5 Things to Declutter Before the Holidays
The holiday season is fast approaching and I am gearing up for a whirlwind of activities, parties and travel (including our first trip to Universal Studios!) It’s making me feel tired just thinking about it lol! While it's a fun time of year, it can also be incredibly stressful, especially if your home is already feeling cluttered and disorganized. To help you enjoy a more relaxed and joyous holiday season, here are five things to consider decluttering before the holidays:
Clothes and Winter Gear
Before the colder (and/or wetter) months arrive, it's the perfect time to sort through your family's closets and declutter. If you live in the Bay Area like me, it’s likely been a while since you’ve seen those warmer coats, rain gear and ski equipment. Consider donating clothes that no longer fit and are in good condition. I love these inexpensive moving bags for ski gear. They come in different colors so that family members can easily identify their own stuff. Bonus: they are easy to transport and wipe down.
Toys and Games
As the holiday season approaches, it's the perfect time to declutter toys and games and create some much-needed space. Start by involving your children in the process, explaining the importance of donating or giving away toys they no longer play with. Encourage them to evaluate each item, considering whether it brings joy or is still age-appropriate. Create designated piles for keeping, donating, and discarding. Additionally, organize the kept toys by grouping similar items together and allocating a specific storage area for them. You can also consider donating these toys to children in need, promoting a spirit of giving and gratitude during the holidays.
Kitchen Clutter
Christmas is a time for hosting, meaning your kitchen will be seeing more use than usual. To make this as smooth as possible look to decluttering your kitchen cabinets and entertaining supplies.
It's during this time that I always discover I have multiples of kitchenware that are cluttering my kitchen. If you entertain around the holidays every year make this the year that you pull everything out and assess what you really need and like to use. Large equipment like chafing dishes or roasting pans might not have been touched in years and could be given away or stored high up from the annual favorites. Toss expired food items and organize what’s left.
Holiday Decorations
If you are a holiday decor fan, you might subscribe to a “more is more” mentality (#iykyk) but for many of us, it can feel overwhelming to pull out those boxes of tangled and mismatched holiday decorations ever year. If that applies to you, maybe it’s time to downsize. Sacrilege to many I know, but to quote Marie Kondo, does that oversized Santa with the missing eyes “spark joy”? Was that ornament a gift that you never liked? Holiday decorations should make you and your family happy. If there’s something that you don’t like or that has some bad memory attached to it, it needs to go. If a relative would be upset if you got rid of a family treasure, give it back to them to enjoy. Create a peaceful holiday environment by having fewer things that you really love to organize and put away at the end of the season.
Paper Clutter
From holiday cards to school play schedules, paper clutter can quickly accumulate during the holiday season. Create a system for organizing these papers, such as a dedicated holiday folder or digital storage. Sort through your mail and recycle junk mail promptly. As for your kids' artwork and schoolwork, consider digitizing or saving the most meaningful pieces while letting go of the rest. If you need some help, get in touch! I have lots of ideas to get paper clutter in check.
By decluttering before the holidays, you'll not only create a more serene and organized environment but also set the stage for a joyful and stress-free festive season. Remember that the holidays should be about spending quality time with loved ones, so eliminating clutter can help you focus on what truly matters during this special time of year. Happy decluttering and happy holidays!
