6 Holiday Prep Jobs That Are Easier If You Start Early

Some holiday jobs are technically “doable” at the last minute…but they’re so much easier if you start them before everything snowballs. A little head start in November or early December means less panicked scrubbing and more actually enjoying your house.

These are the jobs that pay you back in lower stress later.

Plan your calendar and block out true no-commitment days

Before you even think about décor or menus, sit down with a calendar and write in every event you already know about: parties, school programs, travel, church events, family gatherings. Then pick a few days and literally mark them off as “home nights only.”

When you see the whole season at once, you stop casually saying yes to things that don’t fit. Those protected nights keep you from feeling like you live in your car, and they give you built-in time for things like gift wrapping, baking, or simply doing nothing together on the couch.

Deep clean the spots you’ll layer décor over

Holiday decorating goes faster if the surfaces are already clean. A week or two ahead, do a quick deep clean in the areas you’ll decorate most: living room, entry, dining table, guest bathroom. Wipe baseboards, dust shelves, clean mirrors, and clear off surfaces.

When you decorate later, you’re just adding layers on top of a clean base—not moving piles, dusting around clutter, and scrubbing under garlands. It feels less overwhelming, and your decor automatically looks more “done” because it’s not competing with grime.

Check and restock your entertaining basics

There’s nothing like realizing you’re out of foil and trash bags in the middle of cooking. Early in the season, check your basics: foil, parchment paper, storage containers, plastic wrap, paper towels, trash bags, dishwasher tabs, dish soap, and hand soap in bathrooms.

Make a small restock run just for those items. They’re not exciting, but they’re the backbone of hosting. When guests are there, you’ll be glad you’re not trying to reuse the same two containers for every leftover or digging under the sink for half-empty bottles.

Audit your linens and guest bedding before guests arrive

Instead of pulling out guest bedding the night before, do a quick check now. Wash and dry sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and towels you’ll use for guests. Make sure you actually have enough pillows, and that none of your towels are hanging by a thread.

If something is stained or beyond saving, you have time to replace a few basics slowly instead of panic-buying a whole cart of linens at once. Fold everything into one spot—a basket, bin, or dedicated shelf—so when guests are on the way, you can make the bed without a scavenger hunt.

Prep a basic holiday baking and pantry “kit”

You don’t have to plan every recipe now, but it helps to build a holiday staple kit: flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, chocolate chips, spices you actually use (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger), plus broth, pasta, rice, and canned tomatoes.

Having those on hand means you can say yes to last-minute cookies or side dishes without another store run. You’ll also be less tempted to grab pricier pre-made options because you already know you can pull something together from your own pantry.

Set up a simple gift wrap station before you buy gifts

Gift wrapping is way less annoying if you have a station ready to go—even if it’s just a corner. Early on, gather wrapping paper, tape, scissors, gift bags, tissue paper, and a pen into one bin or basket.

You don’t need a full craft room; a tote that can slide under a bed or into a closet works. As gifts start trickling in, you can wrap one or two at a time instead of facing a mountain later. That alone will shave off so much last-minute stress.