The holidays are meant to be a time of love, joy, peace, and goodwill toward all humanity. For many of us, though, tis the season of feeling busy, stressed, and disorganized. With so many activities and events packed into one month of the year, it can be hard to manage your time, get everything done, and keep your house from erupting into total chaos. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Here are six tips for anyone wondering how to stay organized around the holidays.
How To Stay Organized Around the Holidays
Prioritize
We can put a lot of pressure on ourselves to do it all during the holidays, but remember that it’s okay to say no. If you overcommit, you will naturally feel overwhelmed. Part of staying organized around the holidays involves setting reasonable expectations. This means prioritizing what events, activities, and tasks are most important to you and your family. Maybe you spend an evening together hanging ornaments on the tree but pass on setting up the outdoor light display this year. Or you forego the neighborhood Christmas party because it’s on the same weekend as your big family get-together. Setting your priorities in advance helps you avoid stress and guilt later in the season when you realize—as you inevitably will—that you just can’t do it all.
Plan Well and Start Early
Rush and chaos are two words often associated with the holiday season, but a lot of this comes down to poor planning and time management. The best way to combat disorder and hurry is to start early with a detailed plan. Once you know your holiday priorities, make lists to help you stay on top of everything—people you plan to exchange gifts with, must-do holiday activities, etc. Then, schedule your time accordingly and start right away. You can beat the rush by taking care of tasks like gift shopping and holiday cards before the season even starts. When you finish these flexible tasks early, you’ll have more time to enjoy things like cooking and party preparation during the festive season itself.
Declutter in Advance
Get a head start on staying organized around the holidays with some pre-emptive decluttering. Still have a stack of cards from last year sitting in a pile? Sort through and recycle them before you receive new ones. Planning to exchange gifts? Take stock of what you own and make space for new presents. This is also a great opportunity to teach children about giving—have them pick out toys and clothes to donate that they have outgrown or no longer want.
Schedule in Downtime
Your calendar isn’t just for noting important events and reminders. It can also be a way to break up the busyness so you don’t forget to relax. The more stressed we are, the more disorganized and frustrated we can become. Schedule downtime for family movies or solo self-care nights so that you feel refreshed enough to tackle the rest of your to-do list.
Deck the Halls with Your Future Self in Mind
When it comes time to decorate, think of your future self throughout the process. As you put up decorations, be mindful of what you don’t use and consider tossing or donating those items. Don’t let unwanted decor languish in boxes where it will take up space and drain your energy year after year. When January comes and you begin putting everything away, don’t rush—organize your boxes the way future you would like to find them next holiday season. If you haven’t already, consider investing in clear storage bins and labels for different sets of decorations or rooms in the house. That way, next year you can quickly locate the pieces you need and save time otherwise spent rifling through bins looking for your nativity set or tree star.
Ask for Help From A Professional Organizer In Dallas
Sometimes the best strategy for staying organized around the holidays is to ask for help! All of us at Totally Organized are here to help you manage your to-do list. From planning an elaborate event to decluttering your home to organizing your decoration storage system, our professional organizers know how to stay organized around the holidays. We will return order to your home during the festive season so you can get back to feeling merry and bright. Contact us today for a free quote!