The Best Way to get Organised for Sydney Australia's Holiday Season

While Australia’s Christmas may differ from that experienced by the rest of the world in many unique and enriching ways (especially in 2020 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic) it has something very much in common with the global experience: It’s busy to the point of being frenetic, especially in already bustling places like Sydney. Ergo, it’s vitally important to get organised in a month or so before the holiday season hits, by planning all of the following in advance:

Ready Your Decorations:

If you haven’t already done so in previous years, pull out your boxes of decorations and organise them into smaller, labelled containers so you’re not rooting around endlessly through large boxes when you go to decorate your tree and home. Throw out anything you’re not really in love with, and test your strings of lights, checking for any burned out bulbs that need to be replaced (it will save you running around to buy a bunch of new bulbs close to Christmas, in the middle of everything else going on). Keep some spare bulbs on hand as well, in case of future bulb failures.

Plan Your Menu:

In years past, many Australians tried to adhere to a traditional British-style holiday dinner, even though Christmas down under occurs during summer (and who really wants to heat up the house and chow down on roast turkey and warm pudding in the middle of a heatwave?) Rather than attempting heavy, grandiose meals, plan for summer-suitable fare the family can enjoy at a backyard barbecue, a picnic in the park, gardens, or on the beach. Ideas include seafood, glazed ham, cold chicken dishes (or duck or turkey if you prefer), cold deli meats, pasta, salad (and fruit salad), pavlovas, ice-cream, mince pies, fruit cake, shortbread, chocolates, etc.

Plan Your Activities:

One of the greatest bonuses of Christmas in Australia is that it falls during summer; unlike in northerly climes, where people are stuck inside as snowstorms rage outdoors, Australians are blessed with sunshine, blue skies, and endless warmth (not to mention youngsters are gearing up for their summer holidays and will be in great spirits as a result). Naturally, this is the perfect time to get outdoors with the whole family, to go surfing, boating, or swimming together.

For many Sydney residents, the place to be on Christmas is at Bondi Beach, which typically hosts huge musical acts and various parties. In 2013, for example, current superstar DJ Skrillex played, and in 2012 The Chemical Brothers were featured. David Guetta, Bob Sanchez, Carl Cox, Underworld, Fat Boy Slim, and many others have played at Bondi beach in years past. Though we expect this to change this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

If you’re after something a bit more traditional, try out the Sydney Opera House where, according to the Sydney Christmas website, a “500-strong choir and orchestra will be joined by Opera star Emma Matthews to perform popular carols and contemporary festive classics included Abigail’s Song from Doctor Who and Ave Maria.”

Ready your home:

Christmas is a time of bonding, family functions and house visitors. That's no different in the southern hemisphere. To make sure you and your household are organised for Australia's holiday season, you'll need to ready your home. Making sure your home is cleaned for the holiday period shouldn't be left to the last minute. If you have to hire a spring cleaning company to do the cleaning for you. Make sure to book well in advance. At MaidForYou, we're fully booked for Christmas before the end of November. So planning in advance is imperative if you want to make sure your home is cleaned in time for family visitors.

Plan Your Gifts:

Make two separate lists: one for people receiving gifts, another for those you're sending cards to, then list each gift you plan to buy for each individual… And of course, follow that golden rule of Christmas shopping and Christmas cleaning: Don’t leave it until the last week before Christmas!