Holiday Tips for Downsizing
The holidays present some challenges for downsizers. While the idea of entertaining, giving and receiving gifts, and generally staying busy with seasonal obligations and activities can make us feel like we don’t have time to think about downsizing, December can actually be a great time to make some progress on your downsizing goals. Our 12 Days of tips for downsizing can help you make the most of the season and get ahead on downsizing tasks too!
1) Sort and Declutter your Holiday Decorations
Take the time to pull out ALL of your holiday decorations early in the season. Use your favorite items to decorate indoors and out using the supplies (and the energy!) you have available. Any supplies that don’t make the cut should be donated early in the season so that others may use them. When it’s time to store them again, you’ll be grateful for the extra space!
2) Look for Opportunities to Donate Items for Gifting
Look around your community for schools, churches, or local charities that sponsor Holiday Markets. These popular events create an opportunity to donate household items, coats, costume jewelry, and other gift-able items so that others may re-use them for gift-giving.
3) Address Your Honey-Do List
Make a list of small repairs or improvements that will make your home safe and welcoming for the season. Be sure to leave electrical and plumbing repairs to the experts, and to use supplies that you have on hand before you head out to the hardware store. When you’re ready to move, you’ll be glad to have a shorter list of home maintenance tasks.
4) Use Up Your Wrapping Supplies
Make an effort to use up all of the gift wrap, greeting cards, ribbons and gift boxes you’ve accumulated over the years. If you have holiday supplies you haven’t reached for in many years, it’s probably time to move them to the donation or recycling pile.
5) Clear Out the Pantry
In preparation for the season, check your pantry, refrigerator and freezer for outdated or unwanted food items. Once you have only fresh food on hand, work on eating or sharing what you have and resisting the urge to stock up again.
6) Let the Liquor Go
Some say that spirits don’t go bad, but if you have liquor you’ve had on hand for several years, it may be time to move it out. Low-quality or cloudy bottles should be tossed, while others should be shared or enjoyed.
7) Choose Your Favorite Dinner Ware
Use your favorite items to set a holiday table or buffet, and set aside the pieces you chose not to use this year or no longer need.
8) Lighten Up Your Linens and Towels
Take a quick pass through your linen closet and remove tired towels, fraying blankets, or unneeded table linens. Look for textile recycling in your area for well-worn items.
9) Sort Your Gadgets
Take note of the kitchen tools you use as you prepare your favorite meals this season. Most downsizers find that duplicate or specialty tools don’t usually make the cut when they pack their kitchen for their next home.
10) Pitch Plastic Containers
Plastic food containers seem to multiply in our cabinets. Make an effort to use the ones you have on hand to send holiday treats or send leftovers home with guests. In the future consider only having enough to save a few days’ worth of food storage.
11) Offer Items to Visiting Family Members
If you are thinking about downsizing over the next year, now is an excellent time to offer heirloom or sentimental items. If you don’t get any takers, allow yourself to donate or sell those items instead.
12) Focus on What Really Matters
Most downsizers report that the best part of the process is enjoying the freedom to enjoy spending time with friends and family without the responsibility of managing a large home and owning a lot of “stuff”.
Are you downsizing your belongings and looking forward to a smaller, more manageable space? Let us know what you’re up to! We can give you free tools and resources to get you started, and introduce you to qualified, helpful people in your area to step in when you need them.
Hello friends, When the calendar flips to January, we’re suddenly flooded with possibilities of fresh starts, clean slates, and promises to ourselves that this is the year we’ll finally get organized. Organization isn’t about perfection—it’s about creating systems that make your life easier, calmer, and more intentional. 1. Start with on small space Instead of tackling the whole house, choose a single drawer, a nightstand, or a pantry shelf. Small wins create momentum. 2. Set realistic, measurable goals Replace 'Get organized' with specific, achievable goals. 3. Do a quick purge of everyday clutter Spend 10 minutes collecting items you no longer need. Immediate relief! A visual timer helps. See link below for a timer recommendation: https://a.co/d/jjDKhoB 4. Create homes for your most-used items A home for everything keeps chaos away. 5. Simplify your daily routines Prep the night before. Make mornings calmer. 6. Embrace the ‘One In/ One Out’ rule Maintain clutter-free spaces all year. 7. Use Visual Systems Labels, clear bins, color coding - especially helpful for kids and busy families. Kids do well with pictures and word labels. Link for products below: https://a.co/d/8uFMLzw 8. Schedule your organizing time If it’s not scheduled, it won’t happen. Consistence is key! 9. Ask for help when you’re overwhelmed Support accelerates success! 10. Celebrate progress, not perfection Every organized drawer is a success! Here’s to a simpler, lighter, more organized year ahead! Life Simplified is here to help you every step of the way!
Don't stress! Follow these helpful hints to stay organized and enjoy your time with family and friends. Hosting Holiday Meals Ask your guests to help Lists! Lists! Lists! (grocery, menu, etc.) Remember the batteries Use disposable pans & Plates as much as possible Consider Grocery delivery Service Also, support any local farmers markets or farms by buying any produce from them! Stay focused, Hydrated & keep that protein level up! Have 10 quiet minutes? Wrap a present! Grab a glass of wine Turn on a Christmas movie Be sure to have your camera ready but don’t forget to sit back & enjoy the moments Set the coffee to automatically brew. You'll love having a hot cup of coffee to start your day! Most Importantly... Enjoy this time with your family and friends . Yes, it can be stressful; yes, it can be overwhelming, but it can also be fun! Allow yourself to enjoy it - stress and all!
How long do you leave your holiday decorations on display in your home? We hear from a lot of people that they continue to enjoy their holiday decorations well into the new year . We’re all for squeezing every last drop of joy out of the season and we think you should leave your decorations up as long as you’d like! However, when the time comes to un-decorate, we highly recommend that you downsize holiday decorations: take the time to sort and organize them before you put them away. Always edit your collections before you store them. This concept is harder than it seems, but if you decorate your home for the holidays and still have more decor in storage, you may want to donate or re-home anything you didn’t display this year . If you’re ready to apply this principle, try this method: 1) Pull out ALL of your holiday decor and supplies at the start of the season. 2) Decorate your home and set up your gift wrapping area, holiday supplies etc. 3) Box or bag anything that didn’t make the cut this year for decor and supplies. 4) Retain any storage containers that could be useful to better organize the items you want to keep for next year. The pros recommend clear containers so you can see what’s in there! If you’re downsizing or short on space, consider: Choose unbreakable and easy-to-store options when you can. Fragile decorations that need a lot of protection take up a lot of space in storage. We know some downsizers who have chosen to go all-natural (as much as possible) with live garlands, wreaths, tree trimmings, floral arrangements, etc. so that there is less to store at the end of the season. You can always choose fewer areas to decorate , focusing on the spaces where you will most enjoy your holiday trimmings. When it’s time to store: Use the right container for the job . Specialty ornament containers may cost more, but they will protect delicate items. Consider off-site storage . We’re seeing more and more specialty storage solutions for small-space dwellers, including services that will pick up and deliver your holiday supplies on demand.