stress free holiday

Holiday Countdown – Checking in

November 23, 2013 by clutterbusting Leave a Comment

We are now 4-1/2 weeks away from Christmas. Where are you with your holiday planning? If you started around November 1 you should be making some progress on your task list and hopefully you are feeling less stressed.

Have you been able to break your task list down and handle a little bit at a time?

Even if you are just getting started here are some ideas to divide and conquer your holiday task list in four weeks:

Select two days each week to work on your holiday to-do list. Write it in your calendar.
Group errands together. Buy all the children’s gifts at the same time. Buy staples and stocking stuffers from the same store.
Delegate tasks to other household members. Get your family members (based on age and skill level) to help with items still left on the “to do” list such as decorating, baking, wrapping, shopping or decorating.

Make your plan and work your plan and your holiday will be joyful instead of stressful.

What’s Your Vision for the Holiday?

November 10, 2012 by clutterbusting Leave a Comment

So let’s start with the end in mind.

In order to craft your best, less stressed holiday, figure out what that looks like. Think about the best holiday you had as a kid. What would your best holiday look like? To help think about it ask yourself:

What things do I do on the holiday?
What is my favorite family tradition?
How do I like to feel on the holiday?
What is my favorite holiday memory?
How do I plan to celebrate this year?

So take a deep breath, close your eyes, get a clear picture of the holidays of your dreams and then write it down.

Now use that vision to craft the holiday of your dreams.

Clutter Busting: For the Holidays

October 31, 2009 by clutterbusting Leave a Comment

With the holidays fast approaching are you looking forward to them in anticipation or dread? Do you look around the house and wonder how you are ever going to do all the stuff you need to do for your family to have a great holiday season and for you not to be stressed out?

It comes down to attitude and action. Over the next few weeks I will address a variety of topics designed for clutter busting for the holidays.

Are you a pack rat? Do you procrastinate? Are you sentimental about your stuff? Do you not have time?

Clutter busting for the holidays really starts with your mental clutter.

As a first step to clutter busting for the holidays visualize the holiday you want this year. Do you want a large family party or a quiet time at home? Do you want to deck the halls, the stairs, every room and the exterior of the house or is a tree enough?

Once you understand what you want, you can start to look at your beliefs about the holidays and determine which ones still serve you and which you need to discard… or which are mental clutter.

Once you have a clear picture of the holiday you desire, you can then move toward the holidays with anticipation and not fear. This will also set the foundation for the plans and actions that will move you toward a stress free holiday.