For many of us, having the tools, in the form of a Christmas planner, isn't enough. We need more: a road map to an organized Christmas. Enter Christmas planning checklists!

Christmas planning checklists help focus and zero in on holiday chores. Checking off each step of holiday preparations makes it easy to get organized for the holiday season.

Christmas planning checklists simplify the holidays by focusing preparations on one step at a time. Having a list-based road map makes it easier to delegate jobs to others, and seeing the visual reminder of the process prevents becoming sidetracked along the way.

Our Christmas checklists are adapted from the Christmas Countdown by Cynthia Townley Ewer. It's a six-week Christmas organizing plan designed to streamline holiday preparations and simplify your holidays.

Whether you use Christmas organizing plans like the Christmas Countdown or Holiday Grand Plan, or create a personalized plan of your own, use these Christmas planning checklists to simplify your holidays and celebrate the season: