On one day, every year I offer you the non legally binding option of taking The Christmas Pledge with me. A pledge to get all the Christmas cacophony done before December 1st. Today is that day. And for the first time, there are two ways to take the pledge.
Yes, it is time for The Christmas Pledge again. For those of you who are relatively new, The Christmas Pledge started here on The Art of Doing Stuff 12 years ago.
I write an activity calendar for November that you can print off. Each day has one task on it that will get you closer to being ready for Christmas. It is life changing. Ask anyone who has taken the pledge.
Even if you only finish half of the calendar tasks you will still have 50% of your Christmas crap done by December 1st. 🎤-drop
I love The Christmas Pledge. So this year I have expanded it. I am very excited to introduce you to The Christmas Pledge Deluxe Package. Everything you love about the original Christmas Pledge posts but MORE.
It's an 8 page downloadable booklet that includes:
1 - THE ORIGINAL CHRISTMAS PLEDGE CALENDAR
2 - MY MOST IMPORTANT CHRISTMAS BASICS
3 - A TIP FOR PROCRASTINATING (WHILE STILL BEING ABLE TO PROCRASTINATE)
4 - RECIPES
&
+ MORE +
The Christmas Pledge Deluxe Package costs $7
If you're ready, just click on the button to ...
DON'T WORRY. If you don't want to or can't buy right now you can still use any of these past Christmas Pledge Calendars.
STILL SCROOGING?
If you are thinking to yourself, "This sucks, Karen. This is too early. It isn't even Halloween yet. You're such a tool.🙄" - then I like YOU. I get you. I AM you.
Here is why you should be doing this.
Do you think that I want to start preparing for Christmas right now? No I do not. Which is why I also take The Christmas Pledge every year.
I do know how far away Christmas is. But I also know about human nature, and human nature dictates that you'll think Christmas is "far away" until 1 hour before the malls close on Christmas Eve.
Too many years in November I'd anticipate all the good times I was going to have in December. The naps next to a roaring fire, a plate of freshly baked cookies cooling under my nose.
None of my December fantasies involved sitting in a puddle of anxiety wondering if it'd be O.K. to give my 4 year old niece 1 sock and half a bottle TUMS for Christmas.
But my hallucinatory December? Oh hallucinatory December was gonna be good. I'd wear frilly aprons and bake during the day, my hair would always be done, delicious food magically appeared in front of me and every single Christmas Carol I hated would be destroyed by aliens. Yes. Every single copy.
Life didn't get any better than my imaginary Decembers.
But what I anticipated was not my reality.
So I started The Christmas Pledge over a decade ago. Since then hundreds, if not thousands of people have taken part in it.
If you DO the pledge, and follow the calendar you are 100% guaranteed to get everything done by December 1st.
Let me explain it this way,
Your nails will be done, hair appointment booked, presents bought, house decorated.
By December 1st
Done and downloaded. But I still refuse to think of Christmas stuff until after I've enjoyed USA Thanksgiving gluttony in late November. I confess I purchased my son's Xmas goodies in early October, an all-time first for me, but the rest will have to wait till I awake from my turkey coma.
O.K., but ... well ... O.K. I can work with that. ~ karen!
Fortunately I mostly "Say it with meat" each year, so Omaha Steaks efficiently handles my gift list which takes no time at all. lol Oh, I also DO somtimes plug in the 2' plastic Christmas tree that sits on my mantle all year. Some of the lights even work!
But, but-where’s the puzzle?
Heilige Pferdeapfels as I say here in our little corner of heaven in Germany. Mainly because our little hamlet has two livery stables!!
It's really been 12 years since the first Christmas Pledge. Encroyable!
I'll be signing up when I get back home so I can have the traditional Mulled wine whilst mulling over this wonderful gift! Thank you as always.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS
It begins.
This pledge has indeed changed my life - I probably say this every year. But that's cause every year it's still true. Thank you, and hooray for 2022!
Also oh lord its almost November. *shrieking* (but quietly because it's apparently midnight, and because I'm calm because I have THE PLEDGE.) Gonna go laminate this. (not really. but we can pretend.)
I hope you noticed the lamina-table Christmas Pledge member card on page 2! 🤣 ~ karen!
The Christmas Pledge is now the thing I look forward to most before the holidays. Kinda
cray-cray, right? I was thinking about it earlier today--and feeling smug--when I was ordering personalized ornaments for my kids on Etsy, as a matter of fact.
Hey Lois. Getting Christmas stuff done in October is the best high on earth. ~ karen!
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In gleeful anticipation on Monday, I reviewed my Pledges of Christmas’ past and started making up my gift list! (Insert squeal here) my husband has been working feverishly trying to get my new kitchen done enough for Christmas cookies this year so I even made up my baking list too! BRING ON THE PLEDGE!
See? After doing it for a few years you start to realize that getting this crap done early feels way better than doing it in December. Yay! New kitchen!! ~ karen
Is it really that time already, I ask? (As anxiety creeps in from head to toes....)
I'm usually pretty good at getting things done early but for some reason this year I can feel the procrastination!
I've followed you now for years (I'm harmless....I swear....lol) and I've never GASP! taken the pledge. Think ill have to jump on the band wagon and give it a try.
Its so bad this year that I'm thinking gift cards for all, scratch the cookie making, never mind the tree and decorations.
Just me, the Grinch and a nice bottle of Pinot! (Insert diabolical laugh..)😖😖
Happy Holidays 🌲 NOT
Now can I just go back to destroying flea beetles and cabbage moths?!
Ahhh summer.....I miss you!🌻☀
That's exactly what you should do then. If it'll get rid of anxiety DO it. DO the gift cards. Giving gift cards isn't like it used to be. You used to have to take your dumb gift card to the store and try to pick something out that one time you were there at the mall. But now, with online shopping for stores gift cards are great! Incredibly convenient. ~ karen!
Karen - You always make me laugh - I've got tears in my eyes from laughing (but they're not made of diamonds) !!
Tears made of laughter are more valuable anyway. ;) ~ karen!
Yup, I'm in--APU (as per usual). This is really up my planning alley.
I opened your email this morning, saw the word 'pledge' and said to myself "nah, I can't commit to anything more right now".
Then 2 pm rolls around and my colleague and top notch friend says "hey, did you see Karen's email..."
Long story short, I'm convinced!
LOL. There. See? You have no reason to believe me, but your friend! They know. I don't want to do it either!😆 But once you get a few things done you'll get excited about how you're getting shit done. ~ karen!
I“Your Life in December” do’s and don’ts list had me laughing so hard I pissed my pj’s. Thank you for that (the laughs, not the wet pj’s) and Happy Halloween!
Perfect. That is my goal. ;) ~ karen!
Bought the Christmas Pledge download. I may or may not actually accomplish anything with it, but I wanted to throw some money your way because you have given me so many laughs and so much inspiration over the years and I really appreciate it. Thanks for being awesome!
Thanks Traci! At the very least you can take part when the task for the day is to get drunk and watch a Hallmark movie. ~ karen!
Many thanks Karen and Happy Christmas/Hallowe'en/Snow/Cold/Solstice and Gratitude! I downloaded 2 copies by mistake, not reading my screen correctly !! Thanks again
-Ann
Oh no! You didn't pay twice did you?? I'll check. ~ karen!
Karen,
I click on Buy and I get a message on the screen that "My cart is empty". Help, please!
Hi Pat - Try clicking this link ... https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/downloads/christmas-pledge/ And then click Buy now. ~ karen!
Thanks, Karen, but still not working. The first time I clicked on "Buy Now", it took me to your page linked in your email above. I then clicked on "Yes, yes I am" and I got the "There's nothing in your cart" notification. 🙁 Christmas is getting closer (so is Halloween and I'm not ready for that either)!
Hi Pat. It sounds like you might need to clear your "cache" if you know how to do that try it. I just had one other person say the same thing so I'm going to get my developer to look at it just in case! Thanks for alerting me. ~ karen!
So with 4 grown children who no longer live at home they are accustomed to cheques each Christmas with something hand made…I start in January for the following Christmas…
Super Duper Thanks Karen! I ALWAYS LOVE your Christmas Pledges! This Year....I have Pinkie Promised Out Loud that I will follow it daily to Enjoy the days following December 1st like you! Just paid and got the Download! About to Read and Enjoy it! Thanks, and from your friend in Texas, but we have not met yet...I just know we are Friends! (Crazy Smiling Face Over Here) : )
EXCELLENT! I really hope you like it because I liked doing it. ~ karen!
Hi Karen
Having some odd issues with download saved copy. Where can I go to download again?
Sent you an email as well.
Sorry if this a duplicate post. My phone hates me 😉
Thanks 😊
I am now known for starting on Christmas in November. Friends and family all laugh at me until...December rolls around and I'm finished and they are running around like crazy people! I also now book my hair and nail appointments way in advance of ANY holiday!! So many people are left scrambling and I know I've got mine set!!
It is December 1st, so I thought I would revisit your site and let you know that I took the Christmas Pledge and am *gasp* completely FINISHED with all of my Christmas tasks, barring seeing some impossible to pass up Christmas gift for my daughter or my husband or (ahem) myself.
Congratulations, Karen! You have once again, single-handedly, made all of my nearest and dearest hate me with a flaming passion.
I love it.
Merry Christmas!
Hey! Congratulations Caralyne! I'm actually a bit behind, lol. But I was a way and am now sick so I have LOTS of excuses. However, my cookie dough is made, the decorations are up and all my presents are bought. So I just have wrapping (which is going to be fun) and my cards to send out. I still feel like that's a win. Maybe not as good a win as yours, but pretty good. ~ karen!