10 handy pieces of life admin you could sort over the festive period this year

The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day can often stretch on longer than we expect, with many people taking time off work but finding themselves at a loose end.

If you struggle to fill the time during the festive season, here are 10 handy bits of life admin you can complete to prepare you for the upcoming year.

1. Fill in your diary

The end of one year is the perfect time to set up your diary for the next one.

Prepare yourself for the new year by scheduling important dates ahead of time. Filling in birthdays, holidays, and other special events in advance can help you plan ahead and means you are less likely to stress over last-minute shopping trips before a big day.

2. Clean your house

Many of us have guests stay with us during the holiday period, so why not make sure your house is spotless for your loved ones?

There are hundreds of little tasks we neglect while we’re busy during the year. Spend a few hours working through the jobs you ignore, such as:

• Cleaning the oven
• Dusting light fixtures
• Decluttering cables
• Wiping skirting boards
• Washing rugs, blankets, and cushions.

Deep cleaning your home allows you to leap into the new year without worrying about chores – except for all the washing up after Christmas dinner!

3. Clear out your clutter

Once your house is clean, see if there’s anything you can clear out to make space for the presents you’ll receive over the festive period.

Cleaning out your cupboards, fridge, and freezer is a great place to start, and makes room for the leftovers you’ll be eating into the new year. But challenge yourself to organise your junk drawers and wardrobe as well, making sure to throw away or donate anything you no longer need.

4. Look after yourself

We often get so caught up in chasing our goals that we forget to take care of ourselves, but it’s important to listen to your body’s needs. Schedule a few hours for self-care while you have time to yourself.

Treat yourself to that bath bomb, fancy soap, or candle you’ve been saving for a special occasion. Make sure to spend time with yourself between holidays, whether that means indulging in your hobbies or catching up on a series you love, so you can go into the new year feeling relaxed.

5. Sort out your paperwork

The mountain of paperwork we all have will only keep growing unless you start looking through it. Sort it into three piles:

1. Important documents you need to keep
2. Problems that require an action
3. Papers you can throw away.

Make sure to store your important documents somewhere safe, so you know where to look when you need them. Then recycle the paperwork you don’t need, and shred anything with private information on it.

You’ll be left with one much smaller pile that you can work through whenever you have time.

6. Back up your important files

As technology improves, more and more of our lives are moving online. As well as sorting out your paper files, it’s a good idea to go through your important digital documents and photos and save them to several places so you don’t have to worry about losing them.

You can back up your files to a cloud storage service or memory stick, but for a cheaper solution, you can also email documents to yourself so you can access them from both your computer and phone.

While you’re backing everything up, don’t forget to organise your files so you don’t lose something you might need later because you saved it to the wrong place.

7. Fix your house

Wear and tear can cause lots of little problems around your house. The festive period is the ideal time to go around your home to fix issues, such as:

• Unblocking drains
• Checking for damp
• Blocking up a draught
• Bleeding your radiators
• Testing your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Regularly checking for these potential problems can prevent a catastrophe, so you can start the new year knowing you’re avoiding a possible disaster.

8. Protect your garden

If you love gardening, don’t forget to look after your plants this winter.

Some plants will need protection from the cold, which you can do by moving them inside or into a greenhouse. It’s also the time to plant certain seeds – for example, garlic or blackberries – as long as the ground isn’t frozen.

9. Reflect on the year

Make a list of the achievements you’re proud of from this year, and consider which aspects of your life you would like to change as part of your new year resolutions.

Reflecting on your adventures and the time spent with loved ones can build excitement for the new year and all the spectacular opportunities it presents.

10. Get your finances in order

Although it may be daunting, planning your money for the upcoming year can ease financial stress.

Look through your bank statements to see whether there’s anything you could be saving money on. For example, you may be paying for a subscription you don’t use, or you might be able to reduce your bills by switching to a different phone contract or energy provider.

If you would like support sorting out your wealth for the new year, please speak to us.

Email info@britannicplace.co.uk or call 01905 419890 for help from an experienced financial planner.

Please note

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.