The holiday season can be crazy busy with family and friend gatherings, work social parties, special events and don’t forget the endless amounts of shopping! It can be so easy to get off track during the holiday season and leave things till the last minute. That is why I have devised a list of must-haves for this holiday season in order to stay organized!

  1. Calendar

Have a calendar in your kitchen (you can also choose a dry erase one from the likes of SERP and other office product suppliers) or office that outlines every gathering, event or to-do. Include details on your calendar such as time and place, what you need to bring or buy and how you plan to get home (if you plan on drinking). This will help you plan out every little detail so you don’t forget the item you are supposed to bring or the gift you forgot to buy.

  1. Make a List

Grocery lists, gift lists, and to-do lists are all examples of lists that will help you stay on top of things this holiday season. For example, if you enlist everything you need to do before your guests arrive at your abode during the holiday season (starting from repairing your eavestrough with the help of firms like Trades by Jack to deep cleaning the kitchen), then it would probably be less hectic for you to manage all the other tasks that might need your attention at the same time. Remember that lists can also help you make fewer trips to the grocery store and mall. Moreover, you won’t be forgetting the butter for those cookies you have to make or the Starbucks gift card for the dog walker. It is important to note that the primary advantage of creating a gift list is that it can help you complete it quickly. For instance, once you have made a gift list and decided that you would buy graduation regalia for your high school graduate cousin, then it easy for you to purchase the items from shops like Jostens (https://www.jostens.com/graduation/high-school/gifts-and-keepsakes). Hence, the task can be done quickly.

  1. Plan Ahead

If you need to make cookies to bring to two gatherings and have numerous family members and friends to shop for this holiday season, plan ahead. Bake all the cookies in advance, pop them in the freezer in premade trays/ containers and pull them out a couple hours before the gathering. To tackle your long shopping list, pick a day/ evening o tackle it in one go, write a list of each item or person you need to shop for and the places you need to go, this will make it easier to hit all stores and check off everyone on your list.

Remember the holiday season is busy and can run you down faster than you think, so don’t forget to take time for yourself.