More Joy, Less Stress: Your Most Organized Holiday Yet

Organized during the holidays… is it even possible?!?!

The end of the year holidays is always filled with work and school events, family gatherings, guests visiting, planning meals, outfits and shopping, lots of shopping! Oh, what a joyful time! How in the heck do we do it all?!?!

In this busy season, it is even more important to organize ourselves and our surroundings so that we can truly enjoy the festivities of the holidays. 

Below some tips that we found in a Real Simple Magazine article, with a twist of my own!

- If you are into the tradition of giving presents, pick a theme for all your presents. In doing this you can save time in scanning all the thousands of gift possibilities out there and simplify your search. Example themes can be: handmade items, experiences, food items, etc… you get me!

- Ask your family members for wish-lists for the season. It will eliminate the time spent on trying to figure out what to get for them. And you can pick, it will still be a surprise when they open them because they don’t know for sure which you are buying!

- Pick a day to do all your gifts shopping. I usually do it the night of Thanksgiving, when I am in a food coma, in the comfort of my bed, and all the online sales start. If you want to do the mall, then go ahead! Just try to do it all in one day!

- Keep all your gift-wrapping materials in one place. That way you know exactly what you have and you don’t over purchase. Or better yet, shop gifts in stores that have complimentary gift wrap!

- Keep a stash of gift cards handy. For any of those last-minute guests that you were not expecting or anyone you might have forgotten.

- Pick your outfits in advance for the events you RSVP to. That way you are not scrambling to decide what to wear at the last minute.

- If you are running out of time to send Christmas cards, send New Year’s cards. I have received some New Year’s cards from some of my friends, and I think is brilliant! It gives you more time to gather your family pictures and share some highlights of the year that’s passed.

- Throw or donate any holiday decorations that you will not use this year. You probably won’t use them the next year either! And maybe you can take advantage of the end of the season sales and replace or stock up for the next year.

- Keep all the holiday decorations in bins labeled and all together in one storage place. If you would like to go the extra mile when you store them, you can group the decorations by their location. That way if you only have time that day to decorate, let’s say, the kitchen, all you have to do is get the bin for kitchen holiday decorations.

- Make lists, and check them twice! Card recipients list, gift recipients list, groceries for that meal planning list, events list. Keep them handy for when you are ready to action on them. Lists are your friend! Don’t leave home without them!

- Don’t try to do it all. Pick the most fun, meaningful activities to do with your family. Your kids will value the quality times instead of the running like crazy times.

- Last but not least, declutter your home of anything none essential during the holidays. This will help you create space for your holiday décor and create peace in your surroundings so you can focus in what’s important to you during this joyful time of the year.

We hope you enjoy this season, and count on us if you need help achieving your holiday organizing goals!