Holiday advertisements are starting earlier than ever and the stores are serious about turkey, candy canes, and snowmen now that November is well underway and Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

It may seem like overkill, but in reality, there are only 37 more days until Christmas.

The holiday season is a busy time of year no matter what you celebrate as there are a multitude of tasks to check off, parties to attend, gifts to buy, cards to send, events to host, and so much more.

So how do you manage to not only make that list, but check it twice, making sure you stay organized throughout this busy season?

Here are some of our tips for planning, creating a calendar, drawing up your lists, and decluttering.

Featured organizers include:

• Peter Gilsenan, In the Zone Organizing, East Haddam, 860-608-1374

• Elaine Johnson, Personal Touch Organizing, Branford, 203-214-4545

• Susan O’Connell, Just SO Organized, Guilford, 203-215-7044

• And, the author, Jenn McCulloch, Sunshine Organizing Services, Branford, 203-214-7006

<p>What are your holiday tips? We'd love to hear from you.</p><p>Email Living Editor Pem McNerney at p.mcnerney@shorepublishing.com with your best holiday tips for staying organized, with "holiday organizing" in the subject line, and we'll publish as many as we can.</p><p>Next week, just in time for Small Business Saturday on Saturday, Nov. 28, we'll be posting information about a Shoreline Shopping Trail, with details on a variety of small stores that provide unique gifts you won't be able to get at the big box stores. So be sure to put Small Business Saturday on your to-do list.</p>

<p>It may only be November, but the days tend to fly by during the holiday season, so take this time now to make a plan. If you have any non-holiday related outstanding tasks or to-dos hanging overhead, complete those first.</p><p>"Whether running a house or a small business, you want to start planning now," said Peter Gilsenan of In the Zone Organizing, LLC, in East Haddam. "Carve out some extra time now to clear up those balls in the air in order to give yourself some relief. You want to identify what you'll commit to and find out what your family or coworkers have committed to."</p><p>Elaine Johnson of Personal Touch Organizing in Branford agrees that it's never too early to start planning for the holiday season. Having been married for many years, she has accumulated a variety of decorations over the years and enjoys decorating her home.</p><p>When she realized just how much she had accumulated last year, she donated some of the items she no longer used. She also created keepsake boxes for each of her children so they will be able to take their ornaments and decorations when they have their own home.</p><p>"Over the years, our tastes change or we may have more than we use so at the beginning of the season, take all of the decorations out and consider donating what you don't use," said Johnson, who also stresses the importance of labeling boxes for storage and that she chooses to sort her decorations by where she uses them so they're easy to put out year after year. "If you use this time to not only decorate your home, but as a way to organize what you own, it'll be easier next year."—JM</p>

<p>And don't forget the 'you' time ...</p><p>In addition to regular everyday activities, the holiday season adds another layer of commitments to many people's calendars. There are holiday parties, cookie swaps, school concerts and events, family visits, and much more. A key way to stay organized throughout the holidays is to use your calendar.</p><p>Every time you commit to an event, write it down.</p><p>Whether it's a child's basketball practice, a company party, or volunteering, it should be on your calendar so when another event presents itself, you will know at-a-glance if it works for you.</p><p>"By putting these commitments against a calendar, you can see that while there may be 10 things to do, you only have time for five," said Peter Gilsenan of In the Zone Organizing, LLC in East Haddam. "By realizing there are only 24 hours in a day and that you need 'you' time and time to rest, you can keep your expectations under control and lay out a plan that will allow you to accomplish what you've committed to."—JM</p>

<p>And then tackle them, a little bit at a time</p><p>It's easy to forget to pick up more sugar or buy a gift for your child's bus driver if it is only a passing thought in your head. You are more likely to accomplish your to-dos if you write them down. Whether you jot them in a notebook or use an app on your phone, not only will a list help you stay on top of tasks, but just crossing them off helps you feel accomplished, too!</p><p>"I always start with a list to see what needs to be done and when I can do it," said Susan O'Connell of Just SO Organized in Guilford. "Take an hour each day so you're not overloading yourself. If you check off something you need to do each day, you'll have plenty of time."</p><p>By making a list, you can see where you can save time. If you're hosting a holiday dinner, is there a dish you can make ahead of time? To decorate the house, can you get ready by gathering the boxes of decorations or checking the lights to be sure they work?</p><p>"Do as much as you can in advance so that when the day comes, you're not going crazy," said O'Connell. "You can just enjoy the day."—JM</p>

<p>Pare down your possessions, clean up your space</p><p>Whether you're hosting a formal holiday dinner or you'll be celebrating the holidays with hot cocoa in your PJs, you'll enjoy that time more in a serene environment. Before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, take some time to pare down your possessions and clean up your space.</p><p>If you have children, it is likely that there will be an abundance of new items streaming into your house. With all of the excitement and anticipation of new things, now is the perfect time to go through their current toys and clothes and get rid of things that are broken, they don't use, or that don't fit.</p><p>"When children are younger, it's a great idea to get some things out, get them donated early so that when new things come in, you're not overwhelmed," said Elaine Johnson, Personal Touch Organizing, Branford. "It's also a good opportunity to see what they need so you're able to create better Christmas lists for anyone who asks."</p><p>Getting your children involved in the process can help, too. Start with three piles: keep, donate, and trash. You can also add a sell pile as nicer items can be resold at consignment shops or through various online forums.—JM</p>

<p>Turn holiday chores into holiday cheer</p><p>Even with so much to do, the most important part of the holiday season is to enjoy it! By planning ahead and getting organized, your holiday season will be less stressful.</p><p>"It's more about the traditions and making it a time for family," said Johnson. "If you don't have the time to do everything, don't beat yourself up."</p><p>There are also many ways to turn holiday chores into fun activities. When O'Connell's children were little, she and her friends had "wrapping parties" where they all gathered at someone's house to wrap their holiday gifts together with Christmas music playing.</p><p>"With a glass of wine in hand, we'd get to have fun, visit, relax, and get a job done," said O'Connell, who recommends installing batteries and cutting the plastic ties that hold toys into their packages before you wrap them so Christmas morning is all about fun. "This make Christmas morning fun – they can take their toys out easily, the electronic game works, the robot moves around. It just makes it a little easier and more enjoyable."—JM</p>

<p><strong>Pencil in all events on your calendar</strong></p><p>o Parties</p><p>o School functions</p><p>o Every day activities like sports & meetings</p><p>o Volunteer time</p><p> </p><p><strong>Holiday cards</strong></p><p>o Create a list and gather addresses</p><p>o Order or buy cards</p><p>o Buy stamps</p><p>o Address and mail cards</p><p> </p><p><strong>Around the House</strong></p><p>o Clean up fall (or lingering summer) items</p><p>o Declutter (donate items you don't use or need)</p><p>o Gather holiday decorations</p><p>o Decorate the exterior of your home</p><p>o Decorate the interior of your home</p><p>o Go through children's toys and clothes and donate</p><p>o Choose and decorate a tree</p><p>o Clean to prepare for holiday gatherings</p><p> </p><p><strong>Plan holiday menus</strong></p><p>o Gather recipes</p><p>o Make shopping lists</p><p>o Take stock of kitchen staples</p><p>o Gather China, linens, serving dishes, etc. that will be needed</p><p> </p><p><strong>Gift-Giving</strong></p><p>o Make a list of gifts to buy (family, friends, teachers, mail carrier, host/hostesses, etc.)</p><p>o Decide on a budget for holiday gifts</p><p>o Get gift-wrapping supplies (paper, bags, tissue paper, tape, gift tags, bows)</p><p>o Wrap gifts</p><p>o Package and mail gifts that are being shipped. Deadlines for the United States Postal Service to ship packages for expected delivery by Thursday, Dec. 24 include sending by standard post by Tuesday, Dec. 15; first-class mail by Saturday, Dec. 19; priority mail by Monday, Dec. 21, and priority mail express by Wednesday, Dec. 23. For more information on deadlines and services available, visit <a href="http://www.usps.com/holiday">www.usps.com/holiday</a></p>