Seeing friends and family over the holiday season can bring us so much joy. We share food, conversation, laughs and in the process, create a lot of wonderful memories. For many, it is a magical time of year. For others, the whole season can cause a lot of stress and increase anxiety as people try to get their house organized and ready for holiday guests. As someone who has hosted many guests over many holidays, I can tell you that even though it is mid-December, you still have time to make a big impacts in your home. Below are some of my thoughts on how to make the prep less stressful.
Believe You Can
Often, we become our own biggest roadblock. We doubt our abilities to make decisions and get things done. Even when things are really busy, we can accomplish more than we think if we stay positive and put our mind to it. If getting your home decluttered and organized before guests come is important to you, then you will prioritize it and create a plan to make it happen. Start with a vision of what you want and then start working toward that vision.
Play Guest
Sometimes it takes a new perspective to help motivate you into action. This could be as simple as taking a walk through your house as if you were a guest seeing it for the first time. Literally go outside and walk in through the front door. What do you see? As you walk the space, write down (or keep track mentally) what you love in the space and what is no longer sparking joy for you.
Prioritize Top Spots
Prioritize what areas you'd like to declutter and organize. Think about which areas you and your guests will use most. Declutter these areas by deciding if the things in those areas continue to bring you joy or if they have started to become clutter.
Ask for Help if You Need It
If your to-do list is just too big for you to tackle alone, see if friends and family can lend a helping hand. Sometimes, you just need to ask. And if you need more help than friends and family can spare, hire professional to help lighten the load - cooks, cleaning professionals, professional organizers.
Do Your Best
I truly believe that we can accomplish whatever it is we set our hearts on and simply do our best. Sometimes that means you need to take a few things off the plate, while other times it means you need to put your foot on the gas a little more.