This post is part of the 100 Days ’til Christmas Challenge — one small step each day to make the holiday season less stressful and a lot more fun.

We’ve been planning for almost 100 days.
That sentence alone deserves a pause.
If you’ve been following along since the beginning—or even if you jumped in halfway—you’ve already done the work most people wish they had started earlier. And now, with just a handful of days left before Christmas, this isn’t about adding anything new.
This is about one last minute Christmas planning sesh so you can stop thinking about Christmas and start living it.
Not a reset.
Not a catch-up.
Not a scramble.
Just a final check so your brain can stand down.
What This Moment Is (and What It Isn’t)
This is not the time to:
- Add new traditions
- Rework your menu
- Compare your plans to what you’re seeing online
It is a quick, grounding pause to confirm what’s already decided.
Think of it as closing the loop.
The Only Three Things to Look At
Set a timer for five minutes if that helps. Longer is not better here.
1. Your Calendar
Take a simple look at what’s actually happening between now and Christmas.
- What’s locked in
- What’s flexible
- What’s already decided
You’re not adjusting. You’re just reminding yourself what’s real.
2. Food
Ask one question:
- Do I know what we’re eating for the remaining days?
That’s it.
Not perfect meals.
Not special meals.
Just enough clarity so food stops floating around in your head.
3. People
Who are you showing up for in the next few days?
- Family
- Friends
- Yourself
And just as important: where are you not required to show up?
Clarity here reduces so much quiet pressure.
Decide What’s Officially Done
This is the most important part.
Once you’ve looked at those three things, name what is finished:
- The plans you’re no longer touching
- The decisions that don’t need revisiting
- The ideas you’re letting go of this year
You don’t need to solve everything. You just need to stop reopening it.
Then You’re Done Planning
Truly.
You don’t need:
- One more list
- One more idea
- One more “just in case” plan
You’ve already prepared enough.
From here on out, the goal isn’t optimization.
It’s presence.
Close the planner.
Step out of planning mode.
And let the season unfold as it is.
One more post to come.
For now—this is your permission to stop. 🎄🤍
Have You Missed Any Holiday Planning Posts?
Get Caught Up Here
- 10 Days ’Til Christmas — Christmas Menu Planning That Actually Makes Life Easier
- 14 Days ’Til Christmas – Teacher Gift Ideas for Christmas
- 17 Days ’Til Christmas — Christmas Cookie Baking Day (Let’s Plan It Today)
- 20 Days ’Til Christmas — St Nick’s Day Tradition
- 21 Days ’Til Christmas – Cookie Swap Ideas: How to Host a Cozy, Low-Stress Holiday Cookie Exchange
- 22 Days ’Til Christmas – It’s Time to Mail Christmas Cards
- 23 Days ’Til Christmas – 30 Easy Holiday Acts of Kindness
