TIME-SAVING TIPS FOR  

THE HOLIDAYS  

Try using some of these ideas to help save yourself time this year:

Gifts

• Check in with groups you usually exchange gifts with and make sure everyone still wants to - chances are they may not!
• Buy online and avoid the lines.
• Buy the same gift for multiple people wherever possible.
• Shop before Thanksgiving or at off hours like evenings or weekday mornings or afternoons (avoid lunchtime).   
• Delegate wrapping or use gift bags
• If you are planning on passing on a special item someday, why not do it this holiday season?
• Mail out gifts before the second week of December while lines in the post office are shorter.

Holiday Cards

• Send an email card.
• Have others help personalize and address the cards.
• Put your addresses in the computer and print out labels.
• Consider shortening your list and only send cards to people you've communicated with in the last few years.

Decorating

• Keep decorations to a minimum - just enough to make your space feel festive.
• Delegate the decorating to family members and don't worry if they aren't done perfectly!
• Hire someone to put up your lights or even decorate the inside of your home.

Entertaining/ Cooking

• Cater instead of cooking yourself.
• Ask guests to bring a dish and make your event potluck.
• Make half of what you normally do - it is probably plenty!
• Purchase items from restaurants or grocers that offer holiday menus or Ala Carte items.
• Freeze ahead of time.
• Instead of baking 6 varieties of cookies, bake 3 or even just 1!
• Simplify your gathering by making it for coffee and dessert or wine and cheese instead of a big meal.

Most importantly, don't let "perfect" get in the way of "good". Share some of your holiday tasks with others even if they don't do them quite as well as you.

 Featured Project of  

the Quarter 

Just before the Holidays is a great time to clear out the clutter. You'll allow others to use the things you aren't when you donate them, you'll make room for any new gifts you may receive and you'll create better storage space for the things you want and use.

 

Altogether Organized Has A Facebook Page!

PLAN to Enjoy    

Your Holidays!   

Once you have decided which activities are the most important to you and your family this holiday season -- start planning for them.  By planning now you  won't feel frazzled and frenzied as the holidays approach.  

Make Your Checklists - write down everything you need to do for each of the activities you are focusing on this year. Getting these off your mind and onto paper will reduce your stress and help you get it all done.

Calendar Your "To Do's" - wondering when you will get it all done? Plot your tasks onto your calendar to make sure you're making time for them. You'll also see what you don't have time for and then you can decide if you want to rethink your plan.  

Figure Out What's Too Much -- don't feel you and your family have to attend every holiday event. Think about how many "fun things" you can do and still have fun! Don't feel bad about declining an invitation and remember you can always make plans with the host/hostess after the holidays instead.

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