Everyone I know is working on their 2010 New Year's Resolutions, but not me, not yet. I have a few ideas jotted down, but first, I've got to get ready for Christmas, again.
I'm making a Christmas schedule for next year. Once again, there were gifts that weren't worth what it cost to send them. Once again, there was a last minute scramble, although it wasn't as bad as some previous years, thank goodness. But Christmas Day is my birthday, and while I'm too old to celebrate (or admit my age), I'm not too old to want to sit on my butt for a few days and just enjoy the holidays. In fact, when the kids are grown and out of the house, I'm not even making Christmas dinner anymore. It'll just be me and the hubby and some Philly Cheese steaks. But I digress...
My point is that I'm making a schedule for all the holiday crud NOW, before I forget, and entering it into my 2010 calendar NOW, before I forget. I've started with the final day I want to deal with any given task, and worked backwards. For example, I like to send out my Christmas cards on Thanksgiving weekend, so with that as my end date, I schedule stamp buying for the week before, writing them the weekend before that, ordering them 4 to 6 weeks earlier, etc... until the whole process is done with time to spare. I know there are some people who have all their holiday shopping done in August or something, but that doesn't work for me, either practically (since the kids grow so fast, out of clothes and toys) or emotionally (since I enjoy the holiday season). If that works for you, however, use that as your deadline, by all means.
Regardless of your deadlines, just be sure to think each task all the way through and use the final step as your end point. For example, gift delivery (to the recipient furthest from you) is the final step of Christmas shopping, not buying or making the gifts. What holiday tasks could you include? Shopping and cards, of course, but don't neglect school events, annual parties, holiday travel arrangements, or extra seasonal charity you and your family may enjoy. Look back over your planner for the past few months to help remember all the holiday madness you survived this year, then plan now to spend more time enjoying it all next year.
Until next time, Best Wishes for 2010!
