Happy New Year, Happy Oosouji!

Dec 30, 2016
2 min read

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

If I had it my way I would clean up Christmas on December 26. My family is not a fan of this idea. They want the holiday to stretch out as long as possible. For some reason all of the holiday decorations become dusty, musty and burdensome to me. So, I take a deep breathe do some yoga and wait until January 1st or 2nd to get the cleaning done. The best gift that I give myself each year is when I open the holiday boxes each year the belongings inside are organized and packed safely. I chuckle inside each new holiday season when I unpack the holiday boxes and notice what a nice job I did the previous year when packing and storing items. It's so nice to have the lights wrapped and tied neatly with labels telling me where to hang them, or delicate keepsake decorations that I took the time to wrap in tissue to protect from breakage. You will thank yourself next year when it's time to decorate again.

Did you know that organizing is one of the most common New Year's resolutions Americans make (and break) year after year?

Here are some good tips to implement as you clean up and store your holiday gifts and decor.

Observe Oosouji

A Japanese custom can be your new tradition. It is an annual ritual in Japan and literally means "the big cleaning." "Oo" meaning big, "souji" meaning cleaning. At the end of every year, usually on New Year's Eve, Japanese homes are cleaned meticulously. The gods did not approve of clutter (clutter can cause procrastination). Clutter slows us down mentally in every area of our lives. The goal in Japan is to drive out any impure influences that may have taken up residence during the previous year. Make it your goal to start this tradition January 1st.

Get One, Toss Two

To make some extra room around the house, for every new toy or clothing item toss or donate two outgrown or worn items. We store our past, present and future selves in our closets. It's not healthy to have that smaller size version of yourself in your closet. Let it go and accept who your are and then move on (chances are that the smaller version of yourself is out of date anyway).

Get the Kids Involved

This might seem daunting, but in the long run it is important for the children to learn some basic declutting that will help them as they grow up and when they fly the coop someday. Set up mini goals for them to accomplish and remember to acknowledge what they have achieved big or small. Remind yourself how good YOU feel when you accomplish mini goals.