Decluttering Before December: A Senior’s Guide to a Stress-Free Holiday Season

Many seniors often declutter their homes in the spring, but did you know that it’s important to declutter your home before the major holidays too?  During the holiday season, families and friends may gather in your home, so you want to make sure your home is safe for you and your guests. In addition, having a tidy home during the holidays will enhance the festive feeling for you and your guests, and decrease your stress during the holiday season! Let’s explore why decluttering your home is important to do before the holidays. 

Decluttering Your Home Before the Holidays

Removing the clutter, or items that you have accumulated in your home over the course of your life, is especially important for seniors to consider. Common clutter may include:

 1) stacks of mail

 2) books and magazines

 3) knickknacks & mementos that are placed on hard surfaces (like tables or countertops)

 4) having excess furniture, especially in hallways 

 Decluttering spaces, such as removing things from a room that you don’t need, will improve the usefulness and beauty of the room, in addition to reducing your chances of falling. Also, you will create a welcoming space where new memories with families and friends can be made.  Consider the following benefits of decluttering your home before the holidays:

• Easier Holiday Preparation. Cleaning and decluttering your home before the holidays, will save you the hassle of moving clutter around, while setting up your holiday decorations. A tidy space also means less time spent rearranging items, while giving you more time and freedom to creatively decorate your home.

• Stress Reduction.  The holiday season can be stressful and a cluttered home can increase your stress level, making it difficult to relax in your own home. However, cleaning your home can trigger the release of “endorphins” from your brain, which help relieve your stress. Decluttering also improves your focus and concentration, making it easier to complete tasks.

• Improved Safety and Mobility.  According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most falls happen at home. A clutter-free floor greatly reduces the risk of tripping and falling, which is especially important for seniors. In addition, having excess furniture can cause difficulty for seniors, or those with mobility challenges. For example, over-sized furniture pieces that are too big for a space, or walkers that are not properly stored, can be a hazard for any senior.

• Opportunity for Giving. The holiday season is all about giving, and what better way to celebrate the holidays by giving to others in the community. Decluttering your home gives you a chance to give gently-used items to others in the community and supports the holiday spirit. Also, this is a perfect time for giving some “keepsakes” to some of your relatives too.  

• Tips for Holiday Decluttering. The “four box” method can be used to make decisions about your things or belongings. Using boxes or bags, you will insert your items under the categories of: 

  • Keep/Put Away- items that you will keep and put in a box. Make sure you have room in the box or bag.

  • Donate/Sell Box-items that you want to donate or sell and are in good condition. Decide if the item is no longer valuable to you, or if a family member or friend could use the item.

  • The Toss Box-items that you decide to throw away. These items are usually damaged or broken.

  • The Storage Box- items that you don’t currently need, like seasonal or clothing items 

• Quick Tips to Start Decluttering:

  • Be patient. Decluttering takes time. Go at your own pace.

  • Start with one room. If you feel overwhelmed, start with one drawer.

  • Have your decluttering supplies ready, like boxes and bags.

  • With limited mobility, transfer items to a table and sit on a chair to sort items.

  • Get help from family and friends.

What Can You Do

Clearing out clutter before the holidays is not just about tidying up the house—it’s about creating a more peaceful and welcoming space for celebrating with your family and friends. It’s about simplifying your holiday preparations, experiencing less stress, making your home safer, and embracing the true spirit of the season by donating items that you no longer need to others in the community.

Written by Debra Copeland