I do follow a plan, last year I did the Holiday Grand Plan and have to say I loved it. Previous years I have tried to everything they do in the plan but within a much shorter timescale. Particularly the cleaning element I would try to do the whole house in 1 week. So I find this much less stressful.
I did like the look of the Holiday Houseworks Plan at Organised Christmas but had already printed the pages for HGP, so this year I've written my own plan which is a combination of the two with a few thigs added/removed to suit my plans and lifestyle.
I've no doubt it will get tweaked several more times before the plan actually starts.
Although the plan officially starts 31 August I will ease myself in gently this week and start with a vengence the following week when my children have gone back to school.