Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter
Little Bites
Halloween is over and you know what that means: time for the never-ending Holiday Season. As resistant as I am to the holidays starting earlier every year, I also recognize that a lot goes on at this time of year, and ready or not, here it comes, so we might as well be organized about it. Below are some of my strategies for managing the season so you can start now, while there is actually time to implement them.
First: spend a few minutes and make a list of all the things that you do related to this season. Whether it is holiday cards, buying gifts, cooking, or attending black-tie events- put everything that needs to get done onto one piece of paper (or one digital document) and look at it.
Second: you have to prioritize the list, from what you can and should get started on, to things that can’t be done too far ahead, like icing the Buche de Noel.
Some things, like ordering a turkey or holiday cards featuring pictures of your children, need to happen pretty soon. In fact if you wanted to book a photographer, you are probably too late. Other things, like holiday shopping, are better to delay. My premise is that the sooner you start shopping, the more likely you are to over-buy. I am not making this up, I have done it. On the other hand, if you wait too long, you end up over-buying to compensate for last-minute-itis. I’ve done that too. Certain things can be done online, but beware of too easy. I like to stick to my list, because it keeps me on track. For example, it is easy to buy too much for my daughter, who wants EVERYTHING and not enough for my son, who wants very little and what he does want I’m not buying (Assassins’ Creed anyone?)
And speaking of lists, if you haven’t already, this could be a good time to start a spreadsheet to keep track of what you have in mind to buy, what people on your gift list have requested and what you have spent. I actually keep track of what I spend from Hanukah and Christmas gifts to holiday cards and the Christmas tree as well, just so I know what I am spending on the whole holiday season.
Third, start taking action on the list, a tiny bit at a time. Put things in your calendar. For example, I’ve written my Thanksgiving menu and I am planning on hitting the Columbus Avenue Craft-fair on Thanksgiving weekend. I put a target date to mail my holiday cards on my calendar so that I’ll see it as I’m getting closer. Breaking it down and spreading it out makes it less stressful and more fun.
We all want to enjoy the holidays, so break you preparations into little bites, don’t overdo & get that holiday card order in today!