Preparing for the Holiday Season

With the holiday season just around the corner, I wanted to share some of my little tips to help you with organisation over the holiday period. 

Create a calendar (and use it), whether you use your phone, one hanging up on the wall or a plain weekly/monthly one. Write up all the important dates and times for events such as end of school, work Christmas parties or carol services. You want to remember everything and not feel the stress if you are late to an event or miss it altogether. Having it all sorted in a calendar helps you keep track of who you'll be seeing, if you'll need to take any gifts, etc. Being organised rather than running around for last-minute presents is certainly one way to make the holiday period more enjoyable. 

Clean out your kitchen and pantry. Ensure items are still in date and throw away anything that has expired. I like to write a list of everything I need and then cross off what I already have; the remainder of the list I'll need to go and purchase or get from somebody. I like to do this as early as possible and get all the non-perishable items. As someone who has worked in a supermarket during Christmas, I try to get it done at least a month before Christmas so I'm not battling with crowds, and usually, the items I need are still plenty in stock.

Get out your decorations and keep a log of what you've got. It's also an excellent time to check any lights and ensure they all work. If you don't usually have your decorations organised, this is also a great time to think about how to store them once the holidays are over. You may need storage solutions, such as boxes, bags or a light storage wheel, to prevent lights from getting tangled again. Kmart has some great storage solutions including these tree and light bags. A trick I use is to label the outside of the box with the contents so I know what's in it without needing to take it down and rummage through. 

Make lists of those you've received gifts from and those you are giving gifts to. This is a great way to see who you need to buy for and who you need to thank. You can take it further by jotting down ideas for gifts and where to purchase them from. 

Regarding gifts, I've found a wrapping bag/box to be a genius solution to hold all the wrapping paper, ribbons, name tags, sticky tape and even a spare pair of scissors. Plus, they're the perfect size to store under your bed or up in a closet. Having a gift-wrapping bag has been a game changer in my house; everything is all in one place! Again, Kmart has a great option for storing gift wrap. I'm not affiliated with any of these products; I just love how great and affordable they are. 

Now it's time to start preparing for the holiday season! Go write up your calendars and start making those lists and if you're needing any help over the holiday period contact us