This is the second part of this series. If you missed the first one you can read it here.
In Part 2 of this series I explain how to set up a planner and calendar so you can prepare ahead of time for those school parties and trick-or-treaters. I know setting up a planner sounds like the boring part of Halloween and I agree, it is. But spending a little time now to write out a schedule can make all the difference in enjoying the holiday or stressing out about it.
“A good plan is like a road map: it shows the final destination and usually the best way to get there.” ~ H. Stanley Judd
If you’ve been reading my newsletters or articles you probably know that I love to use a 3-ring notebook whenever I have an event to plan for. This includes vacations, holidays, and weddings or other special events.
For Halloween you can either use a separate notebook or put the information in a section of a larger notebook you have set up for all the upcoming holidays. Here is a brief explanation of how to set up this notebook.
What You Will Need
- A 3-ring notebook. A small one (1/2 inch) for individual holidays or a larger one for all the upcoming holidays (2-3 inches).
- If you are using a larger notebook you’ll need some 3-ring binder pockets to hold loose papers for each holiday. They can also be used as dividers.
- Notebook paper to write out your plans, schedule, and shopping lists on.
- A calendar or printed copy of the month of October.
Setting Up The Planner
- Mark the dates for each party or event on the calendar.
- Work backwards from these dates and start listing on the notebook paper all the things you want to get done to prepare for them. For example; write down what needs to be down last minute and/or the week before. Then write down what can be done two weeks before and three weeks before the date.
- Create a shopping list for each party or event scheduled. If you started a shopping list in Part 1 of this series you will want to put it with this list. Once the lists are done you can prioritize what needs to be purchased this week and what can wait until next week. For example; if you are having a party and mailing out invitations you’ll want to purchase them now.
- Each week go through what you want to get done that week. If you need to mark something on the calendar you can do it at that time. For example; your shopping day, post office to mail invitations, ordering items online. This way they can be worked into your routine for that day or week.
The more that can be done ahead of time the less overwhelmed you will be during the last week before Halloween.
A Few More Tips
One thing to remember is that the plans are written on notebook paper and not in stone. Many people are afraid to write a schedule because if they don’t meet their set dates they feel like a failure. I write lots of lists and struggle with this feeling all the time. But I have learned that a planner is a road map (as stated in the quote above) or guideline that helps keep me focused and on track.
In Part 3 of this series I’ll give you some tips on shopping for those decorations and costumes.
This is where I promote my eBook “How To Have A Fun, Safe, And Decluttered Halloween”. It is loaded with lots of safety and storage (decluttering) tips on decorations, costumes, and treats. Of course you can find most of these tips on the internet but I’ve already done the research for you.
It’s available at Amazon (Kindle) or Barnes and Noble (Nook).
Go check out the table of contents on the review page (link below) to see if these tips are what you are looking for.
The “How To Have A Fun, Safe, And Decluttered Halloween” eBook is a witches brew of tips on decorations, costumes, and treats. Get it now before you head to the store.
Happy Halloween!
Janice