Every family has Christmas traditions. People love an advent calendar, it’s a yearly tradition. There’s all kinds of ideas out there to do the countdown.
The Dilemma
I have a friend who wanted to do so many things at Christmas time my head was spinning out of control. She showed me her list and I couldn’t understand a thing that was wished for. Because the whole list was a wish list.
I had to get her organized, and fast. So I took the list, and made what I called an Advent Calendar for her. One thing each day from the 1st to the 25th. She could decide to do something or not, rearrange them, add things, etc. This way she had a skeleton of an idea she could customize for her wishes.
And I am giving it to you. Make your own Christmas to do list Advent Calendar. I’d create it in August next year, so come the first, you are calm, collected, and organized.
The Christmas Wish List Advent Calendar
- Make a snowman. If no snow, use oranges, yarn, paperclips, thumbtacks, or office supplies you have.
- Do a cookie exchange with your friends, with or without recipes.
- See the Christmas lights in your neighborhood.
- Give a plate of cookies to your local fire or police station.
- Create a hot chocolate charcuterie board with whipped cream, m&ms, caramel sauce, marshmallows, crushed peppermints, hot fudge sauce, chocolate chips, etc.
- Spend an afternoon making several batches of cookies.
- Christmas movie marathon.
- Download a bingo Christmas card to watch for things during the marathon.
- Attend a Secret Santa or White Elephant Gift party.
- Read A Christmas Carol.
- Look online for a parody of Twas the Night Before Christmas, or make one yourself.
- Visit Santa at the mall.
- Ugly Sweater Day (I dare you to do it at work).
- Wear a Santa Hat or one of those reindeer thingys.
- Mail real Christmas Cards.
- Find boxes at a craft store, fill them with candy, and leave them on everyone’s porch on your street.
- Sing Jingle Bells at the top of your lungs outside.
- Decorate the Christmas tree.
- Wrap all your presents in one day.
- Write a letter to Santa. 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888, or see if your town has a “Santa Mailbox”.
- Build a gingerbread house out of graham crackers and decor.
- Do a random act of kindness.
- Wish a stranger Merry Christmas.
- Take a Christmas photo, even if it’s a selfie, and post it on social media.
- Donate a toy to a program.
- Ice skating.
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
- Listen to Christmas music.
- Wear your pajamas all day.
- Go to a Christmas market, festival, or historical site.
- Make something homemade for someone (brownie or cookie mixes, hot chocolate mixes, ornaments, snow globes).
- Eggnog or hot chocolate tasting contest.
- Buy yourself a present, wrap it, and open it on Christmas morning.
- Open one present on Christmas Eve.
- Don’t do a Christmas tree because no ornaments? What about using something else to create a tree shape, like cards on a wall, stacked books, etc.
- Do a Christmas Scavenger Hunt.
- Give a gift card to a friend for their favorite fast food restaurant.
- Make your own Christmas cards on Canva or Photoshop.
Your Turn
How is that for a start? Pick 25 random tasks, or one every other day, one a week, whatever you have time for.
What things do you do at Christmas time? Let me know in the comments.