Organizing for the Holidays by Cynthia Kyriazis
You know they're coming. They arrive every year. At the same time...The
Holidays.
As a Professional Organizer, I hear many clients express some degree of
a concern over their ability to get things done and still enjoy the
holidays without feeling overwhelmingly stretched or preoccupied. Right
around that time we talk about the importance of putting family and
friends first and how enjoying time with them is part of what the
holidays are all about.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state
unequivocally that 80% of our medical expenditures are now stress
related. -Fast Company Magazine, 2/03
But let's face it. The lifestyle of this new millennium can leave us
feeling even more stressed than the last millennium! We can't ignore
the fact that although we love the holidays, if we don't prepare before
they arrive, we experience stress around what should be an enjoyable
time of year.
42% of adults report that too often they feel that 'life is a treadmill
and I can't get off'
-Franklin Covey
Using some basic time management and organizing guidelines can be an
effective first step in helping you feel more in control and less
stressed before and during this special time of year. Her are some tips
and ideas that might help you regain control and peace of mind:
Set a Goal
As with any approach to a project, you first need
to decide the objective. We can't be all things to all people, so take
a minute to decide what you want to get out of this year's holidays.
Have a vision and ownership of it. Does your goal involve attending all
the parties to which you are invited? Hosting a party at work or home?
Having all your shopping done earlier than usual? Traveling to see
loved ones? Or experiencing quiet, unhurried and uninterrupted holidays
with family and friends? Decide what your goal is and commit it to
writing. Then place it somewhere where you can see it (written in you
planner, someplace on top of your desk, etc.) or even the crawl on your
computer monitor's screen saver. It's amazing what having this in front
of you as a reminder will do to help you achieve your goal.
Identify Your Priorities
Once you have your goal, then outline
the MOST important things you have to do to achieve it. Remember it's not
what is most pressing, but what is most important. Most of us recognize
that at the workplace, shifting priorities are the norm. But if you have
ownership of the goal it is easier to keep your eye on what's important
and return to it when you find yourself getting off track. Keep reminding
yourself of the resul
Spend Some Time Planning
This is one of the most important
steps you can take to help reduce stress levels, especially during the
end of the year and holiday season. Once your goals and priorities are
clear, begin thinking and planning what actions you need to take to
assure that you keep moving towards your objectives. This may mean
sitting down and making a list of the people for whom you would like to
buy gifts. Or you may have decided to host a party so you will need to
plan the date, the invitations and the menu. Maybe you want to decorate
your home without last minute rush. Create a timetable for what you
will do and when. Remember, 5 minutes of planning saves 30 minutes of
'doing'.
Scheduling Activities is Critical
As important as it is
to plan and ultimately have a 'to do' list, the most important aspect of
the list is to make sure it is scheduled in your calendar or planner. A
list is just a list until the activities on it are committed to a
specific event or time in your calendar. I know when I first started my
business, friends recommended that I schedule appointments with myself
by writing them directly into my calendar. I didn't think it would
work, but it did and it continues to be one of the best pieces of advice
I ever received for truly effective time management. If something is
committed to my calendar, it gets done.
Get organized!
Getting organized plays a big part in all of
this. Remember that time, paper and space are all connected. When you
work towards improvement in managing one area, you will generally see
direct improvement in another. So, start making lists, assigning
activities to your calendar, calling people for information, checking your
stock of wrapping paper and bows and even enlisting help to decorate. The
more proactive you are about making decisions and taking action, the
higher the likelihood that you will succeed in reaching
I hope these guidelines and tips have helped you get motivated and get
going so you and yours can experience a wonderful holiday season!
10 practical tips to get organized for the holidays:
Keep
an ongoing list of people and presents. If you maintain this list in
your computer, it will be easy to revise for next year.
If you are thinking of giving personal items, such as clothing or perfume, set
a date in your calendar by which you need to find out the person's
preference.
Consider gift certificates. They are always appreciated.
Consider on-line shopping. It saves time!
Consider making a donation to charity as a gift.
Order holiday cards with pre-printed return addresses on the envelopes.
If mailing overseas, mail early.
If mailing domestically, mail early and avoid overnight mailing charges.
At home, if you are having a party don't cook everything yourself. Save
time by having friends bring food.
At work, schedule a 'clean out my files' day between Christmas and New
Year's. It will help you get ready for January and 'Get Organized'
month.
Bio: Cynthia Kyriazis has over 25 years experience in operations
management in a multi-unit organization. She is a professional
organizer; speaker, trainer, consultant, author, coach and President of
Organize it, Inc.
Organize it, Inc. is a firm that specializes in helping business
professionals overcome time management and organizing challenges in
order to improve performance, increase productivity and reduce stress
levels. We assist individuals, teams and companies in gaining confidence
and control when it comes to paper, time, space and information
management.
