How to Create a Holiday Binder

I have found that my holiday binder is a lifesaver in planning and preparing for a stress-free holiday season. I printed the Holiday Control Journal from www.flylady.net and customized it to meet my own needs. I strongly recommend that you prepare your own holiday binder early in the holiday season to keep yourself on track and sail smoothly through the holidays.

Components to include in your holiday binder:

1. November and December calendars - Print these two months out, or simply tear out those pages from a cheapo or freebie calendar that you already have. Stick them in the pocket of your holiday binder or hole-punch them and put them right up front. Then make a list of every single task you can possibly think of, and space these tasks on your holiday binder calendars in baby steps. Here are some suggestions: have family Christmas photo made, purchase/address Christmas cards, plan holiday menus, unpack or purchase and iron everyone's holiday clothing, deadline to place all catalog orders, mail gifts to out-of-town relatives, drive your kids around town to look at Christmas lights, attend your church/school/community/job Christmas events, decorate (this can be broken down into baby steps), prepare and freeze cookie dough and casseroles, etc.

2. Your housework plan - Don't punish yourself by waiting until the last day before company arrives to get your house into shape. Break this into baby steps, too, and include it in the calendar part of your holiday binder. Clean out your guest room, get clean sheets on the bed, clean the bathrooms (and keep them clean with a daily swish and swipe), get rid of the cobwebbies, declutter, clean out your fridge, and write down all the other house tasks that will make your holidays smooth-sailing. Then make a plan of simple routines to keep it clean! Include this in your holiday binder, too.