| |
| |
|
Holidays Information |
|
|
|
Tools and Tips for Keeping the Holidays Organized
It's November 1st. You've walked into your favorite store to buy half-priced Halloween candy and what do you see? Christmas decorations! "Oh, no!" you think to yourself. "That can only mean one thing..." The HOLIDAYS are coming! Don't stress-you're going to start early and be more organized this year...Here are some tools and tips for staying on top of the busy and sometimes stressful holiday season. TOOL #1: Lists Why keep lists? Whether they are written on paper or typed onto your computer, a list allows you to do a sort of 'brain dump' of everything you need to recall at a moment's notice. There are so many different things to remember when it comes to holiday time: Your husband's shirt size, the spices you need for this year's stuffing, what store has gift wrap on sale, etc. Unless you have an incredible memory, keeping lists will help get you through some of the stress of the holiday season. Some examples of list topics you may need during the holidays are:
TOOL #2: Calendar This may be the most important organizing tool you use this season. Why use a calendar? A calendar is a tool that helps you plan what you need to accomplish in a day, a week, or a month. And boy, is there a lot to accomplish during the holidays! As opposed to just making to-do lists, sometimes seeing time in visual blocks on paper (or electronically) helps one to manage their time more efficiently... Examples of activities to be scheduled during the holidays are:
Become a 'Master of Time Management.' How will you know how much time to put aside for each task? Work backwards from the day or time that a task needs to be done by. Estimate how many hours/days it would take to complete the task. Schedule the time and and mark your calendar accordingly. For example: Task: Cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving (to be ready by Thursday at 5pm) Steps: A schedule is a guideline and should be flexible. Try to schedule tasks to be completed ahead of deadline. This allows for any problems or emergencies that may arise. TOOL #3: Quality Storage Containers Dishes Are your holiday dishes in a box in the attic? A great product for protecting and storing your holiday (or any type of) dishes are China Keepers. They are padded/quilted, made of either cotton or vinyl and come in different shapes and sizes depending upon your storage needs. *Lillian Vernon Online sells them in six different patterns including one set decorated for the Christmas season (www.lillianvernon.com). Holiday Decorations Some people decorate their homes only in the winter and some people choose to decorate for every holiday in the year. Whichever person you claim to be, it is important to keep your decorations from being ruined due to improper storage and care. A few options are:
*Label everything so you can find it easily next year. Leftover Food Wrapping leftovers in tinfoil might be a quick way to get them from frying pan to fridge but you'll be spending a great deal of time figuring out what's inside of them. Use food containers such as those made by Rubbermaid or Tupperware or 'disposable' containers such as ones made by Glad and Ziploc. They're found in most supermarkets. They stack well and if you want to give out leftovers to your guests, they're not very expensive to replace. Tips for staying organized throughout the holiday season:
Above all, remain calm. If you stay organized, the holidays will be less stressful and you will enjoy yourself even more. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! About The Author Stacey Agin Murray, professional organizer and owner of Organized Artistry, LLC, transforms 'mess' into 'masterpiece' with patience, organizing know-how, and a sense of humor. For more articles and to get your FREE e-list of 'Top Ten Tips for Organized Living' visit http://www.organizedartistry.com; stacey@organizedartistry.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Holidays - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Virtual Assistants... Even Santa Needs One! Trying to fit all the planning and preparing and celebrating of the holiday season into an already busy schedule can bring a lot of stress to a time of year that's supposed to be full of peace. These days, even Santa needs help making his list and checking it twice!Fortunately, help is available. Celebrate Your Freedom: 6 Important Freedoms to Celebrate Everyday At the end of the movie "Braveheart," William Wallace is tortured but refuses to cry out. Just as he is about to die, he belts out one word-"Freedom!"Freedom is a word and a privilege that has been easy to take for granted in America. Great Gifts Under $5 Gift giving is at its absolute finest during the Christmas season. Putting smiles on children's faces, making an elderly person feel appreciated, rewarding a hardworking employee - the reasons for gift giving at Christmas are endless. Perfect Presents for Mom Every year we search our brains for a unique, exciting gift for Mom. We have bought flowers, candy, jewelry, pictures of our kids and us. The Origin of the Christmas Tree Have you ever wondered why we decorate a tree for Christmas? What sense does it make? We cut down a perfectly good tree, bring it in the house, decorate it with glass balls, twinkle lights, embarrassing arts and crafts from our youth and put a big star on top - why? No one knows for sure. But the Christmas tree does have a long, if not mythological, history. 5 Ways to Having the Happiest Valentines Day Ever (even if youre alone) The thought of Valentine's Day conjures up romantic evenings, a candlelight dinner, and long walks with your loved one. It is, without a doubt the most romantic day of the year. Holiday Times Are For Helping Those Less Fortunate, Think Holiday Cards Every year I watch as advertisers begin to promote their products for the Holiday Period. For retail this is their busiest time and sales usually make or break a company's year. What Causes Holiday Stress? The holidays are supposed to be a time of celebration when friends and families get together to share food, fun, gifts, and love. They are supposed to be a time of giving, caring and connection when we celebrate important and meaningful events. Christmas Gifts to Last a Lifetime Do you know what you are giving to the children on you Christmas list? Will it be Harry Potter books, the latest computer games, or some new clothes?Over the summer, I spent some time thinking about the Christmas days from my childhood. What made them special, and what did I remember most. Seven Great Holiday Decorating Tips--Without Breaking the Bank If you're looking for great ways to decorate your home this glorious holiday season--without breaking the bank and losing your sanity in the process--here are seven terrific ideas to get you started.1. Say I Love You For Valentines Day With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about the perfect gift for the one you love. Whether you are looking for something special on a tight budget or would simply like to add something special to another gift, there's no better way to express your love than by saying it in a variety of languages. Mommy...Daddy...Is There Really A Santa Claus? Is there really a Santa Claus? Any parent who hasn't been faced with this question most likely will at some point. But how do you answer this? No one wants to crush a child's dreams of Santa and holiday magic. 10 Holiday Sober Savers 2004 1.) BEGIN NOW !!!Don't save your shopping, decorating, cooking, wrapping, and cleaning for the last minute. EASTER: The Bunny and The Egg Ever wonder why there's an "Easter Bunny"? Ever wonder why he brings eggs? And dyed ones at that!The Rabbit and the Hare, because of their frequent multiple births, are long time symbols of fertility. According to pre-Christian fertility lore, long before Jesus Christ was born, the Easter Bunny, aka the Easter Hare, represented the new life during the Spring season. The Holiday Shopping Experience - Rewarding or Traumatic? Picture this scenario! It's December 24th, the day of Christmas Eve. On this day you should be relaxing, enjoying time with family and thinking of all the precious memories you have created throughout the year. Ready to Skip This Holiday? Why No Just Make It Your Own? Do you feel panicked, or exicted? Are you experiencing joy or depression? Do you have childlike visions of toys and celebration with the people you love? Or pressure, loneliness, alienation and annoying relatives?Sometimes we really can't help but ask "What is celebration? Do we really need it?"I can tell you there were times after my divorce and my daughter's death that I asked myself those questions. My kids had moved out. No Paws from Santa Claus The Holidays are coming and children have thought long and hard about the gifts they would most want to receive this year. Trucks, trains, Groovey girls and scooters are popular gifts this year. The Last Laugh: Parental Pranks for April 1 The exact origin of April Fool's Day is uncertain, but popular belief is that it began in France with the adoption of a new calendar. In 1582, the Gregorian calendar (still in use today) replaced the long-standing Julian calendar and New Year's celebrations were moved from April 1 to January 1. Fireplace Decorating Tips for Easter: Give Your Rooms Natural Focal Point an Easter Look Sure you decorate your fireplace and mantel for the winter holidays, but don't forget this important focal point in your room as Spring approaches. Here are some nearly-instant ideas for springtime and Easter fireplace decorating:Daffodils in crystal or glass vases on each end of your mantel bespeak the coming of Spring. Christmas Shopping Online Might Or Might Not Be For Everyone: This Article Shows How Doing It Onlin Christmas shopping online is not for you? If you are one of those that share this thought, you probably like to enjoy the atmosphere of physical shopping. Doing your Christmas shopping online despite all its convenience, lack the festive mood.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
