The Blog

How Are You Managing the Holiday Havoc?

11/29/2011 By Nancy Borg With 1 comment

It’s that festive time of year again, and for most, a very busy and hectic time. We all have so much on our plates.  But guess what? Despite the challenging economy, the holidays are still coming.  Some of us may resist jumping in just yet, but eventually, we all get captured by the holiday spirit.

No doubt about it, holiday mania can be very overwhelming and stressful.  Let’s see…we have Chanukah and Xmas presents to buy for our friends, family, and business acquaintances. Add to the list, the local favorites, i.e. manicurist, hairdresser, postman, etc.), or perhaps a favorite teacher or receptionist.

Additionally, you might have a secret Santa grab bag to buy for a business or social event.  And whether it be business related or just casual gatherings, there are holiday parties everywhere, which may inspire you to shop for some new and  trendy party clothes.

Ugh, humbug…are we done yet?  Nope, not quite. But don’t stress.

Here are some tips that might help you cope with the madness;

Holiday Shopping:  Go home, make a list. Jot down the friends, family, etc. for whom you need to buy gifts for, estimate how much you’re going to spend for each, and carry it with you while shopping.  Have an agenda and destination in mind (on paper, or smart phone) before you go shopping.

Without a list, you can get easily distracted and side-tracked and perhaps be in danger of buying something you don’t need. If you stay on task, you won’t be shocked when the credit card bills arrive because YOU managed it.  Chances are, if you have don’t have a specific person in mind on a list, you will find yourself roaming aimlessly for hours and most probably exit, confused, distraught, and empty-handed.

Holiday Gift Wrap: Let’s address all the wrapping paper, ribbons and bows already in your inventory.  They can create a huge mess if not properly organized. Consider all the new incoming wrapping paper. Those little gift cards (or stickers, even better) are a MUST for labeling the gifts, especially if you want to ensure that Aunt Shirley doesn’t get Uncle Ted’s tie.  Manage the chaos by labeling everything, and create a gift list so you can keep track for next year too. There are convenient wrapping paper storage containers like this one to organize your holiday wrapping all year long.  Perfect for a top shelf or under the bed access. http://www.containerstore.com/shop/giftPackaging/organizers?productId=10006022&green=FF8CD23A-BBE1-5CF3-943C-70A097BD5197 There are many more options available at the Container Store.

Holiday Decor: Start early. Hopefully you have some kind of storage system already in place for retrieving all of your holiday decor, so the prep won’t be that crazy. But if you’re wondering where you put your favorite tablecloths, Chanukah menorah, or tree ornaments, this could be a stressful process.  But it need not be. Change it up this year and purchase storage bins for your inventory and box them with “like” categories, and label the contents.  Designate a consistent spot in a closet, garage, or attic. Next year will be a breeze!

Holiday Entertaining:  If you are hosting, I’m guessing you are frenzied with the endless amounts of money exhausted on holiday decorations, party goods, table settings, home decor, food, etc. Plan your menu ahead, and create a detailed shopping list to follow.

Visualize the actual dinner table and backtrack on how to create it. Break it down into smaller steps so you can maintain control throughout the planning and minimize last-minute anxiety. Write it all down so it is out of your head and onto a piece of paper.  It’s so easy to forget the simplest things when your brain is over-burdened.

Be a smart shopper and buy decorative holiday decor that will endure another season.  Pack it, preserve it, so you can store it away in your new storage bins.

Even if you are not hosting, there will additional spending on bringing a hostess gift, cooking a dish, baking, or purchasing some delectable pastry. Plan for it and schedule it to happen. Avoid the multiple runs to the liquor store (for that person you forgot to buy a gift for) and keep extra bottles of wine or vodka handy. Be prepared.  FYI, alcohol is the gift no one ever returns, lol.

Holiday Travel:  And if you are one of the fortunate ones that are also packing for a Xmas vacation with the family, it will require an even greater sense of organization.  The key to getting through all this merriment without having a meltdown is doing just what Santa does…making a list, jotting it down, and checking it twice.  Yep, lists, lists, and more lists. Better still, devise a standard checklist to refer to for all future travel.

Holiday Parties:  These are the fun things to keep track of, so keep an organized calendar and mark down all the dates you want to schedule in the month. Set up reminders to alert yourself to respectively RSVP and avoid double-booking. Of course, there will be some parties you’ll want to go to, and others you’ll have to attend. Prioritize and check off as you go.  If you’re on a budget, shop for clothing that can cross over for both business and casual attire.

Organize your holiday. Manage your time. Prepare by sticking to a daily plan and prioritizing tasks. Decide this year to make the holidays both joyful and productive.

Be merry, not stressed.  You choose.

 

 

 

 

Posted in: Move the Mess Blog

Post A Comment

Please count the objects:
Enable this image please
 I see:
-
+
-
+
-
+
Ironclad CAPTCHA (Security Stronghold)

 

 

Read this post on single page to comment →

How to Avoid Burn-out

11/15/2011 By Nancy Borg With 8 comments

toast-2_optAre there days that you actually feel like burnt toast? Burnt out and ready to crack? Overworked and sleep deprived? You are not alone.

With the challenges of today’s economy, it seems now that people are working harder than ever before.  We must.  We have to, we have no choice.  So many, in fact, are fighting solely in survival mode.  Indeed, we are stressed, pressed, and overwhelmed.  But we cannot be our BEST selves if we are constantly pushing the envelope.

In truth, being a workaholic can prove to be counterproductive.

Take a mental health day.  It’s mandatory for the soul.  Impose a day off from routine tasks. Cut yourself some slack and give yourself a break every once in a while, it’s the best medicine.   No need to drown yourself in commitment and operate in full throttle 24/7.  We are fragile.  We must pay attention to our individual capacities and be mindful when we reach our max.

We all have different measures of burn-out.  I’m all for productivity and setting goals, but I also advocate setting parameters. Whether it’s a day off, or a free weekend, use this time to recharge your battery.  Sometimes doing nothing is something. Free yourself of the little annoying tasks that don’t have to get done, take a walk instead.  Watch a movie, take a nap, frolic in a street fair or wander aimlessly without purpose.  It’s OK (now and then) to give yourself permission to relax and reset.

So if you sense that burn-out is encroaching,  adjust your personal toaster and modify the settings.   If burnt toast is not your ideal preference, then monitor and control the heat BEFORE you crash and burn.

Pay attention. Keep a healthy pace. Find the balance. You will not only succeed, you will soar.

Read this post on single page to comment →

Do Your Kids Have Too Many Toys?

11/08/2011 By Nancy Borg With 3 comments

Does your playroom look like this?  Are there heaps of unused, impartial, or broken toys?  Is it too much to organize?

I grew up with the notion that every day was children’s day, at least that’s what my parents always told me.  For many children, birthdays and holidays aren’t the only time to get presents. Truth be told,  when I became a parent myself,  I understood this to be embarrassingly true.

This is what I’ve discovered.  Parents take great pleasure in spoiling their kids, and interesting to note,  I’ve seen this tendency cross over every financial bracket.  The levels may vary but the indulgence is the same.  Here’s the way the cycle goes; Kids love toys…toys make kids happy…parents love kids, and so parents continue to buy their kids toys.  Happy kids equals happy parents.  But as parents, we must tread a fine line between appropriate rewards and over-acquiring. We could be doing our children a great injustice if we don’t set limits.  Children grow older and will need parameters to guide them as they mature.

Long before our children have the opportunity to lose interest with a toy, there is a new incoming one, or even one on the way, after being lured into the latest and greater one as seen on TV.   Some parents are better at self-control than others and can execute the power of a simple “No.” And for the others that struggle and succumb to consumerism and popular demand?   Uh oh….the cycle just repeats itself.  They keep asking and we keep on giving.  So what does a parent to do?

If your playroom is beginning to look a lot more like Toys R Us than a home, then it’s time to talk about how much is too much. Here’s the thing, if it’s overwhelming to YOU, chances are it is more confusing for them.  Having too many choices can be overkill. Sensory overload can block a child’s ability to focus on one task at a time. It always seems to come back to less is more.  In fact, less stuff is less to clean up.

Let’s consider some solutions.  Sometimes, it’s a good idea to remove some toys and re-introduce them at a later date. as ready. Or better yet, when the kids are of age to understand, teach them to donate to other less privileged. Recycle their toys.  Imagine a poor child who cherishes a toy or book because it is indeed his or her only toy.   Giving back is an invaluable and powerful lesson that will carry through into adulthood.

Holidays and birthdays are great opportunities to re-organize the inventory.  Together with your kids, clean out the toys that rarely get played with, and donate to a charity. If they have outgrown them, pass them on to another child that will appreciate it.  Teach them to honor, respect and care for their toys. Practice the “one in, one out”  strategy before you purchase a new toy.  No need to buy a new toy when they’re not even playing with the old ones they already have.

Playrooms piled high with toy clutter can’t be that fun. Clean out often and create more space so their creative minds can flourish.  Toys are meant to play with, so let the children play.

 

Read this post on single page to comment →

Pages