I’m So Happy the Holidays are Over
The December holidays are fun and all, but when January hits? I am done.
As soon as humanly possible (usually around December 29th) I start nagging my husband to take all the decorations down. Box up the battery-operated candles, take the white lights off the bushes and around the door, and toss the pointsettias into the compost pile (aka the woods near my house.) The kids’ activities calendar get back to normal. The noise settles. And I grab a garbage bag and start walking.
Not metaphorically.
Literally.
January Is Not About Adding . It’s About Removing
The holidays are about accumulating things. So much food, so many gifts, sooooooo many tchotchkes. For me, January is about subtraction.
I walk through my house with a giant garbage bag and ask one simple question: Do I need this? Old papers I saved “just in case.” Random candles that don’t smell like anything anymore. Things I bought because they were on sale but never actually loved. Out they go.
There is something deeply satisfying about throwing things away with intention. It’s not about being wasteful — it’s about being honest. If I didn’t need it in December, I won’t magically need it in March.
Decluttering Is Self-Care (Yes, Really)
We talk a lot about self-care as baths and facials and supplements, all of which are great, but there’s a quieter (and more cost-effective!) form of care that happens in January. Clarity. Every item you remove is one less thing your brain has to process. One less visual reminder of something unfinished, unused, or unnecessary. The space you create physically shows up emotionally.
Plus, to me clutter can really make your house feel messy, even when it’s not. It’s remarkable how a clear kitchen island can set the tone for how I want the rest of the house to feel and look. I usually start there and when it’s cleared off I feel like it transforms the whole kitchen.
I Don’t Set Resolutions , I Clear Space
Another thing I don’t do is set any New Year’s resolutions. They always feel so silly and performative to me. Instead, I sometimes reflect about how the year went, what I enjoyed about it, what parts weren’t great, and how I can improve it. I tend to do this all year round though, and if something needs adjusting, I just do it. Like then and there in the moment. I don’t wait for Jan 1 to make any big giant change. Plus, everyone knows that dramatic NY Resolutions hardly stick anyway. It’s the smaller habits that you start and ramp up over time that really make a difference.
A Clean Slate Feels Better Than a Fresh Start
There’s something grounding about January. It’s quiet in a way that feels honest. And that’s why I even don’t mind a big ‘ol snowstorm in January to sort of wipe the slate clean and make everything all white and monochromatic outside. And even though I would so much rather be sitting on a beach chair in 88 degree weather every other day of the year, I’ll happily take a giant snowstorm in January. To match my mood, and my kitchen island.
