{"id":317,"date":"2014-12-05T07:12:08","date_gmt":"2014-12-05T07:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/?p=317"},"modified":"2014-12-05T07:12:08","modified_gmt":"2014-12-05T07:12:08","slug":"how-to-reorganize-your-life-after-the-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/2014\/12\/05\/how-to-reorganize-your-life-after-the-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Reorganize Your Life After the Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"<table border=\"0\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"center\"><!-- START 300x250 AdPeeps.com Code --><br \/>\n<script src=\"http:\/\/www.media.momsnetwork.com\/adpeeps\/adpeeps.php?bfunction=showad&amp;uid=100000&amp;bmode=off&amp;gpos=center&amp;bzone=300x250&amp;bsize=300x250&amp;btype=3&amp;bpos=default&amp;ver=2.0&amp;btotal=1&amp;btarget=_blank&amp;bborder=0&amp;gspacing=1\">\/\/ <![CDATA[\n\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><noscript><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.media.momsnetwork.com\/adpeeps\/adpeeps.php?bfunction=go&#038;uid=100000&#038;bmode=off&#038;bzone=300x250&#038;bsize=300x250&#038;btype=1&#038;bpos=default&#038;ver=2.0\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.media.momsnetwork.com\/adpeeps\/adpeeps.php?bfunction=showad&#038;uid=100000&#038;bmode=off&#038;bzone=300x250&#038;bsize=300x250&#038;btype=1&#038;bpos=default&#038;ver=2.0\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" alt=\"Click Here!\" title=\"Click Here!\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<\/noscript><!-- END AdPeeps.com Code --><\/td>\n<td align=\"center\"><script>\/\/ <![CDATA[\ngoogle_ad_client = \"pub-3923845094689161\"; \/* 120x240, created 9\/23\/10 *\/ google_ad_slot = \"1698308050\"; google_ad_width = 120; google_ad_height = 240;\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><br \/>\n<script src=\"http:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\/\/ <![CDATA[\n\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"center\"><\/td>\n<td align=\"center\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--INFOLINKS_OFF--><div id=\"attachment_318\" style=\"width: 209px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-318\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-318\" src=\"http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/unwantedgifts-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"returning unwanted holiday gifts\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/unwantedgifts-199x300.jpg 199w, http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/unwantedgifts.jpg 488w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-318\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Returning Unwant4ed Gifts<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n<p>For months before December 25, families around the country meticulously accumulate decorations and supplies for the few fantastic days of festivities that celebrate the season and end of the year. However, in the weeks after January 1, those same families struggle to sort through the clutter of the holidays while returning to the hum-drum activities of everyday life. The period after the holidays is disheartening and messy, and the more one procrastinates, the worse the situation gets \u2014 until it\u2019s March and your neighbors formally demand you put away the robotic reindeer in the front yard.<\/p>\n<p>Though it may be difficult to rouse you and your family out of post-holiday reverie, you can efficiently get ready for the challenges of the New Year with these quick tips. Stay ahead of spring cleaning and start 2015 off right by reorganizing your life right after the holidays.<\/p>\n<h2>1. Return Unwanted Gifts<\/h2>\n<p>After Christmas morning, the road to your living room is paved with good intentions. While most receivers have the grace to open all gifts with grace and enthusiasm, the hard truth is that people will only use about half of the presents they get. For every piece of beautiful jewelry and new technology there is a confusing kitchen gadget and ugly throw pillow. All those unwanted gifts accumulate over the years, and before you know it you have a closet full of junk you can\u2019t return and can\u2019t sell. This year, instead of lying to yourself about how you might use that stuff in the future, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dailyfinance.com\/2012\/12\/25\/unwanted-gifts-your-guide-to-post-christmas-returns\/\">return it right away<\/a> and get something you really want.<\/p>\n<h2>2. Donate Leftover Junk<\/h2>\n<p>While you\u2019re in the mode for getting rid of things you don\u2019t need or want, go through your old closets and cabinets \u2014 or even garages and storage spaces \u2014 to find the unwanted presents of Christmases past. Most of the items you find will be too old or pointless to sell, but that doesn\u2019t mean you have to contribute to the landfill. Plenty of charitable organizations are more than willing to take ugly or broken items to fix up and furnish needy families. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.boatangel.com\/\">Some will even take old, donated vehicles<\/a>, like boats or cars, and provide you with a healthy tax deduction in return. Once you\u2019ve rid your house of unwanted stuff, you can fill up your storage spaces with useful and pleasing items, instead.<\/p>\n<h2>3. Write Thank You Notes<\/h2>\n<p>The thank you note is a dying art form, but it is one that deserves to be preserved. The amount of consideration that goes into gift giving is unquantifiable, and the only suitable response to presents of any kind \u2014 even the unwanted ones \u2014 is gratitude. The thank you note perfectly sums up a person\u2019s appreciation for the thoughtfulness of a gift, and leaves the giver feeling satisfied and eager to give more.<\/p>\n<p>Professionals in etiquette say <a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/lifestyle\/style\/miss-manners-its-never-too-late-to-say-thanks-properly\/2012\/09\/15\/8c886d8a-ff97-11e1-8adc-499661afe377_story.html\">it is never too late to send your thanks<\/a>, but really most people expect some form of gratitude in the months directly following the holidays. While you\u2019re waiting for your Christmas feast, take an inventory of the gifts your family has received so you can send proper thank you notes before December rolls around once more.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_319\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-319\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-319\" src=\"http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/wrappingpaper-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"organizing christmas wrapping paper\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/wrappingpaper-300x199.jpg 300w, http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/wrappingpaper.jpg 733w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-319\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Christmas Wrapping Paper<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>4. Streamline Holiday Decoration Storage<\/h2>\n<p>The absolute worst part of January 1 is the need to pack away the mountains of holiday decorations. To make a difficult task fun and easy, you simply need to reimagine your storage system. Most families stuff as much as they can into boxes and throw away the rest, but that is simply asking for headache and heartache come next year\u2019s holiday decorating. Instead, you can keep your decorations in mint condition if you consider enacting these storage rules:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Respect your lights<\/strong>. Christmas lights are easily the most frustrating decoration, though they are the most dazzling. When putting them away, label each strand with its location from the previous year. Then wind them up in tangle-free reels, so you won\u2019t spend hours unknotting the lights when you take them out again.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shelter your ornaments<\/strong>. Every year, there is usually one ornament fatality, but you don\u2019t need to witness an ornament massacre when you shove them into a storage box. Container stores sell handy ornament-specific boxes with layers and padding designed to cushion and protect these fragile decorations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Preserve your paper<\/strong>. When the holiday season is over, many families trash new and used wrapping paper alike. However, you can save money (and time) by storing old wrapping supplies in a closet organizer or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.marthastewart.com\/275278\/holiday-organizing-tips\/@center\/276989\/organizing#272271\">on a peg board<\/a>. Throughout the year, you can easily find the ribbons and paper you need without making a mess.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>5. Restart Pre-Holiday Diet and Exercise Routine<\/h2>\n<p>Once your house is purged of the holidays, it\u2019s time to get rid of the holiday pounds you\u2019ve packed on, as well. While December\u2019s activities are an excellent excuse to neglect your workout schedule and your usual eating habits in favor of festive movies and rich fare, there is a reason you can\u2019t act and eat like that all year. Your life will truly get back to normal once you retrain your body to its pre-holiday routine, and the sooner you start, the healthier you\u2019ll be.<!--INFOLINKS_ON--><\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"100%\">\n<tr>\n<td>&nbsp;<script type=\"text\/javascript\"><!--\ngoogle_ad_client = \"pub-3923845094689161\";\ngoogle_ad_width = 300;\ngoogle_ad_height = 250;\ngoogle_ad_format = \"300x250_as\";\ngoogle_ad_type = \"text\";\ngoogle_ad_channel = \"\";\ngoogle_color_border = \"FFFFFF\";\ngoogle_color_bg = \"FFFFFF\";\ngoogle_color_link = \"E1771E\";\ngoogle_color_text = \"000000\";\ngoogle_color_url = \"341473\";\n\/\/-->\n<\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\n  src=\"http:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/td>\n<td>&nbsp;<script type=\"text\/javascript\"><!--\ngoogle_ad_client = \"pub-3923845094689161\";\ngoogle_ad_width = 300;\ngoogle_ad_height = 250;\ngoogle_ad_format = \"300x250_as\";\ngoogle_ad_type = \"text\";\ngoogle_ad_channel = 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However, in the weeks after January 1, those same families struggle to sort through the clutter of the holidays while returning to the hum-drum activities [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[70],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=317"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":320,"href":"http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317\/revisions\/320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/momsnetwork.com\/workathomeblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}