Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter
Project Piles
I love how enthusiastic and creative my clients around the holidays. They throw parties, they wrap gifts (a lot of gifts), they send out reams of cards and take on gargantuan craft projects.
The problem, of course, is that they take on too much, they get exhausted, and in the end a lot of those projects don’t get finished. The felt stays in the bag from Michael’s, the red sugar never gets used and the cards become a massive chore rather than a fun way to keep in touch that isn’t Facebook. Inevitably, all the incomplete projects turn into piles: piles of gifts to wrap, piles of cards to send, piles of decorating and entertaining paraphernalia. Some of those piles will disappear as the gifts get given, and cards get mailed, but the sheer volume of projects can be daunting at this time of year.
I’m not immune: I love that “Santa’s workshop” feeling. But I also really hate waste, and undone projects end up as waste. A wise woman once said, “You can do it all, just not at the same time.” Right. Spread your projects out. Skip the Christmas cookies and make cookies for Valentine’s Day instead. Cut your holiday card list in half, or do an e-card (much more environmental, and cheaper too). If you feel you must do a particular project, because it’s a tradition, or you just want to, commit to it. Give yourself a schedule and stick to it. Unless for you the enjoyment comes from trying new things, consider picking a specific craft project each year. From an organizational standpoint, staying focused on one craft means there’s less “project clutter” to store than if you are acquiring materials for a different project every year. Think of it as going deep, not wide.
I don’t want to be Scrooge or the Grinch. I love when my to-do list is full of fun things like baking and gift buying, rather than laundry and grocery shopping. Still, there are only so many hours in a day, and if you don’t take on too much, you can enjoy the holidays rather than wish they were over.
Here is my holiday wish for you: May your piles be minimal and your projects completed.