A KonMari-Inspired Approach to the Holidays
This is the first post in my holiday series to inspire and help you find more ease during this time of year.
The pumpkins and skeletons on my neighbors’ front porches have been quickly replaced with Christmas lights and decorations. But I can’t help but think to myself, we haven’t even celebrated Thanksgiving yet! I’m also Team No Christmas Music Until After Thanksgiving – what about you?
In the months ahead, you might find yourself thinking about holiday decor, hosting gatherings, shopping for presents, planning trips, and coordinating schedules to see loved ones. You’re excited for the holiday spirit and festivities, but you’re also already feeling anxious and overwhelmed about everything that's coming. Does this sound familiar?
Not only have I experienced this myself, but I have also witnessed it firsthand in my clients' homes. A time that should be about connection and joy can often become stressful, but it doesn’t have to be that way. With some practice and intentional effort, these small changes inspired by the KonMari Method can lead to a calmer end of the year.
01. Commit Yourself to a Mindful Experience
There is often a mismatch between what we think we should do and what we actually want to do. The longer we surround ourselves with certain expectations of how a holiday season should be celebrated, the easier it becomes to accept them as normal. Sometimes, outside influences from friends, family, or society at large shape these expectations.
An important question to ask ourselves is, “How can I reclaim my holiday season for more peace and enjoyment?”
The first step is to set a clear vision and an attitude of possibility for a mindful experience. When you have clarity, this vision will guide you in making intentional decisions toward a purposeful season that isn’t driven by guilt or obligations.
02. Imagine Your Ideal Holiday Season
The purpose of this exercise is to be completely honest with yourself about what your ideal holiday season looks like. Here are some questions to consider:
○ How do I want to spend my time?
○ Where do I want to be?
○ Who do I want to be around?
○ How do I want to feel?
○ Which traditions do I want to keep?
○ What scents, tastes, and sounds would create an enjoyable atmosphere for me?
It's important to try this exercise on your own first. If you have a partner, family, or others you share this time with, encourage them to do the same. Then you can come together to share your ideas without judgment. This can be a fun, bonding activity. Here are some ways to do this (alone or with others):
○ Set aside an evening to create a vision board
○ Have each person post in the group chat, along with a photo or video that represents their main idea
○ Go out for a coffee or tea date to brainstorm and discuss what you've come up with
○ Journal in a quiet spot with a favorite drink, candle, blanket, or something else you love
It doesn’t have to be glamorous, but it does need to be intentional. My partner and I just shared our thoughts over dinner at home mid-week. This exercise is meant to be flexible and adaptable because what you want this year might change next year. So, it’s okay to refine your vision over time.
03. Finish Discarding First
Having spent years in clients' homes and hearing firsthand stories from others (and experiencing this myself), I have seen people struggle with two main types of stress this time of year: mental clutter and physical clutter.
Mental Clutter
Oh, this can weigh heavily on our minds, can’t it? The ever-growing to-do lists and the open communication loops. Not to mention the obligations, responsibilities, and expectations. Using the vision you established before, identify the activities and traditions you want to keep, and let go of the rest with gratitude. Yes, this is the “spark joy” principle in action.
Physical Clutter
Take a moment and look at your space with fresh eyes. Are there any rooms or spaces that aren’t aligned with how you want your home to feel? This is also a great time to look through your holiday decorations and joy-check them. My clients often have decor that was haphazardly packed into boxes and bins, then crammed into any open space in the garage or basement – and now, they have to unpack it. They believe that because the decor is there, it all needs to be displayed in their homes. Before putting anything up, assess what you actually like and want to keep. If your now-adult child’s popsicle reindeer brings less joy than the other thirty ornaments they made, you can let it go. Yes, really.
04. Organize by Category
When organizing your home, it's common to not know where to start. It can feel overwhelming. Organizing your belongings by category — such as clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous items, and sentimental items — creates structure. Similarly, when getting ready for the holidays, it is helpful to organize your tasks and activities (you already decided which ones will bring you joy in the previous step) by category. I’ll offer a sample list, but like with everything else, adjust it based on your situation and lifestyle.
Food: Offer to bring one dish to the potluck dinner
Gifting: Talk to parents about giving each other experiences instead of physical gifts this year
Finances: Schedule an appointment with a financial advisor before the new year
Events: Sign up to attend one holiday work event between Thanksgiving and New Year
Home: Delegate the task of setting up holiday decor to my partner
Community / Service: Give $100 to the local high school scholarship fund
05. Follow the Right Order
Start with the easier tasks first and then work up to the more challenging ones. Taking this step-by-step approach from low to high effort helps improve your communication and decision-making skills. With Marie’s tidying method, the last category is sentimental items. As you get ready for the holidays, save any sentimental decisions for last.
06. Ask Yourself If It Sparks Joy
Do this for everything that might take your time or energy, both at home and in your life. I often emphasize being in tune with your feelings — and for good reason— they serve as your guide to making the best choices for yourself. Throughout the holiday season, when buying a gift, considering an invitation, or thinking about how to decorate, ask yourself if it sparks joy. This simple filter helps clarify decisions and allows you to live more in line with your values.
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The approach I use with my clients for home organizing is similar to the one I use for the holidays. Deciding what works for them and what doesn’t is a blueprint for how they want to interact with themselves and the world. Are you interested in aligning your belongings and home environment with your values? I offer regular in-home organizing and tidying sessions using the KonMari Method. You can view my services here.
