Real Solutions For Living...Organize Early and Save a Headache

How can you avoid last minute rushes as the holiday season approaches? I know it's only September, but a little planning now can make a huge difference in keeping the dreaded hustle and bustle at bay. Let's take a moment to map out a plan of action now for the busy months ahead:

1. Consider the plans you have for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Are you hosting a party? Will you be traveling out of state? Have you started a gift list or gift shopping? Make a list of various "must dos" to get these plans accomplished.

2. Next, with calendar in hand, take note of any birthdays, school or work events, and seasonal activities you know are coming up. This will give you a clear picture of how much actual work/planning time you have.

Now that you have an idea of the "workload" ahead of you and the amount of time available to you on the calendar, you can begin to create a plan of action. This will keep you ahead of the game, rather than scrambling to pull things off at the last minute.

3. Take your list of "must dos" created in Step 1. How long will each of these steps take you? Begin scheduling these "action steps" by starting with the date they need to be done. For example, to have your holiday party you'll need to send invitations xx weeks in advance, the menu planned xx weeks/month in advance, decorations up by xx date, and so on. Count backwards from your deadline the number of weeks or days needed for each step.

This type of "backwards" planning keeps you from putting things off, thinking you'll have time later. Backwards planning enables you to mark each necessary task on your calendar before it's too late. By scheduling with the end date in mind, you'll be able to see more realistically how much time should be set aside for each item you've determined needs to be done.

Happy planning!