www.youneedme.com
Presents Holiday Tips to Help Make
This Busy Season Less Stressful
   Ways to Simplify the Gift Giving Process

Don't go to the mall list-less looking for inspiration.  Sit down ahead of time and 
prepare a list of those for whom you want to get a gift and what you would like 
to get them.  Deciding this ahead of time saves hours of aimless wandering up and 
down the aisles.

Getting to the stores early in the day and early in the week is a major time saver.  
Taking half a day off from work to shop early will save hours of standing in 
frustrating lines.

Make as many of your purchases "no-Shopping" gifts as you possibly can.  
Consider these suggestions:  gift certificates, tickets to special events, magazine 
subscriptions, pre-paid phone cards (great for college students).

Order through catalogues for people who live out of state.  

Order through the internet.  Most of the well-known companies are on line and 
have made it easy and secure for you to shop.

Streamline gift-wrapping by setting up a gift-wrapping station in your home.  
Wrap each gift as you get it.  Get an assortment of gift bags, paper, ribbon, gift 
tags, plenty of tape and a good pair of scissors.  The whole family can utilize this 
space and no one will be scrambling at the last minute on their way to a holiday 
party.

   Holiday Cards

Computers have helped simplify this holiday project.  Build your database and 
maintain it throughout the year.  At the end of this holiday season, gather up all 
the cards you've received and add those people you want to be sure to remember 
next year.

But what about this year?  You can pare down your list a bit by sending cards 
only to people you won't be seeing during the holidays.

Avoid the Post Office just before the holidays.  Order stamps by mail or buy them 
at the ATM.

  Holiday Decorating Ideas Guaranteed to Simplify Your Life

Do you really need a huge tree?  A smaller one can look just as festive.  Those 
tabletop versions stand as tall as a floor tree and involve a lot less work.

But if you're not willing to scale down, have a tree trimming party and let your 
friends get creative.  It's lots of fun and the tree gets decorated in a fraction of the 
time while you all socialize.

   Thoughts on Entertaining

Plan more potluck buffet parties.  This way everyone gets to show off his or her 
culinary skills.

Instead of baking dozens of different cookies, plan a cookie exchange with your 
friends.  It's another opportunity to socialize without one person doing all the 
work.

Have a catered party and avoid the stress and time involved with food shopping, 
cooking and cleaning up.

If you love to cook like I do, but don't want to spend time food shopping, 
consider ordering your groceries over the internet.  

Hire a cleaning service to handle major cleaning projects so you have more energy 
to enjoy the holidays with your family and friends.  Remember to schedule this 
service early and immediately mark your calendar with the date the service will 
appear.

I hope these ideas will help you create a holiday season that works for everyone!  




Lorraine Chalicki
Organizing Consultant and Time Management Coach
www.youneedme.com       (206) 547-3019