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Organization aids enjoyment of holidays

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



EAST LONGMEADOW The holidays are coming and that means festive gatherings, the display of treasured decorations and the bestowing of presents.

It can also mean stress, lack of organization and confusion on how to put everything back into the closet at the end of the season.

Carlene Eve Fischer Hoffman has some suggestions. For the past five years, Hoffman has been helping area residents get organized with her Clutter Doctor business. After an in-depth look at one's habits, space, and situation, Hoffman makes changes that can aid in organization and efficiency.

In her case, a Clutter Doctor was born, not made.

"My whole life has been a training session," she told Reminder Publications. She began organizing her own room at a young age.

When her corporate job was a victim of downsizing, Hoffman decided to create a business based on her organizational abilities. After a fast-track program at the Springfield Technical Community College Enterprise Center, Hoffman ventured out with her space and time efficiency services.

For the holidays, Hoffman's first suggestion is to make a list of the necessary tasks for your celebrations.

"If you write it down you're more apt to achieve it," she explained.

If gift-giving is part of your celebration, Hoffman said that a list is important to make sure that everyone on that list is actually someone with whom you are exchanging gifts.

"Check it twice," she added.

Shopping shouldn't just be an end of the year marathon to sprint through. Hoffman said buying presents throughout the year, either for someone in mind or just because an item is appealing, cuts down on the stress and spreads out the cost of the gift giving.

When you do shop, be sure to go at non-peak times such as Tuesday and Wednesday to avoid the crush of crowds.

Decorating the house should be done in stages, so the task doesn't overwhelm you, she added. Try setting your holiday dinner table a day or two before the big meal to save time and stress.

Buy yourself an organizer box especially made for gift-wrap and store it with your holiday decorations. Don't mix holiday wrap with the paper used for birthdays or other events.

As you take ornaments out for display prepare for a more orderly storage after the season. Get boxes with permanent separations and place some tissue paper at the bottom of each compartment for added protection. When you place your ornaments back in the box, don't wrap them in tissue paper, as this will add to the frustration of trying to find ornaments next year.

Lights can be stored by wrapping them around cardboard strips and then placing them in a large plastic container. Label the strips to indicate if the lights are for inside or outside use.

"The day of the event you don't want to do anything except to get up and enjoy it," she said.

For more organizational advice, log onto www.clutterdoctor.com.