As we head into this holiday season, Nonnahs Driskill, founding organizer of Get Organized Already, has some wisdom to impart.
"Do you remember how crazy the holidays were before the pandemic? Do you remember how we all said we would try not to feel so stressed and agitated again? This holiday season is your chance to change the traditions at home," he says.
We spoke with Driskill and other experts about how to get organized before the busy Christmas days begin, how to manage time and organizing strategies to make up time, and what products can make a big impact when it comes to staying organized this holiday season.
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Where to focus organizing efforts
Cleaning and organizing go hand in hand, so it's no wonder that the experts we spoke to agreed that the places to focus both cleaning and organizing efforts are the same: the entrance to your home, the kitchen and bathrooms, and the living room, dining room or any other space where you will spend most of those days.
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Tackling cleaning and organizing jobs can seem overwhelming, but instead of viewing them as separate tasks, try tying cleaning and organizing efforts into your decorating plans.
Consider how your home will be used this holiday season and plan organizing efforts around those needs:
If you are hosting your mother-in-law, preparing the guest room and ordering and storing the bathrooms that the guests will use will be a priority.
If you are hosting a party, the entrance is an important place to clean up.
If you are having a large family meal, throw anything in the dining room and on the table that does not belong or is not used as part of meal service.
Driskill adds a major messy task that most of us wouldn't have even considered before 2020:
If your office is currently at the dining room table, find another temporary place to work on the day of your event (maybe the day before and after as well).
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Organize your kitchen and dining room now, so you don't stress out later
There are some specific organizing tasks that can save a lot of time and hassle when the Christmas festivities get underway.
These organizing products will help relieve some of the stress during the season:
GladWare brand storage tuppers
(
USD $ 6.99 /
MX $ 169;
on Amazon)
Driskill also recommends relieving some of the stress that last minute cooking takes.
"If you make homemade baked goods, make some of them ahead of time and freeze them," he says.
We like these inexpensive disposable GladWare containers for vacation use because you can give them away without worrying about getting them back.
Scotch Brite Dish Cleaning Sponges
(
USD $ 7.97 /
MX $ 286;
on Amazon)
Another way to save time and reduce stress when hosting a holiday party or meal is to take out large
pots and pans, plates, plates, silverware, and glasses that you plan to use, especially if they are in storage and / or haven't been used in a while.
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Get ready for parties and gifts
The holidays and gifts are among the best parts of the holiday season, but they can bring their own headaches.
When it comes to gift-giving, you already know the importance of making a list and double-checking it, but these tips will improve your gift-giving and wrapping game.
First, Driskill says, "Store your gifts in one place and wrap them while you shop."
He also offers this great tip for leveling up your gifts: "When wrapping toys, remove zippers and extra plastic wrap, and include batteries where they are needed, make toys easy to open and play with!"
Parents around the world will thank you for this extra effort.
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Containers for storing items
(
USD $ 46.19 /
MX $ 1,937;
on Amazon)
Experts suggest keeping Christmas decorations in large airtight containers that can withstand temperature changes and adding labels, so you know exactly what goes where.
Decomomo brand baskets
(
USD $ 24.99 /
MX $ 558;
on Amazon)
Expert Says: "We love having a sectioned gift wrap basket in one easy-to-reach place, so you can quickly wrap a gift on the go and have everything at your fingertips (ie gift bag, tissues, tags gift, ribbon, ribbon, etc.) ".
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