Check Your Lists!by Suzanne Moutis |
There are only 10 more productive days before Christmas, so revisit all your lists today and make sure you’re covered. Make a work-back schedule for the next two weeks, including cleaning jobs, social engagements, wrapping, getting to bed early (yes, put it on the schedule!), cooking and running errands. I always concentrate so much on Christmas that I totally forget Boxing Day, and wake up on December 26 with nothing to eat in the cupboards or fridge because I’ve emptied it all out to fit in Christmas dinner’s menu items! But not this year—this time I’m going to make sure I have it all planned, and today’s the day to think about it.
This is also the time you should be thinking about finalizing sending out your cards, completing any online shopping you have to do and determining which nights you can get to the mall (you definitely don’t want to be doing that on the weekend!). So list it and lock it today.
Level: Easy
Time: up to 1 hour
Tags: lists
Hey Suzanne, I’m having trouble making my shopping lists (never thought this would happen, but it’s true!). What do you find works best for you? I’ve tried “Person, Items, Store”; “Store, Items, Person”, etc…the combinations go on and on…vertically, horizontally… (and I’m sure you know how frustrating it is having walked the whole mall, only to find you’ve missed the store that has something specific and it’s 200 million steps back-the-way!) I know this sounds lame, but I’ve wasted a lot of time lately simply redoing my lists and now I’m afraid to shop! Help!
Hi Chris. I do know how frustrating it is having to backtrack, and then realizing after you’re home that you’ve still forgotten something. That’s when I send my husband back!
What I normally do is make up a three-column list; the first column has stores, the second items I need to buy and the third the people those items are destined for. So I guess my list is organized by store first and foremost. Then, even if you’ve missed something, you can maybe find it at a store closer to where you end up. And THEN (is this too obsessive?) I organize the stores by how close they are to where I park the car, or the entrance I go in, so I don’t have to backtrack around the mall too much. Likewise for groceries, I organize my list by the things I’ll find in different departments: produce first, then meat, then dry goods, then frozen stuff.
My final advice: NEVER, never be afraid to shop!! Have a happy holiday!
Hey Suzanne (and Chris),
Thanks for reminding us of the limited time left and the words to make us feel a bit more calm about getting things done before the big day.
Chris, I tend to agree with Suzanne about the online shopping - not much time left but I find if I sit down and motor through what I have left to get I can really get it all done online with WAY less stress than I would have in the car and in the mall. My favourite place right now to accomplish my holiday gifting list is http://www.sweetguides.ca they have loads of amazing presents that will please anyone who is picky or you just don’t know what to get for.
Happy Holidays everyone!
Efe <3