Staying sane during the holidays is no joke! Between work, juggling everyday life, decorating the house and shopping for gifts, there’s more than enough to make that perfect organization we strive for throughout the rest of the year, fall by the wayside. That’s why I’ve come up with my top three tips to staying organized during the holidays.
Make lists and check them twice, thrice or more!
I’m a huge list maker. Definitely have running lists all round my desk, and recreate them sometimes each day. During the holidays, I try to keep myself ultra organized by creating lists in a single notebook or legal pad. I keep a list for the gifts I’ve already purchased and where they’re stored, or what they’ve already been wrapped in; a basic t0-do list for holiday errands; and of course a list pertaining to holiday items for work. I’ve found that writing out my lists by hand, versus typing them into a phone, keeps me more on top of things. But that is ultimately a personal preference. 
Take strides to keep your car organized, too
Working for myself, means I spend a lot of additional time in my car driving to meetings, shoots, etc. One thing that has kept me sane and organized both throughout the year and additionally during the holidays is keeping my car clean and organized. If I have a shoot, I try to take everything out when I return home. I don’t allow myself to keep anything in the backseat. Not only because I don’t want potential thieves to break into my vehicle, but also as a means to keep my car clean and organized. I like to used this from my friends at in the trunk of my car. The three pocket system allows for me to store different items in one organized spot. I’ll place shopping bags, an extra pair of shoes as needed or items that need returning in the slots. It’s been a game changer in keeping my trunk clean and organized! 
Have a designated place for important items
The holidays definitely induce some type of anxiety and stress that often we don’t experience otherwise. We may be the most organized person ever, yet during December can still misplace the car keys or phone. I try to make sure I have a designated place for important things such as my car keys or cell phone, and resort to putting those items back in their designated spot every time I return home. I put this on my car key earlier this season, so not only will it get lost in the depths of my purse, but it also hangs nicely on our key hook by the door – which for me, helps me to remember to hang it there when I return home. It’s a simple, little routine, but it’s kept me from getting into a bind this holiday season.
Of course, I could’ve flooded this post with more tips, but for the sake of brevity, I kept it to my top three tips for staying organized during the holidays. What are your top three tips for staying organized during the holidays? Tell me in the comments below!
