VICKI  NORRIS

         

How to Recover from the Holidays ©Vicki Norris, Restoring Order® 2003 www.RestoringOrder.com 503.625.5774     Printable Version Now that the holidays are over, and your home looks like a hurricane blew through it, you may be wondering how to get your home and life back in order for the New Year. Wading through gift wrap, cleaning up dead pine needles, and the prospect of scores of thank you cards can make this time of year a bit overwhelming. Instead of dreading this clean-up effort, embrace it as an opportunity to refresh your home, tackle the backlog, and start off the New Year more organized than ever.  At Restoring Order®, we’ve found that in order to recover from the holidays (as in any organizing venture) people have two main issues to face:  1) a backlog issue (de-decorating, cleaning, returning gifts, writing thank you cards, getting back to normal, and 2) a “going forward” issue (setting up new systems to manage life and future holidays)  Below are some holiday recovery tips from Vicki Norris, President of Restoring Order®, a professional organizing firm that helps people get organized in their home and work environments.    DECORATIONS Backlog: -Set a date by which you will de-decorate your home. Going Forward: -As you are taking down decorations, purge and donate the ones you didn't use this year, or don't like. (Find useful donation resources at www.RestoringOrder.com)  TREE Backlog: -Get that fire-hazard of a tree out of your house! Going Forward: -Call the Boy Scouts, or take it to a recycle center (check out www.metro-region.org ) for recycling venues, like home pick-ups and drop-off sites. LIGHTS Backlog: -Set a date by which you will take down lights (leaving up lights year-round is just plain tacky) Going Forward: -Trash broken lights -Buy replacement bulbs at post-holiday sales to be prepared for next year GIFTS Backlog: -Unpackage and put away gifts -Find sensible “homes” for your gifts within the home. Resist the urge to “stash” gifts. For home organizing assistance, contact Stacey, our Client Services Manager, at (503) 625-5774 to discuss scheduling an appointment with a Restoring Order® consultant. -Make returns. (Put your "best self" on when you go out into the crowds; it's nasty out there!) Going Forward: -For all new things you've received, donate old items you no longer use. (Find useful donation resources at www.RestoringOrder.com) -Record gifts given and received so you can purchase intelligently next year  CARDS Backlog: -Write and send out your thank you notes. Going Forward: -Pre-address thank you cards next year. -Buy hand-made cards from St. Jude's Ranch for Children and send in your greeting cards to be recycled (See Greeting Card Reuse article at www.RestoringOrder.com)  General Going Forward Tips: If applicable, make list of bills to pay off, and set a schedule to get out of debt  Journal and record your holiday memories and plan for next year (Get the Restoring Order® Holiday Reference Binder at www.RestoringOrder.com to help manage your holiday in 2004!)  Make your primary New Year's resolution to get organized! Call Restoring Order® at (503) 625-5774 or e-mail us through our website at www.RestoringOrder.com to schedule an appointment to tackle your backlog at home or at the office.     E-mail this article to a friend

Vicki Norris' Restoring Order® Local: 503-625-5774 <> Fax: 503-625-1819 Organizing Services: 1-888-625-5774 <> Products: 1-888-625-5774

Web:  www.RestoringOrder.com <> www.VickiNorris.com   Email:  Info@RestoringOrder.com       PO Box 1204 <> Sherwood, OR 97140

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