Organizing Tips to Save Your Sanity This Holiday Season
The holidays are officially here! If "easy" and "stress-free" aren't words you would typically use to describe this special time, I got you! Read on for my best organizing tips to simplify the season:
1. Only shop at stores that offer gift wrap. (I have found that most local boutiques offer this service.) If your Christmas plans involve travel, buy online and have gifts wrapped and shipped directly to the recipients.
2. Declutter the playroom now to make space for the onslaught of new toys. (Need a strategy? Check out How to Clear the Toy Clutter before Christmas and Hanukkah)
3. Lean into gift ideas that won't become next year's clutter. Kids love memberships to museums or zoos, or even just a "Movie Date with Grandma." Subscriptions to Audible or Masterclass are the new gift that keeps on giving. Make someone's day easier by giving gift certificates for mani/pedis, car washes, dry cleaning, or a dinner of their choice via UberEats. My favorite teacher gifts include gift certificates to Books&Books, a beloved independent bookstore, and lottery tickets.
Pro Tip: Get creative! I recently recommended that a client gift her daughter a private class with a makeup artist at Sephora, rather than add to her already overwhelming collection of cosmetics.
4. The holidays are all about gathering and entertaining, so focus on getting your kitchen, entryway, and other guest spaces in order. Come up with a plan using How to Get Your House Ready for Holiday Guests -- or book a session for our Holiday Tidy service.
5. Traveling for the holidays? Before you put anything in a suitcase, check the weather and your itinerary so that you know what to pack. Simplify your morning and evening bathroom routine by storing day cosmetics and toiletries in one pouch, and night ones in another other. (Did you know that we offer packing services???)
6. Don’t stress about holiday cards. Since we’re already well into December, it might be cutting it too close to send out holiday cards this year. You can avoid the rush entirely by opting to send cards for a different holiday, like Valentine’s Day.
7. Create one family holiday calendar to hang in a central place in your home. Have the calendar handy when you open invitations or check email, so you can easily add the event. Don’t forget to leave blank spaces, too, so that you have time to savor the holidays with your immediate family.
With these organizing tips in mind, you will have more time to focus on the things that matter most during the holiday season.
But our support doesn’t stop there. If you need help putting away all of your decor after the festivities are over, we would be glad to help. Contact us about our Holiday Tidy service for all of your pre- and post-holiday organizing needs.