Home Maintenance Monday 12/16/24
Home Maintenance Monday 12/16/24: Plan Out Your Holiday Home-Readiness Tasks for a Stress-Free Holiday Season
With Christmas just a little over a week away, it's definitely time to prepare your home for celebrations and gatherings if you are hosting! A little planning can go a long way to ensure your home is ready for guests while reducing your own holiday related stresses. Here’s a quick and easy, 5-Step Guide to help you build your Holiday Home-Readiness Checklist!
5 Steps to Create Your Holiday Home Readiness Checklist!
Step 1: List Out the Key Tasks You Want to Accomplish
Things to consider:
Deep cleaning common areas
Checking and updating holiday decorations
Preparing guest rooms
Inspecting heating systems
Step 2: Prioritize Your Tasks
Determine Your Order of Operations: Identify any urgent tasks and determine which tasks need to be completed first, such as fixing any heating issues or cleaning before decorating.
Set Deadlines: We all know that time can FLY but this is especially true during the holiday season! Make sure to assign deadlines to each task based on when you want them completed, ideally well before your first holiday gathering.
Use a Calendar: If you are having a hard time tackling any of these tasks, it can be helpful to block out specific times on your calendar for each task. This can help you create a structured plan and ensures you allocate enough time for completion.
Break It Down: If a task seems overwhelming, break it into smaller steps. For example, instead of “deep clean the kitchen,” break it down into cleaning cabinets, countertops, and appliances separately. A chore like this can also be a great place to ask for some familial help if it’s available to you!
Step 3: Gather Supplies in Advance
Inventory Supplies: Check your cleaning and guest supplies and make a list of items you’ll need for cleaning/upkeep/guest prep tasks.
Shop Early: Purchase any supplies ahead of time to avoid last-minute shopping stress.
Step 4: Enlist Help
Delegate Tasks: Don’t hesitate to ask family members or friends for help. Assign age-appropriate tasks to kids or share responsibilities with your partner. Including everyone in a work-party has the potential to reduce your individual stress while accomplishing those more tedious activities even more quickly. Many hands make light work!
Plan Group Activities: Some tasks, like decorating or baking, can be turned into fun family activities! Don’t miss out on some of the most simple ways to gather and make the season more memorable and enjoyable. 🎄
Step 5: Get it Done!
You can only pre-plan and pre-supply yourself up to a certain point! Here are just a couple more things to consider as you’re working:
When tidying up common areas, focus on cleaning and organizing spaces where guests will gather, such as the living room and dining area. It is also nice to make sure to give any common bathrooms a thorough cleaning and make sure that any hallways or walkways are free of obstructions.
Whether you have a dedicated guest room or an elaborate reading nook modified to accommodate guests, you can ensure guest spaces are clean, stocked with fresh linens, and free of clutter. If you have the time, you can add personal touches like a welcome note or a small treat. 💗
Review and Adjust Your Plans As-Needed!
Stay Flexible: Life can be unpredictable, so having a flexible mindset will help reduce your stress. As the holidays quickly approach, be prepared to adjust your plans as-needed.
Get started now to ensure your home is ready for guests and holiday cheer! I hope this helps you organize and prioritize your holiday home maintenance tasks effectively over the next week so you can get done with the parts that feel like “work” early and sit back and enjoy your holidays this year.
A wreath with a bright red bow, hanging on a wooden front door. Happy Holidays!