Every December, something subtle starts to shift in my home. Drawers won’t close as easily. The hallway feels tighter. The fridge has one too many “leftover experiments,” and my closet? Well, it’s silently judging me.
I used to brush it off—telling myself I’d deal with it all after the holidays. But somewhere between the pile of incoming gifts and the realization that I couldn’t find a place to store the new tea kettle my sister gave me last year, it clicked: this season is not just about receiving—it’s about releasing.
So I started doing what I now call a pre-holiday purge. Not in a ruthless, minimalist kind of way. More like a soft, honest check-in with my home (and myself). It’s become less about tossing things for the sake of it, and more about making space intentionally—for new things, yes, but also for calm, clarity, and room to breathe.
1. The Guilt Storage: Things You Don’t Use, But Keep Anyway
We all have them. Gifts from people we care about but never really liked. Hobby gear from a phase that lasted a month. Books we wanted to read but can’t seem to finish.
This is a good time to ask: Is this item here because I feel bad letting it go? If the answer is yes, that’s a flag. Guilt is a heavy reason to keep something around, especially if it’s taking up space or mental energy.
Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting the person or moment—it just means honoring where you’re at now. You can appreciate the sentiment, then release the item. If you’re still unsure, consider placing it in a “maybe later” box and checking again post-holidays.
2. The Sneaky Multiples: How Many Is Actually Enough?
Spare mugs, half-used notebooks, 11 lip balms in your bag—all of which somehow taste like peppermint. It’s easy to accumulate extras when we forget what we already have.
This doesn’t mean you need to live with one fork and two pairs of socks. But it’s worth scanning each category and asking: Do I use all of these? Do I even know I had this many?
If you’re someone who receives gifts like kitchen gadgets, skincare, or stationery (hi, it’s me), you might even want to make room now for the new things you suspect are on their way.
3. The Almost-Empty + Expired
This category is oddly satisfying to tackle. Open your bathroom cabinet, spice drawer, or cleaning shelf and you’ll likely find items that are 90% finished or… suspiciously old.
Consolidate where it makes sense, toss what’s expired, and use up those “last bits” of products that you’ve somehow saved for no particular reason. That fancy candle? Light it. That travel-sized serum? Use it tonight.
When we stop waiting for a special occasion to finish things, we stop living in the “someday” and start living in the now. That’s the whole point, right?
4. The Stuff That's Out of Season—in Every Way
This isn’t just about summer dresses in December. It’s also about lifestyle phases. The baby gear when your youngest is in kindergarten. The snowboard you haven’t touched in four years. The sewing machine you meant to use but haven’t plugged in once.
Seasonal purging is less about being ruthless and more about asking: Is this item in season for the life I’m living right now?
You don’t have to get rid of everything immediately. But you might move it to storage, donate it, or lend it to someone who will use it while it’s still relevant.
5. The Digital Clutter That Feeds Physical Clutter
Our inboxes are brimming with “Last-Minute Sale!” emails. Our phones are full of screenshots of things we might buy. Our Notes app is a to-do list graveyard.
Digital clutter fuels mental clutter, and often leads to physical clutter too. More impulse buys. Less clarity on what we actually need.
Spend 15 minutes unsubscribing from brands that no longer align with you. Clear your downloads folder. Delete saved carts you forgot about. Your digital habits shape your real-world consumption more than you think.
6. Sentimental Overflow (Handled Gently)
Keepsakes matter. But not all keepsakes hold the same weight. The question isn’t Should I keep sentimental items?—it’s How do I want to honor them?
If they’re stuffed in bins, under beds, or behind closets, are they really being honored? You might select a few to display, create a memory box, or even digitize letters or photos that are fragile or fading.
Remember: the memory lives in you, not in the broken ceramic mug from 2006.
7. The Catch-All Zones That Have Become Black Holes
You know the ones: junk drawers, back corners of closets, that basket by the door. These spaces can quietly swallow useful items or duplicate what you already own.
Instead of aiming to organize them perfectly, just try to revisit them. Empty, sort, and be curious about what’s actually inside. You might rediscover something valuable—or realize you’re keeping things simply because they had nowhere else to go.
A little intentionality here can change the way you start and end your day.
8. Gifting Prep: Making Room With Grace
This isn’t about assuming everyone will gift you more stuff. But if gifts are part of your holiday reality, preparing space now means you’re less likely to feel overwhelmed or ungrateful later.
Consider creating what I call “space placeholders.” These are open spots in your home—on a shelf, in a drawer, or even just in your calendar—that can receive something new with ease.
You don’t need to over-declutter or anticipate every single item. Just clear a bit of breathing room. Trust that making space is a form of self-respect, not deprivation.
9. The Financial Clutter We Don’t Talk About Enough
Receipts crumpled at the bottom of bags. Subscriptions quietly renewing each month. Unused store credit or gift cards that go forgotten until they expire.
Financial clutter might not physically take up much space, but it weighs down your mental bandwidth.
Before the year ends, consider reviewing your recurring expenses, canceling what no longer adds value, and tracking any holiday credits or returns while they’re still easy to manage. It’s less about frugality and more about ownership.
A 2021 study by Credit Karma found that 51% of Americans have unused gift cards, totaling over $15 billion in unclaimed money. That’s a lot of clutter sitting quietly in wallets and drawers.
10. Outdated Versions of Yourself
This one isn’t about stuff at all. And yet, it underpins everything.
We hold onto clothes, hobbies, routines—even beliefs—that no longer reflect who we’re becoming. Sometimes, letting go of the version of yourself that you’ve outgrown is the most powerful purge of all.
Ask gently: Is this item, commitment, or identity something I’m still choosing—or just something I’ve been carrying?
You don’t need to have all the answers. But the end of the year is a tender invitation to check in.
The Daily Essentials
- Create a 15-minute declutter ritual each week leading up to the holidays. One drawer. One category. One small win.
- Use up what you have before buying more—especially in your fridge, pantry, or bathroom. It’s grounding and practical.
- Trade perfection for presence. Don’t aim to “fix” your whole space. Just notice what feels stuck or stagnant and begin there.
- Keep one open shelf or surface clear. Physical space creates mental space, and it reminds you that not every corner needs filling.
- Let go with gratitude, not guilt. Releasing an item doesn’t erase its meaning. It honors its chapter and makes space for the next.
Clearing Space Is a Kind of Celebration
The pre-holiday purge isn’t a dramatic clean-out. It’s not about striving or scrubbing your home into perfection. It’s about softening the edges before life speeds up.
You’re clearing the space to cook a meal, say yes to an impromptu visit, or put something new on the shelf without stress. And most importantly, you’re inviting yourself to move through the season with intention—not just momentum.
So if the house feels a little too full, or your brain’s a little too busy, start small. A drawer. A shelf. A quiet moment of choosing what stays. You’re not behind—you’re just paying attention. And sometimes, that’s the most refreshing way to begin again.
