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Posts Tagged ‘holidays’
Give the Gift of Organization!
This year, give the gift of organization!
A Simple Plan to Simplify Your Holidays!
SIMPLIFY YOUR HOLIDAYS!
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Last month we talked a LOT about how to reduce stress by planning ahead and organizing your Holiday activities. No matter how well you plan, your stress level is likely to be proportional to the length of your to-do list! When we get caught up in all of the bustle, we not only run the risk of becoming tired, cranky and run-down; we can ALSO forget the reason for our preparations.
If your Holiday preparations are launching you into panic mode, it’s time to step back and control the chaos. Here are some reminders of the BEST of the many suggestions that we have provided to our Monthly Organizer readers to simplify their Holidays AND their lives!
1) Write it all down! There are so many things to remember, aren’t there? Jot everything down, keep a calendar and a master list to help yourself stay organized.
2) Start early! Divide your task list into smaller pieces and spread your tasks over as much time as you can. We aren’t fond of seeing Christmas décor on the shelves before Halloween either, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get ahead with tasks like house cleaning and Christmas cards.
3) Take time to rest! Allow yourself time to rest and relax instead of hustling and bustling. Sometimes it helps to look at the Holidays through the eyes of a child.
4) Avoid the crowds! Make your purchases early if you can or opt for gift cards, charitable donations or other gifts that can be taken care of with a few clicks of the mouse instead of a trip to the store.
5) Get help! Don’t be afraid to assign tasks to family members, employees or associates. Your tasks may not be completed exactly the way you would do them, but at least they will be done!
6) Don’t break the bank! If your gift list is long and your funds are short, consider giving handmade crafts, baking or offering a service. Don’t forget to make a budget and stick to it!
7) Learn that important little word! It’s not “please” or even “thank you.” It’s “NO!” Set limits for yourself if you’re speading yourself too thin, and remember that you can’t do everything. Saying “no” can be hard but think of it as opening up more chances for you to say “yes.”
What’s our very best suggestion for simplifying your Holiday? Remember the reasons why you are celebrating and the things that are most important to you!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at A New Leaf Organizers!
P.S. Do you have other suggestions for simplifying your Holidays? Comment on our blog or Facebook page and let us know!
Get PRODUCTIVE…
..…with SEVEN great ways to reduce Holiday Stress!
1. Set up a Holiday action plan.
Start by determining what activities are most essential to bringing YOU that Holiday joy. Then, set goals based on how you will spend your time doing things that you value. Don’t forget to break down larger goals in smaller and more manageable tasks. Be sure to write them down, and refer to them often.
2. Keep your plans WITH YOU all of the time.
Include your appointments, task list, gift list (including ideas), contacts and budget notes with you, so that you will be able to make use of this information as you need it.
3. Spend time daily and weekly to review your plans.
Take time to review your goals. Chart your progress to make sure that you are on track AND that nothing critical gets overlooked. Set deadlines for your goals. Remember to be realistic, AND remember to reward your progress.
4. Create your Holiday budget AND stick to it.
Determine how much will you spend in total and for each person on your gift list. Take your budget with you, and keep track of what you’ve spent. Be sure to include an allowance in your budget for unforeseen circumstances like forgetting to include a person on your list, price increases, shipping costs and sales ending too soon.
5. Keep gift buying as simple as possible.
Limit the number of stores as well as the amount of time spent in each one. Online buying is a good alternative as long as you allow extra time and consider shipping costs in your budget. Follow your plan as closely as you can. Include some flexibility, so you still enjoy your gift buying experience.
6. Focus your time between work and play.
When you are working, don’t focus on your personal life and your never-ending to-do list. Do your best to leave work on time, so you CAN get those things done. Try to focus ONLY on family and friends while you are spending time with them.
7. Take time for your own personal well-being.
Whenever you are feeling stressed, take time to relax and refocus. Schedule time for self-renewal, exercise and healthy eating. If you can’t get everything done, focus on the things that matter most to you.
When you plan in advance and manage your time based on what is most important to you, you will have less stress and more peace during the Holidays AND in the New Year ahead.
Peace and Joy NOT Stress and Hurry!
STRESS-FREE HOLIDAYS
The Holidays are supposed to bring us joy.
..For many of us, it is also a time of stress.
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Many, but certainly not ALL sources of Holiday stress can be relieved to some degree by prior planning and organization.
Let’s take a look at the TOP TEN Most Stressful Holiday Activities List from Franklin Covey, a global leader in effectiveness training.
1. Spending too much money
2. Deciding which gifts to give to whom
3. Sending parcels and cards on time
4. Taking care of health and well-being
5. Not enough time for gift buying
6. Not enough time to attend events
7. Decorating and hosting parties
8. Managing workloads in order to take time off
9. Maintaining relationships with family and friends
10. Creating and sticking to a Holiday budget.
Most of these items probably sound quite familiar to most of us, and almost every one of them could be reduced or even eliminated with a bit of prior planning and organization.
We recommend that you start NOW (it IS November!) to make your own plan to relieve your Holiday stressors.
If you need a few ideas, read on to check out our suggestions to reduce Holiday stress. Print out a Holiday Checklist.
P.S. What stresses YOU most about the Holidays? Comment on our blog or Facebook page and let us know!
How to Store Your Holiday Decorations
‘TIS THE TIME OF YEAR…TO GET ORGANIZED
Holidays like Thanksgiving and Halloween are fun, but they
.can also create a challenge when it’s time to stow away those
.seasonal decorations.
We all know that the best solution is to store them out of the way, so that they don’t take up the space assigned to more frequently used things, but WHERE and HOW do you store them?
Here are a few suggestions we share with our clients:
1. Use a storage area like a garage, basement or attic, if you have one, so that they are out of sight but still easily accessible.
2. Choose a place that is easy to access. If you store them in a place that takes too much effort to access, you might make organizing for these occasions a chore even before you start to celebrate.
3. Label containers so you know where to look. If you are a fan of those giant plastic storage tubs (which, unfortunately, you can’t see through), be sure to use different coloured containers based on the event, such as red for Christmas, orange for Halloween and green for St. Patrick’s Day.
4. Group items by occasion or season. It’s okay to combine Halloween and Thanksgiving or Christmas and New Year’s decor, for instance, but try to avoid combining several occasions into one container. If you have only a few decorations, just use a smaller container.
5. Purge as you pack. Did you use those pumpkin lights this year? If not, what are the chances you will use them next year? If you’ve received a new item, try finding an old item for it to replace and PURGE!
Get started and turn over another leaf!
We wish everyone a safe, happy and organized October!
P.S. Check out our Facebook page every Monday to see a new MARTHA MONDAY organizing video on this topic…and many more!
Healthy Tips for Eating on the Run
The holidays usually mean busy days. When eating on the run, we often choose options that are not the best.
Start your day with these Egg Muffins.
How much food do you waste?
Did you know “More than $31 billion worth of food is wasted every year in Canada and when energy, water and other resource costs are factored in the true cost could be up to three times that much”? Click here to read more.
“Fifty per cent of food waste in Canada is happening at the household level … with Canadian households spending $1,500 annually on wasted food, about a bag of groceries a week.” Tommara Soma shares her tips in Five ways to reduce your food waste.
Get Motivated to Declutter Your Holiday
Make Room for Holiday Cheer: 5 Ways to Declutter Your Home offers some great tips.
Get motivated to declutter!
Simplify Your Holiday Without Feeling Like a Scrooge!
It’s December!
The holidays are in full swing, and the end of the year is quickly _approaching.
As the clock ticks down, and your to-do list gets longer, it often helps to be reminded to keep things simple.
Take a moment to read Kat Lee’s article How to simplify the holidays without feeling like a Scrooge.
Whatever your plans for the holidays, I hope you take the time to relax and enjoy time with family and friends–whatever means the most to you!
January will be here before you know it. Big plans are in the works for 2015. Until then …
Let’s get started and turn over another leaf!
Healthy Holiday Choices
The holidays mean homemade goodies. Remember–moderation is key!
If you like to bake, check out these Fancy Christmas Cookies.
Did you remember? Did you test your smoke detector and change the batteries on the weekend we fell back to Standard Time?
Beginning November 1, 2014, every home in Ontario must have a carbon monoxide detector. For more information, click here.
It’s never too late to make healthier choices!
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