The Blog

Shall we discuss the good, bad and ugly?  The good is that the chaos of the holidays are finally over; the bad is that the holidays are finally over and you have to wait an entire year til next Xmas season; and the ugly is the mess you are left to clean up.  For starters, The Christmas tree has to come down, the lights put away, the ornaments need to be boxed up, the wrapping paper and accompaniments need to be organized.  And I’m sure there are still random presents that need to be returned or exchanged. Where did all the joy go?  Doesn’t it feel like the holiday season peaks at Christmas and seems to take a huge nose dive after the New Year? So it is understandable and likely that many of us often feel a void after such concentrated jubilation.  But perhaps, we should look at it in another way.  Take this time to pause and reflect.  Be grateful that you had a holiday and were able to celebrate it. The parties may be over but the memories live on forever, and hopefully you took the pics to commemorate them.  Give yourself a little break to catch your breath, reorganize and reboot…..and then back to business as usual.  Do your best not to wallow in the sorrow of the end of a year and concentrate on the beginning of a new one.  Look forward to the possibilities of new opportunities that lie ahead in the coming new year.  Focus on that.  It just might help you fight the blues until the first bloom of Spring.

At this festive holiday time of year, we all have so much on our plates.  Let’s see….we have Chanukah/Xmas presents to buy for our friends, family, business acquaintances, and local favorites who service our personal care (manicurist, hairdresser, masseuse, or perhaps a favorite teacher or receptionist).  Whether it be for business or casual social, there are  holiday parties everywhere.  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.

There are also secret Santa grab bags to buy, wrapping paper, ribbons and bows for all the gifts you’ve bought (hence those little gift cards or stickers are a must for labeling), party clothes to shop for, and if you are not hosting the holiday dinner or party, then you’ll have to consider bringing a gift or baking a dish or pastry.

If you are hosting, and you know who you are, I’m guessing you are a little overwhelmed with the endless amounts of money exhausted on holiday decorations and party goods, table settings and home decor, food, etc. Let’s not forget about the multiple runs to the liquor store because there’s always that person you forgot to buy something for, and alcohol (like any gift certificate or cold hard cash) is always the right fit and the perfect color!

And if you are one of the lucky ones that are also packing for a Xmas vacation with the family, it will require a great deal more of preparation .  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.  Prioritize and check off as you go. Organize your holiday.  Segregate your shopping by categories.  Stick to a daily plan and avoid zigzagging all over the place, so you can make it an enjoyable event.  ‘Tis the season to be jolly, remember?  It can be great fun… or not.  You choose.