Countdown to Christmas
How do you prepare for the holidays? Are you one to do everything last minute or is your gifts bought by October? I think we all go into the holidays planning to get ready early, but life happens, and the weeks go by so fast and then it is December 1 and you haven’t even begin to think about the holidays.
This year was an extreme downsizing for me and my family and though I will be honest it was stressful, it feels great. I had to do a lot of the following steps because I did not have the space to keep my 40 years of accumulating Christmas decorations. We downsized our Christmas tree from 7 feet to 4 feet and instead of taking a day to put up my decorations and tree it only took an hour.
So, whether you’re just starting to think about the holidays, or you feel you are totally prepared, here are some simple tips to help you though the next few weeks.
1) Write a list of what you need to do.
a) What do you need to get done and who you will need to help you.
b) Assign yourself a few tasks a week for the next 4 weeks so you won’t be running around last minute to get everything done.
c) Don’t forget to ask for help so you don’t get burned out by doing everything yourself.
2) Declutter and donate now.
a) Before you bring out your decorations declutter a few items.
b) We put away last minute decor to make room for the tree and decorations but then when the new year comes, we like the uncluttered look once the decorations are put away. I find many times in my client’s homes, boxes of décor they put away to make room for holiday decorations and then never put them back out. So, keep in mind if there is any decor you may want to donate now.
c) This is also a great time to declutter Christmas decorations that you have been storing but haven’t been putting out. Trying picking a few items that could be donated this year or throw away or recycle ones that are worn out or broken.
3) Make a holiday cooking ingredients list now.
a) This is a great time to get your pantry organized and ready for the extra holiday items.
b) How many ingredients do you already have and what will you need? If you do have some check expiry dates. Especially if they are items, you only use around the holidays.
c) Look what is in your pantry now, throw out expired items and take stock of what you have and what you will need.
d) Purchase now so you are not running around last minute, and you will be prepared when you are inspired to bake or cook.
4) Make a gift giving list!
a) Make a list of all the people you are buying for and what you bought them. Especially if you like to buy early. By writing them down you can refer to them and avoid repeats or overbuying.
b) Most people will say I don’t need to write it down but my experience I have discovered containers in clients’ homes that are full with forgotten gifts. Things they bought through the year, stored away and then forgotten.
5) Avoid using cardboard boxes to store holiday decorations.
a) Whether it be Christmas, Easter, Halloween or any other holiday you like to decorate for, they should be in some type of container that is waterproof and sealed.
b) Decorations can be expensive so why not keep them protected and in good shape. Storage areas can be damp, get water leakages and can become very dusty.
c) Some boxes can be become ripped, damp, have water damage (which creates mold) and lose their structure so it then becomes unsafe.
d) Also, this time of year is a great time to buy organizing products as they are on sale in many stores.
e) One other tip is to buy different colour bins to identify them. Red for Christmas, green for Halloween, Pink for Easter etc.
6) Are you having guests for the holiday?
a) If you are having guests stay over at your home for the holidays whether it be just over night or for a longer stay, my suggestion would be to have baskets made up for them a head of time.
b) In the baskets could be facecloths, towels, slippers, organic bars of soap, some mints, toothbrushes etc. Also, small bottles of hand sanitizers, shampoo, hairspray. What about snacks, cookies etc. You get the picture, personalize it, make it fun.
c) This also puts you at ease that everyone has their own products, and you are not scrambling to get them things.
d) Enjoy the blessing of being able to spend face to face time with loved ones.
At Chaos to Clarity, we help our clients with individual organizing needs; Downsizing, decluttering, office organizing, estate clear-outs and move management.
