If your home is a mess after the holidays and all you want to do is throw everything away I feel you. I know for some of you the thought of decluttering your home may seem stressful and overwhelming. Maybe you don’t like to get rid of your belongings or maybe you just don’t know where to start. Keep reading to learn how to declutter your home in 5 simple steps and without feeling overwhelmed.
Before you start decluttering turn on some good music, grab a cup of water and a snack, do some stretches, and take some deep breathes to prepare your mind and body and get in the mood. This will help relax before getting to work.
If your material possessions don’t serve a purpose or bring you joy, then they are likely in the way of a more meaningful life.
The Minimalists
Step One: Purge and Store Your Holiday Decor
What better time to declutter your home then after the holidays or in the beginning of the year!
First pull out all of your holiday storage bins. Go through each bin and if you have any items you didn’t use this year and/or wont use in the next year make 3 piles. A donate pile, sell pile, and trash pile. Do the same thing with the holiday decor you have around your home. The goal is to minimize the amount of overall holiday decor in your home to save you time and space in the new year.
Before you put away your holiday decor I suggest labeling each bin. I like to have a bin for each room to save time decorating the next holiday season. Clear storage bins are great because you can see what is in them.
Step Two: Declutter your closets
Set aside any clothing that you and your family only wear during the holidays. Make a donate pile, trash pile, sell pile, and a pile that you will keep. If you have any clothes that you won’t wear or your children won’t fit in the next year you can sell it as long as it is in good condition. You can sell them on Poshmark, Offer up, Facebook marketplace and even on Ebay.
For any holiday clothing you would like to keep for the next year I suggest storing it away with your holiday decor so they take less space in your closet.
Step Three: Declutter toys and games
While your children are asleep go through their toys and set aside the toys and games that they don’t use anymore. Again you can make a donate pile, trash pile, and sell pile. If you have older children they may be able to help you with this if they don’t feel attached to their things. Any toys that are in good condition can be sold on Facebook marketplace or offer up. Decluttering your children toys will make it easier to clean and organize their room and can help decrease stress and overwhelm.
Step Four: Declutter your kitchen
Go through every cupboard, cabinet, and your pantry and set aside anything you don’t use or that needs to be replaced. Again, you can make piles for what you will donate, throw away, or sell. I do this several times a year. You will gain so much extra space in your kitchen and spend less time finding things. It will also save you money because if you can find items in your fridge and pantry quicker they won’t be wasted. To make some extra money you can sell kitchen items that are in good condition on Facebook Marketplace or offer up.
My most popular Instagram reel in 2022 was a before and after of my pantry after I decluttered and organized it.
Step Five: Declutter your home
Now that you have decluttered your holiday decor, closets, toys, and your kitchen its time to go through the rest of your home and repeat the steps above. If you feel overwhelmed or don’t have time I suggest doing one section or one room a day. The goal of decluttering your home is to help you feel less stressed and overwhelmed so take breaks when needed.
Now that you decluttered your home it’s time to find your inner Marie Kondo to organize and clean your home. If you don’t have time or you don’t like to clean I suggest finding a local housekeeper or cleaning service to do a deep cleaning of your home. I like to do this after the holidays and in the middle of the year.
If you want to declutter your life this year download my Busy Mama Planner!
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