With the start of November, I know it’s time for me to start planning for the holidays. As of today, we have just over a couple of weeks until Thanksgiving and just over seven weeks until Christmas.
For many this is their favorite time of the year. But for others it is one of the most stressful. However, I believe that much of the stress could be relieved by preparing and planning ahead of time.
Are you starting to think about the cookies to be baked…the meals to be planned…the house that needs cleaning? This can quickly become very overwhelming. But now is your opportunity to get a head start.
If you dedicate taking time this week to get things organized, you will have made a giant leap forward. Trust me.
So let’s take this step-by-step and start today with a holiday organizing binder. Now you can also use a notebook, your computer, smart phone or whatever else you prefer.
What’s most important is that you find a system that works best for you. The goal is to spend the next few days planning.
What goes into your binder (or whatever system you use) will depend on your specific needs and the things you do during this time. For instance, if you are the one who hosts the family dinners, its time to get started on meal planning.
This year I will be hosting both Thanksgiving and Christmas. So this week I am going to be planning out meals for both.
Having this done ahead of schedule frees up my time later on. But it also gives me the opportunity to start purchasing some of the items ahead of time (such as canned food). This way I won’t have to purchase it all in one shopping trip.
Do you usually send out Christmas cards? Put your list together this week.
Do you purchase gifts for certain family or friends? Jot down everyone you plan on buying for,
along with some ideas.
This is a great time to also create a holiday budget. By budgeting now, you can avoid overspending.
Your holiday planning binder should include calendars, in which you write in planned parties and get-togethers. Include a list of cookies and other treats you want to bake. Note special music you want to purchase.
Write down the rooms that need extra attention when it comes to cleaning. Create a cleaning schedule where everyone can help out.
This is a personalized system that is designed to get you preparing in advance of the holidays. Then next year you can refer to this same system, making changes as necessary or adopting some of the things you did the previous year.
In my next blog we will look more at holiday preparations in the way of cleaning.
Related Articles:
Kitchen Organizing for the Holidays
Breaking Big Tasks Down Into Smaller Ones