Who said this is the happiest time of the year?

It must be those very organized individuals who seem to have everything done in October before the mad rush. You know the ones that have their lights up before Halloween.

Here are just a few helpful tips on how the "super organized" stay ahead of the mad rush.

1. Forget "Perfect" – This one has always been a tough one for me, especially when it comes to putting on a party. Remember, only you know when things are not exactly as planned. If you try to live up to your own impossible standards over the holiday season, you will take a lot of enjoyment out of what it is all about.

The actor Jamie Fox made the comment I will never forget, my parties are simple, and cost very little, a few appetizers, some beer, and the people you bring together.

2. Over eating during the holidays – The average person gains five to eight pounds over the holidays. Don’t make this you! Do you have a plan going into the holidays?

Mary McGettigan, Ladera Ranch resident says, "One of the ways she stays on track is by having a healthy snack, like a protein shake or an apple, to curb cravings before she heads out the door to a holiday party."

3. Holiday Cards – It’s all about the assembly line. Get the whole family involved in stuffing holiday cards!

Jaclyn, my nine-year-old daughter, is the best sealer, while Chase, my eight-year-old son is great at getting the stamps in the right spot.

Turn your holiday card list into a spreadsheet and print labels or, if your preference is handwriting, divide up the number of cards you need to write and take a batch with you; you don’t need to be at home to write out cards.
 
4. Wrapping Gifts – Set up a gift wrapping caddy with all the necessary supplies, like scissors and tape. That way you have all the supplies on hand.

Better yet, order on line and have the gifts sent directly, especially if you are not going to be able to give the gift in person.

Peggy Baggott, Managing Partner of TouchPointe, hires her 12-year-old niece to wrap gifts for one dollar per gift.

5. Job Search – This is not the time to put your search on hold. In fact, plenty of companies hire in December to ensure the team is in place before the New Year.

This is also a great time to update your resume. Contact the expert recruiters at www.touchpointe.com if you would like a second set of eyes reviewing your resume.

Keep it to one page. Your goal is to get an interview, not sell them on your resume alone. Focus your resume on accomplishments!

6. Plan ahead – Where will you be spending the holidays? Stay local and avoid fighting the crowds at the airport if possible. Check out the West Coast version of our own New Years Eve ball drop at the Orange County New Year’s Eve event of the year. You can find more info at www.ocnye.com.

Book babysitters well ahead of time for adult-only holiday celebrations. It is a busy time of the year so it is important to reserve their time early.

Check out www.laderalife.com for information from CampCo regarding babysitting services offered at the Ladera Ranch Oak Knoll club house on New Year’s.

7. Holiday Party – If the few weeks of holidays go by too fast, extend the season into January so you are not so rushed and your guests have less conflicts.

TouchPointe, a recruiting and consulting firm, decided to move their holiday party into the second week of January to help those out who were away for the holiday.

8. Decide in advance how many events you and your family want to attend. Once you have a number to accept, then you can stick to it instead of debating every new invitation or overwhelming your schedule by trying to get to everything.

My husband and I are a great balance. If it were up to me, we would attend everything and for him little to nothing, so we end up right in the middle.

9. Plan an Un-decorating party - One idea would be to start a new family tradition and have an un-decorating party. Turn on the music, bring in the pizza, and go to town.

Remember to carefully pack each box and label them so next year will be that much easier.

One year my decorations stayed up until February! If that is you, you might decide to have a "Tacky" party – this is where you leave up those lights and now tacky decorations, serve Velveda cheese from a can, hot dogs on sticks, and notify your guests to come in their "tackiest" outfit – the crowd will go crazy.

10. Downtime – Be sure to schedule some downtime after the holiday season so that once the madness passes, you will have some to reenergize. Some of us need a vacation after our holiday vacation!