Did you have a hard time getting going with the Christmas decorating this year? Here’s a tip that I have found useful in getting the ball rolling. Create a Christmas jumpstart box.

Christmas decorating can be a monumental task and, like so many tasks, it is important to recognize that it is actually a project, that needs to be broken down into smaller tasks. The first task is the most important one. That’s where the jumpstart box comes in.

Every household has a different set of decorating goals, from zero to every square inch and everything in between, so there are no hard rules about what goes into the Christmas jumpstart box. It just needs to contain the items that need to come out first. I will list my choices, so you can get the idea.

Door stocking

When I worked at the Jim Henson Company, I acquired a Grinch Christmas stocking, which somehow became our signal to the neighbors that Matt and Susan are starting to celebrate the holidays. It’s packed right on top of the jumpstart box and is the first item out. On the door it goes and we’re off.

Card Ribbon

It seems that everybody else in the world is better at sending out their holiday cards, than I am, so this is a pretty important step from an organizing perspective. Holiday cards without a home tend to pile up everywhere and make a mess. My simple solution is to pin a (not flimsy) red ribbon around the frame of our balcony door. I keep a little bowl of red paper clips by the door and clip the holiday cards to the ribbon, as they come in. It’s a great way to easily display cards and appreciate them, during the season.

Kermit countdown calendar

Another vestige from my Henson days is our Kermit countdown calendar. The countdown starts early, so it makes sense to get this out early.

Cat-vulnerable beads

It’s my job to start the tree decoration and my wife’s job to finish it. She has these special rare purple beads, that were made in “occupied Japan.” Not surprisingly, they’re very delicate, so they need to go at the top of the tree, out of reach of our mischievous cats. I have the height, so those are the first decorations on the tree.

Vintage Ornaments

Same story as the beads.

Star

The star needs my height too.

I’m sure you have entirely different decorations and traditions, but you get the idea. Of course you are going to have entire boxes of ornaments, lights, and other decorations, but keeping one small box of well-chosen starter items, makes it easier to get the holiday show on the road.

What’s the first decoration to go up in YOUR home?