Christmas may seem a while away, but time flies fast. Before you know it, it will be December, and you’ll be left with a ton of things to complete. So planning and getting organized is the best way to ensure holiday spirit instead of holiday stress. From buying artificial Christmas trees to baking cakes, here are three important things you need to start working on ASAP.

Make a shopping list and start buying
Don’t wait until the last minute to buy Christmas gifts. Beat the crowd and save some extra money by shopping for it early. Make a list of the number of people you need to buy gifts for. Next to the names, jot down gift options and the maximum budget for each gift. Write two or three extra gift options in case you don’t find your first preference. Most shops put out Christmas gifts by Halloween. Do some research and find out if they have upcoming discounts. If you are shopping online, you may want to start placing gift orders since shipping may get delayed.

Get your Christmas decorations
What’s a Christmas celebration without a Christmas tree? If you don’t want the hassle of managing a real one, you can always shop for artificial Christmas trees. Make sure to get a solid tree stand, so it stays upright. For decorations, you will need lights, ornaments, a tree topper, garlands, and stockings. This is not a one-day job, so you may want to buy things ahead of time. If you are into cards, start making (if you are crafty) or writing Christmas cards early since the post is likely to get delayed in peak season.

Plan your Christmas day now
Send out a message to your nearest relative asking them their plans for this day. Are your in-laws, cousins, or friends coming over for dinner? Or will you all be heading out? If you are cooking, you need to prepare a list of food items keeping in mind the number of people and preferences. If you like making cakes, now is the time to start preparing. You can start bulk-baking and freezing them for future use. Restaurants get pretty full at this time of the year, so you need to book a table at least a month in advance. For those who are traveling, start booking train or flight tickets to avoid the holiday rush and cost.