photo credit: Randy Robertson

I was so busy congratulating myself on how organized I was with all of my pre-holiday-related tasks, that I’m only just now processing the aftermath of the season.

I’ve slacked off on my record keeping.  My paperwork is a mess.  New toys cover nearly every flat surface.  The laundry has piled up.  I’ve got a binder full of expired coupons, and have I mentioned that I’m tired because I stayed up too late watching a DVD series we got for Christmas?

One of the most challenging parts of the holidays for me is getting back into a routine after the celebrating is over.

So here is my plan to get back on track in all areas of my life.

Take stock.

Yesterday, I went through my pantry, my freezer, and my linen closet and took stock of what I have, what I need, and what needed to go.  I organized the items as I did this, and I immediately felt much more in control of my household.   I now have a list of things that I can watch the sales for, and menu planning will be easier since I know what’s available.

Purge. Purge. Purge.

The holidays brought a lot of new items to our home that don’t have a space, so a big priority of mine is getting rid of things we no longer use to make way for the new. I already tossed a lot of expired items, but I also took the time to recycle a ton of packaging from gifts and other items that was just taking up space.  Later this month, I’ll do a much-needed purging of the contents of our bedroom closet.  It’s time to donate some clothing and make room for new items.  A clutter-free house makes it easier to see what needs to be done.

Set some goals.

One of the things that I let go of during the holidays is having any kind of plan.  So I’m now making lists of things I will set out to accomplish each day, as well as weekly goals.  This helps me stay on task and I love the sense of accomplishment when I’m able to cross things off the list.

Exercise.

My new year’s resolution has been to walk… and I haven’t walked yet, but I have been doing some exercise each day since January 1.  Building this into my day has really helped give me more energy to tackle our daily routine.  Guess all those experts were right!

Go to bed at a decent hour.

It’s hard to get back into a routine, when you’re really short on sleep.  I’m trying my best to go to bed by 10:30 p.m. and getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night.  The mornings go a lot more smoothly when I’m not a grouchy morning bear.

The transition from the lazy, sugar-laden holidays hasn’t been easy, but as I make plans, take care of myself (and throw in a load of laundry), it is getting easier.

Are you having trouble getting back into the swing of things?  How do you get back on track after a holiday?