8 Ways to Minimize Clutter & Finish 2021 Strong

Whether you can believe it or not, it’s December. I swear that it feels like we skipped from Halloween straight to December, missing November altogether. Doesn’t it seem like that’s the case every year, though?

Here we are, though, at the end of another calendar year. That magical time of year when our calendars are filled with events, to-do lists filled with shopping for gifts and party supplies, decking the halls, preparing food, cleaning the house before company arrives....

And as if that’s not already more than enough, this year we have the added detail of scheduling tests and vaccinations and navigating last minute changes because of the ongoing pandemic. We’re left with no choice but to be flexible in our plans and prepared for unexpected last minute changes. It feels like an extra layer of chaos on top of an already busy time of year, which can really push one to their limits. 

This is also the time of year when we start to consider what our goals for the new year will be. Unfortunately, this often comes with the realization that we did not meet some of our goals this year...again.

The tricky thing about December is that it’s really easy to put a pause on taking the steps or maintaining the habits we need to reach our goals. Justifying this detour to ourselves with thoughts like:

• It’s only for a few weeks, right?
• It’s not going to happen this month anyways, so might as well relax and enjoy the holiday season.
• That’s okay. January will start a fresh new year and I’ll get back on track then.
• Whatever. It’s always on my list of New Year resolutions anyways, so what’s the difference?

How do you feel when you read that list? They all sound pretty deflating to me. Even if it’s justifiable, it’s not exactly motivating.

You have a choice. You have a choice in every moment, even when there’s so much going on or things aren’t going according to plan. 

You have a choice to ground yourself and reconnect with your priorities and goals, and consciously move forward with intention. You have a choice about what you will and will not do.

There IS still time to make progress, or even meet, your goals this month! Even in the face of everything else - planned and unplanned - that’s going on. This is not the time to slow down or give up. This is the time to hold your ground and kick it into high-gear. You’ve got this! If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that life can change - fast - and there’s no time to waste.

But how?

I know for me personally, when I’m feeling overwhelmed and out of control, it tends to show up in the state of my house. Bit by bit the kitchen counters become cluttered with things that don’t belong. The dishwasher becomes backlogged. The clean laundry sits in the basket in my room just waiting to be put away. Little piles build up throughout my house. The refrigerator becomes a mess of who knows what. And then all of this distracts and overwhelms me even more. 

This is significant because what’s happening in my physical space is a reflection of what’s happening in my mental space. When one is off balance, the other tends to follow pretty quickly. A cluttered mind leads to a cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind...A continuous cycle.

Can you relate?

It never fails that when I take a few minutes to put things away, I feel so much more centered and in control, better able to focus on and take action towards my goals. The simple act of taking control of my physical surroundings and clearing up the clutter reconnects me with being in control of the actions I’m taking in the pursuit of my goals and dreams.

The thing is, though, I have to remain diligent in my habits and routines, even when I get caught up in a project, back-to-back client calls...or busy with seasonal events. 

While December is a wonderful time of celebration and connection (or reconnection) with our loved ones, it can also be the time of year when we tend to be a little too merry by over-committing and over-indulging. And this inevitably knocks us off balance (that is, assuming we were “balanced” to begin with, right?!)

We must create non-negotiable space in our days dedicated to maintaining our health, surroundings and relationships to support a stable, balanced foundation, as well as space to take action towards our goals and dreams. 

Let’s finish 2021 strong!!

With everything that’s going on with the holidays, we tend to clutter up our minds, calendars and spaces even faster than normal. And, as you know, clutter in one area tends to cause clutter (and stress) in the other areas.

Have you thought about how you will establish and maintain boundaries so you can keep a healthy balance? 

I encourage you to consider these eight ideas to help you reduce the clutter so you can find more enjoyment this holiday season and finish the year strong.

1. Refocus & double-down on your positive habits & routines.

This is the time to make sure you are getting enough sleep, consuming healthy foods, drinking water, getting enough movement, minimizing screen time AND taking action towards your goals every day.

2. Make decluttering part of your daily routine.

Start a routine of spending 30-minutes each day picking things up and putting them where they belong. This will make any thorough cleanings a breeze. It also frees up your mind to think about a million other things, rather than stressing about your space. 

3. Get comfortable saying “no”.

You don’t have to - and can’t possibly - do everything everyone asks you to do or attend every event. You have to maintain space in your days to take actions towards your goals and maintain your home, health and relationships. This also applies to not buying “just one more gift” for your kids.

4. Find a favorite bakery or restaurant to outsource some of the baking & cooking this year.

This means less mess and cleanup in your own kitchen. And you save time by not having to do the shopping AND baking! (Plus, it has the added bonus of supporting small businesses, which is a win for everyone!)

5. Swap a cookie-making gathering for a crafting, meal prep or volunteering event.

The most obvious is that you have fewer sweets around the house to eat, which will help everyone’s waistline. Crafting can be a fun alternative. You can also make something to give as a gift to teachers, friends and neighbors, which can also save money. Another option is volunteering, which is a wonderful way to give back and save your calories.

6. Set a limit on how much time you spend at events before you go. 

This obviously helps you maintain more time in your day, but it also means you will spend less time grazing on all the treats. You will also be less exhausted when you get home which means you’ll be more likely to put your clothes and everything away when you get home.

7. Hire a house cleaner. 

This will free up your time and take the stress off of you to have to handle everything. Maybe you can even schedule some self-care or time to work on goals during that time. This can be a fantastic gift idea for a friend or family too!

8. Opt for making it a potluck.

Making any event you host a potluck will definitely take some of the pressure off of you. Plan to make healthy items that you can fill up on. Also, have a stash of containers ready to send leftovers home with guests and prevent your refrigerator from filling up with unhealthy options. Not to mention, potlucks decrease the number of dishes you’ll have to clean up AND spending!

When it comes to the holidays and your goals, there’s no need to put everything “on-hold” until after the holiday season. 

Being aware of managing all the clutter that can pile up gives you the ability to proactively establish boundaries so you can keep on track with your habits and health. 

It’s not always easy, but you can make it easier - and more likely to happen - by finding an accountability partner to support you in staying on track with your goals, honoring your boundaries and keeping the clutter (in all forms) in check. 

If you’d like a helping hand with staying on track, or help figuring out where your stress is coming from and what you can do to manage it, book a discovery session with me. I’d love to help you feel GOOD about how December went and start the New Year on the right foot.  

I want you to feel GOOD about how the end of 2021 and your goals for the year went for you.

When you’re ready to clear the clutter in your mind, home, and calendar, and would benefit from some support and guidance, please schedule a Discovery Session with me here to figure out how I can best support you in your journey.

Most importantly, remember to ENJOY this time of year with your friends and families, and don’t forget to show yourself that same love!

Stay safe & enjoy!