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Christmas clean-up is the first step in getting ready for next year’s Christmas

January 4, 2010 11 Comments

I would have posted this sooner, but I was following the very advice I’m about to dispense to you. Pack up your Christmas stuff with an eye towards organization and what you are going to do next year.

I understand that not everyone changes their color scheme on an annual basis (like I do), so you may not need to sort and store your ornaments & decor by color (like I do), but everyone has a Christmas box with things they don’t use anymore, yet can’t part with.
Repeat after me:
“I am not a bad person if I get rid of those snowman dishtowels that I have never used in the 17 years I have had them.”
“It is OK to leave 12 years’ worth of kids’ Christmas crafts in the storage bin instead of decorate with it.”
“I am in control of how stressful next year’s Christmas preparations are.”
I try to label as much as I can, especially when I have snapped up some great bargains at the post-Christmas clearance sales… Over the course of the year, I forget what my new purchases look like.Here’s my Holiday Tip of the Year: Take notes about 2009’s Christmas.
Ideas for next year’s Christmas card? Write ’em down. Something didn’t work this year? Write it down. Did you pick up several items to give as gifts later? (Like candles, lotions, etc?) Make a note of how many and keep track of who you’ve given them too.

A journal works for some people, but I am on my computer so much that I write my note in an email form and save it in my draft email folder.

That works for me.
Find out what works for you.
Organization works for everyone. (Some just fight it more than others….)

Happy New Year!

Filed Under: Let me help you, organization

Comments

  1. HouseMama says

    January 4, 2010 at 6:07 AM

    How did you know about my snowman dish towels?!? 🙂

    I have a whole box (or maybe two) filled with Christmas decorations I don’t want to use anymore, but don’t want my mom asking me what I’ve done with. Help!

    Reply
  2. Becca says

    January 4, 2010 at 3:18 PM

    Oh I could have used this post yesterday!!! I get so frustrated with how much JUNK I have that I end up throwing it all in boxes to get it out of my sight!!!

    Oh well, there is always next year!

    ~Becca

    Reply
  3. MiMi says

    January 4, 2010 at 4:49 PM

    I’m with house mama! I have tons of stuff that people gave me that I’m askeered to get rid of. This year I did the same exact thing that I did last year. Which is plain wrong, but I had no energy to do the right thing. I put everthing away and only (as always) labeled the ornaments that were gifts so we can remember who they were from and who they are to so the boys can have em when they (gulp) grow up and leave. Anyway, the rest of the stuff I threw out in the shed and I have the lofty goal of organizing them during the summer when it’s not raining and I can do it outside in the sun instead of trekking everything, including mud, back into the house. Now, it makes sense right? But will that happen? Don’t know. It was supposed to last year and it didn’t…

    Reply
  4. Kelli says

    January 4, 2010 at 5:38 PM

    You are so great. I organized my bins a few years ago and I can’t imagine having it any other way. I love the idea of jotting down what works and what doesn’t now, instead of relying on my memory…because we know how dangerous that can be.

    Reply
  5. Ali says

    January 4, 2010 at 6:04 PM

    Your organizational skills make me so proud to know you (well, sort of know you). Seriously.

    Reply
  6. Emily says

    January 4, 2010 at 11:53 PM

    Hm, that is great advice. We’ve already packed up our stuff but I’m going to make myself a little note to remember these tips next Christmas!

    Reply
  7. Lauren says

    January 5, 2010 at 1:07 AM

    This year I put a three foot tree in my daughter’s room and put all of their handmade ornaments on that tree rather than on my big tree. I don’t change color schemes every year, but I do like ornaments that match. My tree is red and gold and the Oriental Trading manger scene ornament from church just really doesn’t jive.

    Reply
  8. Maridith says

    January 5, 2010 at 11:45 AM

    Oh that makes so much sense!! I do not change my color theme, I am one who is very traditonal and like to see the same thing year after year with a few new pieces. I love the idea of an email to myself. My problem with journals is I write down so much that I have about a million journals around here. Maybe I should try the draft email!! You are so smart!!

    Thanks for stopping by my new homepage!! It is still a work in progess but I am excited!! You are a great blogger friend!

    Reply
  9. Connie Weiss says

    January 5, 2010 at 2:14 PM

    I am fairly organized when it comes to my Christmas stuff. I have the totes numbered and a file on my computer tells me what is in each tote.

    And I need to add a tote this year…..

    Reply
  10. jennykate77 says

    January 6, 2010 at 4:16 PM

    I’m so glad I read this BEFORE I put away my Christmas stuff. See, I knew there was a reason behind my procrastination! I’m feeling much more prepared and ready to tackle the Christmas Take-Down.

    Reply
  11. Sandy says

    January 10, 2010 at 3:28 AM

    You’re so organized it’s a little scary. Seriously I have become much more organized lately and I keep working on it!

    Reply

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