Five Tips to Get Organized for the Hectic Holiday Season
'Tis the hectic holiday season. These tips from professional organizer Sally Allen will provide more precious time for favorite holiday activities with family and friends.
1. Tackle greeting cards a little at a time. If you don't already have a Christmas or holiday card list, create one. Use index cards in a file box with A to Z alphabetical dividers. Even better, create a database on your PC so it's easy to add, delete and print mailing labels. Now, you can break this chore into manageable pieces. A month before mailing your holiday cards, schedule time on your weekly calendar for writing cards to people whose names begin with A to G, the following week tackle the H to N names, and so on.
2. Shopping list strategies. Rather than keeping a shopping list in your head, put it down on paper. Group it by family members, friends, clients, etc. Highlight those that must be mailed and tackle them first.
3. Shop smartly. Shop midweek if possible, and try clustering your shopping rather than driving from one part of town to another. Armchair shopping - catalogue or online -saves even more time.
4. Gift wrap as you go. Wrap gifts soon after bringing them home, or better yet, have them wrapped at the store. That way, there are no last-minute wrapping chores and "naked" gifts won't be discovered.
5. Call in the troops. Get the family involved in decorating and meal planning. Assign tasks and make it a tradition. Assign start dates for each activity - carry these dates forward every year so it makes for a no-brainer the next year. And, don't forget to assign a clean-up committee.
