60 Days Until Christmas!

Can you believe there are only 60 days until Christmas? If you're planning to entertain at home this year, now is the time to get those household projects crossed off your list. Planning a party is great motivation to finally get to those tasks you've been putting off. Whether it's fixing up that guest bedroom for out of town guests, or refinishing the floors, schedule time on the calendar to make the calls and run the errands they require.

The holiday's sneak up on us quickly, so if you have time now to do some shopping, you will beat the Christmas rush. Every year on that fateful day after Thanksgiving, it's only a pipe dream that our Christmas shopping would be done. Once the rush begins, you're stuck having to deal with the crowds and hope that the special item on your list hasn't run out of stock.

At the very least, start thinking about your plans for the holidays. Are you going to host a gathering? What do you need to get done around the house? Who do you plan to exchange gifts with? So here's your warning...60 days until Christmas, only 30 until Thanksgiving!

Making a List and Checking it Twice

The Holi-daze are in full swing, and this time of year more than ever, working off of a list is a must. We have card lists, gift lists, invitation lists, and to-do lists that seem never ending. So how do we manage all of these lists and what's the best solution?

Try as I may to keep lists on the computer or phone, there's something about that paper list! A mini spiral memo book works great as a continuous to-do list. You can also keep track of past items here by simply checking them off the list. Avoid using sticky notes; they fall off and are a constant source of clutter.

I do recommend keeping shopping/gift lists on your cell phone. I use an iPhone and notes or the free application called To-Do's to keep a detailed list of what I plan to give each person on the list. When the item has been purchased, I put an x next to it to remind myself not to buy it again.

My best list-making time is early in the morning, late at night, or in the middle of the night (this is when I prefer to use my phone as a flashlight rather than a list-maker). When the day begins, I take the list and prioritize, sometimes rewriting it onto the computer or phone, but more often than not, I have that paper to-do list in my pocket.

As you can see, I remember nothing without my lists! It doesn't matter what type you keep, just that you do keep track of what needs to get done, what your going to give, who your going to invite, etc... The more you rely on your lists, the less you'll have to remember on your own!

New Year Resolution: Create a "Not To Do" List

January is National Get Organized Month. Many of you have made resolutions to be more organized in 2009. Instead of creating a New Year "To Do", try creating a list of what "Not To Do". We all have tasks that are important, yet they keep getting postponed. Decide what not to do, eliminate what you can, delegate where you can and create time to focus on what matters most. Many mundane household tasks can corrupt productivity at home and at work. Cleaning, dishes, laundry, they're all time killers, but must do's if we want to live in a decent environment. Creating efficient ways to accomplish what must get done is the key to our productivity. In future posts to this blog, we will cover how to save time and create efficiency in all areas of the home and office. I welcome your questions and comments on how Chaos To Order can help YOU get organized!