Simple Ways to Stay Organized Over the Holidays

Whether you are hosting, have kids in the home, or just want things to be as peaceful as possible during the holidays, here are some tips for keeping this manageable during this often crazy time.

1. Plan Ahead – Before the holiday, get things in order.
   – Make a list of gifts and mark them when each gift is actually in your home. Then mark them another way when they are wrapped. I like a Google doc, but you can use the notes app in your phone or a good old piece of paper.
   – Make a list of the food you are making. Put the recipes together either with the list or digitally and create a list of items you will need from your kitchen and a shopping list for the items you need to buy. It is also a good idea to buy items that will not spoil earlier in the process. This can often also mean you can get a deal on those canned, frozen, and dry goods.
2. Clean Ahead – Do an overall cleaning about a week ahead. Then do a reset at the end of each day and a follow-up clean before guests arrive.
   – Create a list for your full cleaning and work through the list so you can check things off.
   – For the nightly reset, focus on the shared areas of your home, i.e. kitchen, living room and guest bathroom.

Gifts, Toys, Crafts, and Other Things That Create Clutter

There is bound to be a little bit of clutter during the holiday fun, and this is one time you can let the chaos go on for a while, if you are comfortable with it. If you are good with the kids opening their toys and then playing with them all day while they are strewn about the living room, go for it. This is a holiday and it is ok to just relax.

However, if you need some help with keeping that day-to-day chaos under control, try these tips.

1. At the end of each night, reset the items too. Putting the toys and items back where they belong means you get to start fresh each day.
2. Do you do a lot of crafts during this season? Put the needed items in a bin together (preferably a wipeable one). Then they can remain in the room where you are crafting without them being everywhere. After each session, put them back in the bin.
3. Put the gifts under the tree while they are still wrapped. If they don’t fit, put them all in a bin in the basement or an area out of the way until the night before or morning of.
4. Once the gifts are opened, give each person a bag, box or bin to put their items. Then they are together in one spot, but they don’t have to take them to their rooms or a playroom yet. And, of course, it also means you aren’t likely to step on or fall over them. ☺️

But MOST importantly, take a breath and remember this is a short time and it is SO much more important to have quality moments with our family and friends than it is to have things spotless.

After the celebrating is over, if you would like help getting things back in order, contact me so we can see how I can help you.

Need more information or would you like to schedule your FREE consultation?

Contact denise hudak at 330-414-0963 or denise.hudak@gmail.com