I hate to say it, but… it’s almost that time of year!

Christmas is wonderful. The lead-up? There’s a reason so many of us put off getting started. From fluffing the tree to finding a present for the person who insists they “don’t need anything”, there’s plenty to keep us busy.

Don’t get me wrong, there are parts I absolutely love. Other parts? Let’s just say I’d happily leave them to someone else.

If you’re one of those people who bought all your presents back in July, I envy you. Truly. I’ll continue telling myself that maybe I’ll be that person next year. For the rest of us, Christmas preparation happens somewhere between work, school pickups, making dinner and remembering the washing we put on this morning.

Then someone asks if we’re hosting this year.

At that point, an extra pair of hands starts sounding like a very good idea. Someone to tackle the wrapping, get the tree up or sort out the fridge while you get on with everything else.

These are all things we can help with. Climbing onto your roof or balancing on a very tall ladder to put up lights? That’s where we draw the line. But there’s plenty to keep us busy with both feet on the ground.

The tree looks lovely once it’s up

I love a decorated Christmas tree. Getting it to that point requires a little more enthusiasm.

There’s finding the boxes, putting the tree together and fluffing every branch. Then come the lights, which apparently spent the last eleven months tying themselves in knots.

By the time it’s ready for decorations, the kids have lost interest and you’re surrounded by bits of plastic pine.

If hanging ornaments with the kids is the part you enjoy, why not have someone help with the setup? Leave yourself the nice bit. The boxes can be packed away and the floor vacuumed while you decide whether the tree really needs more baubles.

It probably doesn’t. You’ll probably add them anyway.

You’ve bought the presents. Now you have to wrap them.

Shopping bags hidden in wardrobes count as being organised, don’t they?

At some point, though, everything needs wrapping. Preferably before Christmas Eve, when you discover you’ve got half a roll of paper, no gift tags and sticky tape that nobody can find.

This is a lovely job to hand over. Leave the gifts, wrapping supplies and a list of who’s getting what, and someone else can work through the pile.

The click and collect orders, parcels to post (those lines are crazy long!) and cardboard boxes piling up by the door can be sorted along the way too.

Before you buy enough food to feed the entire street

A little fridge space would be useful.

There’s usually something lurking at the back that nobody’s going to eat, three open jars of the same thing and a container you’re almost afraid to investigate.

Getting the fridge cleaned and organised before the Christmas shop makes it much easier to see what you need and where everything will go.

It’s also worth finding the serving dishes ahead of time. Christmas morning is a terrible time to remember that your sister still has the platter.

“Just bring a grazing platter”

Of course. A few cheeses, some crackers, fruit, dips, something festive. Easy.

Except the fruit needs washing, the cheese needs cutting and the whole thing needs arranging while you’re also getting dressed and answering questions about where everyone’s shoes are.

Having someone prepare the platter while you get ready would be pretty lovely.

The same goes for chopping ingredients, making a salad, setting the table or wiping down the outdoor chairs. You can leave a favourite recipe to follow or work out a few simple options together.

And when the food prep is finished, having the kitchen tidied before guests arrive is a gift in itself.

The spare room needs to become a bedroom again

If yours currently holds washing, donation bags and several things you’ll “deal with later”, you’re in good company.

Before anyone comes to stay, a little help clearing the room, washing the bedding and putting out fresh towels can make a big difference.

You don’t need matching cushions and a welcome basket. Somewhere comfortable to sleep and a place to put their bag will do nicely.

A little space before more toys arrive

You know there are things the kids have outgrown. You also know that sorting through them takes time you haven’t quite found yet.

Before another round of presents comes home, it can help to work through one shelf, drawer or toy basket at a time. Put aside the things you want to keep, decide what can go and get the donations out of the house.

Actually out of the house. Moving the bags to the boot for three months is a familiar approach, but it does make the grocery shopping harder.

Dinner still needs to happen

Somewhere between planning Christmas lunch and buying food for every gathering, you still need to feed everyone on a normal Tuesday.

A few meals prepared for the freezer can be very welcome when you get home late, the kids are hungry and you’ve already made enough decisions for one day.

Nothing fancy. Just something you can heat up that you know everyone will eat.

And then we have to take it all down

I’m sorry to bring this up already.

But when January arrives, having a hand packing away the decorations, winding up the lights and labelling the boxes can make the job feel a lot less tedious.

Future you might even be pleased when you open them next year.

There are Christmas jobs you might genuinely enjoy, and others you’d gladly pass on. It’s okay to keep the traditions you love and get a little help with the work around them.

Personally, I’d be very happy to arrive at Christmas Eve with the presents wrapped and the sticky tape safely back in the drawer.