'Tis the Season To Stay Organized

Life is busy and it doesn’t stop being busy just because the holidays are coming up. In fact, it seems that life is busier than ever between Thanksgiving and the New Year. It should be a happy time to be with friends and family not a stressful one. Staying organized could be just a small way to keep your sanity, especially around Christmas time.

1) Declutter & Donate

Make room for new things, especially if you have children. Once the toys and clothes are unwrapped this holiday season, you are going to need a place to put them! It is better to donate all the things that haven’t been used throughout the last year to a church or family in need.

2) Keep A List-Check It Twice

Was the candle gift set for Mom or Aunt Sharon? There is nothing more stressful than ordering a bunch of things and not remembering what it is you ordered and for whom! Keeping a gift tracking list is the easiest way to remember what is what and whose is whose! Be sure to include any gift cards you may have given out for work parties or for friends, that way as the years go by you won’t be buying the same thing each year. And if you want to keep track of what others get you so you don’t regift next year, that’s an excellent way to prevent any stressful embarrassing moments.  

3) Meal Plan

I host our holiday parties which means I’m usually the one cooking the main course for dinners, however, I do love when others volunteer to bring something! But if I am so busy with other things, I may forget that I said ‘yes’ to everyone bringing pumpkin pie and no one bringing beverages or side dishes. This is why I plan and write down all of the courses for our big holiday dinner and who is bringing what. I keep this list and the gift list in a Holiday Binder along with other holiday recipes that have become traditions at my Christmas table every year. I also keep a running grocery list to ensure that come the big day, I am prepared to put everything together without missing an ingredient.

4) Wrap It Up

Never. Ever. Ever. Wait until the night before to start wrapping! It will become more of a disorganized mess than a fun time. Running out of tape or the wrapping paper itself is incredibly stressful as is trying to do it all in one night. You will be stressed and exhausted and that’s no way to go into a holiday. Instead, do a little at a time the week or weeks leading up to the big day.

5) Always Have An Extra Gift

When your favorite store has a sale on candles-stock up! Not just for yourself but for those family and friends who have brought you a gift but you weren’t aware you were exchanging! Grab tissue paper and bags from the Dollar Tree and keep them either in your home or in your car if you’re headed to a party. This way, should someone exchange with you, you will be able to excuse yourself to get them their gift. Candles are usually great for men or a woman but you can choose gift cards or bottles of wine. Just be sure these gifts are something you can enjoy as well in case you (oops) over bought.