Christmas Clean-Up

Post holiday time is great for relaxing after all of the Christmas chaos, but think also to make use the time to get an organized start on the new year. As we all get back to the post holiday grind, schedules will start filling up and it will be harder to carve out time.  Take advantage of the opportunity to organize and start putting away holiday decorations . Here are some tips to get you started:

• Elimination Round: Before you even start packing up, go to where you store the decor and look through what didn't get put out this year. How long has it been since you've used some of those items? Eliminate what you can to keep  your storage area organized and efficient.

• Like with Like: Start by putting like items together. When you're ready to box them up, you'll appreciate having like items together. Lights, ornaments, knick knacks, etc…

• Store More: Think beyond just the usual Christmas decorations for storage. Any books read during the season, holiday movies, recipes and baking items etc… Anything that's used only during the holiday season can get put away.

• Use What You Have: Don't use the excuse that you didn't make it to the store to purchase all sorts of containers. Complete the take-down and organization process first. Hopefully you'll have some extra space after the elimination round, but if you still need containers, purchase them last so you won't end up with container clutter.