Simple Solutions to Make the Holidays Clutter and Coal Free

We suggest these easy steps to help manage the chaos that often accompanies the holidays. While you may not be able to control the kids the night before Christmas or keep your second cousin away from the spiked eggnog, you can minimize the stress of the season through these simple organizing techniques.

Gift Wrap

You've bought your presents and now It's time to wrap your gifts. Wrapping paper, tissue and holiday gift bags are one of the most commonly cluttered items we see in people’s homes. Although it is tempting to take advantage of the inexpensive gift wrap prices in the stores, first check the amount you have from last year. Most people already have more than enough in stock.

•    Bags: Sort through your bags, recycle the damaged ones. Figure out what you will need for your gifts using last year as a guide. Keep a few bags in each size and recycle the generic department store ones.
•    Paper: Think about how many gifts you wrap, knowing that most stores will wrap for charity. Pick your favorite design and let go of the ripped, wrinkled or poorly made wrapping paper, saving the tubes for use as light sabers.
•    Tissue: Discard your ripped tissue. Tissue is often inexpensive or on sale, so no need to stock up with a five year supply.

Playtime

If you have young ones at home, remember that all the relatives want a picture of someone ripping open a toy with glee. However, those new toys will soon join an army of old ones. Take a little time before the holidays to let go of toys which are broken, missing pieces or are age-inappropriate. Any toy that has sentimental value can go with the keepsakes and most can be donated to a local preschool, library or community center.

Be Realistic

Clutter comes in all forms, both tangible and emotional. Often people have many expectations such as putting on the perfect holiday party or displaying impeccable decorations. One of the best ways to deal with all those commitments is to manage them from the beginning. Focus on how much free time you actually have in the weeks leading up the end of December and not only budget your time but your money as well. Limits are important and it is okay to say no. When making plans set firm dates instead of “we should get together.” The holidays are a great time for collecting experiences instead of stuff (go see the Nutcracker instead of buying one).

Gifts That Keep on Giving (you a headache)

Thanks to free trade and the rise of plastic, toys are relatively inexpensive and easy to find. When you factor in birthday parties, the December holidays, carnivals, amusement parks and family vacations the sheer number of toys in one's household can be overwhelming (for more on this phenomena check my son’s bed). In addition to stopping the siege before it starts by switching focus from stuff to experiences, there are some easy steps you can take that will help eliminate a toy story with an unhappy ending.

Can GI Joe go in the microwave?

Find a time to recycle or throw away broken or soiled toys. Also, inexpensive toys with missing pieces should go. Any age-inappropriate toys should be taken out of circulation. Any sentimental toys should be sent to live with the keepsakes and out of the playroom.

The work of children is play

Watch how your child actual plays with toys and study their interests. Toys that you may think are cool often collect dust. Instead of a lot of unused toys focus on getting toys that your child will love. Take toys out of circulation and rotate them in and your child will think they are new.

A good home

While Goodwill does not take toys many places do. Preschools go through toys fast so help them keep up with demand. Used toys should not go to hospitals and check to make sure none of your donated items have been recalled. The VVA will pick up toys as well as most other donates you may have. Additionally, there are worthy places for your donated toys in Fairfield County.  

Overstuffed

Too Cute For Their Own Good

Like so many aspects of childhood, things are rarely good or bad often they are both. Nowhere is this concept acuter than when it comes to stuffed animals. Some call them plushies but my son calls them stuffies. Stuffed animals are soft, cute and perfect for squeezing. The challenge is that rarely does a child simply have one stuffed animal in their room usually they are legion. When a baby is born everyone wants to get the little bundle of joy his or her first teddy bear which results in multiple teddy bears before you even get home from the hospital. Another factor is that for the most part, stuffed animals are not expensive. The price factor creates an environment where most people tack one onto shower gifts and newborn gifts. Once you include all the animals from carnivals, amusement parks, and vacations kid’s rooms become zoos. While this zoo doesn’t require feeding and waste removal it does need a place for all the animals and that place is often the bed. The last challenge is in facing reality. Most kids do not actually play with stuffed animals they are decor.

Stuffie Solutions

One great way to deal with this cuteness crisis is to prevent it from starting. A good way to tell grandparents and well-meaning friends is to steer the discussion to medical issues. Newborns aren't supposed to have anything in their cribs when sleeping and too many stuffies collecting dust can lead to asthma. If you notice your child has one particular stuffy they love, buy two if you can in case of loss, dog attack or drool damage. If your child is old enough explain that there are many kids around the world that have no stuffed animals at all and help them pick ones to send to them. Local libraries often have donation drives specially for stuffed animals and there are many national campaigns. Lastly, some stuffies may be keepsakes and it may be time for them to leave the room and live with the other sentimental items.

Marie Kondo

Joy Indeed

Many of you have heard of Marie Kondo the Japanese decluttering guru. Her two books “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” and “Spark Joy” are hot on best seller lists.  After attending her lecture this past January at the Japanese Society in New York City and reading “Spark Joy”, we recognized that at H2H we already incorporate some of Kondo’s methods. Here are 5 of Kondo’s tips from the book “Spark Joy” which we feel are especially useful.

“The key to success in tidying (organizing) is to finish discarding first"

We find it much easier to plan for systems to help you organize when we know the quantity of what is being kept. At H2H with our efficient, sort, simplify and store process we help you determine what to keep and then make good decisions regarding how and where things will be stored.

“It might come in handy is taboo"

At H2H we realize that keeping objects because they “might” be used someday usually creates much more clutter than needed usually in closets and garages. We gently help you to understand how to sort through and keep what is useful, practical or sentimental.

“Don’t throw away things that bring you joy simply because you aren’t using them"                                                                                                                                    

If something puts a smile on your face when you wear it or see it, relax! Don’t listen to that friend who says, you don’t need or haven’t wore it in ten years. We won’t encourage you to part with anything that brings you happiness. We will help you find homes for your special items.

“The words tidying (organizing) and cleaning are often used synonymously, but they are two completely different things"                                                                                             

Many clients find themselves overwhelmed by the two and cannot separate them. As mentioned before the closets tend to get cluttered during cleaning. At H2H our expertise will help you with the 3 S’s sort, simplify and store. We will also recommend cleaning tips to maintain a beautiful home.

“Make accessory storage as attractive as possible"                                                        

Kondo suggests using items from your home such as attractive boxes or dishes to store jewelry or accessories. At H2H we believe in utilizing storage compartments or holders from your house if possible. If necessary, we will recommend outside storage solutions, but you would be surprised how little you have to buy. We want to leave you with an attractive and organized systems, which will help you to love the space you are in.