...To ask if anyone else is a month behind with Christmas prep?

I put the tree up 2 days ago, the bags of baubles and Dec's are stil sat next to it waiting to go on.
I hoped to blitz all my Xmas present shopping in one go yesterday, I managed a carrier bag full 😅 I really don't have the motivation for it this year!

Not done anything about Christmas yet and don’t intend to till next week at the earliest.

Presents isn’t an issue, still loads of time to shop or get deliveries in. If you plan to online shop, do that in the evenings this week.

It took us 1hr to put our tree up so I would plan to do it this weekend. It’s never as bad as you think time wise. Ditch any other decorations. Bit of Xmas music in whilst you do it.

Get a click and collect order arranged for a few days before the big day.

Done! Bish, bash, bosh.

I’m well behind, been ill for last fortnight. I slowly decorated the house all Christmassy over a few days so that’s done - no cards sent, luckily over the years it’s dwindled from sending 50 to around 10 I only send cards to people that I know would be upset if I didn’t 🎄

I wouldn't have entertained the last minute change of plan for you to host.
Ask each attending person/couple/family to bring something prepped, so it just needs warming up?
Minimal decoration?
Get whole family involved in cleaning and tidying?

We were meant to be going abroad for a quiet family Christmas. So I have done presents for people here. But now we have critically ill family here so have cancelled our trip. But last night I heard that a family member in NZ is in hospital and things are bad so now I am thinking DH and the DCs will stay here and I am waiting to hear if I need to try and get a flight out and when.

So tbh I have no idea about anything and can't think about Christmas much at all.

Bought stamps. They're on the table....

Oh not done any cards so far but looked at stamps and can't afford it this year so think I might have to Whatsapp people

We got the tree up (last weekend ...sat empty for two days then dd and I put a few decorations on) and put the light on the bush outside last night. Tbh we not that bothered about Christmas this year so feeling Abit relaxed about it. Dd is having a scooter so that was £20 off Amazon and done all my nieces and nephews...money is tight this year so it's £10 a child but I got in sale so got some amazing offers. Got my parents presents, mostly second hand from charity shops but it's what I know they like. Just need to get some mulled wine for my parents and I'm done. Dh does his parents so it be a couple of books for his father who will start reading them immediately then pass them onto my dh in Jan who pass it back to his brother and my bil. His mum more complicated but I know he got something in the summer for her in the sale. Food will be done nearer the time and not going over board this year. My mum has said no chocolates this year. Enjoying seeing the lights everyone has put up but forgotten how dark it gets in the evening and morning. Hope you have a lovely Christmas op.

I am 'behind' too after a hospital stay but don't panic.

Tree up on Christmas Eve is traditional.

Gifts - lots of gift cards bought online this year.

Food - DH

We haven’t done most of that as we are hoping to move next week, date still tbc.
What we have done is thought about what is important for the day. So a tidy house doesn’t matter too much as long as you all have somewhere to sit.
Could you try ordering all the presents so that you know they are winging their way towards you?
A Christmas dinner is just a fancy roast so try not to feel too overwhelmed by it.

🙋‍♀️I've found my people!!

I wrote three cards last night.. no tree, no decorations 🤣 I've had various present delivered and put them in a cupboard but that's about it..!

Im not feeling any great sense of Christmas urgency. Exhausted by work and would be quite happy to spend Xmas in PJ's on the sofa eating toast. So I'm not going to bother going shopping, just going to order everything online and buy some fabric gift bags, so no wrapping.

Definitely delegate some jobs to your other half or kids if they’re old enough.

Work out what’s essential and what isn’t. Could you do presents in one go on Amazon? Order gift cards for those you haven’t decided what to buy yet, don’t overthink it.

The food can be done once you’ve finished work, even if you have to go in the evening (or get everyone to help write a list and send your other half). Ask your guests to bring something too (wine/desert etc).

Dont worry, it’s still completely do-able.

I haven't done any of that stuff either, its not a big deal. Might do the tree on Sunday. If not , the following weekend when I have finished work and will be feeling festive. Presents can be bought online in an evening. Cleaning the house is a fucker though. You are putting pressure on yourself!

What I have done this evening is write two to-do lists, one of essential tasks, and one of ‘if possible’ tasks. Then create a time table for the next fortnight, with every day split into chunks of roughly 2-4 hours, eg early morning, morning, afternoon, late afternoon, evening.

First fill in your work hours and social commitments. Then fill in the essential tasks. If there is any space left, fill in the ‘if possible’ tasks. Any you can’t fit in could go on an ‘ask DH/kids’ list.

I feel much better now that I know what I need to get done every day between now and the 23rd, and that all the essentials will be covered. It has motivated me to get up early in the morning, which I usually struggle with, because I know it’s the only time I have to get certain jobs done.
Good luck! Don’t get stressed. My mum used to get so stressed about Christmas every year that it spoilt it. Just roll with it and enjoy however it all turns out, it doesn’t have to be perfect :-)