Note: This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you click on the link and purchase the product the seller gives me a small fee as a thank you. This does not change the price to you.

Let me start by saying that I realize that all of you reading my blog do not necessarily live in the US nor do we all celebrate the same holidays. I mean no offense in the terms I use here; it’s just easier and clearer to stick the terms I have chosen.

If you do not celebrate any holidays in the next few months, maybe you can use this advice for other occasions.

I am writing this on the evening of October 17. That means that there are:

• 13 days til Halloween
• 39 days til Thanksgiving in the US; Happy belated Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends
• 68 days til Christmas
• 75 days til 2016

The last three months of the year represent some of the busiest times, especially for women, since we are often in charge of basically everything.

There will be meals to plan, cook, and serve, parties to throw or attend, gifts to purchase (and wrap), homes to be cleaned and cleaned again, cards to write out, address, and mail, and so much more!

Are you tired yet?

Well don’t worry. I’ve got a couple of ideas for simplifying this time of year.

First, everyone always stresses about the holidays. What to cook, what to buy, how big of a turkey do I need?

People, these holidays come around every year. I wasn’t at your house last year – or any year – but if there was Thanksgiving somewhere, I’m pretty sure you had a turkey with stuffing or dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and maybe some sweet potatoes or green beans. I bet there was even pumpkin pie.

See what I mean?

We all pretty much celebrate the same holidays the same way each year.

So start making some lists for each holiday, and then break it down further into other lists if you need to. When you get done with the lists, save them where you can get them again. I recommend something like Google Docs.

Use your list during each holiday and then modify it from there, change it in Google Docs and you’ve got a plan for next year and all the years to come.

Sound like a lot of work?

I guess it is, but really, you’re only doing this once. Every year after that is pretty much taken care of already.

Want another idea?

I’ve got you covered.

Or rather, Jennifer from List Plan It has you covered.

Jennifer has more lists than I can count!

I started trying to count the number of lists in her Holidays and Occasions category and I had to stop. I know I counted at least 20 and there were many more after that.

Jennifer can help you organize any holiday activity you can think of; she’s even got lists to help you keep track of stocking stuffers and Black Friday!

You can try List Plan It free for 30 days before you have to pay, and even then, it’s only $5 a month.

There are lists for anything in life you can imagine, including things like moving or vacation, or time management, student lists, and more.

Check it out. Wouldn’t it be great to spend the next 75 days – until 2016 – in complete control? And start off the new year the same way?