Finally! Christmas decorations are put away until next year! What a task! Putting them up and taking them down are so contrasting in nature. Putting up is exciting, has a deadline (I like to have everything in place no later than December 7) and leaves the house glowing with the Christmas Spirit. Taking down is melancholy, does not have to meet a specific time limit (although I aim for no later than Epiphany) and leaves the house appearing a little bare…but oh, so orderly. 

As I have grown in my desire for uncluttered surroundings, putting away Christmas has become more methodical. I carefully dust each ornament with a new paintbrush and repair any broken ones (or toss if it’s beyond repair); launder and fold all the linens; and organize and store each special Christmas accessory until next November – when I will be more than ready to bring them all out again. 

Putting away time is a beneficial time to deep clean, switch things up a bit, and this year – put less of my knick-knacks back out on display. Looking around the clean and well-ordered rooms gives me feelings of calm and satisfaction.

Almost every January, I write a column about decluttering. It is all the rage just now and there is so much great information available – from best-selling books to magazines and blogs – to help you simplify the stuff in your life. January has even been designated as National Get Organized Month.

This subject is dear to my heart because over and over I have seen the positive effects on caregivers when they transform a cluttered and unorganized home into one that is neat and tidy. There are very real emotional and physical maladies that result from living in a home that is so chocked full of stuff there is no room to enjoy your surroundings. Caregivers need to take this subject seriously because once your home is in order, all of your caregiving responsibilities become easier. Just think – not having to scrounge through drawers to find those papers the doctor gave you last week or through closets to find the brace for your dad’s knee. So, so nice to be able to locate what you are looking for quickly. The time you invest in getting things in order will be given back later when you don’t have to search in the middle of the night for the thermometer or have to move a load of laundry from a chair so a visitor will have a place to sit. There are sundry advantages to living in a clutter free house, from comfort, to easier to clean, to healthier, to safer, to being ready to welcome unexpected guests.

A tip I read a few months ago and find especially helpful for those who have sentimental retention – a phrase I coined for those who cannot let go of unused stuff due to nostalgia – is: Remember that something you no longer use or need could be a real blessing to someone else. One of my daughters had difficulty dealing with this issue – especially when it came to items I have given to or made for one of her nine children (that adds up to a lot of stuff). When she told me she struggled with this, I unequivocally gave her my permission to donate anything I have given any of her children that they no longer need/want. It makes sense to allow someone else to enjoy it, rather than stash it in the attic.  

Research has concluded that clutter is the number one cause of anxiety among adult women and a frequent cause of depression among caregivers. So many areas of caregiving are scripted for us and there is not much we can do to change the circumstances. Giving yourself and your care recipient a well-organized, clutter-free environment is one thing over which you do have control. 

I visit several seniors who make their home with a family member who serves as caregiver. Oh, my, what a difference a well-organized, tidy space makes. Sometimes, there is not even a place to sit down without moving stuff out of the way. This is more common than you may think. Almost every day I talk to someone who is trying to get rid of stuff. A lady recently told me she has been working on the same pile for months and getting nowhere. That is because more stuff keeps arriving and she has not learned how to deal with it. When Randy comes home and hands me the mail, I immediately sort through it and toss all the junk (it’s mostly junk) into the trash before it lands on the countertop. Do not think all my closets and drawers are immaculate – they are not – but generally I know where to find an item I need. Purging is required less frequently now, but it is still a necessity from time to time. Per my request, I received very few tangible Christmas presents this year – but lots of gift certificates for experiential outings – yesterday I sat in a massage chair at a nail salon for an hour – enjoying the super-duper-everything-included pedicure. Much better than a dust-collecting knick-knack. Although I still display and enjoy some special knick-knacks, the key is to know the knick-knack limit.

Learning how to declutter has had a positive influence in many areas of my life. I want to encourage you to consider if you also need to pursue developing this habit. You just have to ask yourself if you want to live in an organized, peaceful home or one that is chaotic. Then work toward your goal. It is achievable.

Caring Note: While my home is in order, my husband’s shop is a terrible mess – even though I’ve organized it for him several times previously. One must learn to stay organized. For Christmas, I gave him a coupon to declutter and organize his ship. Below is a photo of what it looks like now. When I have completed the job, I will show you the after photo. If you are considering taking on a project, you may want to take before and after photos.