3 Reasons Why You Need To Declutter During the Holidays

Yes, I said the D word (declutter)! It’s probably the last things you want to be doing right now, as you prepare for the holidays coming full speed ahead for you. By the end of this blog post, I want you to feel fully confident that short bursts of decluttering are absolutely critical to helping you navigate this holiday season, free up your time, save you money and allow you to enjoy the season even more than before.

So let’s dive into the 3 Reasons Why You Need To Declutter During the Holidays.

1. Things have changed this year + so has your home.

Let’s be honest, in the last year while some things have stayed the same, but a lot has changed. I want you to lean into this as you pull out your holiday decor. I’ve found over the years that holiday decor tends to overwhelm and overstimulate both myself and my kids, so I’ve become very picky about what comes out for the holidays. As you pull out each item to decorate for the holidays, decide which items deserve to stay and which ones should move on to another home. Broken, beyond repair items need to head to recycling or trash depending on the material.

Also consider if your aesthetic taste has changed. This is normal by the way! Focus on quality, timeless pieces that feel valuable and special to you and your family. Selecting less of a higher quality that will last a long time will save you money long term. If you decide to replace or bring in anything new, make sure something else is headed out to donations. Aim for less. Be honest about how much space you have to store decorations and you’ll reduce what you’ll have to store and manage the rest of the year while it’s are not in use.

2. Decluttering right now will save you money.

Hear me out. If you haven’t heard me shout this from the rooftops enough yet, the purpose of decluttering is to make your life easier, and a large part of this is knowing exactly what you have in your home so you don’t overbuy or impulse buy things that you don’t need. Now I have your attention!

Here’s a few examples of how this can play out for you right now:

• Decluttering with your kids and what all they own right now (and fits) will help everyone clarify what they have and what they need during this season - perfect information to gather right before a gift giving/receiving season!

• Decluttering in your kitchen will help you remove items you don’t need to prepare large family meals and streamline your efforts in your kitchen. Your kitchen will function more easily, leaving you less likely to waste food since you can see and access everything you have, saving you money weekly!

• Decluttering your clothing alerts you to items in your closet you love, want to wear and helps you become more creative/resourceful with what you already have. It’s exciting to rediscover old gems in your closet you have forgotten about and move them into a location that reminds you to wear them and gets you excited to enjoy them during this cooler season. Having clarity on what’s in your wardrobe will help you not impulse buy, even when those enticing good deals strike because you’ll know exactly what to avoid and what to look for (if there’s any wardrobe holes you’re wanting to fill).

3. Save time and energy.

Here’s the basics on this one…the less you have in your home, the less you have to manage. Fact. The holidays tend to feel like everything is ‘extra’ and ‘more’. And with all of this ‘extra’ and ‘more’ comes more things that take over your home and your bulldoze your time and peace. To help you achieve LESS during the holidays, consider these tips to help you declutter in small bursts to regain more time and breathing room.

• Every few days (or once a week), put a timer on for 10-15 minutes + pick one area in your home that feels chaotic/cluttered + do a quick declutter burst.

• Relocate items that need to go back in a different room. Remove items you no longer use or love or items that are in poor shape/beyond repair

• Attack one small zone that is in a high traffic area that you utilize daily. Do a fast 10 minute declutter burst on this area, like a high use kitchen drawer, a kitchen counter, the kitchen table, the drop zone you go in + out of before/after school, a part of the pantry, the fridge, a small hall closet. Editing these spots will transform your everyday immediately by removing physical obstacles (extra stuff) that make your daily tasks harder than they need to be.

Taking short bursts of time to simplify the spaces in your home, however small, especially during the holidays, will reward with more time, less energy spent on “stuff management” and more clarity on what you have in your home (and what you might need moving forward). Everyone in the home will benefit from decluttering during the holidays, long after this holiday season has passed and long into the new year.

Wishing you all the most peaceful + healthiest of Holidays!

Thanks for being here + I’ll see you soon in the next post.

Other holiday + seasonal blog posts you might enjoy: 

No Clutter Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids + Adults

Decluttering While You Prepare for the Holidays

5 Ways To Lighten Your Holiday Load

Giving, Gifting  + Navigating Unwanted Gifts

Decluttering While You Prepare For The Holidays

I’m all about helping you (and myself) simplify the holidays. It’s a time that can often make you feel overrun by things to do and overrun by STUFF! It’s a time of giving and often receiving items that you don’t necessarily need or want. You need to have a plan for your home as you move into the holiday season to get control of what’s coming in, as well as what’s staying. Here’s 3 tips to help you declutter while you prepare for the holidays with ease.

1. Declutter as you decorate.

Of course, if decorating for the holidays is not your jam, you can feel free to skip this section. No sweat!

As you start pulling things out to shift your home to feel ready for the holiday season, I want you to take an objective look at each item you pull out.

Here’s some questions to ask yourself about each item:

• Is the item in good shape?

• Do I still like the item, is it still my taste?

• Do I feel excited to pull this item out + see it in my home for potentially months on end?

• Will this add more joy + not stress to my home while it’s out?

• Is it worth the space it takes up to both store before the holidays + the space it takes up in my home while it is out during the holidays?

• Do I still have the space to store this item when it’s not in use?

Now with these in mind, edit as you decorate for the holidays. Donate items locally in good shape that someone could joyfully use in their own home. You can also offer them to friends and family or put a free bin down at your curb (not on a trash day)! Also, aim to not bring in anything new to your holiday decor unless it is a 1 to 1 swap.

2. Declutter your outerwear.

Think jackets, coats, sweaters, gloves, scarves, boots and cold weather accessories. Most of us deal with some sort of seasonal weather change. Even if it’s not a big change (like my sister who lives in Miami), this is still a good time to check in on light jackets, raincoats, rain boots, etc.

What to ask yourself about your outerwear:

• Does it fit properly?

• Am I comfortable in it?

• Do I look forward to wearing it?

• How practical is it to wear + do I actually wear it?

• Does the piece pair well with the season of life I’m in?

• Does it need to be set aside for repair or alterations?

For items that are in good shape that you’d like to part with, consider local groups who have people in need of these essentials/basics for the temperature changes. I drive by a church close to my home that puts out a coat rack during the colder months where you can drop off a coat or pick one up if you’re in need. I LOVE this idea. ‘Coats for Kids’ might be in your area (another great one). You can find more donation resources and ideas here:

Donate Decluttered Goods + Donate / Recycle / Sell / Toss

3. Declutter the extras.

I know this sounds vague but I’m going to get this clarified and dialed in for you quickly. I am talking about all the things making your home and life feel heavy, especially around the holidays. They need to go.

Here’s some examples things you can remove now:

• Outgrown toys, books + clothing.

• Extra decor around your home that you no longer enjoy (look room by room - think art, pillows, blankets, knick knacks, items given to you don’t use or like)

• Items covering your fridge (edit to as minimal items as possible).

• Things that you’re holding onto that have a negative memory or association with them.

• Countertop clutter (items that need to be relocated, tossed, recycled, or simply put away).

• Emails cluttering up your inbox (take a few minutes to unsubscribe from marketing emails from people/places/business you no longer want to hear from).

Aside from these tangible and digital areas to declutter in your home, it’s important to address old ideas, thought patterns or traditions that don’t suit your current season of life (this is a mental decluttering strategy - remove thinking causing stress/overwhelm unnecessarily, create helpful/healthy routines that will bring joy and value to your home, life and the people around you). I really like the approach on this post on decluttering your mind and keeping it that way by Simple Home | Simple Life blog.

Decluttering before and during the holidays will help everyone in the home clarify what’s most important, gain clarity on what all is actually in the home, and have clear direction on any needs/wants to communicate with others around you who want to gift something to you. Be sure to ask and listen to others on their needs as well so you aren’t adding clutter to someone else’s holiday. I hope you’ll find these decluttering tips helpful as you prepare for the holidays and move into this new season.

If you’d like MORE HELP decluttering and resetting your home, here’s a few great places to start.

No B.S. Guide To Decluttering Parents + Kids Guide To Decluttering

Free Declutter Guide Learn the basics of Decluttering Organizing Basics

Shop all Declutter + Organize Guides/Products

Giving, Gifting + Navigating Unwanted Gifts

It’s the most wonderful time of year, sort of. Full permission here to feel lots of different feelings as the holidays roll around.

There is an influx of things, demands, pressures and more, so no wonder we feel overwhelmed and confused when we’re suppose to be having the time of our lives (or of the year)!

To go against the grain on this, as we do here, I’ve got a list of tips and tools to help you reduce the holiday overwhelm around giving, gifting and unwanted gifts.

1. GIVING - Fill Up Someone Else’s Bucket

There’s a vast array of places to give of your time + donations. As a personal choice, I like to move into these seasons being aware of others that need our support, especially during this time.

• Consider local charities / Non-profits Organizations you’ve caught wind of during the year that you’re inspired by and love the work they’re doing (Abide Women’s Services is one in my area I support through donations/Amazon wish list donations during the year)

• Keep local shelters in mind and take a few minutes to do some research on your area and what their needs are most during this season - often they have an active list of items on an Amazon wish list you can easily grab (from toiletries to bedding/clothing - Safe Haven in Tarrant County is one example - check locally for how you can support your community).

• Creating care bags for the homeless are great to have on hand to share when you have the opportunity (I love this resource with a list/breakdown of items that are actually useful to someone without a home/what is helpful - HOMELESS CARE PACKAGE IDEAS)

2. GIFTING - Think Low Waste + Less Stuff

I think our mind automatically goes to OBJECTS when gifting (guilty here too)! Before you gift someone a physical object, please be mindful of these ideas below while you’re making your decision.

• Will this items cause them to have to manage something extra or will it take up a lot of valuable space in their home? The gift you’re thinking of for someone sounds awesome, but will it cause them to have to spend time on something new they’re weren’t planning for, taking up their time or space in their room?

  KIDS: As this applies to kids, remind yourself that open space to move and create is the most valuable thing you can give a child.

• Consider the case for disappearing gifts. At least this is what I like to call them, as they are intended to be gifted to someone, enjoyed and then they are gone (nothing physical is left behind). Think edibles, candles, flowers, soap, experiences like a trip, visit to a theater show or music, a visit to a favorite ice cream shop, etc. What I love about these is it allows someone to enjoy something special from someone without the burden of managing something new in their home and adding to clutter. Yes please! You can also consider making a donation to a charity of their choice on their behalf.

  KIDS: I love this as it applies to kids because stuff just tends to collection around the little ones. Redirecting gift giving to something that is not an object is also important for them to learn that we can give to each other in many ways.

• Ask for ideas on what to gift them + also what they don’t need. I often ask my sister especially when thinking of gifts for my nieces and nephews what they DON’T need in their home, what do they have plenty of already. This is a powerful question because it does ask someone to take visual inventory of what they have in their home, what they like and what their current needs/preferences are. This is not tacking, it is thoughtful to put the person you want to gift to in the drivers seat. If they have specific needs you open the door up to learn about them or consider a gift card to a specific place so they can get exactly what they want.

  KIDS: I love this as it applies to kids because stuff just tends to collection around the little ones. Redirecting gift giving to something that is not an object is also important for them to learn that we can give to each other in many ways.

3. UNWANTED GIFTS - What To Do With Them

If you already have it, have too much of it, it is not your style or it’s not developmentally/age appropriate for your kids, it needs to go. No guilt needed, it’s just time to part ways with it + here’s your permission to do so!

• Find out if you can return it. Even without a receipt, most stores have a policy with store credit, returns and exchanges for certain amounts (Target with your ID is $75 per year without a receipt the last I checked). I have had to do this in our home for duplicate books, games or items we just wouldn’t use in exchange for something we would.

• Sell the item if you have the time + are willing to put in the energy. This is not always my recommendation, as many of us don’t have the time to managing selling something, but sometimes it works out just fine.

• Can you gift it to someone else who would love it or find it useful? Depending on the item, this could be through local donations, schools, churches, shelters, local theaters or organizations, or by offering it to a neighbor, family or friend.

• Repurpose it with a creative DIY. If there is something you do like about the item and you have space for it, consider adding some tweaks to it to make your own/your aesthetic. For example, you were gifted an art piece but the frame doesn’t go within anything in your home and it is not your vibe - consider painting it, refinished it (if wood) or replacing the frame. If you were gifted a pitcher or vase for flowers or for your vessels collection but you don’t love the color or finish, consider refinishing with paint or by creating a concrete/pottery look with paint and baking soda.

Lastly, don’t forget to set whatever gifting boundaries you need for yourself (and your family) as the holidays approach. This could look like being very specific, asking for no gifts, setting a gift budget, thrifting or finding gifts secondhand or focusing on experiences only to dodge bringing new things into your home.

Whatever you choose, remember that boundaries are healthy, communication take practice and an awkward conversation here or there is worth it in the long run so you can thrive in your home (and others in theirs) without the burden of unwanted stuff.

Wishing you all the happiest + healthiest of Holidays!

Thanks for being here + I’ll see you soon in the next post.

5 Ways To Lighten Your Holiday Load

The holidays often come with unwanted pressure, stress, obligations eating up your time and that awful busy feeling we all hate. In an effort to go against the grain (as we like to do here), I’ve come up with some tried and true ways that will help lighten your load this holiday season, fill up your bucket and help you focus on what’s most important to you (minus the overwhelm and stress).

1. Unsubscribe From Unwanted Emails

Not where you thought I was going to start, am I right?!

Your inbox is about to be inundated with marketing emails and this is the perfect time to reduce what’s landing in your inbox. Within a few days and into the first week you’ll start noticing far less emails in your inbox to review, and less emails taking up your time.

WHAT TO DO:

• put the timer on for 10 minutes

• start unsubscribing from emails you no longer want to receive

• delete emails you’ve already read + gathered what you needed from it

• unsubscribe from stores/blogs/websites you never engaged with this year

  
  

2. Do A Quick Seasonal Declutter

I’m not talking about a huge entire home purge here, but editing things in a few key areas will feel like a full home declutter.

This is a great time to assess items that weren’t used, worn, not longer your taste or have expired. The change of seasons almost beckons for this, so let’s lean in! These three categories alone will have a far reaching effect on your day to day routines and how much you’re having to store/manage seasonally.

WHAT TO DO:

• declutter seasonal decor as you pull it out to decorate your home (remove anything broken, you’ve fallen out of love it, have recently replaced, etc.).

• declutter your cooler weather clothing/outerwear/accessories (if you never wear it, it doesn’t fit or beyond repair, send it on to donate or textile recycling)

• declutter your fridge, freezer, pantry + spices (look for items you’re not eating or have expired) - donate anything unopened/not expired to your local food bank - have a list handy for writing down any items that need to be restocked

3. Look For Timer Savers

Many of you expressed to me that part of your biggest frustrations with the holiday season is feeling like you don’t have enough time for everything, therefore looking for ways to streamline your have-to tasks is a must.

Doing a quick time audit (where’s your time going each day) plus looking for ways to save time will help you get back in control of your days so you can enjoy what’s most important to you. Below are just a few examples that can be applied in many different ways.

WHAT TO DO:

• write down things that are upcoming that are important to you that you want to make time this for this holiday season to put those into focus

• identify things that can be done in advance or in bundled bursts to create more time for those important holiday activities/gatherings - this could be bundling cleaning or laundry tasks, scheduling a grocery order to save time or recruiting others to help with any of these basic but essential tasks

• take care of shopping/errands during a low-traffic times on a weekday if you can, handle it all online or place an order for pick up for a convenient time

• time saving example: I stock up on a few of my favorite appetizers that I can find in the frozen section for a few holiday occasions that save me lots of time (+ I like to pair with fresh fruits + veggies = is easy + fast)

• time saving example: I love making fresh pie crusts but I often don’t have the steam for it so I spent time finding my favorite pre-made frozen brand as a back up that is delicious + preserves my energy for other things - I’ll stock up on several for pies, quiches + more!

4. Look For Things You Can Eliminate

Instead of saying yes to all the things, which we often feel compelled to do, try to looking for things that aren’t “have-tos” to let go of this season.

Saying no to things can be just as or more powerful than saying yes. And ironically, saying no to more things allows you to say yes to things that actually matter. Here’s a few ideas to help you recapture more time, energy + peace this holiday season.

WHAT TO DO:

• eliminate any social gatherings that you don’t want to be a part of - no reasons are needed, promise!

• eliminate the need to make all the food for an event - ask others to bring things, order food in advance or try a combo of making some + buying some already made to lighten your load

• eliminate the pressure to buy new decor, a new outfit, or big gifts - repurpose what you have + gift with heart/intention - the size + cost doesn’t matter

• eliminate the need/pressure to buy “things” to give to others - offer up your time, cook a meal, gift an experience, offer to fix something or do housework for someone or make something with your own two hands

• eliminate the pressure for family photos, holiday cards, etc. if you’re heart is not in it this year, don’t do it - save your money + energy - take intentional time to connect with those you care about most when you can + call it a day (or year!)

5. Fill Up Your Bucket + Others

Lightening your load is very much intertwined with how you care for yourself + others.

In a season where the feeling of “busy” seems inevitable, let’s slow down + look for ways to do just the opposite. Here’s a few ideas to get you going.

WHAT TO DO:

• donate to a favorite charity or new one in your area for a cause you’re wanting to support/impact this season

• take some quiet walks to move your body, get some fresh air + clear your mind - or meet up with a friend to walk together

• surprise a neighbor with a meal or homemade treats they might not be able to make for themselves

• schedule in downtime and quiet alone time to rest your body + mind

• take some leisurely power naps + read more

• focus on local shops and small businesses for gifting and home good needs

• incorporate a free family activity or fun with friends like driving around to see Christmas + holiday lights in your area on Friday nights until New Years

• schedule a low key game night with family or friends + maybe throw in some hot chocolate, popcorn or store bought treat/keep it easy!

• call, text or write a quick note of encouragement to friend/family member

• purchase high priority items from an Amazon wish list for a local non-profit or charity - check their website or send them an email to inquire more

Get creative, start looking more intentionally and I promise you’ll find lots of ways to take your time + energy back while doing some good for yourself + others.

Wishing you all the happiest + healthiest of Holidays!

Thanks for being here + I’ll see you in the next post.