The holidays are here, which means that in the back of your mind you’ve got a nagging countdown to January. The power of January is incredible. It’s a task master staring at you with arms folded every time you think of it; ready to snap its fingers the minute you pick up another delicious holiday cookie or go for that leftover piece of pie. Once the holidays are over, January’s coming for you and you’ve got to be ready!
Ok, maybe your January isn’t that dramatic. Maybe January is hopeful because it reminds you of new beginnings and fresh starts. It’s clean and bright and the radio will return to its regularly scheduled programing. Until next year, Mariah Carey.
Either way, January is only 9 days out, so lets get focused on how you can make the most of this pivotal month!
Clearing your home clears your mind. Prepare yourself to face all those resolutions head on with some simple guidelines to declutter, organize, and store your holiday décor:
Ok, maybe your January isn’t that dramatic. Maybe January is hopeful because it reminds you of new beginnings and fresh starts. It’s clean and bright and the radio will return to its regularly scheduled programing. Until next year, Mariah Carey.
Either way, January is only 9 days out, so lets get focused on how you can make the most of this pivotal month!
Clearing your home clears your mind. Prepare yourself to face all those resolutions head on with some simple guidelines to declutter, organize, and store your holiday décor:
Relinquish the Idle
You know those boxes you put back up in the attic after you finished decorating for Christmas? Are those boxes empty or could there a few idle decorations hanging around? I think I know you're answer.
If you couldn’t find a place to use those decorations this year, you won’t find a place next year. Toss, donate, or recycle all those extra snowman figurines and the blocks that spell out holiday words. You loved them at one time, we know. And they felt your love. It’s okay to let them go. Choose to start your holiday pack-up with empty containers instead of half-full of the things you don't use. Next December will thank you.
If you couldn’t find a place to use those decorations this year, you won’t find a place next year. Toss, donate, or recycle all those extra snowman figurines and the blocks that spell out holiday words. You loved them at one time, we know. And they felt your love. It’s okay to let them go. Choose to start your holiday pack-up with empty containers instead of half-full of the things you don't use. Next December will thank you.
Toss the Tattered & Tasteless
The threadbare linens, fraying hand towels, half-lit strings of lights, broken ornaments, and gaunt garlands can go. Be honest with yourself about broken items that need repair. If you won't get to fixing something within the next week, it's okay to discard it.
The white elephant gifts and random holiday mugs (unless you actually love and use holiday mugs) can go too. Don't get stuck keeping something out of guilt. Keep something because you love and will use it. I promise you that gift givers never intend to make you keep their token out of guilt. Unless we're talking about the King of Siam's White Elephant gifts; that's a different story.
The white elephant gifts and random holiday mugs (unless you actually love and use holiday mugs) can go too. Don't get stuck keeping something out of guilt. Keep something because you love and will use it. I promise you that gift givers never intend to make you keep their token out of guilt. Unless we're talking about the King of Siam's White Elephant gifts; that's a different story.
Replace the Old
Cut the clutter by putting those new pajama pants you got as a gift where they belong and remove one (…or two…or three) pairs for donation or trash. The idea of getting NEW things is to replace the worn. I can promise you that your momma gave you those socks in hopes that you’d toss the ones without matches you secretly hide at the bottom of your drawer.
This guideline also applies to the new decorations you bring into the house from after-Christmas sales. Those Hobby Lobby garlands sure will look nice next year, so please, please, please get rid of those old ones!
This guideline also applies to the new decorations you bring into the house from after-Christmas sales. Those Hobby Lobby garlands sure will look nice next year, so please, please, please get rid of those old ones!
Sort Before You Stow
Group your décor into categories and then put similar categories into the SAME bins. Keep all your ornaments in one bin, and use smaller boxes or containers inside the bin to protect the fragile. Keep outdoor décor in a separate bin. Don’t put the lights that go around your indoor tree in the same box as the lights for your outdoor bushes. That will just create more work for you next year when you unpack the decorations. Instead, keep your indoor tree lights with your artificial tree or with the lighted garland that hangs over your fireplace. Your categories will look different than your neighbor's. The goal is to save time next winter by sorting your décor now into categories that make sense to you! Check the comments section for some ideas!
A Final Note About Discarding
Take a look at the items that you plan to donate, recycle, or toss in the trash. It's possible that you've got a few items in the trash pile that should go into the recycle pile. "But I don't recycle!" That's ok. In fact, if you're in the Greenville, SC area, I have someone who will pick the items up for you. He's an honest retiree who scraps. You won't need to help him load a thing and he won't come knocking on your door. Simply contact us via email and we'll let you know when to leave these recycle items outside of your home:
|
|
How Do You Declutter, Organize, and Store Your Holiday Décor?
RSS Feed
