3 Tips To Declutter Your Holidays

You can take the stress out of the holidays by concentrating on what is most important to you and following our strategies to simplify your celebration. Making lists to manage gift-giving, entertaining, and decluttering keeps you on top of your game.

For many people, along with excitement, panic sets in as the holiday season approaches. Decorating, shopping, baking, and entertaining suddenly loom as impossible barriers to enjoying the season. These quick tips can ease stress and save time and money for where it counts.

1. Identify Goals.  Understand the purpose of your efforts, and you'll know where to focus them. Are your activities about the children, family gatherings, traditional foods, religious meaning, or entertaining for business? Determine what's important and concentrate your time and energy on your focus areas.

Tip: Is your mind feeling cluttered by "to do" items? Do a brain dump. Set a timer for 3 minutes and write down everything on your mind. The exercise of writing it all out is very therapeutic. From there you can organize items by category such as family, friends, work, home, and personal.

2. Utilize Organization Techniques. Start with the end goal, such as a family gift exchange, and list the steps:

•      Invite guests

•      Plan refreshments

•      Shop for gifts and food

•      Wrap

•      Clean and decorate

•      Cook

Tip: Delegate! You don't have to do it all yourself. In addition to family and friends, check out local resources to help with everything from decorating, running errands, catering, or even delivering wine and cocktails. 

3. Eliminate the Less Important. Declutter more than areas where family and guests gather. Cut out unnecessary activities, decorations, and chores. Simplicity is the key here and when we let go of everything having to be perfect, we can finally take a breath and enjoy all the little moments that make this time of year so special. 

Tip: Take one item off your "to-do" list. Your friends and family will understand if you did not get around to sending out holiday cards this year. 

Happy Holidays from Vision Organizing!