15 Things to Purge From Your House Before the New Year

The end of December is an excellent time to do some decluttering and purging. Work is generally less frantic, and many folks take time off between Christmas and New Year’s. Some workplaces just close during that week and give everyone paid time off (lucky you)! Kids are home from school and can be recruited (read: bribed) to help out. Presents have been opened, possibly creating a need for something to be stored (e.g., a new kitchen gadget), as well as rendering duplicate, older, or not-working versions useless. Set up three bins or boxes, and label them DONATE, RECYCLE, and TOSS. You could spend 2-3 hours and do it all in one day. Or break it up into smaller, daily time increments spread out over the week. Once you’ve filled your bins and placed them in your car, your house will definitely feel less cluttered and you can begin 2023 with a lighter load!

decluttering

Best Products for Storing Holiday Decor

Soon you will be putting away all that lovely holiday decor. Do you store these items in banker’s boxes, moving boxes, or whatever random boxes you’ve got? We’ve got some great suggestions for improving your holiday decor storage. Stored properly, your beloved decorations will last longer and not be prone to dust, moisture, and damage.

Artificial Christmas Tree

With proper care and storage, a good-quality artificial tree can last for many years. Whether or not you decide to follow Epbot’s shrink-wrap method to keep the lights on the tree, you’ll want to store it somewhere dry and undisturbed. The Tree Keeper Bag lets you store your tree upright, and then roll it to your garage, storage room, or closet until next year. If you’d prefer to take it apart and store in a bag, Amazon has a huge selection—some with wheels, some that are duffle-style. Be sure to get one to fit the height of your tree.

Holidays, storage

Gift Guide for Adults and Kids With ADHD

More than 6 million children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with ADHD, while the prevalence of ADHD in adults is estimated at 4.4-8.1%. Chances are, someone in your circle of friends and family has ADHD. If you are giving them a present this holiday season, you may be brainstorming for practical, useful, or fun gifts. We’ve got a list of some fantastic ideas to get you started!

ADHD, gifts, Holidays

The case for buying less — and how to actually do it

November 22, 2022
by Alexandra Frost
on Vox.com

Buying fewer unnecessary items is good for the planet, your wallet, and your brain.

This holiday season could be a scary time for some: Between inflation (prices have risen 8.2 percent in a year) and economic uncertainty pointing to a potential recession, in addition to ongoing pandemic recovery, it might not be the ideal moment to think about buying a bunch of crap.

A 2019 survey by Ladder and OnePoll revealed that Americans spend an average of $18,000 per year on nonessential items, including streaming services and lattes, impulse Amazon finds, and unnecessary clothes. Not only is this enough to buy a semester of in-state tuition for your soon-to-be-college kid, but it translates to lots of clutter you have to deal with as items become unnecessary with time. Household goods and services are responsible for 60 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, one study shows. It seems we are as aware as ever of this fact — since the pandemic, consumers want to reduce their unnecessary shopping behaviors.

shopping

Common Thanksgiving Challenges for Kids With ADHD

by Lexi Walters Wright
from Understood.org

As enjoyable as Thanksgiving is for some families, it can often be a difficult time for kids with ADHD to manage. That’s especially true if the holiday involves gatherings and long sit-down meals. Here are some typical trouble spots and what you can do to help.

Interrupted routines

The problem: If you’re traveling for Thanksgiving, your child may be sleeping in a strange place and following an unfamiliar schedule. Even if you’re hosting, your family’s routines may be disrupted. That’s rough for kids with ADHD.

ADHD, Thanksgiving

15 To-Do’s to Prep Your Kitchen for the Holidays

You’ve survived Halloween, and now you’ve got Thanksgiving and the December holidays coming: Yayyy…and yikes, right?! It’s definitely our favorite time of year, but also the most daunting. There will be a lot of decorating, cooking and eating, guests, music, setting up and cleaning up, leftovers, wrapping and unwrapping, garbage and recycling, washing, drying, and folding. Oh my! But all so, so worth it because it’s also the time of year to see and enjoy all the special folks in our lives as we partake in festivities and traditions! Your kitchen will be the most used room in the house for the next two months. To help you out, we’ve got some great to-do’s to prep your kitchen for the holiday season.

holiday prep, kitchen organizing

A Wall Calendar Will Change Your Life

by Lisa Ryan
January 31, 2019
from The Cut

Nothing is more soothing to me than alphabetizing a disorganized bookshelf or ensuring that all the clothes in my closet are color-coordinated; my version of ASMR is images and videos of pantries becoming perfectly organized on Instagram. I’ve been in therapy long enough to know that this is how I manage my anxiety — when I feel like something in my life is out of control (whether it’s work or even just your typical existential dread), I can always depend on the healing qualities of organization to make me feel like I’m regaining power. And this is why I love my wall calendar.

productivity

Downsizing For Retirement: A Step-by-Step Guide

by Rachel Christian
September 23, 2022
on RetireGuide.com

Downsizing for retirement takes planning, hard work and time. It involves organizing your current home, donating unwanted items, putting your house up for sale and moving to a new location. Some people hire experts to help, while others rely on friends and family for support.

Millions of older Americans are choosing to go small in retirement.

According to a Zillow report, 46 percent of baby boomers who sold homes in 2017 were in the process of downsizing.

Downsizing is a major decision, influenced by unique financial and emotional factors.

Decluttering a large home is no easy feat. Selling your house, finding a new one and moving your belongings adds further complexity.

downsizing, retirement

9 Tips to Maximize Your Productivity When You’ve Got ADHD

Adults with ADHD face extra challenges when it comes to task management and organization, whether at work or at home. Overstimulation, feeling stuck, getting overwhelmed—any one or all of these can hinder your productivity and elevate your anxiety. We’ve got 9 tips to help you maximize your productivity so you can anticipate your challenges, stay focused, and finish your tasks.

1. Use your calendar for reminders and due dates.

Enter your due dates and deadlines. Then count backwards and enter mini due dates and/or reminders for completing phases of your project.

ADHD, Productivity Tips

All the Attic Cleaning Tips You Need to Know

by Jamie Forbes
August 22, 2022
on RedFin Blog

Attics are the perfect place to store things you might need someday, especially if you live in a large house in Nashville, TN, or a fixer-upper in Las Vegas, NV. Regardless, all attics can become too full. If yours is similar to most, it’s probably full of boxes, old furniture, and other items you no longer need or use. When did you last take the time to clean it out thoroughly?

If it’s been a while (or if you’ve never done it), now is the time. Here’s an expert, step-by-step guide with all the attic cleaning tips you need to help you get the job done….

home organizing