Cruising Through the Holidays: How I’m Using the FlyLady Christmas Prep Plan with My Index Card System

Every year, when the leaves start falling and pumpkin spice season arrives, I start thinking ahead to Christmas — not in a stressful way, but in a peaceful, intentional way. One of the tools that helps me most is the FlyLady’s “Cruising Through the Holidays” system.

This simple, six-week plan helps you get ready for Christmas by Thanksgiving so you can actually rest, celebrate, and be present during December.

But this year, I’m giving the system a twist — I’m turning each week’s mission into index cards that I’ll rotate daily through my homemaking system.

💡 Why I Love the FlyLady Holiday System

The Cruising Through the Holidays program breaks down all the pre-Christmas tasks — like shopping, planning, cleaning, and decorating — into tiny daily missions. Instead of trying to do it all at once, you make slow, steady progress every weekday.

It’s not about creating a perfect home — it’s about creating peace before the holidays arrive.

🗂️ How I’m Tweaking It This Year

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know how much I love my Index Card System. It’s simple, visual, and forgiving — which is exactly what I need during busy seasons of life.

So this year, I’m creating a special section of cards labeled “Cruising Through The Holidays.” Each card represents one daily FlyLady mission, with a few of my own tasks added in (like teacher gifts, decluttering the wrapping bin, or updating the Christmas card list).

For the six weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, these daily cards will help me make progress in bite-sized chunks. Monday through Friday, I’ll pull that day’s card, complete it if I can, and then rotate it back into the stack for next week.

☕ The Beauty of Simple Systems

One of the best lessons I’ve learned through homemaking is that consistency beats perfection every time. Some weeks I’ll miss a few days — and that’s okay! The system will still be there when I’m ready to pick it back up.

That’s what makes these kinds of rhythms so life-giving. They move with your real life instead of fighting against it. And even when done imperfectly, they still help me focus on the true spirit of the season by being present and peaceful.

If you want to follow along, I’ve linked my full Cruising Through the Holidays video playlist and my Index Card System videos below.

Watch the full video here:

🎥Watch the Cruising the Holidays Daily Missions videos here.

🎥Watch my full Index Card System Playlist here.

Wishing you wellness and peace,

Natasha