Category: Clean and Organize

20 Ideas To Declutter Before The Holidays

I know . . . it may feel a bit unusual to declutter before the holidays. It took some time but I had finally convinced my organizing clients if you declutter and organize the home BEFORE the holidays you would actually enjoy the season with the family.

Let’s showcase the home and your lifestyle to make room for the holiday festivities either in person or online. You get to choose how you participate in this most memorable holiday season. Being intentional with a clear mindset about how you will celebrate will create a most meaningful holiday with family and friends near and afar.

Declutter the home before the holidays: 20 Ideas to create a mindful holiday

1. Kitchen Pantry ~ Start in the pantry. There are probably things in there you don’t remember where they came from. Check the expiration date on the items to make sure it still good if it is and you won’t use it put items in a box and drop off at your local food bank. If they are currently NOT taking donation please consider making a monetary donation . . . Thanks!
2. Closets ~  This is a wonderful time to look at the clothes you purchased in the last year. Will you wear it again? If no, give them to a friend, consign them, donate them or bring to a local thrift shop or Goodwill.
3. Give Away Warmth ~  Take your extra winter coats, gloves, scarves, and socks (New) to a homeless shelter. Warmth is in high demand this holiday season.
4. Books ~ I love giving books for gifts! I found this great idea from a vintage book I bought years ago; write a letter on the inside cover about why you choose the book for someone you care about. If you find it as hard as I do to let go of books, Dedicate them to a new heart & home helped me. Looking to re-gift this year ~ start with your books.
5. Bye ♪ Bye ♫ Bye ♪ Gifts ~ Remember the gifts you ended up with at the company office holiday swaps – you never took them out of the box or bag. Say bye, bye, bye!
6. Medicine Cabinet ~ Check the expiration dates on anything over a year long. Dump your old stuff responsibly.
7. Design Items ~ What graces your shelves and countertops? If you’re going to do some holiday decorating it may be the best time to let go of some vases, candlesticks, and other decors you don’t use anymore. Yes To Less Dusting!
8. Paper management ~ There will be pleather of incoming paper over the next couple of months catalogs, cards, to mention a few. Start the new year with a clean slate along with an organized area.
9. Junk Drawers ~   Get into those junk drawers and toss all the things you’ve been holding onto – this is a great drawer to re-gift items for grandkids, nieces, nephews, coworkers. My mom used to say “One man’s junk is another’s treasure”.
10. Make-up! ~ I think we all have simplified our make-up routines since Covid has been in town. Get rid of the stuff you aren’t wearing and don’t enjoy anymore. I want to add a Housekeeping note: this is a good time to replace or clean your make up brushes and wands. TIP: DAWN dish detergent (2 drops) works wonderfully!
11. DIFY Goodies ~ Do It For Yourself crafts are a great escape. This is a whole season of some very different memories from those of the past. Make room to create scrapbooks, vision boards, crafts to celebrate the year 2020, to make it meaningful.
12. Health Check-Ups ~ Schedule your routine appointments and screenings now so you don’t have to think about them. See if Tele-Health options are available – I do know at this point of the pandemic you have the option to ask your doctor, for a Tele-Appointment Great health makes life simpler.
13. Burdens ~ Make sure you make room on your calendar for the things that make the holidays purposeful to you and your family by getting rid of the things that burden you.
14. The Drama ~ I believe this is more important this year than any other year, clear up the family drama. You can simplify the gatherings you know that are coming either in person or over Zoom this year. This is brain clutter, clear mental clutter so you can welcome peace and calm back into your life. Without this brain clutter, you will become a more productive, happier, and all-around healthier soul.  
15. Your Finance ~ Gift, events, travel and other seasonal items will put pressure on you to spend more. Assess your dollars now and make decisions about what you have to budget for the holidays. Avoid splurges and creating new debt for the coming year – be completely transparent and honest about your finances.
16. Mental Clutter ~ This pre-season release of all of the mental clutter like perfection, comparison, doubts, and expectations will give the holiday season a chance to delight you and your family.
17. Morning Chaos ~ Do you ever dream of a morning when having time to watch the leaves blow, the snowfall, or ocean waves rolling in? You can set your alarm clock earlier than usual then you can get up to listen to your favorite music, read a book, or quietly pray or meditate. Simplify the morning chaos and make time for YOU!
18. Busy & Clutter life ~ Simple. Say Goodbye!
19. The Guilt . . . Let it go! ~ Give and do what you can. Let go of any quilt that says it’s not enough. It is enough. YOU ARE ENOUGH.
20.  Emails & Cell Phone ~ Clean up your phone by dumping apps and deleting old contacts. Unfollow and unsubscribe in order to make more space in your inbox and social feeds. To really show up this holiday season – show up UNPLUGGED (if you can).

Choose a few or all of these 20 ideas to declutter your lifestyle before the holiday season. Think about how you want to enjoy the holidays. Be intentional and mindful about what rituals, activities or traditions will make it meaningful for you.

Declutter now for less stress and a more merry and easier lifestyle!

Peace ♥ Harmony

Cheryl XO