Christmas!!!!! What a wonderful time of year it is. If your a child who is still full of the fun, magic and festivities that come with it. But for adults it can be a time of stress and chaos for the whole household. Once the full festivities get into full swing (and that to-do list gets longer and more stressful) it’s easy to resort to old habits rather than thinking of eco-friendly ways to have a green Christmas.
Planning ahead can help give us time to work on minimising our impact on the planet – as well as taking some of the stress out of Christmas. So here is a quick timeline to help you do just that.
LATE OCTOBER
- Work out a budget (and stick to it!): With just two paydays left before Christmas, now’s a good time to decide on a budget for all your gifts, food and general festivities so you can spread the costs out.
- Start present planning: Make a list of everyone you need to shop for and have a think about what gifts you think they’d truly love to receive. Friends with an adrenaline-junkie? Check out outdoor activity passes. Know a pampered prince or princess who loves their self-care routine? Scout out plastic-free, sustainable gifts. Looking to DIY gifts this year? Then it’s time to start getting in all the ingredients you’ll need for any soaps, biscuits, homemade festive booze… Whatever tickles your fancy!
- Get shopping early: Starting your shopping earlier will help take some of the pressure off when peak-shopping season hits. Plus, you won’t need to worry about any delivery delays either. The earlier the better, I have in the past, shopped through the year, if I see something I think someone may like I'll but it then
- Bake your Christmas cakes and Puddings: It’s best to get baking around two or three months before Christmas to give you plenty of time to let it mature and ‘feed’ your cake regularly as the big day approaches. Things with dried fruit (and alcohol) in them can be stored for several months
EARLY NOVEMBER
- Decorations: While it might be traditional to wait until advent to put your decorations up, there is no harm in planning ahead. Start thinking about your eco-friendly Christmas tree decorations, table decorations and crackers. Alternatively, put your decorations up whenever you like to get into the Christmas spirit
- Present planning: Making your own gifts? Get started now so it’s not a last-minute scramble (again!) come December.
LATE NOVEMBER
- Double-check delivery times: Make sure to give yourself plenty of time for your cards and presents to arrive. When you choose slower deliveries and postal services, this allows companies to use the most efficient and environmentally friendly ways of delivering goods, whereas options such as next day delivery can force companies to send out trucks which aren’t at full capacity. Also shop locally if you can to save on delivery hassle.
- Christmas cards: Sadly some holiday cards are still covered in glitter and come packaged in plastic. Made sure to seek out cards that are ideally made from recycled materials, are recyclable and fully compostable too. If you have small children, they get a lot of fun out of making cards from some bright markers, paints, leaves and twigs
- Start your meal preparation: Make a list of all the festive meals, platters and snacks you’re looking to snaffle over the festive break. Planning the food list in advance will give you more time to shop locally (if you can) or book your online green delivery slots. fill up frozen supplies (freezers work more efficiently when they are 2/3 full). If you’re opting for a turkey this year, speak to your butchers in advance for the Christmas ordering dates.
- Prepare early where you can: Lots of Christmas food components can be prepared in advance, then frozen. Keep hold of any veggie scraps in the lead up to the big day to make your own stocks, if you’re a meat eater, boil your old meat bones for broth. Loads of other bits and bombs like stuffing and pies can all be prepared and frozen months in advance to simply defrost and heat up on the day itself.
EARLY DECEMBER
- Declutter your home: Now’s the time to tidy up, create space and begin your winter clean. As December hits, take the opportunity to organise, start to declutter and create space for your Christmas trees and decorations. Giving your home a good deep clean will help you create a tidy headspace as the big (and often stressful!) day approaches.
- Ensure you have sufficient gift wrap, tape and tags. Choosing reusable wrapping paper great, or opt for recyclable paper that’s plastic free. Our top tip? While it’s always better to be prepared, don’t shy away from wrapping your pressies with newspaper – it’s a great way to reuse our planet’s precious resources. If you think you'll need gift wrap, it can be brought in the post Christmas sales for a fraction of the price and stored till needed
MID DECEMBER
By now, you should have all the Christmas preparation ready! So, sit down, put your feet up and enjoy a large glass of mulled wine or hot chocolate.💕
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