Stop Rushing Christmas: The Case for Waiting

Inside: why getting ready for Christmas early isn’t a virtue, and how saving the mess, the music, and the memories for December keeps the season special. You aren’t behind

If you’ve ever found yourself on December 22, sitting cross-legged on the living room floor with scraps of paper everywhere and a roll of tape stuck to your sweater, you’ve probably felt that creeping guilt…I should have had this done weeks ago. But…why? who decided that last-minute wrapping is a moral failing? Somewhere along the line, being “ahead” became a badge of honor, and the rest of us started to feel like slackers. The truth? Those frantic, glitter-covered nights are part of the story

The Modern Rush Mentality

We’re told (loudly and often!) that getting Christmas “done” early is the secret to a stress-free holiday. Ads sell bins for labeled cookies. Influencers film “Christmas prep in July” hauls. Pinterest boards promise that freezing your sugar cookies in October will leave you serene and glowing come December. But here’s the truth: moving the work to October doesn’t make it disappear. It just stretches the to-do list across more months and turns a joyful season into a quarter-year project.

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Somewhere along the way, homemaking became tangled up with productivity culture: perfect systems, perfect pantries, perfect timelines. Even Christmas has been folded into a checklist mentality. And if you’re not two months ahead, you’re made to feel like you’re failing at joy itself. But that’s a lie.

What We Lose When We Get Ready Too Soon

Because December is supposed to the be December. Christmas prep is what so much of it is about. If you have everything done and tucked away by December first, then you spend that part of the. year… doing what? Living your life normally, like it’s mid-April? What was the point of it all?

Why not enjoy candy cooling on the counter while carols on the radio (yes I think you should listen to live radio but we’ll discuss that later)? Why not take a last-minute to the drugstore on December 23rd on a chilly night when you realize you’re out of tape? Why are you planning away all of these moments.

December should feel different….electric and alive…not pre-packaged months ahead.

The Practical Downside of Over-Prepping

Getting too far ahead isn’t just unnecessary. It can backfire:

Overbuying! Gifts tucked away for months get forgotten. By December, you’re second-guessing your stash and buying “just one more thing,” blowing the budget.
Changing tastes: Kids change their minds. That “must-have” toy in October might be old news by December.
Stale treats: Frozen cookies or candies can get freezer burn or hidden behind the chicken stock—only to resurface in March.
Annoying storage problems: Extra bins and bags clutter your home for weeks, and you’re digging through closets to find what you already bought.

How This Became a Thing

The push to “get Christmas done” earlier didn’t happen by accident. Retailers realized years ago that stretching the season boosts sales, so Christmas crept closer to Halloween. Over time, early promotions became the norm. Now, stores roll out décor before the pumpkins are put away, and social feeds follow suit because people genuinely love sharing holiday inspiration.

Layer on our modern obsession with productivity….color-coded bins, perfectly scheduled calendars….and suddenly, waiting until December feels almost rebellious. But the truth is, this timeline wasn’t set by tradition or by what’s best for families. It’s just the by-product of marketing and a culture that loves to optimize everything. You’re not failing by sticking to December. You’re simply choosing not to outsource the magic to October.

Instead, Plan But Don’t Do

Thinking ahead is smart. But doing everything months early steals December’s soul. Jot down gift ideas if it keeps you sane. Pick a baking day and block it off so it actually happens. But don’t fill your freezer in October or stash every present by Labor Day.

Keep a simple gift list, but leave the shopping for when the lights are up and the music’s on. Choose one baking day close to Christmas so the kitchen smells like Christmas, not fall break. And leave some blank space for sledding, dropping cookies to a neighbor, or trying a new recipe on a whim. Planning protects the season. Over-prepping drains it.