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This time of year, we tend to have so much to do, that at times it becomes overwhelming. Since I have worked from home for 23 years now with the same direct sales company, I have learned a few tips that can make you holidays less stressful and more fun. Here are a few-
- Each night compile a list of the six most important things to accomplish the next day. ( not sixty) This allows you to prioritize and take whatever you did not accomplish today to be added to the list for tomorrow.
- If your direct sales business includes products that you sell, consider giving those as gifts to your friends and family. I did that since the very beginning of my career. One year, I thought that maybe they were tired of those kinds of gifts, so I bought other gifts. Everyone complained! They really did like getting my products for gifts, and I could afford to give better gifts when I pay wholesale prices.
- Shop online whenever possible, after the kids are in bed. Many companies are offering special “online discounts”. That saves you not only money , but your valuable time.
- Put all of your children’s holiday commitments on your calendar as soon as you are informed so that you can schedule around it. I attended every holiday party, field trip, concert, etc. that my children gave me advance notice. I can only think of one time where I had to miss a concert because my son didn’t tell me about it until that day. (I still felt terrible because I had scheduled something else that I couldn’t change)
- Make family traditions and findtime to do them every year. They create memories. For example, I took my children on the train into Philadelphia each year to see the light show at Wanamakers, and visit Santa. They looked forward to it, and loved it!
- Prepare a double recipe of each mealand freeze one. It doesn’t take any extra time to do that, and it gives you choices of quick meals.
- When making a gingerbread house, buy a “kit”. We got one this year at Walmart, and it was so much fun and much less time consuming and stressful- plus it looked terrific!
- Spend 20-30 minutes a day doing your holiday decorating. That eliminates having to set aside an entire weekend to do that.
- “Freecycle” any of your decorations that you have become tired of, and look for others who are doing the same.Even though we have a few favorites, it’s awesome to get new things each year, and we don’t have room for all that we have accumulated.
- When time to do your baking, decide on all of your recipes first. Then do your shopping. You can create stations for dry ingredients, moist ingredients, baking, and cooling and make many recipes in one day. A good source for cookie recipes is here at the Northpole !
- Consider doing demonstrations or open houses with other direct sales businesses toallow your children to do their shopping. This also works for the dads.
- Don’t forget to schedule some pampering time for yourself this season! A massage, manicure, pedicure or other special treatments will go a long way for making your holiday bright.
Don’t forget the day after Christmas to pick up any wrapping paper or accessories for next year. Do you have any other time saving ideas to share with us? I’d love to hear from you!
