Time-Saving Holiday Organizing Tips
by Jessica Crouch

Description: Creative, time-saving organizing tips for a less stressful holiday season.

This week I will share some holiday tips from our readers. Speaking of the holidays, how did your planning, preparation, and organization turn out for Thanksgiving? Have you found your balance between getting ready and having fun? Are you still looking for ways to make your next holiday gathering smoother? Take a look at these time-saving, stress-relieving tips that just might make your holiday festivities like a day at the beach.

”We take gifts to three separate houses for Christmas. The gifts going to each house are all wrapped in the same paper. When we need to pull them out from under the tree, we just need to identify the paper. We do not need to look at each gift tag. When making dips, cookies, etc., I double the batch and freeze half of it. This saves preparation time for the second event.”

Now that we have some ideas for easy preparation when we go to someone else’s house, what are some ideas to help when we host? Try this great tip to make decorating (and undecorating) a snap. Another reader suggests separating decorations by room when you store them. “That way, I could bring up one box at a time and get one area at a time decorated and not have boxes all over my house. As I decorate each area, I put in the boxes the objects replaced by the decorations so there is no stashing in closets like I use to do. And of course, each box/container is labeled with the area it decorates. We buy popcorn tins to eat on Christmas Eve, and I use these for small areas like windows – and tree lights.”

To take decorating and storage organization one more step, you can take a picture of both your hung decorations and your storage area with all your containers neatly stacked if you find the perfect arrangement. Benefits: You do not have to spend extra time remembering where or how you liked your decorations last year or how to make all your containers fit back on the shelf. Do you get overwhelmed by all your decorations? Would you like to find a way to part with some decorations or rotate them? Are you still searching for the perfect way to fit all your containers on the shelf? Often times, all you need is a fresh perspective or another pair of eyes to help you see a solution. If a friend or family member does not fit the bill, a professional organizer is a great resource for ideas and physical help.

Have you ever wrapped all the presents, decorated your house, and remembered you forgot to send Christmas cards? You can always choose to send your cards another time of year (i.e. New Years, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc.). Some of these other times of year can be less hectic and stressful. Besides, who does not love an unexpected card? If you still want to send cards at Christmas, this reader’s tip may get you out of a jam. Have one of your children draw a picture of your family. List each person’s activities under their picture. In no time at all, you have an original Christmas card that everyone will love. To avoid this predicament next year, count back from the time you want the cards sent so you know when to start writing.

Did all these great tips get you thinking about those things on your list (or accidentally left off your list)? Would you like some help creating or crossing off some items on your list before your next holiday? Contact Jessica (organizedforyou@mchsi.com or 319-504-6689) at Organized For You! for your FREE consultation. Organized For You! is here to help you no matter what your holiday or everyday needs. For other questions, comments, speaking and training needs, tips, or gift certificates, please contact Jessica or check out the Organized For You! website at http://home.mchsi.com/~organizedforyou. Let us help you make every day like “a day at the beach”.