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Posted on Sat, Nov. 07, 2009

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Get ahead of the holiday chaos by putting your plans on paper

By Brenda Gutierrez

Idaho Statesman

The holidays typically send many families into high-stress mode. Before you start panicking, "the No. 1 thing is put the pressure on paper," says Deniece Schofield, a home management expert and author of several books on organization, including "Confessions of a Happily Organized Family."

"Make sure everything is written down, because if it's in your head, it's stressful," she said.

Schofield recommends starting a notebook and making lists to keep yourself organized and save time. The real key is to get your planning under way ASAP.

Here are more of her tips:

* Keep a schedule. List the many things you have to work around. Check office and school calendars (will your kids need costumes for school performances?), and note when you have to get things in the mail so they're received on time, when you're going to decorate the tree, events going on in the community, and service projects for the family, such as adopting a family or volunteering at the food bank.

* Get your ducks in a row. List who you want to give gifts to; who your kids want to give gifts to and what they want to give; things you want to make vs. things you want to buy; and your Christmas card recipients. (Most experts also agree that this is the time to evaluate your budget. Be realistic. You'll want to be able to stick to it!)

* Use your waiting time. Standing in line? Waiting for a doctor's appointment or dinner to cook? Take advantage of little chunks of time to plan things, make lists, or work on little craft projects. You can do this throughout the year but especially during the holiday season.

* Gift lists. Create a list of what you have given people as gifts. That way you don't risk giving something you've already given. Keep your radar up during the year and make notes, so when it comes time to shop, you have a list of things people want and will enjoy.

* Decorations. Take inventory of decorations, make a list and identify what box they're stored in. When you're boxing them up at the end of the season, sort and store them by room, not by what they are. Then next year, you can decorate from one box at a time, one room at a time, if you don't have a large block of time to do it all at once.

* Get wrapping. Set up a card table in a corner of a room and make that your gift-wrap center, so when you buy something, you can wrap it right away and avoid the last-minute crunch. Stand up rolls of wrapping paper in a waste basket, or hang in a garment bag. If you buy 30-inch-long rolls of paper, cut them in two — one 18 inches and one 12 inches — then put them in empty aluminum-foil boxes for easy dispensing. A desk or wrist-tape dispenser releases strips of tape with one hand. And those spindle paper-towel holders are great for storing and dispensing rolls of ribbon.

* Housecleaning. This isn't the time to clean out the basement or reorganize closets. Ultimately, your goal should be that the house is clean and welcoming.

* Tackle the big meals. If you're playing host, do a lot of stuff in advance, and realize that a lot of things can be reheated just before guests arrive. If you're hosting a casual affair, have your guests contribute a dish or drinks. Afterward, make notes of who you invited, so you'll remember details such as whether someone is allergic to nuts.

* Evaluate what worked and what didn't. Immediately after the holidays, ask yourself: What would you have liked to do this season, but you ran out of time? Which of those things could you plan to do now or do earlier in the year so you don't run out of time? Is your gift list going to change next year? Were there certain baked goods or foods that people really enjoyed? What decorations or ornaments would you like to add, exchange or get rid of? What projects would you like to do next year, and when should you start them?

* Then work ahead for 2010. Don't forget to take advantage of after-season sales. You can get staples such as napkins, cards and gift wrap for a fraction of the seasonal price.