Organize + Energize: Dealing With Holiday Stress

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Kristin MacRae, GoLocalWorcester Organizing Expert

Are the holidays making you lose your cool? Check out this list to see what would ease the crazy next year.

Well, we are almost half way through the holiday craziness! How are you handling it? Are you feeling the stress? Are you still purchasing gifts and running around, getting stuck in traffic at peak times and feel like you are running on empty?

Save this article and refer to it when the holidays are over. Think about the following and think about how you can make the holidays next year a little less stressful and overwhelming and more enjoyable and relaxing. Did you do any of the following this year?

Did you plan ahead?

If you know you have to bake, cook, or host a party, prepare anything ahead of time that you can. Write out menus and food shopping lists. If you have tons of gifts to purchase, start keeping a list of whom you have to buy for and what you might like to buy them.

Did you prepare?

Anything you can prepare ahead of time, do it!

Did you keep to-do lists and follow through?

These daily to-do lists will keep you on track. Crossing items off the list will give you a feeling of accomplishment.

Did you maintain a calendar?

Get everything out of your head and onto paper. Never forget an important date again during the holidays. Let go of that mental clutter.

Did you maintain a clutter free and organized home?

If your home is organized, it’s one less thing you have to worry about during the holidays. You won’t be shoving items in a closet when you know company is arriving. Imagine never having to do that again. You can now focus on other holiday preparations.

Did you make unnecessary trips to the market or mall?

Make your list and check it twice. Do you really want to head out during peak traffic hours during the holidays because you forgot the most important ingredient to your recipe or that special gift you were supposed to purchase?

Did you waste money?

You will waste money if you are disorganized. You will probably be searching for items in a rush during the holiday season and when you can’t find it, you will just go out and purchase another item, which will lead to wasted money.

Did you create unnecessary stress for yourself?

The holidays bring unwanted stress. You could eliminate one unnecessary stressor in your life just by becoming organized.

Even if you choose two of the above and work on them next year it will make a difference! Make notes and save this and refer to it next year. Take small baby steps and those baby steps will get you energized to move forward with more organizing projects!

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. She has appeared on air on Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio and her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to start. She is also available for organizing workshops. Tune into her weekly radio show, Organize, Energize! on Mondays at 8:30am on www.talkstreamradio.com.

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