relaxed.

I hope this helps! I would love to hear your tips, too.