2947: Declutter the Holiday Schedule With These 3 Simple Steps by Rachel Jones of Nourishing Minimalism on Staying Calm During the Holidays

[00:00:00] It's a Minimalist Monday edition of Optimal Living Daily Episode 2947

[00:00:04] Declutter the Holiday Schedule with These 3 Simple Steps by Rachel Jones of NourishingMinimalism.com

[00:00:11] and I'm Justin Malik.

[00:00:13] Happy Monday!

[00:00:14] This is the award-winning podcast where I read blogs to you, hopefully adding a little bit

[00:00:18] of inspiration, motivation or happiness to your day.

[00:00:22] This is all with permission from the authors by the way.

[00:00:24] And I'm going to keep this intro nice and minimal for Minimalist Monday as we optimize your life.

[00:00:33] Declutter the Holiday Schedule with These 3 Simple Steps by Rachel Jones of NourishingMinimalism.com

[00:00:42] A jam-packed, bursting at the seams schedule is often a big contributor to the mess in

[00:00:47] our homes.

[00:00:48] When we allow ourselves to get so busy that we don't know which way we are coming

[00:00:51] or going, are decluttering efforts and the routines necessary to maintain a Minimalist

[00:00:56] home fall apart.

[00:00:58] We neglect to guard our homes against the influx of new stuff we so desperately want to keep

[00:01:03] out and progress halts.

[00:01:05] Mail sits on the counter instead of going immediately to the recycle bin or trash

[00:01:09] can.

[00:01:10] Things get left in the car rather than put away right when you get home.

[00:01:14] One load of laundry undone turns into two or three.

[00:01:18] Dinner dishes get left until morning.

[00:01:20] If the busyness goes on for too long, we can begin to head in reverse.

[00:01:25] It becomes a revolving cycle of chaos.

[00:01:28] Stuff goes out, we get busy, stuff returns, we send it back out the door wondering where

[00:01:33] it came from and the cycle repeats.

[00:01:36] This phenomenon becomes more prevalent at certain times of the year but for many, the

[00:01:41] holidays are the prime time for the return of chaos.

[00:01:46] During the holidays, it's easy to get caught up in our ideals with all the supposed

[00:01:50] to's and have to's we create for ourselves.

[00:01:53] The fantasy life can come out in full force.

[00:01:57] Add in the pressure to be at every party, to participate in every extra performance, the

[00:02:02] gifts from kind-hearted people who love to give at this time of year and the pressure

[00:02:06] to reciprocate with the perfect gift.

[00:02:09] In the holidays, become the perfect storm for chaos and at the time of year we crave

[00:02:14] peace and joy the most.

[00:02:16] Whether you're one of those people who loves the holiday season and who reminds

[00:02:20] everyone there are only X weeks left or you're one of those people who panic then procrastinate,

[00:02:26] the holidays are just around the corner.

[00:02:29] Taking some time now to plan and prepare can go a long way towards finally having peace

[00:02:34] and joy during the holidays instead of chaos and the return of clutter.

[00:02:39] Here are three strategies to help you declutter the holiday schedule so you can maintain

[00:02:44] the peace you've created in your home.

[00:02:47] Number one, accept that you cannot do everything.

[00:02:51] We want to create holiday memories to last a lifetime.

[00:02:55] We want our kids to have every good opportunity.

[00:02:57] We want to give back to others in need.

[00:03:00] We want to give thoughtful gifts to our loved ones.

[00:03:02] We want to attend all of those parties and performances.

[00:03:06] But we only have so many hours in the day.

[00:03:09] We cannot do it all and maintain a peaceful home at the same time.

[00:03:13] Sometimes we have to say no to activities, even good ones and that's okay.

[00:03:17] Remember as an aspiring minimalist you already know that less is usually more.

[00:03:23] This is true when it comes to the holiday schedule as well.

[00:03:27] Once you accept that you cannot do it all you can focus your time and energy on the

[00:03:31] activities that matter most.

[00:03:34] Number two, decide what matters most to you during the holidays.

[00:03:40] Once you've accepted that you can't do it all, you can now spend some time thinking

[00:03:43] about what things matter to you and your family.

[00:03:47] What activities are essential to you and your loved ones during the holiday season?

[00:03:52] What activities will create memories you and your family are going to cherish down

[00:03:55] the road?

[00:03:56] Put those things at the top of the list and let the rest go.

[00:04:00] When you take the time to think about it, some things are easy to cut out of the

[00:04:05] schedule.

[00:04:06] It becomes easy to say no to running from point A to B, trying to find the best deal

[00:04:10] on this toy or that.

[00:04:13] Choosing not to run right out to the store to buy a gift because someone just gave you

[00:04:17] one and now you have to reciprocate or saying no to a holiday party can be a little more

[00:04:22] difficult.

[00:04:23] In those instances challenge your thinking.

[00:04:27] How is that really going to achieve the holiday you are trying to create?

[00:04:31] Is the gift you randomly buy really going to be meaningful to them?

[00:04:35] Is there another way you can show your appreciation without undermining your peaceful holiday schedule?

[00:04:41] And number three, watch out for the words I have to.

[00:04:46] If you hear the words I have to come out of your mouth, stop and ask yourself do I

[00:04:50] have to or do I choose to?

[00:04:53] Most of the time we are choosing to do something.

[00:04:56] This can be hard to accept at first but it is time to challenge yourself when

[00:05:00] it comes to the have to's and supposed to's.

[00:05:03] Like we considered earlier, as much as we want to, we can't do it all.

[00:05:08] Many good things happen during the holidays.

[00:05:10] Finding peace is a result of choosing which things to participate in.

[00:05:15] Remember if not this year, there's always next year.

[00:05:19] Do you have to prepare a five course gourmet meal or is a potluck good enough?

[00:05:24] Do you have to bake ten different kinds of cookies?

[00:05:27] Or is one enough to create a lasting memory?

[00:05:29] Do you have to drive to the mall for a picture with Santa or pick out a real tree?

[00:05:35] Or whatever other holiday supposed to you grew up with?

[00:05:38] Do you have to attend every party you're invited to?

[00:05:41] Being more present in the things that you deem important is far superior than doing

[00:05:46] all the things but being stressed, overwhelmed and mentally scattered.

[00:05:52] Quality over quantity.

[00:05:54] Remember less is more.

[00:05:56] Be willing to let go of the less important to create more room for what is most important

[00:06:01] during the holidays.

[00:06:06] You just listened to the post titled Declutter the Holiday Schedule with These Three Simple

[00:06:11] Steps by Rachel Jones of nourishingminimalism.com.

[00:06:15] Thank you Rachel.

[00:06:16] This is something I'm actively working on this year.

[00:06:20] My business partner and I have talked about it recently in fact because it seems that

[00:06:24] every time the holidays start to come around, we somehow decide to take on more.

[00:06:30] Usually it's because the beginning of the year is when more people come to listen to

[00:06:34] this podcast or pretty much any in our network because healthy habits tend to start at the

[00:06:39] new year and then often fall off within a couple of months if not weeks.

[00:06:44] So to prepare for new listeners potentially coming in we try to do more.

[00:06:49] Maybe release a new podcast, new advertising or some kind of new project and then usually

[00:06:54] end up regretting it because the timing isn't great with the holidays going on gets really

[00:07:00] busy.

[00:07:01] So this year we're taking Rachel's advice and letting things happen naturally.

[00:07:06] No new shows.

[00:07:07] Luckily we got a head start on that.

[00:07:09] If you didn't hear about that yet, we'd love for you to check it out.

[00:07:11] Our newest podcast is called Good Sleep and it goes through some positive affirmations

[00:07:16] that you can fall asleep to.

[00:07:19] You can find good sleep wherever you're listening to this.

[00:07:21] Just make sure to pick the podcast by Optimal Living Daily.

[00:07:24] But that should do it for today.

[00:07:26] Definitely think about what you can let go of this holiday season.

[00:07:29] So great start to your week.

[00:07:31] Thank you for being here with me and listening every day.

[00:07:33] And I'll be back tomorrow where your optimal life awaits.