. The Holidays Are Just Around the Corner

It has rained in my area over the weekend, bringing the smell of fallen and soaked leaves to me every time I open the front door. Yes, it is time to get ready for the holidays. There are so many things to do, so many decisions to make, so many places to go. May I suggest a way to make the holidays a whole lot simpler, not just this year but every year?

Many of you have discovered the value of making up lists. This is a vital principle regarding holidays. But, I would like to add an additional principle: Make up your lists PERMANENTLY and use them year after year, adding and subtracting details to meet your current needs, but having a core list that can be used over and over again. May I illustrate?

Find a 3″ x 5″ recipe card box. Label twelve 3″ x 5″ card dividers with the months of the year. Find or purchase 50 white or colored, lined 3″ x 5″ cards. Colored cards make these lists easy to see and retrieve. (You may have already set up a 3″ x 5″ card box to keep your housecleaning plan cards in place. With ease you can now add several more index cards, behind the appropriate monthly tabs, for holiday preparations.) There should be several holidays cards prepared for each holiday. Depending on the holidays which you celebrate, they will be entitled: Holiday Meal, Holiday Traditions, Holiday Decorations, Holiday Shopping, Holiday Preparations before Holiday, and Holiday Preparations day of Holiday.

For instance, we celebrate Thanksgiving at our home, so my permanent holidays cards would be entitled (as I prepare for this holiday):

Thanksgiving Meal

Thanksgiving Traditions

Thanksgiving Decorations

Thanksgiving Shopping

Thanksgiving Preparations (before Turkey Day)

Thanksgiving Preparations (on Turkey Day)

On each of these cards I list the items particular to that card. So, on the Thanksgiving Meal card I would list the menu items I usually prepare for the Thanksgiving meal. Then on the Thanksgiving Shopping card I list all the specialty items needed for Thanksgiving day that I don’t regularly have in my pantry or cupboards.

On the Thanksgiving Traditions card I list the special events that we include on Thanksgiving such as watching football games on TV and giving to the food bank. This reminds me of those special furniture arrangements I need to make to accommodate company watching football and canned goods which I can be setting aside to contribute. On the Thanksgiving Decorations card I list where the Thanksgiving decorations are stored, where turkey platter is hidden, and where Thanksgiving table napkins are tucked (just one more thing I don’t have to keep in my head).

On the Thanksgiving Preparations (before Turkey Day) card I list the chores I need to do to prepare for Thanksgiving Day (like get out the frozen turkey to thaw in the refrigerator, make and freeze my rolls beforehand, make up my pies so they can season in the refrigerator, and find my bottled bread and butter pickles). On the Thanksgiving Preparations (on Turkey Day) card I list the activities which will be important when I first get up, those that must be done after lunch, and finally those that I need to finish just before we serve the big evening meal.

Having these cards prepared, referring to them year after year (and adding occasionally to them as I make mistakes) and being able to prepare for a holiday with confidence and good pacing. It has just taken the hassle, frustration, and worry out of this season. Try it yourself and soon you will have your own collection of cards for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and any and every other holiday for which you are personally responsible.

Find more helpful ideas in “House of Order” Handbook.