Get Organized Week

Welcome to Get Organized Week!

The first week of the Countdown is a time for planning and calendars and lists, for setting our values and our course. As we break down holiday preparations into small, simple steps, we'll sketch out the outline of the holiday season to come.

This week, we begin to build a Christmas planner or notebook, assess the state of the house, and enjoy the Halloween festivities. Ready? Let's get organized for a stress-free Christmas season!

To Do This Week:

• Make the promise! Spend 15 minutes each day this week to get organized for Christmas.
• Get comfortable for holiday planning--create a Christmas holiday planning center
• Set up your Christmas planner in a notebook or three-ring binder.
• If you're using a clear pocket binder, print the cover and spine pages. Insert in pockets of your clear-view binder
• Add blank lined pages for any notes and records.
• Make or designate a holiday planning calendar. For your Christmas holiday planner, print the Countdown plan calendar. Want more flexible calendar forms?
• Add monthly planning calendars as needed.
• Begin at the beginning: review your family's holiday values. Print and record your findings on the holiday values page.
• Gift-buying looms! Start a master gift list. Print the master gift list form and use it to record purchases and home-made gift items.
• Begin a Christmas card list. Locate addresses, and consider making a computerized Christmas card address list for maximum time savings. Or, print a Christmas card list for your Christmas planner notebook.
• Print a home spruce-up worksheet and complete the holiday home spruce-up exercise. Plan and schedule any pre-holiday home improvement projects.
• Will your family travel this holiday season? Make travel plans and reservations this week.
• Will you host houseguests this year? Make arrangements for any overnight guests.
• Make an appointment for family photo sessions for holiday giving or photo Christmas cards.
• Schedule carpet cleaning now! As the holidays approach, business picks up. Call now for your choice of appointment times.

To Print This Week:

• 2008 Christmas Countdown CalendarChristmas Countdown Calendar
• Holiday Planning Calendars
• Get Organized Week Checklist Form
• Notebook Cover
• Notebook Spine
• Holiday Values Worksheet
• Master Gift List
• Gift Ideas Planner
• Christmas Card List
• Holiday Home Spruce-Up Form

To Read This Week:

• Ready ... or Not?
  Frantic at the thought of the approaching holidays? You're not alone!
• Create A Christmas Holiday Planning Center
  Set aside a dedicated spot for holiday planning.
• Christmas Notebook Tours and Resources
  Clever solutions from readers on the Web. Get inspired with these notebook tours and resources.
• Before the Season: Family Values Check-up
  Focus on your family's values!
• Tips for Holiday Season Travel
  Will your family travel this year? Make it an organized trip!
• Seven Tips for Sparkling Christmas Letters
  Ready to pen a memorable holiday letter? Catch these tips!
• Simpler Seasons Greetings: Using Computers to Send Christmas Cards
  Will computers ease the chore?
• Holiday Home Spruce-Up!
  Organize and prune holiday home improvement projects.
• Welcome Home!
  Consider what makes a holiday home.

To Buy This Week:

• Christmas cards or supplies for Christmas letters
• Holiday stamps