Christmas might be the season to be jolly, but with December rapidly disappearing you’d be forgiven if you’re starting to feel the strain. Our tips for overcoming those last minute moments of panic should help you stay calm and beat the festive frazzle.  

1. The Christmas card panic

We’ve all been there. Christmas is a week away and the cards you bought mid-October are still in the box. Why not send e-cards this year instead – Paperless Post has hundreds of quirky cards to choose from, complete with a virtual envelope to make it as close to the real thing as you can get. If you’re not yet ready to say goodbye to the traditional Christmas card, create address labels on your computer. It might not speed things up this year, but will save you bags of time next December when all you need to do is print your existing labels. 

2. The parcel panic

No matter how grateful we are for online shopping at this time of year, most of us have experienced the feeling of dread on spotting the ‘sorry we missed you card’ from the delivery company. Avoid endless trips to the post office by organising for all your parcels to be delivered on the same day. Most delivery services will allow you to log in to their website and change your delivery date, so there’s still time to make sure all your presents arrive when you can be available. You could order your Christmas food shop to arrive on the same day, too.

3. The wrapping paper panic

The week before Christmas, stylish wrapping paper is often slim pickings. Even if it isn’t, you wouldn’t be alone if you’re worried about going over budget on Christmas presents but haven’t accounted for the cost of paper. Try unconventional wrapping paper instead – use newspaper, children’s artwork, or recycled paper. Depending on how much time you have, you could create your own designs using plain paper and stamps. You can even download free printable gift tags, just search on Google or Pinterest.

4. The home panic

You thought getting your home Christmas-ready ended once you’d got the tree up, but now it’s dawned on you that you’ll have the full suite of family members in your home on Christmas Day and suddenly you don’t feel quite so prepared. If you invest in anything for the home the week before Christmas, make it scented candles – nothing says Christmas and welcomes guests like a beautiful fragrance and the cosy glow of a flickering flame. First impressions count so spruce up your entrance and hallway with a few extra decorations. Mood lighting goes a long way to making your home seem warm and inviting so make the most of table lamps to create atmosphere, too. 

5.  The Christmas dinner panic

Minimise the stress on the day by chopping veg or making sauces in advance. If you can eat at the kitchen table for a few days, set the dining table in advance giving you more time to create something extra special. Personalise place settings with name tags and decorate each place with something festive, like a sprig of holly. Table cloths really are optional but centre pieces or decorative items, like flowers candelabras will make your table sparkle. Remember that Christmas dinner is a busy meal so don’t overdo the table décor and strike a balance between practical and pretty.

Do you have any tips for keeping calm and staying organised this Christmas? Share your favourites in the comments section below.