"STYLE Savvy: The week of organization" by Lisa Hess (CatholicMom.com) Image credit: Pixabay.com (2011), CC0 Public Domain[/caption] If you're like me, you might dub the week between Christmas and New Year's the week of organization. This is a great week to get stuff done, and, for those who've acquired new toys, clothes, and household items over the holidays, organization can play a key role in making the transition into a new year. Still, it's important to remember that those of us fortunate enough to have this week off should also take advantage of the respite it provides. That, too, plays a key role in making the transition into a new year. I suspect that if I did a keyword search, "balance" and "process" would be near the top of my list of most-frequently-used terms. So, with that in mind, here are my three keys to maximizing the week between Christmas and New Year's. Process: Tackle a project or two -- but not all of them. If a project brings you satisfaction or peace of mind, by all means, do it. When my daughter was small, the multi-step rearranging of the playroom/family room (now man cave) at my house was an annual event that helped me maintain my sanity in the months to come as I disposed of the old to make room for the new. Well worth the time. Balance: Segment your days. Did you just spend the whole day on a long overdue project? Cap it off by taking some time for yourself. All work and no play makes us not only dull, but cranky. Wholeness: Socialize. If you, like me, truly enjoy a good organizing project, you know how easy it is to work in solitude, particularly if you're working out the details as you go along and/or your styles differ from those around you. Make sure you take time each day for some in-person interactions (social media doesn't count). A family meal. Dinner with friends. A coffee date. Okay, so it doesn't have to involve food -- just people. Vacations offer us the gift of time, a gift we should make sure to savor. Finding a balance between the necessary and the frivolous is a great way to make the most of this all-too-infrequent opportunity and to offer us essential respite in preparation for the new year ahead. So, clean and organize if that's what your heart desires, but don't forget to continue your celebration of the season as well.
Copyright 2018 Lisa Hess