Family Time Over the Holidays – The Perfect Time to Declutter!

The holidays are about connection, gratitude, and spending time with the people you love most. But they can also be the perfect opportunity to lighten your load…literally.

Whether you’re traveling home for the holidays or hosting family at your own home, use this time together to declutter. Tackling these tasks in small, manageable chunks makes them far less overwhelming and, with family around, you have a built-in team (and sometimes a captive audience!).

Here are a few simple ways to turn family time into productive decluttering time:

1. Encourage Grown Children to Reclaim Their Belongings

If your children have moved out but their childhood items are still taking up space, this is a great time to review them together. Have them sort everything into keep, donate, or trash.
If they want to keep certain items but can’t take them home right away, set a firm deadline for pickup. Encourage them to donate what they no longer want (bonus points if they drop donations off on their way home).

2. Have the “Do You Really Want This?” Conversation

If you’re holding onto items you think your family members might want one day, ask them directly. Avoid assumptions and find out if they truly want the item and when they plan to take it. If they don’t, you can move forward guilt-free in letting it go.

3. Make Decluttering a Trip Down Memory Lane

Pull out old photos or memorabilia, put on a holiday movie, and enjoy reminiscing while you declutter. Let the stories flow!
As you sort, discard duplicates, blurry shots, and scenery photos that hold no real meaning. Set boundaries for how much to keep (perhaps five favorite photos from a moment instead of fifty).

4. Take Small Steps with Big Impact

You don’t have to tackle everything. Choose one small area like a few attic bins and make a little progress. If family members are visiting, ask for help bringing items down to review. Every small step forward counts.

5. Ask for Help Where You Need It

If there’s an area that feels overwhelming, ask for an extra set of hands or some advice. Set a timer for one hour and focus just on that space. You’ll be amazed how much you can accomplish and how good it feels to make progress.

Decluttering doesn’t have to be a chore. With family around and holiday spirit in the air, it can become a shared experience full of laughter, stories, and fresh starts.

Make this the year you clear the clutter and create space for what truly matters.