How I Organize My Life Each November (Checklist Inside)
Every November, something inside me switches into crunch mode — that “let’s finish strong” energy.
With only about 60 days left in the year, I like to treat November as my reset month — the perfect time to organize my home, routines, and mindset before the holidays.
If you’re anything like me, you probably love the cozy, calm energy of fall but also feel the pressure of what’s coming — Thanksgiving, Christmas shopping, end-of-year goals, and all the family chaos in between.
That’s exactly why November is my month to regroup and realign before things get wild.
Here’s how I organize my life each November so I can stay calm, focused, and ready to enjoy the holidays — not just survive them.
When Should You Start Organizing
Ideally, I like to dedicate the last week or two of October to prep for the last 61 days of the year. It could look like:
- Writing out all areas of your life you feel as if you want to focus on for the next 60 days. (Personal, Family Home, Work, Projects, Money, Relationships, and any other) You can add or remove any. But please do not overwhelm yourself. ONLY pick the areas you can realistically work on.
- Now that you have your category you want to work on make 1-2 goals for each category.
- Lastly, assign days/weeks on your calendar that you can work through this. Take into account the holidays, when your kids are home for the holiday breaks and personal breaks for yourself to avoid burn out.
Note: You want to not be busy during the whole November and December.
1. Decluttering Before the Holidays
The first thing I do is declutter, because let’s be honest — once December hits, I want my space to feel peaceful, not packed.
I start by tackling one area at a time:
- Week 1: Kitchen and pantry refresh (goodbye, expired snacks)
- Week 2: Closets, kids’ rooms, and coat storage
- Week 3: Digital cleanup — phone, email, photos
If you’re anything like me, clutter can affect your energy and focus. Having a clean, open space helps me think clearly, especially when the holidays bring in new decorations, gifts, and routines.
If you need a step-by-step plan, check out this post:
How to Declutter Your House Before the Holidays
2. Setting Up My Holiday Command Center
Once my home feels lighter, I set up what I call my Holiday Command Center — it’s basically my brain on paper (or in a binder).
For me as a busy mother, my family command center is essential.
Here’s what I include:
- Gift list and spending tracker
- Thanksgiving and Christmas meal planning sheets
- Grocery lists
- Family calendar with all events and school schedules
I dedicate a small wall in my kitchen to command center. It is in a part of the kitchen that is not too visible where it takes away from the essence of the kitchen. But my family knows where our center is.
During holidays, I like to spruce it up with a holiday theme.
For example, for Christmas I will be adding some Farmhouse styled Christmas bows and adding these cute Christmas stickers to our board (however these ones are not magnetic).
Whether you use a planner or a binder, this keeps everything organized so you can actually enjoy the holidays instead of constantly putting out fires.
I also keep sticky notes handy for last-minute to-dos and reminders.
If you want to start your own command center read this post next: 12 Family Command Center Ideas for Busy Moms
3. Resetting My Daily Routine
November is when I revisit my daily rhythm. The days are shorter, the weather’s cooler, and routines matter more than ever.
My morning routine looks like this:
- Quiet coffee and gratitude journaling before the kids wake up
- Light stretch and quick tidy-up
- Write my top three tasks for the day
Evenings are about winding down — a quick clean-up, skincare, and no-screen time before bed.
If you’re anything like me, structure keeps everything from falling apart, especially as the holidays get closer. If you’re looking to build a realistic mom routine, you’ll love this post:
The Best Fall Schedule for Stay-at-Home Moms
4. Refreshing My Goals and Budget
Before Black Friday rolls around, I like to check in on my finances and end-of-year goals.
Here’s my quick system:
- Review last month’s spending
- Make a list of upcoming expenses (meals, gifts, travel)
- Set one “finish strong” goal for the year
Sometimes it’s saving an extra $200 or finally paying off something that’s been lingering.
Even small wins keep me motivated. I also reflect on what worked this year and what needs to change next year — a personal audit of sorts.
5. Organizing My Work Before the Holidays
Since I work from home, November is my month to get ahead.
I go through all my projects, emails, and blog drafts to make sure everything is running smoothly before the holidays hit.
Here’s what I focus on:
- Wrapping up any big work or blog projects
- Creating and scheduling content in advance
- Updating my calendar for December and the new year
- Cleaning up my workspace — both physically and digitally
It’s a simple but powerful way to end the year with clarity and confidence, instead of feeling behind when January rolls around.
If you want to make a living from working from home check out my blog post on my other site (With Love by LaStar):
How to Start a Blog and Make Money from Home
6. Preparing Holiday Meals Ahead of Time
I’ve learned that a little early prep saves a lot of stress later. By mid-November, I start planning my Thanksgiving and early December meals.
I like to:
- Make my grocery list early (before prices jump)
- Prep sides and casseroles ahead of time
- Bake and freeze cookie dough for quick desserts later
If you’re anything like me, cooking for a crowd can get overwhelming fast — so planning early is everything.
For full details on how I plan and prep, check out my post:
Thanksgiving Planning Made Easy
35 Easy and Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes for a Crowd
7. Starting Christmas Shopping Early
The earlier I start shopping, the more I actually enjoy it.
I make a simple list of everyone I’m buying for, along with gift ideas and a spending limit. Then, I try to grab a few things each week instead of doing one huge shopping trip.
I also like to look for sales early and grab little stocking stuffers along the way. This helps me spread out the costs — and the chaos.
If you’re looking for fun, practical, or budget-friendly ideas, check out:
10 Best Christmas Gifts for Moms and Grandmothers
Top 10 Christmas Gifts for Kids
35 Thoughtful and Small Christmas Gifts for Coworkers Under $10
8. Family and Home Rhythms
Finally, I update all our family and home routines.
The holidays bring new activities, sports, and school events, so I make sure our schedule is organized and synced. (And they will go on our family command center-as we talked about earlier).
We plan cozy family nights, game evenings, and so much more together.
I also start decorating slowly — maybe a wreath here, a candle there — instead of doing it all at once.
It helps the house feel festive without feeling overwhelming.
Let’s Bring It Altogether
November is the month that I really get it together if I weren’t able to accomplish my goals throughout the year.
I mean what better time to ‘lock in‘ than the last 61 days of the year.
Now, I do take into account during this time the holidays choatic.
So, I like to prepare what I need to do for November-December the last week of October.
Jotting down, ‘my lock in plan for the remainder of the year’. Then when November comes, I know what I would like to accomplish each week instead of doing that all in November.
💡 Want to stay organized this month?
Save this post for later, or grab my free November Reset Checklist to help you organize your home, routines, and holiday plans without stress.
Don’t forget to pin this for later!
