Organization, Week by Week: Week 7

This week on Organization, Week by Week, I'm going after the holidays. 

I think most people stress over Christmas (or whatever holiday you opt to celebrate!) more than they stress over work or school or anything else. It doesn't have to be stressful — not if you're prepared in advance!

Download printables or make your own — and attack! 

I linked to a great website, Christmas Your Way, and they have dozens of free printables to satisfy your every Christmas/holiday need. I love using the gift planning worksheet, but there's also a Black Friday shopping list, a Christmas card list, and tons of others. And if you can't find it, make it yourself! 

Even if you're not usually a planner, if you stress over Christmas you need to plan something — even if you just use an app on your iPhone. Being able to write down what I planned on buying for each member of my family and all of my friends helped me get it done efficiently. 

You don't need to buy presents for everyone.

You need to think about who you're buying gifts for and why you're buying them. You buy gifts for close family and friends, maybe coworkers. You buy presents for people you interact with regularly — but you don't have to buy a present for every single person you see on a daily basis. 

And it's okay to not buy the perfect present for everyone. Settle for a gift card tucked in a nice card once in a while. It's the thought that counts. 

Make sure to write down all of your commitments for the month of December.

Everyone has a Christmas/holiday party in December, and you want to go to all of them. It's possible, maybe, to hit every holiday party and work party, but make sure you write it down on a calendar or in your planner as soon as you get the invitation. 

Don't forget to write down details such as if you're expected to bring a gift or food! 

When you unpack your decorations this year, purge.

Don't keep unwanted or unneeded decorations. 

Unless you have a two year old that likes to pull everything they touch down to the ground, use what you have! If you don't have a place for it, don't keep it. If you don't like it, don't keep it. If you don't put it up this year, don't keep it unless it has sentimental value. And if it has sentimental value, put it somewhere where everyone can see and enjoy! 

(Oh, and nothing is wrong with re-gifting Christmas decorations if they're in good condition. I don't criticize.)

When you pack your decorations up after the holidays, organize.

If you're anything like my family, your decorations get tucked into a big plastic container or box and sent up to the attic (or basement, or closet, etc.) Label those boxes! Keep like decorations together. It's better to have an entire box of figurines (ugh, dust-collectors) neatly labeled than to have three boxes of who-knows-what that you have to dig through. Save yourself stress for next year.

Also, no matter what you do, your Christmas lights are going to get tangled. Just give it up.

Keep backup presents.

I've never done this before, but my mom is guilty of it — and it's a good idea, if you have the space, the time, and the money to do it!

When my mom goes to Belk's and there's a huge jewelry sale, especially around this time of year, she tends to buy those little boxed sets and set them aside for future Christmas presents. Have a place where you can keep these extra presents that you haven't given away. 

That way, if a Christmas party comes up unexpected or you totally forgot to buy something for that sister-in-law you don't really like... crisis averted.

Please organize your wrapping paper/gift bags/etc.

Before you stress so much you send yourself to the hospital, just organize it. Buy a container specifically for Christmas wrapping paper and supplies. Make sure you throw out any wrapping paper scraps, bags that are ripped/ruined/not useful, etc., or find a friend who can use what you can't. If you can't use it, dump it. Keep an extra pair of scissors and tape in the box so you don't have to go looking. 

In my family, we keep two boxes of wrapping paper. One for Christmas in the attic, and one that we keep under Mom's bed for everything else! It's a great system that works really well for us — and probably anyone with the space and time. 

 Don't forget what's important.

Christmas isn't for buying presents and dragging yourself all over until you're absolutely exhausted. Make time to spend time with the people you care about, and give yourself time to rest. No one can do everything at once.