Now that your seasonal and holiday items have been taken care of and are categorized and organized and contained, it’s time to look forward to the future – Christmas shopping! As a professional organizer I usually deal with the aftermath but smart parents bring me in PRIOR to the gifts being received to clear out what is old and no longer needed to make room for what’s coming. But you don’t have to hire someone to do this. You can do it yourself. It’s a simple step called

PURGING

What exactly goes in to purging? Well, purging is simply asking yourself the question “Do I still need this?” Not “Do I want this?”, not “Should I keep this?” but “Do I still need this?”. If you don’t, then there’s a good chance you can let it go. My first step in every job is taking everything out of the space we’re working in so everything can be seen. Anything broken, old, out of date, out of style, duplicated and not wanted is generally gotten rid of. Obviously there are exceptions in every job, but for the most part this is a good way to figure out what you do and don’t need.

This is particularly helpful for parents with kids and all of their toys, stuffed animals, games, puzzles, craft items, etc. but let’s be honest – we can all benefit from purging certain areas before the holidays begin. Maybe you purged your clothes but haven’t touched your kitchen. Maybe you did your children’s toys but just haven’t been able to go through their books. Maybe it’s tools or old hobby/craft items, maybe it’s your own books, or candles, make up, jewelry or shoes. Unless you’re a true minimalist, there’s probably something you should purge before December 25th.

So take this as your jump start. Use this reminder as motivation to get it taken care of now. You have 7.5 weeks to downsize the amount of items in your home, making room for what is coming. It’s best to make room for new items now.