As we approach the end of the year, invitations for parties and unexpected get-togethers start to fill the calendar. This often means having guests show up at your door. When hosting, it is important to have a warm and welcoming environment. Yet when the stress of the holiday season is combined with the normal day-to-day flow of life, how can one be ready for the festive times in time?
Helpful advice comes from Marie Kondo, founder of the Konmari Method of organization. She has devised a step-by-step guide to tidying before the holidays. The first step is to visualize your space.
Before starting, imagine how you want your holiday season to look and, more importantly, to feel. When you think of the perfect evening with your family, what do you picture? Do you see thoughtfully planned meals enjoyed around a table or a quiet night spent drinking tea with someone you love? Visualizing your ideal holidays will help you decide how to focus your energy.
A later step is designed to create space to accommodate the influx of new items into the home.
With holiday traditions that often include gifts and packages arriving by mail, more elaborate meals or perhaps a Christmas tree, you’ll likely need to rearrange certain spaces and temporarily store unneeded furniture and items. Start by choosing a place to store everything you plan to put away – preferably somewhere out of sight. Then, pack items away by category, so you can easily return them to their proper places after the holidays.
Efficient Librarian 