Chaos to Calm for Christmas

by Deanne Kelleher

Are you determined to enjoy Christmas this year without feeling overwhelmed? If yes, then we have some tips to help make your goal a reality. Start by creating a Christmas Binder. You will need: a three-ring binder, lined and hole punched paper, Binder Pockets (Avery 786050), Removable labels (Avery 06505), and two - three hole punched pencil cases.

Inset the Binder Pockets into the binder with lined paper between each of them. Use a Removable label to vertically label each pocket on the lower right hand side with the following categories: Money, Gifts, Entertainment, Decorating, and The Schedule. Insert your pencil cases: one with writing supplies, highlighters, and sticky notes at the front of the binder and the other into the Money section.

Keep the following items in each section and add as you go along.

Money - Keep receipts in the pencil case - add up the categories and have 'actual dollars spent' to budget next year's expenses.

Gifts - Create a Christmas Shopping List to track your gift purchases during the holidays and throughout the year. If you are mailing gifts view the postal web site for your country to calculate shipping charges and time lines for sending.

Tip: Include gift receipt when sending gifts.

Tip: Carry a list with family members' measurements to make shopping easier.

Entertainment - Determine how much baking you need to do (gifts, cookie exchange, school) and identify what recipes you plan to make for other entertaining. Check your cupboards to see what supplies you have and what you will need - start your grocery list.

Tip: Keep copies of the recipes you plan to make in your Christmas Binder.

Decorating - Set up a wrapping station and stock it with the      necessities: Ribbon, tape, scissors, gift bags, writing supplies, tissue, and gift tags.

Tip: When bringing out decorations store regular household items in the decoration boxes to save space over the holidays.

The Schedule - List all the things you need to do and check them off when you have done it. Allocate time for the necessary To-Do's such as: Dry-cleaning the linens, getting your hair done (if you have your hair colored you may have time to have a manicure while your color is processing), scheduling the house cleaner, volunteer activities, grocery shopping, buying flowers, and decorating the house.

Tip: Schedule all events on the family calendar to avoid conflicts.

We wish you safe and Merry Christmas!

About the author

Deanne Kelleher, principal of Kaos Group and the originator of the Core Four™ system, helps clients organize, optimize, and profit - personally and professionally. http://www.kaosgroup.com  Copyright © 2007 Deanne Kelleher

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