<

Learn

Are You Ready for the Holidays?

image By Professional Organizer Lea Schneider

Have you ever thought that if one more person asked you that, you would scream?

AHHHHHHHHH!

Organizing for the holidays is just like organizing anything else. As much as we would like to do everything at once, or have everything finished at one time, it simply isn’t possible. For even if we were to attempt such a thing, we are not super-human. It would exhaust all of our resources.

So how do you answer the question? “Are you ready for the holidays?”

You say “I’m working on it.”

That is exactly how you really do get ready for the holidays. You work on it in drips and drabs. Each time you accomplish a task, you can cross it off your list. In doing so, you actually take that holiday stress down a notch.

Part of that holiday stress comes from feeling that we must do everything and that everything must be done at once. Knowing what you need to do next, and that some things are actually accomplished, is the solution. Part of any organizational project is deciding what to do and what NOT to do. Think about the things on which you really want to spend your time and let the rest go.

Here’s how to work on getting ready for the holidays and level out that stress.

Grab your calendar and a pen.

Begin by inserting any holiday activities at work, church, clubs and school. This will help you plan your time.

Now, think about the things that you need to do and when they need to be done by. Even if you are reading this column a week before the big day, making some lists can really help.

Take your list of things to do and divide it up on your calendar. Try to accomplish one or more things each day so that little by little your list dwindles.

Think about how to add just a five or ten minute task to your day. For example, if a place to wrap was set up, could you wrap one gift every morning before work? If you planned some easy December meals, like a pot of soup or an oven casserole, could you make and freeze an appetizer or holiday dessert while that cooked?

Remember to delegate. Can you pass a few chores or errands to another family member?

To help make your planning time productive, here are a few of the common things many of us do at the holidays.

Christmas Cards: Update mailing list. How about the computer printing your labels this year? Purchase cards. Search for family photo and email out to store for copies.

Pick up photos.

Address cards.

Sign cards and stuff envelopes.

Wardrobe:

Check to see if family members (and you) have clothing for holiday events.

Home:

Schedule in house cleaning.

Clean any silver or special dishes used over holidays.

Order firewood.

Gifts:

Make list of out-of-town gifts. Shop for those first.

Wrap and mail out-of-town gifts. Mail your cards too.

Divide shopping for remaining gifts on your calendar.

Near the holiday, pause to double-check your list and the stocking stuffers.

Wrapping:

Wrap gifts as they are purchased.

Check supplies of paper, tape, tissue, bows, ribbon and tags.

Set up wrapping area.

Food:

Gather cookbooks. Make a menu through the rest of December.

Plan holiday baking.

Divide menu into weeks. Put a grocery shop on your calendar for each week.

Look at your baking. Place some baking dates on your calendar.

Look at your menu. Add some time for make-ahead meals to your calendar.

Decorations:

Schedule a day for out-door decor.

Plan a day for indoor decorations.

It is often wise to plan a separate day to decorate the tree with the family.

Events:

Think about each event you originally put on your calendar. Will you need to take a dish or appetizer? Do you need a gift to exchange or a hostess gift? Note those items on your calendar a few days before each event.

It takes a few minutes of quiet time, and a cup of cocoa or two, but planning ahead for the holidays will help you feel organized and in control.

You’ll be able to say “I am working on it” with a genuine smile!