Step-By-Step Tactics for How to Thrive This Holiday Season

The sprint from Halloween to New Year's Day can be a blur, particularly without planning how you really want to enjoy each of the many holidays throughout this season... Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday, Advent, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and more. Now that we are only 50 days away from Christmas, it's the perfect time to be proactive. Here are a few simple steps to get started. ⠀ Step 1: Detail your vision. How would each perfect holiday look, smell, taste, feel and sound? With whom would you be spending time? What would you be doing? Consider every aspect. ⠀ Step 2: Choose your priorities. Every what that has a when is more likely to get accomplished so schedule on your calendar what earns your time: holiday traditions, kids' performances, local events, gift-giving, new opportunities to celebrate. ⠀ Step 3: Integrate your holiday priorities amidst your existing commitments for work, home, community as well as self-care, including what you need to keep your mind, body and spirit fueled. Work-life integration proves so much more productive than the dream of work-life balance. Which of your non-holiday commitments can you delegate, delete or delay? Should you use some PTO from work to address holiday needs so they cause fewer distractions? ⠀ Step 4: Create a budget. Include everything for gifts, decorations, entertainment, food, beverage and travel, taking into account from where your resources will come to cover these additional expenses. Have you culled finances into a special account for holiday needs? Should you be aware of the limit for what credit card you'll use? ⠀ Step 5: Secure your travel details. What are your desired travel dates, and will you be going by plane, train or automobile? Should you get your vehicle serviced? How will you book hotel or other accommodations? Can tech make your trip better? ⠀ Step 6: Outsource what you can. Apps can enable automating certain functionality or you can delegate via sites like Fancy Hands, Task Rabbit and Thumbtack. Better yet, consider a local concierge service to help, such as Errand Girl, Consider It Done! or Metro's Other Woman. They do offer affordable options. ⠀ What steps can you take now to worry less, avoid hectivity and savor every moment? A little work now will make the holidays less overwhelming and empower you to thrive while enjoying it all.

Over 60 Gift Ideas to Eliminate Clutter for Loved Ones

It's the holiday season, and, whether you're celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or Boxing Day, chances are good that your shopping list feels endless. While giving the gift of your time, access to an experience or consumable items (edible, personal care, art supplies) offer excellent alternatives, we often want to give a tangible item that can immediately improve the recipient's life. When determining which such gifts to consider, it is important to think about lifestyle elements for the recipient. Here are some of my favorite, clutter-free gifts for folks on your list:

• Mornings can be tough for some of us, but the BEDDI Glow help.s This intelligent alarm clock enables waking up naturally with sunrise simulated wake up light paired with your favorite music from Spotify, Apple Music or other music players. Set multiple alarms on different days, and receive traffic / weather information once you wake up. You can also sleep well every night with soothing white noise or choose from five, relaxing, nature sounds while charging your phone and tablet.

• As a huge fan of music for motivation, I love starting my day by singing in the shower, and Kohler's Moxie 1-spray showerhead with wireless speaker offers a great tool to facilitate this. It enables streaming music wirelessly with any Bluetooth-enabled device, and the speaker can be easily removed from the showerhead for recharging. If gifting this great find, pair this with an Apple iTunes gift card, and your gift recipient will be ready to jumpstart the day.

• Misfit Ray is an exceptionally versatile tracker while offering a sleek style for those preferring a minimal option. It automatically tracks steps, distance, calories and light versus restful sleep; it can count swim laps, too. Its vibration alerts provide notification of calls, texts, when to move and set alarms. It is smart button enabled to control connected household devices while never needing charging and is water-resistant up to 50 meters so it can be worn constantly, providing more data, better insights and greater motivation.

• If one of your gift recipients gets frustrated by how photos aren't printed anymore, consider the Polaroid ZIP Mobile Printer or the Lifeprint Wireless Photo and Video Printer, both using ZINK Zero Ink Printing Technology as well as working with Apple iOS and Android devices alike.

• For those of us on-the-go throughout each day, it's easy to have devices that need refueling while out and about. The QBracelet merges technology with modern style to offer a sleek, lightweight bracelet that can charge an iPhone, holding its charge for up to 30 days and charging your phone up to 50% in 40 minutes. Offering size and color options, it works with iPhones 5 and up, including the iPhone 8, 8+ and X.

• With all the buzz around Meghan Markle these days, I'm inspired by an item she considers a "travel essential", but be forewarned that the associated cost makes this more of an investment piece. The Personalized Stow Leather Zipper Tech Case is made from buttery soft Spanish leather and helps keep track of all your tech accessories in one place, regardless of whether you're home, at work or on-the-go. As described on its website, "there's a spare leather pocket and loop, perfect for headphones and extra cables, and a leather pen loop centrally placed. Travel essentials such as passport, boarding cards, reward cards and receipts are organized neatly to the right." 

• For those who struggle to have a "home" for their iPhones or iPads, the DOCK+ Charging Station with Lightning Cable sits elegantly on a desk, nightstand or any flat surface for a sleek, stable base in minimalist design to charge a device while allowing comfortable use or viewing the screen at a glance.

• Speaking of those Apple mobile devices, if your gift recipients have had issues with the cords that came with their iPhones and iPads, they will appreciate Paracable's 5' Apple Lightning Cables,  Belkin MIXIT Duratek Kevlar Lightning to USB Cable or Anker PowerLine 10' Apple-Certified Lightning Cables, which charge and sync Apple devices in style with longer, more durable cables in various, fun colors.

• For those with multiple devices needing homes for charging at once, Hammacher Schlemmer's 7 Device Charging Station is ideal. This charging station supplies power to seven USB devices simultaneously. The hub draws power from a standard wall outlet and supplies up to 14 amps to tablets, smartphones and other electronic devices via two 2.4-amp, three 1-amp and two 3-amp ports. The dock's integrated smart-charging technology adjusts the energy output of each USB port to optimize recharging speeds of plugged-in devices. The 3-amp ports also feature Quick Charge 3.0 technology for compatible Qualcomm devices that can recharge a completely drained battery to 80% full in just 35 minutes. It turns off automatically after devices are charged, occupies as little space as an alarm clock by standing devices on end and includes plastic dividers that help protect screens while minimizing cord tangles.

• Whether your gift recipient's phone or tablet is an Android or Apple iOS device, Neet Products can protect the charging cords, make them easier to wind up for traveling and differentiate between similar cords in the same household by giving each person an assigned color. The Cable Tie Wrap is available in 36-inch and 8-inch options, comes in 11 colors, reduces everyday wear and tear, eliminates tangles, reduces strain on cable tips and is a lightweight addition to tech tools.

• Power Perch is a charging shelf that can be added to any single outlet. This is a great gift for folks who travel a bunch and need to keep mobile devices perched atop outlets across the room from any tables or flat surfaces. It can also help for those living in smaller spaces where it doesn't make sense to take up floor space near the outlet for resting what will be plugged into it. or where there is a desire to keep mobile devices off limited countertop space.

• It's easy to get grossed out by what happens to our tech tools, but PhoneSoap will keep anyone's smartphone disinfected as it charges; plus, the brand-new version adds wireless charging for your device that offers this functionality already. Pair this with the screen cleaning wipes from Spruce and Co to make life a little brighter with the cleanest mobile devices possible.

• Many of us hover between a love of technology and a dependence on the effectiveness of paper solutions; if you have someone on your list that fits that description, consider gifting the Bamboo Slate Smartpad, which is a board that holds your own paper so you take handwritten notes naturally, push a button on the board to upload to the cloud and organize, edit or share those saved notes and sketches how its easiest for you to use and get things done. Turn your handwritten notes into text and, then, sync across devices. Work smarter, not harder.

• If your loved one likes swimming laps at the local gym or riding the waves off the coast, protecting technology from water is a key consideration. The Unifun 10400mAh Waterproof External Battery Power Bank Charger includes a strong LED flashlight and strap hole for devices. Its creative design is waterproof, dustproof, anti-shock and skid resistant, making it ideal for campers, hikers, skiers, construction workers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. It can fast-charge two devices simultaneously. To help your gift recipient protect mobile devices, consider the Ace Teah Waterproof Phone Pouch Underwater Dry Bag, which is snowproof, and dirtproof in addition to waterproof. Cellphones, IDs, credit cards, cash and keys are protected from water, snow, dust, sand and dirt when diving, swimming or partaking in other outdoor activities while the crystal clear transparent window remains sensitive to touch so typing, taking photos or videos and making calls continue. Plus, Finis' Duo™ Underwater MP3 Player uses bone conduction audio transmission for incredibly clear sound, making it a game changer for swimming laps. Its integrated clip design secures to google straps to rest on the cheekbones for a comfortable and streamlined fit; there are four buttons to easily navigate between songs, podcasts, audiobooks and other supported audio files. The device offers 4GB of flash memory and a Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery life of up to 7 hours.

• Although it can often appear that electronic storage space is limitless, we're regularly reminded of the limits to our physical space. Combat the space constraints of drawers in your gift recipient's home with a couple items from The Container Store. The Dream Drawer collection offers organizers and dividers to make better use of each drawer's space; likewise, the 5-Section Boobie Trap Bra Organizer is created specifically to store up to 10 bras while preserving their shape, protecting delicate lace and guarding against snags.

• Sharper Image's Motorized Tie Rack offers the ultimate tie organizing, holding more than 45 ties, belts and accessories within a smaller space and making it possible to find the perfect one with the press of a button. The rack includes 3 bright white LEDs to illuminate all items, making it easier to quickly find what's needed, and they shut off automatically.

• For the person on your list who loves the outdoors, the CGear Sand-Free Multimat has a double layer weave made from 100% PE, which is perfect for camping and the beach. It is easily cleaned and dries instantly should drinks be spilled; plus, as you lift it off the ground, sand, dirt and dust disappear before your eyes. Its D-Rings around the edges help to affix it firmly to the ground, and it is UV stabilized to prevent fading. Choose which size and color is preferred.

• No matter why your loved one is headed out into the cold, you can help prepare them with Ravean heated down jackets and gloves. With these tools, anyone can control the temperature whenever and wherever needed. Plus, the same cord that heats the jacket can charge a mobile device, making sure no one suffers from a dead battery. As an alternative, consider the EnergyFlux Enduro Rechargeable Hand Warmer, which doubles as a USB portable charger power bank to make sure your hands stay warm while keeping your device charged. As a bonus, it includes a built-in flashlight, too.

• For family trips to the beach, afternoons at the park or protection during outdoor concerts, the Sport-Brella Portable All-Weather and Sun Umbrella offers an 8-foot canopy with UPF 50+ protection to keep your skin safe and protected from over 99.5% of UVA and UVB rays. Side panels offer extra protection while wind flaps provide ventilation. It is water repellent to keep everything inside dry and relaxed on rainy game days or cool from the warm summer sun at the beach. The kit is easily portable, collapsing down to a 54" x 4" x 4" unit, which weighs only 9 lbs and can be carried in one bag with the 8 steel ground stakes and 3 tie-down cords.

• For the yogi in your life, consider YoYo Mats from The Grommet. This self-rolling fitness and yoga mat helps maintain the Zen moment well after each class. With two, patented steel bands hidden inside, you can give it a toss while holding on to one end to unroll; then, push and click the other end down to keep the mat flat. To roll it back, give it another quick toss, which will make it snap shut like a slap bracelet, and it will stay put. The lightweight mat is made from a recyclable, eco-alternative material that's nontoxic and free of latex, PVC as well as phthalates; further, its closed cell construction blocks out moisture, bacteria and odors.

• As I explained in last year's gift guide, the S'well water bottle is an excellent tool to keep hydrated as it keeps beverages cold for 24 hours or hot for 12 hours; when I shared that tidbit, the only option was the original S'well bottles and accessories, but, now, they have expanded to include travelers and tumblers, which ensure the S'well brand meets all the beverage needs while eliminating use of disposable bottles. Choose from a wide variety of colors and exterior textures to best reflect the personality of your gift recipient.

• We all need socks; however, the gift of socks can be yet another something to fill your drawers unless you give Bombas socks. Each pair purchased leads to one pair donated to someone in need. Yet, these aren't normal socks... At Bombas, the "goal is to make socks that feel better than anything you've ever put on your feet." These socks offer superior comfort, support and softness. Click here to learn all about Bombas' higher level sock tech and prepare to be amazed.

• Does the stylista on your list love the most beautiful shoes that always make her feet absolutely ache? It's tough being gorgeous, but your gift can help. Sole Serum's essential oil and lidocaine-infused lotion relieves foot pain and discomfort instantly, lasts for hours, reduces inflammation, dries quickly, is easy to carry, doesn't leave a stain, refreshes skin, offers non-greasy moisturizing and has a soothing scent.

• Although a local fine jewelry store claims that every woman wants one of their boxes, I must admit that I prefer more eclectic jewelry, and many of my friends feel the same way. If someone on your shopping list fits that description, consider The Painted Pearl for your gift-giving needs. The artist making these small paintings and hand-crafted jewelry is Courtney Frye, and her signature oyster necklaces are both unique and beautiful with every necklace being different from any other. Other items of note include Courtney's tassel and City of Oaks acorn earrings as well as her watercolor calendars.

• Rumpl blankets utilize technologies developed for activewear, outdoor gear and sporting goods to modernize the everyday blanket; these high-quality, versatile blankets keep their users comfortable anywhere and everywhere. Offered in a variety of colors and sizes, you can get the original or down puffy, which can each be rolled up in their bags for easy transport.

• Batteries run out at the most inopportune times, which is why it's so helpful to keep a stash of back-up batteries in the sizes you use most frequently. The Battery Organizer Storage Case by Range Kleen holds 82 batteries of various sizes in one tiny space, organizing the batteries by type to keep every size easy to see, access and keep stocked. The case includes a detachable battery tester, and it can be stored in a drawer or mounted on the wall, offering a unique, durable design.

• For the person in your life who loves to cook, consider Agatha, who will hold your spoon and release the steam from your bubbling pot, adding a playfulness to what work is happening in that kitchen. The Dreamfarm Spadle is a versatile, silicone spoon that features a flat squeegee tip to scrape, a deep 1/2 cup scooping head and useful measuring lines. It's designed to sit up in your pot while also offering the option to be a serving ladle with its unique shape. Simply twist the handle to transform from spoon to ladle and back again. The MasterPlan non-stick 3-section meal skillet lets recipients use only 1 pan to cook a full meal with 3 compartments to cook 3 different elements of the meal at once. Its non-stick and stain resistant surface is oven and dishwasher safe, making life much easier. The Honey Can Do herb preserver keeps herbs fresh for up to two weeks. The Taylor Weighing Bowl and Scale measures up to 11 pounds to give your chef the knowledge necessary to create a sensational finished product. Likewise, the bakers in your life might prefer the Flower Pot Bread Making Kit from Terrain, which includes four terracotta baking pots plus the dry ingredients needed to make tasty flower pot bread and lavender butter. All your chef would need to add are butter and parchment paper. Plus, any BergHOFF Perfect Slice plan set with slicer tool provides a grid around the dishwasher-safe, nonstick baking surface so you can line the silicone cutting tool up to make all servings equal sized and of the size you desire.

• Whether your gift recipients love to cook or to eat, chances are good they'll enjoy Jacobsen Salt Co.'s tasty offerings. I recommend the Sourced Salt Vial Set to get a cost-effective taste for their variety; however, the many infused salts (black and white truffle, cherrywood, garlic, ghost chili, habanero, lemon zest, pinot noir, rosemary, vanilla bean and more) beckon deeper analysis to find the best option for giving.

• Although we don't always find an easy way to get our daily quota of greens by eating the right foods, 8Greens' tablets make it so much more simplistic. Made of aloe vera, barley grass, blue green algae, chlorella, kale, spinach, spirulina and wheatgrass, one tablet of 8Greens is high in vitamins and minerals, detoxes organs, oxygenates the body, helps reduce the effects of aging, promotes collagen, encourages organ functioning, balances PH levels, helps circulation, decreases inflammation and provides a key source of antioxidants. Your gift recipient would simply drop the tablet in 8 ounces of water, let it fizz until it completely dissolves and, then, sip.

• If your loved one struggles to get a good night's sleep, the Alaska Bear® Natural Silk Sleep Mask provides a sleep aid and eye relaxer made of 100% top-quality 19 momme natural mulberry silk on both sides, offering the breathable, cool relaxation of the soothing masks found at the world's premier spas. To even better ensure boosting the probability of a good night's sleep, gift a Blackout Bedroom Curtains Set, which has grommets at the top of each room darkening panel with thermal insulating draperies for saving energy, reducing noise, blocking UV rays and limiting distractions to getting more sleep.

• Speaking of getting better sleep, it is not simply about making it easier to get to sleep; the Eden Pillow features luxurious, gel-infused, cooling memory foam and a gusseted design that allows for maximum edge-to-edge support so you stay asleep and get better rest. Pair this with the Outlast Woven All Season Temperature Regulating Blanket, and you help your loved one balance the temperature around one's body to maintain optimal sleep temperature.

• Until any of those solutions kick in to create a more rested individual, provide your loved one with Honest Hazel Eye Gels, which use powerful natural ingredients to reduce puffiness, brighten dark circles, firm fine lines and hydrate the delicate under-eye skin. It's like the gift of refreshment!

• Norwex started as only these miraculous cloths that effectively kill 99% of the germs on a surface by using microfiber and water, but it's grown to be so much more: laundry detergent, dusting mitts, body towels, dish cloths, cutting boards, pot scrubbers, mop collections, cleaning paste, descaler, glasses' cleaners, chenille hand towels, sink or bath mats, footstones and the list goes on and on. Further, Norwex products improve quality of life by radically reducing chemicals in our homes. My friend Heather Hooper is an authorized consultant so a purchase from the aforementioned link supports her local business. It's such a win-win to shop local.

• If your gift recipient is local to Raleigh, NC, a gift certificate to Skin Sense will give access to the Himalayan Salt Cave; however, for those living elsewhere, consider a salt lamp from Kohl's, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Walmart or wherever you prefer. The salt aids the body to draw out impurities and toxins, leaving your loved one better balanced.

• Pinhole Press creates beautiful, customized, photo gifts, many of which help engage kids in activities to bring the entire family together. For younger children starting to learn family members, consider gifting the custom board book of names and faces; beyond that, look into the photo puzzles, photo memory games and family faces photo sticker book. There's still time to get your custom order completed before Christmas Eve, but check online for Pinhole Press' important holiday deadlines.

• The future of play is met by the many kids' activities from Seedling. Choose your youngster's fun from activities like Design Your Own Superhero Cape, Maze: A DIY Virtual Reality Adventure, Color The Galaxy Inflatable Ball and Make Your Own Dreamcatcher.

• As described on their website, "Usborne and Kane Miller books are the most exciting, engaging and educational books on the market today. They are high-quality, innovative, lavishly-illustrated and, best of all, they are the books kids love to read." I was recently introduced to them by my local consultant, Jennifer Hammond, and I can attest to the high quality of these engaging books. They offer a wide variety of styles, topics and book formats so there's something for all ages and interests.

• Sometimes, the best way to get a little one who is a picky eater to actually chow down is via distraction, making eating more fun. The Construction Plate and Utensils or Garden Plate and Utensils from UncommonGoods are such helpful options.

• When searching for the perfect gift to give the mother or father of a four-legged friend, consider something that would benefit the dog or cat. Casper's dog mattresses are made with the same expertise used for its people beds. Gosh EasyFeed Smart Pet Feeder is a revolutionary food and water dispenser that allows you to program a pet's meals from wherever you are and check in via webcam; it holds a liter of water and 20 cups of food, which can be released in portions at scheduled mealtimes. As seen on Shark Tank, the mind-blowing Fresh Patch is a hydroponically grown grass patch that simulates an all-natural potty for dogs to use indoors; it is easy to clean, is environmentally friendly and can be shipped across the US.

• We never know when an emergency is going to strike so preparedness can be one of the best gifts to give. Consider the ER310 E+Ready Emergency Crank Weather Radio to provide valuable information, allow for recharging USB compatible devices, provide a Cree LED flashlight for power outages or navigating low light areas and include a high frequency dog whistle. The Preppi GoBox is an emergency kit for individuals with a briefcase handle on its compact box to easily tote around; it contains all the basic survival essentials needed: first-aid kit, 3-day water supply, 3-day food rations, Swiss Army multi-tool, LED flashlight, glow stick, mylar emergency space blanket, rain poncho, waterproofing utility bags, notepad, pencil, dust mask, safety matches, 4-hour candles, emergency whistle and playing cards. The Mini Firefighter is a fire extinguishing foam, which operates like a can of hairspray and uses foam to smother electrical, solid, fat or petroleum-based fires; push the nozzle, and its foam expands up to 40 times its size around the fire, contracting to prevent re-ignition. Once it cools, the foam transforms into a gel you can wipe off; plus, the nontoxic formula biodegrades, making it perfect for the great outdoors. If your gift recipient lives upstairs, the Easy Deploy Fire Escape Ladder might provide a necessary exit when the home is ablaze.

• One of the more creative gifting options that I've seen is Ancestry Service from 23andMe, where recipients get a comprehensive understanding of their genetics, including a breakdown of global ancestry by percentage and connections to DNA relatives. Through December 26th, you can save up to $50 off each kit and get free gift wrap; then, fulfillment is super simple for the recipient as it's a matter of simply mailing a saliva sample back to 23andMe's US-based lab in the same kit it came in using the pre-paid postage provided.

• Lindsay Sherbondy is a graphic designer who fell madly in love with lettering, opening the online shop for Lindsay Letters in 2012 from her belief that surrounding ourselves with beautiful and meaningful goods makes us feel special, happier and more hopeful; her latest creation is The Creatives Calendar™, and it is one of the most productive juxtapositions of beauty, meaning and function that I've ever seen. Lindsay wanted a big wall calendar that was simple yet functional and beautiful, being big enough to record all important things (appointments, meetings, social media planning, deadlines, new ideas, brainstorming and more) and with a plexiglass cover to accommodate everyone's rapidly changing minds / plans. Choose what design, size and framing option would be best.

• If you have a gift recipient who runs a business, will be making big changes in the new year, has tons of new ideas to be implemented or is looking to up-level goals moving forward, consider the Powersheets® Intentional Goal Planner, which pairs nicely with your favorite planner as you strategically invest your limited resource of time each week and day.

• There is a great deal of research linking gratitude with productivity, which is why FranklinPlanner's A Year of Gratitude Kit can be the gift that continues giving all year long. This is a kit to inspire 52 weeks of giving thanks, which is a habit that leads to many rewards.

Feel free to utilize these ideas for the holidays or throughout the entire new year... There are plenty of upcoming opportunities for gift-giving, including birthdays, thank yous and so many different types of celebrations. Still, since it is hard to go wrong with gift cards and gift certificates, keep in mind options like Cardpool, Gift Card Granny, Gyft or Raise to buy, send, organize and redeem discounted gift cards while the Yiftee app will let you send certificates for what's local to any recipient via text or email.

I recommend culling together all your gift-giving ideas, what you've bought for whom, where each present is stored and whether it has been wrapped thus far. Evernote provides an excellent option to organize those details amidst all the other information you must remember; however, if you are seeking an app designated for tracking only your gift-giving activities, The Christmas List and GiftPlanner are really fabulous iOS alternatives while Gift List Manager and Christmas List Snowball are great Android options, and Christmas List works cross-platform.

Above all, realize we are still 2 weeks from Christmas so there is time to pull together all the loose ends. Take a deep breath, remember to take care of yourself amidst the craziness and start breaking the big projects down into manageable action items. You can stay sane while addressing all priorities.

Finally, make sure you are getting the best deal possible. If you are shopping in stores, you can compare prices with the Buy VIA and Flipp apps; alternatively, if you are shopping online, use Amazon Assistant, camelcamelcamel, Coupons.com, Honey, PromotionCode, RetailMeNot and SlickDeals to find ways of saving money instantly. Plus, with Ebates, you can earn cash back by shopping at the stores you love while seeing the best coupons and deals available.

What gifts do you have in mind to help your loved ones boost productivity while taming technology or limiting clutter? What tools do you currently utilize in your own work-life integration efforts? What are your go-to gifts that are functional for folks? I am always looking for more and would love your ideas!

Tackle the Time-Crunch for Better Gift-Giving Success

There are many folks who purposefully wait until the last few days to complete their Christmas shopping, loving the energy that comes with running around on Christmas Eve or finding that these last-minute shopping sprees fill them with the Christmas spirit. I have vivid memories of running out with Dad on Christmas Eve to start his shopping, feeling the excitement from everyone's harried movements. However, many procrastinators who have shopping left did not plan to not be done and are truly feeling the crunch. 

If you would rather skip the mall madness, you have a few options:

One wonderful idea is to "shop small" and visit the locally-owned and -operated small businesses throughout your community. When you shop at a chain store, only $43 of every $100 spent benefits your neighbors locally; however, when you shop at a locally-owned business, $68 of every $100 spent stays right there in your local economy. When you look at the statistics, there's ample rationale for saving your sanity, enjoying greater service and shopping your locally-owned small businesses. If you are in the Lake Norman area, consider supporting my sisters' shop, Sweet Magnolia; if you are in the Raleigh area, consider supporting Stylefinder, DECO or The Green Monkey. Which locally-owned and -operated small business in your community is your favorite?

Another alternative is to subscribe your gift recipients to goodies that will be delivered directly to their front doors. The younger folks in your life might appreciate a delivery from Rockets of Awesome, where experts hand-pick a selection of stylish clothes, sending 8-12 outfit-ready items that are $12-$36 per item and can fit what size you select between sizes 2 and 14. The dog lovers in your life might appreciate a delivery from Barkbox, which includes a monthly box of goodies for dogs and their humans. If you have not already gotten them a Poole's: Recipes and Stories from a Modern Diner book by Ashley Christensen and Kaitlyn Goalen, the foodies in your life might appreciate a subscription to the Snack Smart, Do Good club from Love With Food, which delivers all-natural, organic or gluten-free snacks each month. Those folks in your life that lack a green thumb and want plants easy to keep alive might appreciate a delivery from The Desert Box, which includes a planter made from repurposed wood, 1-3 succulents and / or cacti, depending on size, soil and moss, pouch of white granite pebbles and a plant care card. Plus, anyone can benefit from a subscription to the Dollar Shave Club, which offers blades and associated shaving products as well as sulfate-free shower products that hydrate without stripping, hair styling products and skin protection products. Which subscription gifts have you loved giving or receiving?

Stop spinning your wheels; take advantage of these options to organize for success. What other tactics work best for you? Please share your strategies for time-crunched gift giving to better enjoy the holidays. Make every minute matter!™

Over 60 Gift Ideas to Eliminate Clutter for Loved Ones

It is the holiday season, and, whether you're celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or Boxing Day, chances are good that your shopping list feels endless. While giving the gift of your time or tickets to an experience offer excellent alternatives to eliminate clutter for your loved ones, we often want to give a tangible item that can immediately improve the recipient's life. When determining which gifts to consider, it is important to think about lifestyle elements for the person to whom you're giving a gift. Here are some of my favorite clutter-free gifts for many of our work-life needs:

- In this day and age of being attached to our smartphones, battery power can extremely valuable. Gifting a tool to charge your loved one's mobile device while on-the-go is a great idea, and the blue leather iPhone charge-and-sync bracelet from Jet is cost-effective. As another option, consider the mobile power banks or the solar power bank from The Container Store.

- Speaking of charging devices, to provide an amazing charging outlet for home or work that allows doing more in less space, consider gifting the thingCHARGER. In addition to 2 standard outlets, this has 2 built-in USB ports and a top that doubles as a charging dock for your phone or tablet. Alternatively, consider the USB wrap and charger to wrap excess cord around the charging plug as your gift recipient's device is being charged.

- Do you have a gift recipient who often has a phone near water at the pool, lake, beach or bath tub? Consider the Dry Spell Floating Phone Case from The Container Store to lock out sand and water while keeping a smartphone safely tucked inside, enabling the user to continue taking photos, texting, using the phone for calls and, generally, having fun or catching up on work. Plus, if it falls into the water, it's designed to float so the phone stays protected.

- While on-the-go, wouldn't it be nice for your loved ones to have a smaller charging cord for their PC laptops? Consider Dart micro PC laptop charger from FINsix, which offers a PC charger shrunk to fit in your pocket, delivering 65W of energy through a six-foot cable with a built-in USP port to power up another device. There are 9 interchangeable tips to fuel up just about any brand of PC, but it's not an option if your recipient prefers Macs.

- On the other hand, for those with the 2016 MacBook Pro, consider the Thunderbolt 3 USB-C Hub from HyperDrive to equip this Apple laptop with HDMI video output, Thunderbolt 3 video connectivity, USB-C with 5Gb/s data speed, SD with UHS-I 104MB/s, microSD with UHS-I 104MB/s and 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 with 5Gb/s data speed as well as high power to various devices. This will be a game-changer for folks who utilize multiple devices with their MacBooks so make sure to check out the video on their page.

- It's easy to get grossed out by what happens to our tech tools, but PhoneSoap will keep your smartphone disinfected as it charges while the Electronics Cleaning Brush by OXO cleans the hard-to-reach nooks and crannies from keyboard keys to camera lenses. Plus, the screen cleaning wipes from Spruce and Co make life a little brighter as they clean mobile devices' screens.

- Although there are plenty of options for bluetooth speakers, Bose Soundlink Mini 2, Beats by Dre Beats Pill+ and Sony SRS X77 offer the best portable bluetooth speakers that I've seen. Plus, I'm loving the JS Portable Mini Wireless Bluetooth Nut Speaker with Sling for iPhone, iPad, Android and more for an itty-bitty sized speaker with elegant looks and simple operation. Or consider the bluetooth waterproof speaker from The Container Store for a high-performance, go-anywhere bluetooth speaker that lets you stream music or take calls anywhere, whether outdoors or on the water.

- The Monkey Mat Quilted Blanket or Mini Monkey Mat create the perfect clean, dry surface to sit on at the beach, for a picnic in the park, during an outdoor concert or sitting on a hill for a football game. Padded for comfort but exceptionally lightweight, its lightly weighted corners keep the mat down, and it comes in a compact travel pouch for easily taking anywhere.

- Allow your gift recipients to keep an eye on their homes while at work, out on the town or traveling via the Canary All-in-One Home Security Device with a live video stream of whichever room in which it is kept and a measure of air quality to keep safe.

- I'm a big fan of the personal assistants available on smartphones, like Cortana, Dragon Mobile Assistant, EasilyDo, Google Now, Maluuba, Siri and 24me, there are a growing number of technological assistants to keep in the room with you, like Google Home, Amazon Echo and Echo Dot.

- Your loved ones can keep clothes looking their best wherever needed with the Gleener On The Go Travel Fuzz Remover, which includes a lint brush and three garment-safe blade options to remove pills from fabrics as fine as cashmere or as heavy as wool.

- Folks don't want to leave home with a big gap at the back of their pants or a bulky belt buckle that ruins the lines of a fitted top; therefore, consider gifting Invisibelt for the perfect, low-profile alternative to hold up pants without adding bulk.


- Consider BootRescue or ShoeRescue to wipe away dirt, grime and damaging salt stains, especially with how difficult weather can be for those lovely accessories protecting our feet; HandbagRescue cleans/ conditions prized purses via essential oils.

- If your gift recipient could benefit from a better way to more easily grab a bag's zipper and use it to open the bag, consider gifting the zipper pulls from The Container Store. Choose from Paracord Zipper Pulls in durable nylon or plastic zipper pulls from Eagle Creek in black, lime green or ocean blue.

- Do you have a gift recipient who runs a business, will be making big changes in the new year, has tons of new ideas to be implemented or is looking to uplevel goals moving forward? Consider the Powersheets® Intentional Goal Planner. As another option, consider the Fit-Spirational Journal to log every calorie eaten, every exercise and that for which there is gratitude.

- Do you have a gift recipient with a keychain full of keys? Consider the KeySmart Minimalist Key Organizer to contain up to 10 different keys within a compact key holder that fits neatly and comfortably in a pocket.

- Do you have a gift recipient who loves to workout? Consider the Life Energy Ekosmart Yoga Mat from Bed, Bath & Beyond, Gaiam Restore Deep Tissue Roller from Target, S'well water bottle to keep beverages cold for 24 hours or hot for 12 hours, leggings from Lululemon or Athleta and Phillips Freshtones Wireless Earbuds. As another option, consider the Harmony Mat from Jade Yoga, which provides a thick mat with great traction, comes in a variety of fun, soothing colors and gives back by planting a tree for every mat sold while contributing to charities corresponding to colors.

- Do you have a gift recipient who spends a great deal of time working or playing outside in the cold? Consider ThermaCELL Heated Products, like shoe insoles and hand warmers.

- Do you have a gift recipient who loves living a spirited life? Consider a tool that multi-tasks, like the Beer Opening Glass from Uncommongoods. Alternatively, the portable wine glass from The Container Store makes a great gift. Or choose from Corkcicle's innovative bar accessories for a reusable cork that chills wine, an in-bottle beer chiller, an intriguing wedge of ice specially designed to cool the contents of a tumbler glass and the Arctican to keep 12-ounce drinks cold without chilling your hand.

- Do you have a gift recipient who sips on a cup of a coffee for hours or starts a cup of coffee only to get pulled away with a distraction? Consider Mr Coffee Mug Warmer for Office/Home Use. Plus, anyone who enjoys a hot beverage would enjoy the Multi Photo Color Changing Mug; it is dishwasher and microwave safe.

- Do you have a gift recipient who is a foodie? My fellow alumnus from East Forsyth High School in Kernersville, NC, Ashley Christensen, owns the AC Restaurants group and is sharing some of her famous recipes through the Poole's: Recipes and Stories from a Modern Diner cookbook. You absolutely must try her macaroni au gratin! Alternatively, consider gifting a Shiitake Mushroom Log to grow multiple crops for up to 3 years.

- Do you have a gift recipient who wears glasses? I know first-hand how difficult it is to keep glasses clean so I'm extremely excited about the creation of Peeps carbon eyeglass cleaner.

- Do you have a gift recipient who needs a little stress relief? Consider The Head Duo - Cooling and Soothing Kit from Saje Natural Wellness for a refreshing blend to be used with a soothing head massager for an ultra relaxing scalp massage. Or perhaps your gift recipient would prefer calming essential oils from Young Living or Doterra.

- Do you have a gift recipient who is often searching for keys, wallets, bags and more? Consider TrackR Bravo coin-sized tracking devices to track whatever needs to be found. Attach the tracker to something valuable, connect the app on a smartphone and, then, when the item of value is missing, it can be found via the app's locate button. Further, consider the KeyCatch Magnetic Key Hangers to replace the lower standard screw of any light switch plate with a super-strong magnet that holds even heavy keychains so your gift recipient can always find those vital keys.

- For the travelers on your gift recipients' list, Lay-n-Go offers products for hauling around toiletries, cosmetics, technology accessories and Legos alike. Likewise, the Everything ORGO Expandable Travel Organizer provides a whole system to organize and keep track of makeup, toiletries, jewelry and more that fits securely over your sink to conserve counter space.

- For folks who travel most via plane, consider the TAB Seatback Pocket Organizer from Walter + Ray to keep what's needed at your recipient's fingertips while on a long flight. Further, make the trip a little cozier with the easy-carry travel blanket from The Container Store that is ultra-soft as well as lightweight and comes packed in a zippered, jersey-knit pouch. I'm considering this blanket as perfect for an upcoming football game in Annapolis, MD.

- For folks who travel regularly and need help sleeping in hotels or on planes as well as those who have streetlights seeping into their bedrooms, shut-eye sleep mask from Madewell can help.

- If your gift recipient travels most often via automobile, consider a JunoJumper portable battery pack with enough power to jumpstart most 4- or 6-cylinder cars (or mobile devices) via 12 volts and 300 amps, all in a pack roughly the size of a cell phone. Plus, no need for extra cables as JunoJumper comes with its own.

- Whether you are gifting a guy or a gal, it's vital to be prepared, and the minimergency kits from Pinch Provisions provide many tools necessary for life's little emergencies. Better yet, look to the states of emergency kit for "personal care that meets local flair".

- Speaking of preparedness, the right tools are the key to staying safe during a storm or power outage, and Eton Emergency Preparedness Tools provide an arsenal of innovative safety gear to survive difficult situations. Choose between the Blackout Buddy and Scorpion II Multi-Function Emergency Radio to best prepare your gift recipient for whatever issues might arise.

- The PocketMonkey will become the go-to tool for anyone to whom you gift it! This 12-in-1 tool fits in any wallet, is as thin as a credit card, is built of unbendable stainless steel and is TSA-compliant. Or consider the Micro Plus EX Hand Tool to have one tool for pliers, wire cutter, wire stripper, wire crimper, bottle opener, flat screwdrivers and Phillips screwdrivers.

- The Classic Leather Front Pocket Wallet from Rogue Industries provides advantages over traditional, back-pocket wallets in that it's safer to carry your billfold in the front, and puts less stress on your back, allowing for comfortably carrying cash and cards alike.

- Everyone appreciates a pair of comfortable sneakers to wear everywhere, and Allbirds uses the amazing qualities of merino wool to minimize odor, regulate temperature and wick away moisture in sneakers that feel like clouds on your feet. Or you could gift a subscription to the "sneaks of the quarter club" so your recipient gets a curated mix of the best apparel and shoes from Adidas every 3 months through Adidas Avenue A.

- Personalized gifts don't have to include the recipient's initials or name; instead, highlight one of your loved one's favorite places with laser cut street maps from CutMaps. Try a campus map for a recent college graduate, the city where he grew up or the place a couple got married. The stainless steel design comes already framed so all you have to do is wrap it, and, at 5" x 7", each map is just the right size to sit atop a desk or on one's entry foyer table.

- Whether your little one is a fan of Batman™, Darth Vader™, Spider-Man™, unicorns, princesses or critters, Pottery Barn Kids offers a bath wrap option that doubles as a towel and a cover-up.

Since it is hard to go wrong with gift cards and gift certificates, consider Gyft to buy, send, organize and redeem eGift cards while the Yiftee app will let you send certificates for what's local to any recipient via text or email message.

I recommend culling together all your gift-giving ideas, what you've bought for whom, where each present is stored and whether it has been wrapped thus far. Evernote provides an excellent option to organize those details amidst all the other information you must remember; however, if you are seeking an app designated to tracking your gift-giving activities, The Christmas List, GiftPlanner and Santa's Bag are really fabulous iOS alternatives while Gift List Manager and Christmas List Snowball are great Android options, and Christmas List works cross-platform. Which will you try?

Above all, though, realize we are still 2 weeks from Christmas so there is time to pull together all the loose ends. Take a deep breath, remember to take care of yourself amidst the craziness and start breaking the big projects down into manageable action items.

Finally, if you are shopping in stores, you can compare prices with the Bakodo app; alternatively, if you are shopping online, use the Honey browser extension to find ways of saving money instantly.

What gifts do you have in mind to help your loved ones boost productivity while taming technology or limiting clutter? What tools do you currently utilize in your own work-life integration efforts? What are your go-to gifts that are functional for folks? I am always looking for more and would love your ideas!

Gift Guide for One's Many Work-Life Integration Needs

It is the holiday season, and chances are good that your shopping list feels endless. While there are plenty of smart home kits or home monitoring hubs and wireless charging options, not everyone needs such expansive tech tools in their lives. Instead, when determining which gifts to consider, it is important to think about lifestyle elements for the recipient of whatever gift you're giving. Here are some of my favorite clutter-free gift options:

- If the person to whom you are gifting is a runner, a walker or just someone who likes working out, assuming they don’t have an Apple Watch or similar toy, something to attach their phones to their arms would be helpful. Sprigs offers the Phone Banjees with up to 2 pockets so the phone goes on one side, their personal items go on the other side, and it slips right onto the arm. While you can purchase directly from Sprigs' website, there are alternative designs on Amazon, eBay and TheGrommet.com.

- For those fashionistas who love their current gloves but are frustrated by not being able to use their smart devices while styling and profiling, consider NANOTIPS. These transform any leather, rubber, fabric or fleece gloves into touchscreen compatible smart gloves and work well with iPhone, iPad or Android devices.

- I like having a “drop zone” by my entryway so my keys have a home and I can easily find them as I’m leaving; however, that’s not feasible for everyone. Lots of folks spend plenty of time searching for tiny objects, such as the car key when rushing to get out the door. There are several options for solving this, like Tile, TrackR and SecuriTag, but they all function the same: You attach a tile or tag that’s a little bigger than a quarter to the object you want tracked, sync that to an app on your smartphone and, then, track the object with your phone. Your gift recipient doesn’t have to limit use to just car keys; there are endless options for tracking!

- Cords are always an issue so a solution to wrangle in that problem is welcome by everyone: With CableDrop from BlueLounge, you can keep cords plugged in but not falling down as you plug in and unplug your devices. Simple peel and stick the adhesive backs to your desktop or wherever your devices sit to be charged, clip a cable through each CableDrop and it stays put whether connected to a device or not. Kableflags are tags you attach to each cord’s plug so you can identify which cord goes with which item, and you’re protected from ever pulling a wrong plug again. Neet’s Cable Keeper comes in many different colors to organize, protect and identify all your cords; with its inner wire to hold its shape, insert your cable, zip it up and wind, squeeze, loop or tie a bowtie to keep the cable together. If you put each device’s cable in a different colored Neet Cable Keeper, you go beyond just protecting them and can identify at a glance which is where. Likewise, the Cord Wrap from Bobino comes in 3 sizes and 6 different colors, allowing options for wrapping various cords for easily transporting them. CableKeeps secures the cable and charger for your iPhone or iPad together; adding a bit of fun and color while Cordlupa stays on your cord's plug cube so it's fast and simple to wrap up when ready to travel or store your cable. When planning your holiday gift giving, you could give these cord solutions individually or bundled together.

- Whether at home, in our offices or while traveling, plugs can be an equally big issue. Acoustic Research offers a travel plug with USB charger slots, perfect for airports, train stations and hotels where there are never enough plugs for all that needs charging, especially not located close enough together to be truly helpful. The PowerCube offers big, colorful outlets for 3-prong plugs on all 4 sides as well as 2 USB outlets for devices. The ChargeHub plugs into a wall outlet or an automobile to provide 7 USB charging options, and Easy Hub cleverly converts a single USB port into 4. Then, the Pivot Power Flexible Surge Protector offers variety in the angling of each outlet so chunky adapters and chargers can fit better side-by-side. Plus, with Quirky's Pickup Power, you can gift a surge protector for 3-prong plugs that includes USB charger slots and a portable battery pack. Wow!

- These days, we all have a love / hate relationship with our mobile devices, but I’d imagine most of us don’t have many days go by without using them at some point, making gifts related to our mobile devices especially popular. ZAGG, Logitech and Belkin each offer keyboard folio options to add a real keyboard to our iPad tablets, making it easier to type while working or playing on-the-go. Or, if your gift recipient is notorious for letting his or her smartphone batter go dead, there are tons of battery cases, like Mophie, Anker or Tylt Energi. Native Union's JUMP Cable offers a 2-in-1 cable and battery solution with attractive, brown leather case for easy portability. To protect the connections on charging cords, a Klip Cable Protector can be slid over the sensitive area of any plug. The Mist Screen Cleaner and Microfiber Sponge from AM Company includes antibacterial all-in-one spray and microfiber cloth designed to clean computer, tablet and smartphone screens. If you’d rather avoid liquids, the iRoller Touchscreen Cleaner is a liquid-free, reusable option for removing fingerprints, smudges and bacteria from touchscreen devices. The PhoneSoap Smartphone Sanitizer uses UV light as a safe, effective way of cleaning, sanitizing and polishing devices.

- If the person you are gifting lives with several others that have similar-looking mobile device cords, vinyl labels from Whooz can be a welcome gift; they help to differentiate which cord belongs to whom while adding character and color with all different options.

- Or, if the person you are gifting likes to work on plugged-in mobile devices but the outlet is far from where they’d like to be working, REACHarge offers extended lengths of charging cords for Android, iPad and iPhone devices.

- Hyper’s Pearl is a compact, LED-lit mirror with a built-in USB battery pack to charge devices on-the-go.

- Although I personally use my Grid-It from Cocoon to organize my tech-related gadgets, gizmos and accessories, the ways in which this marvelous tool can be used are limitless and can apply to so many of the folks for whom you’ll be seeking gifts this holiday season. Golfers can keep tees, a divot repair tool, ball markers and even an extra ball or two snugly secured in this ultimate organizer. There are plenty of little objects that new parents need on-the-go which can be secured in the family’s bag with this tool. Even the items usually thrown loosely in a woman’s purse can be better contained with this gift. It comes in various sizes and has little rubber lines on each strap to secure things.

- Any time our car batteries go dead, we’re used to needing another vehicle to connect to ours for charging. Well, now, we have an alternative… Juno Jumper is the most portable smart jump starter available, offering a battery pack that connects to your car’s battery for jump-starting your own dead battery. It’s that easy! This would be an ideal gift for anyone that travels regularly, particularly folks that drive alone.

- As a huge fan of all types of music, I’m also a huge fan of the iHome Bluetooth mini speaker, which streams tunes from any Android, Blackberry, iPad or iPhone that has been paired to it. The volume is adjusted on the paired device; battery is rechargeable.

- Since the holidays are a peak time for traveling, this next item could be a good gift to give others or for yourself: PacSafe offers several tools with RFID-blocking, and I encourage considering the RFID-blocking passport protector as well as the credit card sleeve… Very important security tools!

- Although not tech-related, the Pocket Monkey fits in your wallet, is TSA compliant to fly with you and performs 12 different functions, including bottle opener, flat and Phillips screwdrivers, phone kickstand, orange peeler, Hex wrenches, earbuds wrap, letter opener, ruler, straight edge and door latch slip.

- For kiddos aged 5 to 13, I am loving Osmo, an award-winning game system that aids children's learning with hands-on play. Start with Tangram, Words, Newton and Masterpiece; then, choose if you'd like to add Numbers for an additional emphasis on math.

- Finally, since it is hard to go wrong with gift cards and gift certificates, consider Gyft to buy, send, organize and redeem eGift cards while Yiftee lets you send certificates to what's local for any recipient via text or email.

While my go-to resources for finding unique, useful and tech-related gifts are usually The Container Store, The Grommet and Uncommon Goods, there are other sites for you to check as you are shopping around this holiday season. Consider shopping ShutUpAndTakeMyMoney.com, OpenSky.com, TheGadgetFlow.com, Fancy.com and AwesomeClaus.com, and use each site’s filtering options to make the gift options less overwhelming; there are some very cool gift ideas floating between these sites.

If you are looking for more information to have an organized holiday and about giving clutter-free gifts, please check out my interview with Julie Coraccio in Episode 86 of her "Clearing the Clutter Inside and Out" podcast, entitled "Technology Tips for an Organized Holiday and Clutter Free Gifts Ideas", which can be found by visiting this website.

What gifts do you have in mind to help your loved ones boost productivity while taming technology? What tools do you currently utilize in your own work-life integration?

Stay Productive & Limit Stress This Holiday Season

Whether folks in your office are celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas or Kwanzaa, the time between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day can be a precarious time for productivity. You want to honor requests for vacation and time to rejuvenate; however, work must still get done. The holiday season is stressful for most everyone, especially business owners, particularly as your busiest day at work is often the same time as your personal to-do list is a mile long.

It is during this time of year that being proactive, getting organized before the holiday rush and best utilizing your entire team can empower you with the focus necessary to achieve all of your work-life integration goals, even with this season's additional distractions. Start with these 6 steps to stay productive and make this your best holiday season thus far:

- Be clear about your priorities: Between family traditions, friends' parties, the annual company shindig, making sure the kids get to class with the holiday-themed snacks promised and much more, there are simply not enough hours in each day to accomplish everything you may wish to do. With time being a very limited resource, it is important to invest each minute in what really matters. Knowing what matters most to you and your loved ones up front makes those choices easier. Therefore, take time now to set your priorities and choose activities accordingly.

- Write it all down: Our brains are meant for thinking, not remembering; it is vital to write down what we need to remember, including shopping lists, baking needs, holiday card recipients, work deadlines, gift ideas and the endless list of tasks needing attention. Regardless of whether you choose pen and paper or an electronic solution, getting those items out of your brain and into a documented list will make it much easier to efficiently, effectively and productively address the season's commitments.

- Create a habit of being strategic: Take time weekly to establish your game plan. Then, since priorities can change quickly and new issues can arise, take time at the end of each day to wrap-up the ending workday while planning accordingly for the next day; take into consideration tasks that must be completed, preparations for time commitments, personal and professional growth as well as keeping your physical space in order.

- Take time off to handle holiday obligations: While you cannot add hours to your day, you can accomplish more in the limited time you do have by managing your actions to more singularly focus on what you are doing at any given time. With that in mind, it's important to schedule time off for shopping, cooking and decorating so you are fully focused when at work. Likewise, whenever possible, avoid the mall madness by shopping online, and use available apps or sites to optimize your savings, like Flipp, ScanLife, Shopkick, Shopular, Shopsavvy and SlickDeals.

- Plan and schedule vacations accordingly: Since many people want to be off during the holidays, it is essential to balance employee vacation requests with business needs. Consider having a policy for no vacations on especially busy days or limiting the number of days that team members can take off during the holidays. Plus, you will most likely want to limit how many employees can vacation on the same day, choosing whether to give the day off based on seniority or first-come-first-served.

- Know when to ask for help: Ask your team members to take tasks off your plate. Determine what can be automated, like with IFTTT, Podbox and Zapier. Then, consider outsourcing through Fiverr, Guru, Task Rabbit, Thumbtack, Upwork and 99Designs. These services allow you to find help without the obligation of a full-time or seasonal employee; plus, they fit nicely within budgetary constraints. Meanwhile, when hosting, invite your guests to pitch in, and, as you pick up your purchases around town, always opt for in-store wrapping options.

Take time for a little planning and employ all your available discipline to be proactive and productive in this dash to year-end. You'll better maintain your sanity while meeting so many more of your goals, which will lead to a successful fourth quarter and build a solid foundation for the new year.

What tactics do you employ to limit stress during this time of year? Which of the approaches mentioned above will you utilize for this hectic season?

6 Ways to Stay on Track Amidst the Holiday Hustle

As of today, we are just 10 days from the start of Hanukkah, 19 days from Christmas and 26 days from New Year’s Day, which can mean exceedingly long to-do lists over and above the normal, day-to-day workload: decorating, cooking and baking, shopping, wrapping, sending cards, television specials, parties, traveling, out-of-town visitors and much, much more… Whew! It can be extremely overwhelming, but there are steps you can take to help:

1. Be proactive and strategic about handling all your job requires. While team huddles can be good for some, all individuals can benefit from a weekly strategy session done alone for appropriately scheduling time for necessary tasks, meetings, professional growth and current priorities. By assigning a specific “when” for every “what”, more gets done and you have more wins. Then, keep that weekly game plan on track with a daily wrap-in in the last 15 minutes of each workday, where you complete a “check-up from the neck up” for tasks and appointments, get updates from each of your team members, tidy up your workspace, acknowledge the day's successes and show gratitude.

2. Take a look at your ongoing tasks and activities; see what can be deferred until after the holidays. During this time of year, we add so many activities to our already full calendars, but there are only so many hours in any day… Each time we say "yes" to something, we are saying "no" to something else; when each opportunity arises, make a conscious effort to consider, "If I say yes to this, to what am I saying no?" What can be set aside to make room for your priorities this season?

3. Make time for self-healing and keep self care a priority. Whether it is a massage, a coffee break with friends, reading the latest and greatest novel, a quick nap, time to reflect in nature, exercise or just a bit of silence in front of the fireplace, it is vital to fuel yourself in order to have any energy for giving to others.

4. Take vacation time off to handle holiday obligations. While you can’t add hours to the day, you can manage your actions for optimizing the time you have by taking some time off to finish shopping, cooking or decorating. This approach empowers you to be fully focused when you are at work, knowing you have adequate time set aside for those holiday commitments. Likewise, if you are the team lead, be aware of everyone’s desires for vacation time, and be careful to balance employee vacation requests with business needs; consider having a policy for no vacations on especially busy days or limiting the number of days off during the holidays, focusing on giving folks the time off they need to be fully engaged while at work at the same time as getting all work done.

5. Know when to ask for help. While successful collaboration, communication and scheduling can enhance your team’s ability to diffuse the company’s workload, utilizing all available bandwidth, don’t forget that there are plenty of options for outsourcing and delegating outside your organization. There are many resources, including Elance, Fiverr, Sweeps, Task Rabbit and Thumbtack, that are excellent solutions for helping with holiday overload. Utilize all available resources to optimize results.

6. Make lists for all that must be done, bought, wrapped, decorated, cleaned, etc. When faced with holiday-season projects, break each into bite-sized, action steps that can be more easily tackled; checking individual steps off will keep you motivated to continue. Then, whether paper or electronic, be sure to keep your list with you throughout the season, referencing it often.

What tactics do you utilize for maintaining productivity during the holidays? How do you incorporate seasonal commitments amidst your day-to-day routines? Have you noticed any hiccups thus far this year?