I can’t believe it but with November here, the holidays are just around the corner! The holidays can be a stressful time with all the extra activities, parties, gifts, and holiday food prep. The best way to navigate the season with grace is to be prepared. This time of year is a great time to get spaces decluttered and organized, which will help to make the holidays run a bit more smoothly. I have some decluttering tips for you as we approach the holiday season.

The first tip is to assess what holiday decor you have prior to purchasing new decor. It can be easy to fill your cart with all the new must haves as you peruse the isles of those big box stores, but I think it is best to be more intentional when bringing new holiday decor into your home. Get those holiday decor boxes down prior to shopping, make a decorating plan, then declutter items accordingly. Determine what types of new decor pieces are necessary, or perhaps even consider not bringing in any new pieces this year!

The next tip is to spend time decluttering kids toys, games, puzzles, and crafts. I remember when my kids were young, I always wanted to prepare for the influx of new toys. For most of us, we have a limited amount of space to store these items. The toy closet, shelf, or bins are natural boundaries. Assess what you have, what is on your kids’ wish list, and what you notice they have outgrown or no longer play with. Depending on the age of your children, you could include them in this process. Perhaps you could make a game of it and give a box to each child to fill with toys they no longer love to donate to a women’s shelter or foster care home so those children can get “new to them” toys for Christmas.

Cleaning out, decluttering, and organizing high traffic holiday spaces is another tip. Spaces like the kitchen, the coat closet, and the guest room are areas you can prioritize on getting tidied for the holiday season. Make sure all the kitchen cabinets are tidied and everything is put in the correct spot, making holiday cooking and baking more efficient. Go through the coats, hats, scarves, and gloves determining if there is anything you could declutter. Find the items that don’t have matches, or items that your kids have outgrown. Again, donating them to a charitable cause like a women’s shelter or foster home early in the season would be a blessing for them! Make sure your guest room has clean sheets, bedding, and towels. You can also restock any toiletries or extra items you keep on hand for guests.

Another tip is to set up an area dedicated to gifts, gift wrapping, and holiday cards. Having a dedicated space for these items will help to keep things organized so you know where everything is. Having a space like this set up will help so that you know exactly where to place the gifts, wrapping paper, and cards when you purchase them.

Lastly, I wanted to share a few tips for any of you who are dealing with extra stress during the holiday season, whether it’s a loss of a job, a big move, a sick loved one, going through a divorce, or dealing with aging parents. There are a variety of things that can add even extra stress to an already busy and chaotic time of year. First, learn the art of imperfect hosting. You don’t have to go all out when hosting holiday gatherings during a stressful season. Keep things simple and focus on the relationships and conversations over elaborate meals and decor. People remember how you make them feel in your home, not how your home looks! Give yourself grace. Especially as a mom, I know I can be hard on myself to make sure everything is magical for each holiday season and celebration. Do what you can with what you have. Even if you can’t execute your usual holiday traditions, I’m sure this year will be memorable! Lastly, be sure to set aside time to relax. In difficult seasons of life it is hard to be intentional about setting aside time to relax, but it is so important when navigating a challenging time in life especially if it intersects with the holiday season. If you would like to read an entire blog post on tips for settling into a new home during the holiday season, check out this blog post that I was featured in by Monica DiSchiano for even more detailed tips!