The 12 Days of Post-Holiday Decluttering
Picture this: you’ve finished opening all your gifts, you’re stuffed to the brim with holiday dinner, and all your guests have finally gone home. It’s just you, your family… and all this clutter! It’s very easy for things to feel out of hand after the holidays. This doesn’t have to stretch into the new year, though; the 12 days of Post-Holiday Decluttering are a quick and simple guide to preparing for the new year in style.
On the first day of decluttering, organize your holiday decor.
Once the holidays are over, it’s time to put away the decor for another year. Organizing how you put away your holiday treasures not only speeds up the process now, but make it easier on future you when you pull it all out again next year. Just don’t forget where you put it everything, and label those bins!
On the second day of decluttering, manage your leftovers.
It’s almost impossible to get away from the holidays without stacks of leftovers. You can live off them for days, or freeze some to enjoy later. It’s a great time to find new recipes to try or send some leftovers home with your guests!
On the third of decluttering, spend some time minimizing.
It’s natural that after the holidays, you’ll end up with more than you started out with. More food, more things… more of everything. This is a great time to minimize and downsize. While you’re cleaning up from the holidays and putting away all your gifts, take a look at what you own and see if there’s anything you might be ready to part with or give away. You might even find you have gifts for next year!
On the fourth day of decluttering, help your children part with old toys.
While you’re decluttering, you can also help your kids do their part. They’ll have all sorts of new toys and adventures after the holidays, and this is an opportunity for them to take stock of what they actually enjoy and play with. Teaching your kids to donate what they no longer use can help them learn generosity and organizing skills at the same time.
On the fifth day of decluttering, reduce, reuse, and regift.
Everyone’s gotten a gift at some point that didn’t light up their heart. Of course, you’re grateful for the thought, but sometimes you can’t use what you’ve been gifted, or you just don’t want it. Find a way to repurpose the item in some other way or regift it to someone else (just not the person who gave it to you!) Don’t hold on to something because you feel obligated to. There are other ways to show you’re grateful for the thought.
On the sixth day of decluttering, clean house for a clean mind.
The holidays can easily make your house feel not just more cluttered, but also more messy in general. You’ve had lots of people over, there’s been events and gatherings, and you just haven’t had as much time as usual. Once the holidays are over, take this chance to clean up your space and bring everyone a little extra peace of mind.
On the seventh day of decluttering, find everything a home.
Once you’ve decluttered and cleaned up, make sure everything you’ve been gifted has a home. Part of staying organized is giving everything a place; you don’t want to be tripping over it or losing track of something you’ve just gotten!
On the eighth day of decluttering, manage the winter weather.
The holidays might be gone, but the winter weather isn’t. Whether you’re shoveling snow or simply bundling up, make space for the extra layers and winter accessories you’ll need. Keep closet space dedicated to coats and gloves, and use an old towel or rug for people to set their boots on.
On the ninth day of decluttering, team work makes the dream work.
There’s a lot to unpack emotionally (and often physically) after the holidays. Don’t force yourself to do it all alone! This can be a family activity or friend group adventure. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and recruit some decluttering buddies.
On the tenth day of decluttering, reflect on what you truly want.
The holidays are a time of joy and giving, but they can easily become more focused on the getting. With constant advertisements and holiday sales, you’re often being asked and encouraged to want more and more. Taking some time after the holidays to remember what’s really important to you and what you actually want can help create a mindset that’ll bring peace to you and your home.
On the eleventh day of decluttering, plan for next year.
It feels early, but you’ll blink and the next set of holidays will be around the corner. Get a head start on next year’s holiday by taking inventory of decorations you might need (new baubles, replacement lights, and more). Buy clearance items to save money, and store next year’s finds in a clearly labeled bin. This can help you feel more prepared and next year you will be grateful.
On the twelfth day of decluttering, get some rest!
You’ve been through a lot this holiday season. As joyful as it is, it can also be stressful! You’ve hosted, you’ve cooked, and now you’ve decluttered. Give yourself a chance to rest and relax and enjoy your now decluttered and organized home.