In my mind, November will always be the official start of the holiday season. And while I may not be 100% ready for a Christmas tree the day after Halloween, I do love the excitement and anticipation that comes with November. Thanksgiving, which may be my favorite holiday is fast approaching and Christmas is just on the horizon. I love to think about the pies I will be making while simultaneously making gift lists and thinking about how I will decorate for Christmas. So much to think about, so much to do!
To help keep all of my ideas and tasks organized, I aways put together a monthly to do list. Knowing what needs to be done ahead of time helps me schedule my days so I can check these items off without stress.
If you need help starting your own to do list, never fear. I’ve put together a list of tasks I suggest completing in November. Feel free to print my list and add any other personal tasks that need to be done!
Here’s a suggested list of things to do this November to keep your home maintained and organized:
Organize and deep clean kitchen
November best time of the year to focus on really cleaning and organizing your kitchen. Whether you are hosting Thanksgiving or not, you will be spending a lot more time in your kitchen over the next two months and having a clean, well organized kitchen will make the whole experience more enjoyable.
To get this task done without stress, put on some fun music and start taking things out of cabinets. Clean the inside of the empty cabinets with multipurpose cleaner and a rag. Then put things back, making sure to place similar items together. Anything that you no longer use or love should be placed in a box for donation. Once all cabinets have been cleaned and organized, move on to drawers. Be sure to shake out any dust or crumbs from drawers before wiping down with cleaner.
After all drawers and cabinets have been cleaned out, move on to the counters. Clear everything off and give the counters and cabinet fronts a wipe down with cleaner and a rag. Appliances fronts are wiped down at this time too! Make sure to only put essentials back on the counters. Clear counters = a clear mind!
Finally, scrub the sink until it shines and give the floor a sweep and a mop!
Create & share gift lists and wishlists
Decide where you will create your lists. These can be written in notebooks, saved in the notes of your phone or kept safe in a holiday planner. Make a list of people you need to buy gifts for and also a list of ideas your might have for each person. Wishlists for your kids (or even yourself!) can be created on shopping websites like Amazon and can be a helpful way to share ideas with friends and family.
Get your life organized for the holidays
Now is the time for full blown holiday planning! Make sure you are keeping your calendar up to date and check it daily. Write out daily to do lists and make longer to do lists for the holidays while you are at it!
For more tips on getting and staying organized during the holidays, be sure to check out this post:
How To Stay Organized During the Holidays
Order holiday cards
If you send holiday cards to family and friends then be sure to order in November. I like to look for sales around Black Friday to make sure I’m not spending more than I have to. Don’t forget to pick up stamps as well!
Purchase a new planner for January
Are you a pen and paper planner kind of person? Then now is the time to order a new planner for the new year. I find that in November and December I start planning doctors appointments and events that will happen in the new year and I don’t like to be caught without a planner to write them down.
Organize wrapping supplies
Get a head start on holiday wrapping by gathering the previous years excess wrapping and determining what you need to restock. Make sure you have enough paper, bags and bows for the amount of presents you expect to wrap. Don’t forget to check ribbon, tape, scissors and tissue paper! Make a list of items you need to purchase and any color schemes/themes you might be working with.
Once you have all your supplies, designate a storage and work area where you can easily wrap presents. Under the bed storage bins are my favorite for storing and organizing wrapping paper, but a clean, tall trash can works well at corralling long rolls of paper.
To see how I organize and store wrapping paper, be sure to check out this post:
How to Organize and Store Christmas Wrapping Paper
Prepare guest spaces
Now is the time to do a pass on your guest spaces, like your spare bedroom or pull out couch. Are these areas ready for guest or have they become cluttered catch alls? If these spaces could use some TLC, roll up your sleeves and declutter, declutter, declutter! Once you have room for your guests, spend some time cleaning, changing sheets and adding any touches that will help your guest feel at home. Fresh towels, an easy to find WIFI password and some water bottles and snacks can go a long way in making your home welcoming.
Declutter the dining room and living room
November is the time to take a pass on your dinging room and living room. Try to look at your space as a guest may look at your space. Look at the surfaces, look at the walls and look at the floor. Is the space inviting and clutter free? To give the space a good declutter, pick a corner and start decluttering, working clockwise. Focus on small sections, one at a time to prevent overwhelm. Pick up an object and make a decision. Should it live somewhere else? If so, take it there. Should it leave your home permanently? Put it in a box for donation. Is it trash? Put it in the trash can.
Continue working the entire edge of the space, and then focus on the middle. Once you have decluttered all areas, pat yourself on the back for a job well done!
Stock your house for the holidays
In preparation for holiday events, parties, general get togethers and drop in visitors, consider stocking up on the things you need in a pinch. Consider keeping extra beverages (beer, wine, soft drinks, sparkling water, juice) and extra snacks (chips, nuts, frozen appetizers, dips) at the ready. These can be brought to a last minute pot luck or pulled out if you have visitors. Extra bottles of wine make easy hostess gifts, especially if wrapped in a festive ribbon.
Don’t forget to stock up on other holiday essentials, like toilet paper, napkins, dishwashing tabs and facial tissue. Sometimes not having to run to the store on Christmas Eve for everyday essentials can be the difference between a relaxing holiday and a chaotic holiday!
Looking for a way to track these to-do items? Download your own copy of the November List
Click here to download a printable copy of the November List and use the extra empty bullet points to write in any personal to do’s
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