How To Declutter Your Home This Holiday Season
'Tis the season to be jolly, not to be buried under an avalanche of possessions that even Marie Kondo would find overwhelming. 💁♀️ As we deck the halls and fa-la-la-la-la 🔔 let's spare a moment to assess the chaos we've accumulated in our homes in the name of holiday cheer. Yes, that's right, it's time to declutter your home, and I’m not here to sugarcoat it because odds are, your space could use a little tough love. ❤️🩹
According to the experts (because there's always an expert), clutter doesn't just mess with your feng shui; it messes with your head too. Check out this stat:
So, buckle up, buttercup, and let's dive into the joyful art of decluttering during the holidays.
What Comes in Your Home 🏠
Be Discerning, Not Desperate
You know that cousin who insists on gifting you an eclectic collection of decorative spoons every year? Yeah… me neither, but my mom does love to gift me Santa tea towels that I just don’t have room to store when the holidays are over. It's time to set some boundaries. Politely let them know that your spoon rack is bursting at the seams and suggest they channel their gift-giving prowess elsewhere. I love my mom and she’s a great shopper & gift-giver, but I had to remind her that I live in an old house without a basement and garage so I have nowhere to store the multitude of Santa merch. 🎅
Mindful Gift-Giving
Give the gift of thoughtfulness, not more trinkets destined for the dusty corners of your home. Consider experiences over stuff – a cooking class, concert tickets, or a spa day. Your loved ones will thank you, and so will your clutter-free living room. Beyond that… ⬇️
The Gift Exchange Dilemma
Repeat after me: gift exchanges don't have to happen. But, if you do want to participate, I recommend setting a budget or, better yet, trade the trinkets for an evening of shared experiences of an “advice exchange.” Share your biggest lesson learned of the year with your loved ones. It's a win-win for everyone involved, especially your already overcrowded bookshelf.
Decluttering AKA The Purge
Donation Dash
Set up donation boxes strategically around your home, kinda like a festive scavenger hunt. 😉Your mission: free your space from the clutches of unnecessary clutter. As you welcome guests in your home for the holidays, we begin to interact with our spaces a little differently. We start to uncover things we didn’t realize we were holding onto or even had anymore. If you do find things like that, you get bonus points for donating those items to thrift stores, setting them out on the curb, or take them to the office break room with a "free to a good home" sign.
Family-Friendly Shopping Spree
Invite your friends & family over and let them loose in your stuff. It's like a shopping spree but without the cash register anxiety. Who knew Aunt Mildred had an eye for vintage board games? 🧩😉
Sentimental Sorting
Nostalgia can be a hoarder's worst enemy. While it’s so nice to hold onto family heirlooms or things from our younger years, consider sorting through those items and sharing the love with family members who might appreciate Grandpa's vintage vinyl collection more than you do. 🎥🤷♀️ Giving up sentimental items can be hard, but remember, your memories are in your heart, not in that dusty old box. And! As mentioned above, sharing the love doesn’t necessarily mean you need to throw those items in the trash, you can just rehome them to your loved ones. Orrrr, I give you total permission to throw them away.
Trash the Treasures
Here's the hard truth: it is okay to throw things away. Bin it. 🗑️ Toss it. 🗑️ Your sanity will thank you. While we should adhere to the reduce, reuse, recycle motto, sometimes it is ok to just throw things in the trash. However, maybe the next time you do a spring cleaning for a bigger space, you can attempt to donate more then.
So, as you deck the halls and jingle all the way, spare a thought for your living space. Embrace the holiday spirit of giving – not just gifts, but the gift of a clutter-free home. Your mental well-being and that overstuffed sock drawer will thank you. Cheers to a clutter-free and truly joyful holiday season!
