3 STEPS FOR PRE-HOLIDAY ORGANIZATION

PLAN:  In the thick of the holiday season, it can be challenging to make clear-headed decisions about the activities and rituals you enjoy and those you could happily do without. These next few weeks, before things really get going, are the perfect time to do some thinking about ways of celebrating that are meaningful to you--and those that are not. Take a few minutes to look back at past years and make a list of what went well during the holidays, what did not, and what you would change if you could.

TAKE INVENTORY:  This year, make a deal with yourself to take inventory of the holiday supplies you have before buying anything new. This might involve unearthing the boxes of stuff that got socked away in the attic or retrieving the gadgets that made their way to the back of your highest kitchen cabinets at the end of last year. Of course, this is also a perfect time to weed out unused stuff if you are so inclined, but the main idea is to get a sense of what you have and can use before you bring anything else into the house!