The holiday season is my favourite time of year and the perfect excuse to give your home a little refresh.
With family coming over, a busy kitchen and a whole load of mess, dealing with the holiday season can be a stressful experience but don’t worry as we’re here to help.
At CakeDiane we have years of experience in dealing with manic festive seasons and we want to share some of our advice with you. The festive season should be a time which is treasured and enjoyed, after all, it is about spending quality time with loved ones and friends.
Putting on a show for relatives and friends can cause stress and anxiety to build up, getting your home in order and planning for the festive season can play a big role in helping you to fully enjoy the holiday season.
Make room for festive decorations
Decluttering your home before the festive season begins will not only help to make room for all of the decorations which are about to bestow your home but will also help to clear your mind and prepare you for the hectic few weeks ahead.
From old junk which you’ve been meaning to throw away for years to simply sorting and reorganising storage cupboards, wardrobes and utility rooms preparing your home for the holiday season should always begin with a spring clean.
You may also want to have a little rearrange of your living area, hallway and bedrooms to make way for not only the festive decorations but also for the guests who will be staying with you. However, the most important part of getting your house ready for your guests is by ensuring that there are no cracked walls, leaking pipes or clogged gutters that can create a negative impression. That is why it is prudent for you to have your repairs done before the arrival of your visitors. You might need to contact roofers or plumbers, or even gutter cleaning experts (you can get in touch with them by looking up search terms like Clean Pro Gutter Cleaning Baton Rouge or similar places on the web) who can do these tasks in no time.
Prepare the kitchen
The holiday season is largely focused on eating and drinking, and if you’re hosting the festivities then you’ll need to have your kitchen in order before the big cook-off begins.
I start to prepare the Christmas food around 3 weeks before the big day but in the run-up to the festive season, the house is always busy with friends and family popping in.
I like to have a little clear out of the kitchen cupboards, freezer and fridge, not only so I can make room for what I’m about to buy but also so I can clearly see what I’ve already got and therefore what needs buying.
List everything
List, list list.
There is no other way of helping to organise your mind than through making lists. From food shopping to gifts, what needs doing in the home to planning your social events, there is so much to think about during the holiday season it can be extremely overwhelming.
Carry them with you at all times and tick them off as you’re making your way through them. This will ease the pressure and make you feel much less stressed about everything that’s going on and ensure that your holiday season is one which can be thoroughly enjoyed.
Plan your finances
The financial burden of the holiday season can be tremendously difficult, from buying gifts to ensuring your home is perfectly decorated and doing a big food shop, if you fail to plan, it can be very daunting.
I like to start thinking about the holiday season around three to four months before it arrives, I know this seems very early but I’m not saying I buy gifts then, I simply start to save a little and plan how much I will need.
For my children, I dedicate a certain amount for gifts and stick to it, the same for other family members, works colleagues and friends. I give myself a budget for going out for meals, drinks and any other parties which occur in the festive season and consider how much food I will need to buy in.
With food, I like to start stocking up early, not only to help myself be more organised but also so I get the best products and don’t have a mad panic a week before Christmas when there is nothing on the shelves.
If needs be, create a spreadsheet and write down everything that you’re spending, there are so many apps you can use nowadays which will easily help you to organise your finances. This will really encourage you to not overspend and will help you keep an eye on your budget.
The holiday season should be enjoyed and not dreaded, so relieve the stress by organising your mind and entering the holiday season with a clear vision and you will enjoy it.