Black Friday is one of my favorite days of the year. No, not for the shopping and so-called sales – I was born without the shopping gene, and I am also crowd averse – Black Friday has other meanings for me.

When I was part of the corporate world, I used to go into my office and catch up on paperwork. Since no one ever worked on Black Friday, the offices were quiet and the phones didn’t ring.

Now I find joy in knowing that 1) dinner is already planned and prepared – Thanksgiving Day leftovers; 2) family is home for the holiday – no school, no work; 3) preparations can begin for the wonderful season of advent. Avoid the BF shoppers and spend some time getting organized for a peaceful holiday season:

1. Create a holiday planner – Everything you need to stay organized through the holiday season – calendar, gift lists, card lists, meal planners – already prepared for you at ListPlanIt.com. A three ring binder works great for this project.
2. Start planning for paying 2010 taxes – Don’t wait until the last minute to take advantage of tax opportunities. Use this time to plan so you can relax at the end of year.
3. Address and mail your holiday cards – If you don’t have your cards yet, use an online service to create personalized greetings.
4. Organize your Thanksgiving photos - Use a 1-hour service to print your Thanksgiving photos, and then load them into a photo album.  Or create a fast and fun storybook.  This is a great family activity.
5. Bake some holiday cookies – Find new cookie recipes or spend some time getting your recipes organized. Baking cookies is a great activity to do with the kiddos.
6. Organize a family outing – Since everyone is out shopping, places such as zoos, museums, and aquariums are less crowded.
7. Back-up your computer – Enroll in an online backup service. You know you’ve been meaning to do It, so take a few minutes and get this done. It will set your mind at ease. Choose the backup service that is right for you.

The best deals just might not be found in stores – wishing you an unfrenzied Friday.