Organizing Tips for the Holiday Season

If you are anything like me, then you have spent too many Holidays running around at the last minute. Stressful holidays are not fun for anyone. At the end of yet another hectic holiday season, I always promise myself "next year will be different!" If you are tired of saying something similar to yourself each year, try getting yourself organized NOW for the upcoming holiday season. Here are some suggestions to try:

Get a binder and fill it with paper. Also get dividers, labels, page protectors, pens, and a calculator. Use this as your Holiday Organizer. Shopping lists, gift ideas holiday recipes, guest lists, schedules, etc. can be located easily.

Buy your Christmas Cards as early as possible. Also buy stamps. Make sure you have bought enough cards the first time out, so as to not have to do this task again. Keep cards with you and fill them out whenever you have spare time, such as your child's soccer practice, waiting in your car for your child to come out from school, vet's office and just whenever you have a few free minutes. Try setting aside time every evening to get some cards done. Stamp as soon as you have sealed a card. This year you will be ahead of the game and can get your cards mailed out early instead of just before New Years (guilty!).

Try to do as much of your holiday shopping online and mail order. When you do need to go to the mall for holiday shopping, it is best to go early in the morning or early afternoon. Try to avoid weekends and late afternoon/evening times.

Keep all gift-wrapping supplies in one location, or better yet, a portable container of some type. Have gift tags, tape scissors, ribbon, bows and whatever else you might use in wrapping your gifts inside. This is a great way to not waste time searching for the tape! Also, if you wrap as you buy, I guarantee Christmas Eve will be more relaxing!

If you will be going out of town for the holidays, make a master packing list early. If you will be flying, do not bother wrapping gifts. They will be unwrapped at the airport. It is best to mail presents ahead of time, so they will be there when you arrive.

Have clutter cleared up before guests arrive. Focus on areas that your guests will be using. Have space in the hall closet available for coats. Have guest bathrooms clean with fresh towels and soaps. A gift-wrapped box (or two!) makes a great hiding place for odds and ends that are cluttering up your house. You can quickly declutter and you won't forget about those items later!

Keep your camera and all accessories accessible and charged. Have a set of new batteries available. If you have a digital camera, pick software to organize and upload photos so everyone in your family can enjoy them.

If you will be having overnight guests, collect sample size lotions, soaps, and other toiletries and fill a decorative basket with them. Have some magazines and books on the nightstand. Maybe leave some stationary out as well.

Lastly, think about last year's Holiday Season. Make a list now of all the things you wished you had done then, and put them on the top of your list now!