Refreshing December Decluttering: Make Room Before the New Year

Let’s be honest for a second. December is basically the final boss fight of the year. You’ve got social obligations, a bank account that’s weeping in the corner, and a level of fatigue that can only be described as “soul deep.” The absolute last thing you want to do is clean, let alone think about decluttering, I get it. I’d rather replay a 100-hour RPG tutorial than organize my closet right now.

But here’s the harsh truth about decluttering: entering the new year with a house full of junk is like starting a new game save with a full inventory of broken swords and useless potions. It drags you down. You don’t need to become a beige-wearing minimalist who owns one fork, but you do need to make space. Not just for the inevitable influx of holiday gifts, but for your own sanity.

So, grab a trash bag, put on a playlist that makes you want to fight god, and let’s tackle this. Here is your guide to decluttering your life before the ball drops.

The Winter Wardrobe Reality Check

We need to talk about decluttering your coat closet. It’s a dark, scary place, isn’t it? The change of seasons is the perfect time for a vibe check on your gear.

Start with the heavy stuff. Coats, thick sweaters, and those scarves you bought because you thought you were a “scarf person” (spoiler: you are not). If you put on a jacket and the zipper gets stuck every single time, why are you keeping it? Are you hoping it will magically heal itself? It won’t. Donate it.

And let’s address the elephant in the room: the Single Glove Graveyard. We all have that one bin full of lonely mittens waiting for their partners to return from the war. Look, if the other glove hasn’t turned up since last December, it’s gone. It’s in the Narnia of lost dryer items. Throw the survivor away. It’s harsh, but it’s necessary, and honestly, one of the most satisfying acts of decluttering you can do.

The Mug Cabinet of Horrors

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you do not need 47 mugs. I know, I know. “But this one has a funny cat on it!” “But this one is from that trip to Vegas!” Still, this is your sign to start decluttering and admit that cabinets are not museums.

Listen to me: there is a finite amount of cabinet real estate in your kitchen. If you open the door and have to use ninja reflexes to catch a falling tumbler, you have a problem. This is prime decluttering territory.

Be ruthless. That mug with the chip in the rim that threatens to slice your lip every time you sip coffee? Trash. The promotional water bottle you got from a job you quit three years ago? Trash. The champagne flute that lost its partner in the Great Dishwasher Incident of 2021? Trash. Keep your favorites—the ones that give you +5 Stamina in the morning—and evict the rest.

The “One In, One Out” Toy Strategy

If you have kids, you know the fear. The holidays are coming, which means grandparents and relatives are about to carpet-bomb your house with plastic nonsense. If you don’t make room now, you will be buried alive in LEGOs by February.

This is where you implement the “One In, One Out” rule, or as I like to call it, “Inventory Management.” For every new toy that enters the base, an old one must be exiled.

Go through the toy box while the kids are distracted (or sleeping, if you want to avoid the drama). Anything broken? Gone. Anything from a Happy Meal? Immediate trash. Anything they haven’t touched in six months? Donate it. Experts say kids actually play better with fewer toys because they aren’t paralyzed by choice, but let’s be real—we’re doing this so you don’t step on a caltrop… I mean, an action figure… in the middle of the night.

The Bathroom Raid: Expired Meds and Potions

When was the last time you looked at the expiration dates in your medicine cabinet? I’m willing to bet you have a bottle of cough syrup in there from 3 or 4 years ago.

Keeping expired medication isn’t just clutter; it’s basically hoarding nerfed health items. They don’t work as well, and they take up space. Dump the old pills properly (check your local pharmacy guidelines) and restock the basics: pain relievers, cold meds, and Band-Aids that actually stick.

While you’re in there, look at the “samples” collection. You know the one. The tiny shampoos, the weird lotion packets, the hotel soaps you stole because “they were free.” You have never used them. You will never use them. They are cluttering up your drawers and your life. Let them go.

The Holiday Decoration Purge

As you are pulling out the holiday decorations, take a hard look at what’s in those boxes. We tend to hold onto decorations out of pure guilt. “Oh, Aunt Susie gave me this terrifying ceramic elephant. I must keep it.”

No, you don’t. It’s your house. If an ornament is broken, ugly, or just doesn’t fit your style anymore, you are allowed to retire it. You don’t need to keep the string of lights that only works if you jiggle the wire at a specific 45-degree angle. That is a fire hazard, not festive décor.

Curate your collection down to the stuff that actually makes you happy. If it doesn’t spark joy (or whatever the cool kids are saying now), yeet it into the donation bin.

Final Boss: The Mental Load

Decluttering isn’t just about physical stuff; it’s about clearing the RAM in your brain. A messy space creates background stress that drains your energy bar without you even realizing it.

You don’t have to tackle the whole house in one day. That’s a speedrun strat that leads to burnout. Set a timer for 15 minutes, pick one drawer, and go to town. Put on a podcast or some heavy metal. By the time the timer goes off, you’ll have made progress.

Clear the floor. Clear the counters. Clear your head. The New Year is coming whether you’re ready or not—you might as well face it with decluttering, a clean inventory, and room for better loot.