12/22/2011

Nine Tips on Organizing For a Stress-Free Holiday Season

Posted in housekeeping tips tagged Christmas, decorating, gifts, Holidays, housekeeping at 12:12 am by cleaningproz

I don’t know about you, but the Holidays always kind of sneak up on me every year.  No matter how early or late I start, it seems there’s always a neighbor or acquaintance I forgot to buy a gift for, or in making my Holiday food list I forget I need Sterno for the hot hors d’oeuvres, or I’m all out of colored tissue paper for the gift bags…. Can you identify with my angst?

So right after Christmas last year, I made a list of things to remember for Christmas 2011 and it’s made such a difference in how I approached the Holidays this year that I want to share it with you.  See what you think:

1. Who do I need to buy gifts for outside of my family? Friends/Neighbors? Co-workers? Service people (housekeeper, gardener, etc.)?  Other?

2. Do I need to restock any gift wrap supplies:  Paper? Ribbon? Tissue paper? Gift bags? Bows?  Gift tags? Boxes?

3. Do I need shipping supplies:  Paper? Tape? Labels?

4. Do I need to buy anything for decorating the house next year? For setting the table?  For serving?

5. Did I run out of anything else I need to replace?

6. Are there appointments I need to make?  Like getting your house cleaned, for instance

7. What worked or didn’t work this year in terms of food, activities, gifts?

8. Did I come across any Holiday decorating ideas this year that I’d like to try next year?  Better write them down before you forget!   =)

9.  Are there any gift ideas I want to remember for next year?  (Ditto the above!)

Now, the most important step: grab your calendar for next year (paper or otherwise!) and write down everything you’d like to remember, or set up a Holiday file (paper or otherwise!) and write reminders there.  Do it, or you’ll forget it!!

I know these aren’t exactly our usual housekeeping tips, but in the broadest sense of the word, I think they fit somehow. At any rate, I hope they’re helpful.  And may I be the first to wish you Happy Holidays 2012!!

What else should we add to this list?  Comments?  Suggestions? We’d love to hear from you!

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