I don’t know about you, but after four weeks of shopping, wrapping, spending, giving, hosting, decorating, party-going, cookie-baking and kids’-school-winter-break-ing, I’m ready to get things in order. With the kids back in school and the decorations (mostly) taken down, it’s time to start thinking ahead to a new year.
It’s holiday recovery time.
As much as I actually do enjoy the holiday season, I find the holiday recovery season just as enjoyable. The beginning of a new year gives me a chance to clean up, get organized, spend less, and move forward. Want to do the same? Here are some tried and true approaches to restoring order to your holiday battered home in the coming weeks.
Clean Up
First and foremost, if you’re anything like me, you have got to get this house cleaned up. Kids home for two weeks + complete lack of routine + visiting family members = utter chaos in your normally clean house. The task ahead of you can seem daunting, but here are some ideas that may help you get this cleaning show on the road.
First, if you can afford it, I honestly recommend a cleaning service. Since it feels like nothing can move forward until you’ve tackled this problem, it might be worth your time and money to get a professional in there to do the job just this once. You can try a nationally known service, such as Molly Maid, or try a local service. Just make sure that if it’s local, it’s one that comes recommended by someone you trust.
But, you know, not everyone can afford that or feels comfortable with it. If you’re going to do it yourself, I recommend zoning your house, as FlyLady suggests. This breaks the giant task up into little tasks. It also sets you up for continued success moving forward, and keeps you from letting things get just as messy two weeks later.
Get Organized
Nothing will make you feel the need for organization quite so much as the hectic holiday season. I always come out of those few weeks ready to organize my time, my thoughts, my home, my whole life. Here a few helpful tips for beginning that progress.
First, I love having a new planner. It just screams “organization has returned!” to me. If you, like me, are hanging on to that old fashioned paper calendar, I recommend getting a fun new planner to start the new year. You can use a website like Erin Condren to create a planner that’s tailored to your preferences and needs.
If you’re all tech-savvy, then make sure you’re using a calendar that works well for your needs. It may be that the calendar your computer or phone came with doesn’t do the trick for you. Try something like Cozi, an app and website that combines calendars and to do lists for all of your family members into one easy-to-use program.
Once you’re organizing your time and thoughts with planners, to-do lists and calendars, it’s time to start organizing the space you live in. There are a lot of approaches to organizing, and you should find one that works well for you. You could read Marie Kondo’s international bestseller, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, which walks you through the process of getting rid of all that unwanted clutter for good.
If a whole book just isn’t in the cards right now, try grabbing a magazine like Real Simple, which usually includes some helpful tips for tidying your house. There are hundreds of ideas and plans out there. Find one that seems like it will work for you and get to work!
Spend Less
No matter how much you prepare for that busy holiday season, it usually leaves the bank account looking a little bleak. Don’t freak out. Breathe. It’s going to be okay. Here are a few steps you can take that will make the next few months a little easier on the pocketbook, getting you back to where you were before December took over.
Choose free activities. This is a good time to skip the dinner and a movie, and spend your date night or family time doing something that costs nothing. Go to a local park and ride bikes. Find out if there are any free shows or concerts coming up. Grab a cup of coffee instead of dinner. Go to the library and get a bunch of books to read. You’ll be amazed by how much you save when you try to find fun things to do for free.
Be a smarter shopper. Whether buying food, clothing, toiletries, or beauty products, there are tools you can use to be sure you are spending the least amount possible. Try looking at a website like couponchief.com, which provides promo codes and has a blog full of ideas for saving money.
Give something up. Maybe you love your cup of coffee from Starbucks. Or maybe you always get pizza from Pizza Hut on Friday nights. Or you’ve got a pedicure on the calendar the first Wednesday of the month. Try giving something like this up and subbing it with something cheaper or free. Stick with your coffee from home. Use coupons to get cheap pizzas from the freezer section at the grocery store. Paint those toenails yourself.
It may take a little creativity and time, but you can regain that financial stability in no time if you’re willing to try a few strategies to get it done.
Move Forward
Something that helps me recover from the holidays is to think about and plan for the year ahead. Start planning that fun vacation you’re going to take in the summer. Sign up for a fitness class at the gym. Plan a monthly coffee date with a friend. Think of some new ways to give back to the community, such walking for March of Dimes or volunteering at a homeless shelter once a month.
After a month full of busyness, it’s helpful to spend some time setting personal goals like these, and planning for how this year is going to be better and more fulfilling than the last.
Clean up, get organized, spend less, move forward. If you’re anything like me, taking some steps in these four areas will have you recovering from the holidays and feeling ready for a great new year in no time. And who knows, maybe with a lot of planning and thinking ahead, next December will be a little less hectic!
