5 Ways to reset your home (+mind) after the holidays

The Christmas season has come and gone and for most, this is the time of year where one gets back into the old schedules and routines of everyday life. For myself, this time can often be a bit overwhelming, even with all the parties and gatherings behind me, not because it’s a new year, but because I often feel the need to reset. An organized, decluttered and clean home, for me is peace of mind as well, and what better time than after the beautiful chaos of another wonderful Christmas season. Today we will go over a few tips and tricks that I live by, to start off the New Year on a fresh slate.

1. Storage organization!! I know this is often a “duh” statement, but storage and organization is often more than just tidying and putting things into a closet. Invest in storage bins and containers-they don’t have to be expensive, you can find them in your local dollar store. And then start with a smaller space, like your fridge. After the holidays, fridges are often overflowing with leftovers and, most likely, other foods that have sat in the fridge for too long. Start by freeing a workspace in your kitchen and take all foods out of the refrigerator. Sort through and find what should be disposed of, including checking expiration dates. Wash all drawers and wipe shelves. Then sort your different food items into bins. I like to use a lazy susan for items that I use every day. This way I have access to the back of my fridge as well, without having to take everything closer to the front out. You will know what matter of organization works best for you since you are most likely the one who uses it most frequently. Although the fridge is not a large space, you will see what a difference it makes to just have it organized and all foods and condiments easily accessible. Starting with the fridge usually also motivates me to move onto the pantry, cleaning closet or other larger spaces in the house. Organizing is often the easy part though-make it a habit not to just pick things up to drop them into a closet, but to immediately put them into its organized spot in the house. An organized home is also an organized, stress free mind.
2. Labeling. This tip ties in well with the first. In the beginning, I actually started off by buying white stick-on labels and just writing things onto them. I have since then received (good idea to for something to wish for as a birthday or Christmas gift) a label maker and am much happier with it. Definitely recommend. So why label things? When resetting your home, most start by reorganizing spaces. This includes buying bins and storage containers. If these containers are labeled, it is simply easier to keep track of where everything belongs. For example, the bins in my entryway closet are labeled: Hats, gloves, scarves, miscellaneous. Because I know which bin is for which item of clothing, I don’t always have to take all the bins down to find the right one. Another thing in my home that I have labeled is my serving trays. These are labeled with my name. When bringing goodies to family or church functions, it’s often easy to misplace or lose serving trays, apart from the fact that there are many similar or even exact same trays circulating. This way, I know for sure that I am not taking someone else’s containers or trays home with me. This is the same with children’s water bottles or lunch kits for school.
3. Invest in new cleaning supplies. Something I have come to love especially are CLEAN cleaning agents. We often use cleaning sprays daily and most cleaning products are unfortunately filled with harsh chemicals. This is a personal decision and I definitely do have stronger cleaning agents for bathroom cleaning and harsher, stuck on dirt or stains but for the most part, I prefer to use the Multi-Surface Cleaning Kit from Saje for daily cleaning. As I mentioned earlier, this is a personal preference and if you use other forms of cleaning products, that is totally okay too. A clean house is a clean house and sometimes all it takes, is a for things to be taken down from shelves or counters and just give the space a good wash, spray and wipe. The smell of a cleaned house alone often sets for a positive mood, which leads into tip #4.
4. The scent of your home is very important. In fact, it is usually the first thing anyone notices upon entering a home. One of the best compliments a homemaker can receive is “Wow it smells so nice in here”! Whether it’s diffusing oils or burning candles, the scent will leave an impact. A newer trend I have jumped on is using a candle warmer…but not for candles. A favourite this Christmas was filling a little glass container with orange slices, a cinnamon stick, a pine needle and some water and placing it under the candle warmer and just letting it do its trick. My house smelled like so cozy and I didn’t even have to use a candle or oil blend. If you don’t have a candle warmer, you can also do this on the stove, just make sure to watch the water level as it will slowly evaporate.
5. Last but not least: declutter. Although this ties in with the first tip, I wanted to give this its own section. I know I personally have random phases where I would just want to throw everything out and other phases where all these little items (that I really don’t need and never use) are just too hard to get rid of. I have realized though, that when I declutter my home (in my “throw everything out” phase), I usually never end up regretting it. So don’t let it scare you when you feel attached to certain sentimental items. When decluttering, I try to make two categories: bring to thrift shop/garbage. Some items are clearly unsalvageable and don’t have much life or use left in them. These items will be disposed of. But many other items still have lots of life left in them including articles of clothing, décor and even furniture. Take the time to bring these to your local thrift shop instead of just throwing them out. Most likely someone new will find it, and it will be loved in a new home. I am a passionate thrifter myself and am often very thankful for thrift finds that fit perfectly to my home.

These are just a few tips that could help you clear and reset your home this new year season. Start fresh and stick to it, that way, your mind will also be at peace. That being said, we are all humans and chaos will always present itself one way or another. Don’t let it discourage you from keeping your home a place where you want to be.

xoxo Sophia.