The holidays are coming and after a couple of years of isolation, many of us are gathering again. You might be both excited and anxious about the thought of hosting a holiday event. Excited because it’s fun and life affirming to entertain. Anxious because your house might not feel holiday ready to you. The last thing we want is to be overwhelmed or stressed about having guests. We want ease, joy and to be able to open our doors and be with our friends and loved ones without worrying.
You might be asking, “How do I get my house ready without feeling overwhelmed?” Here are three tips to create more ease and joy during this holiday season.
Get Things Out of Your Head and Onto Paper
Make a list of all your household projects and areas you’d like to get organized. You probably have countless projects swirling in your head. From big ones like cleaning out the garage to tiny ones like your medicine cabinet. Capture them all. The very act of physically writing pen (or pencil) to paper often emblazons the tasks on your memory, making it easier to recall (even if you never look at the list again.) It’s amazing how getting it out of your head and onto a piece of paper can help ground and focus you.
Prioritize Small Projects with Big Rewards
Next, scan your comprehensive list and look for the smallest projects that will have the biggest reward. Start with a project that you can complete in 2 hours or less. Areas to tackle might be the front hall closet, entryway or your refrigerator. Imagine guests coming into a clutter free front hall - ample room in the closet to hang coats and open hooks to stash bags or gear. Or, consider spending two hours cleaning out your refrigerator, tossing expired food, wiping down shelves and drawers. Decluttering, organizing and tidying can generate a surprising amount of energy and leave you feeling calm and capable. Again, focus on those places where you plan to entertain, if you are hosting a sit down dinner, maybe start with decluttering the dining room and leave the kid’s playroom to later.
Target One Tiny Project Just For You
Choose one small project that is just for you. A space only you go into every day. An unwieldy sock or underwear drawer are perfect candidates to sort, purge and create order in a short amount of time. It could be your medicine cabinet over your sink, your makeup or jewelry area. These little zones you interact with every day make you feel so empowered when they are organized and tidy. Remember, if you’re going to be receiving guests, you want to feel good truly from the inside out.
Keep it simple, focus on just a few target areas with the biggest impact and one area that is just for you. Then, let the rest go. Welcome your guests and find yourself experiencing the ease and joy of this holiday this season.