By Kathy Jenkins, Professional Organizer, Come To Order

I often get asked this time of year, "Is it possible to have a holiday season that is not full of stress?" And my answer is a resounding, "Yes, if you have a notebook". What does a notebook have to do with anything — well it is the key to keeping your schedule, budget, card list, party planning, gift inventory, and meal ideas all in one nice neat organized place. And therein lies the secret to a stress-free holiday season.

To get started you need a simple folder (like the ones you just got for your kids in school) that will hold all of your many lists. Then fill it with either pre-designed lists, available from www.organizedchristmas.com, or blank paper for you to create your own. Depending on the magnitude of your holiday festivities, you may even want to invest in a binder and subject divider tabs. Now you simply organize your notebook in categories that make sense to you. Here is a format to get you started:

Calendar: It is imperative that you have a calendar, October — January, so that you can begin to budget your time. As you receive party invitations, notices of kids' activities, plans for family gatherings and announcement of church happenings write them on your calendar.

This is also the place to schedule those holiday pictures, buying/ordering and sending holiday cards, and shopping. It should be used in conjunction with the family calendar so nothing important slips through the cracks.

Cards or Letters: Whether you keep your addresses electronically or in an address book, it is important that you begin the season knowing how many cards and/or pictures you are going to send. If you write a Holiday letter, be sure to get started on it soon (another entry for your calendar).

It is also a good idea to have a code for cards and letters you receive this year. It will make it all the easier next year to update the list and remove those people with whom you no longer are in contact.

Gifts: It is so easy to get caught up in the buying frenzy our holidays have become. But you can resist the urge to spend, spend, spend if you have a gift giving plan. Begin by listing in three columns: everyone you plan to give a present to, what you hope to give or make and how much you would like to spend. Leave several lines for those lucky people who will be getting more than one gift from you.

It will be very easy to add the dollar amounts listed in the last column to see how much you need to set aside to meet your gift giving goals.

Entertaining and Food: Whether you are planning a big party or just a nice meal on Christmas Eve, you need to have a section that helps you track your ideas and spending. Keep a list of guests and what (if anything) they are bringing to the event. This will make it very easy to see what you need to supply to make the party all you hope it will be. If you are planning on help, be sure to contact your caterer now. Their schedules get filled very quickly this time of year.

Create a shopping list of items you need and when you need them. This will make planning your trips to the grocery store more efficient. Mark any "special" shopping trips on your calendar.

Decoration & Gift Wrap: Inventory your decorations and list anything new you are hoping to add to your collection. Do the same for wrapping paper, bows and gift bags left over from last year and determine what more you need to get to make it through this season. If you have storage space, go through this exercise again in January so that you take advantage of the great after-Christmas sales on decorations and wrapping supplies.

Budget: Now that your holiday season is planned, go through each section and make note of how much you are planning to spend. Compile all of that information in this one area so that you can accurately determine how much money you need to have the holiday you desire. The budget section also needs to include pages for new holiday clothes and services (for example, maid service or carpet cleaner).

It can be an eye opening experience to see how much (or little) you think it takes to have a great holiday. Take a moment to assess your anticipated spending and determine if it is in line with your goals for the holiday.

Remember this time of year should not be about the gifts and decorations. It should be about family, friends, spending time together, and love. And those things that are priceless! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season.

© Kathy Jenkins, Come To Order

Kathy Jenkins is a Residential Professional Organizer, Student Organizer, Certified Family Manager Coach, Writer and Speaker based in Richmond, Virginia. She is a member of NAPO, NSGCD and ABWA and is dedicated to helping her clients simplify their lives by reducing clutter, organizing their homes and offices, and managing their time. Kathy especially enjoys working with kids and their families to help them learn good organizational skills that will benefit them for a lifetime.