There’s something about this time of year, as the days shorten and the cold settles in, that makes me want to clear space. Not in a panic-clean-before-Christmas kind of way. More in a quiet, intentional sort of way. It’s not about perfection or ticking every box on a checklist. It’s about feeling like I can breathe again. As we shift into the darker half of the year, I feel a pull to pare back. To release what’s not serving us. To let go so the season ahead feels more spacious and less suffocating.And yes, Christmas plays a part. The tinsel, the influx of stuff, the mental load of it all, it can build up fast. But for me, this isn't about creating some perfect minimalist home before December 1st. It’s about getting clear on what I actually want this season to feel like. Because I don’t want to spend December buried under clutter and chaos. I want to be present. I want to notice the good stuff. And that starts by letting go of the things, both physical and mental, that make it harder to do that.This Isn’t About Minimalism — It’s About SanityLet me be clear: I live in a 650 sq. ft. flat with two children, countless muddy boots, and a cat who acts like a third toddler. I’m not decluttering to achieve a pristine aesthetic. I’m decluttering because clutter, visual, physical, emotional, affects us. It wears us down. And heading into the busiest, most overstimulating season of the year? That clutter becomes the tipping point.So I don’t wait until the new year to reset. I use autumn, this slow, introspective season, as a chance to gently release. To create room before everything starts coming in again. Because December is so much easier to hold when I’ve already made space for it.Start With What You Can SeeI usually begin with the physical stuff. Not because it's the most important, but because it’s the most immediate. The visual clutter. The things we trip over. The stuff we shove into corners that silently drains us. I go one drawer at a time. One corner. One surface that’s been collecting junk since the start of term. No pressure. Just asking: Do I really want to carry this into winter? Do I want to keep managing this? Cleaning it? Storing it? Thinking about it?For us, the high-traffic areas always come first; the kitchen, the hallway, the toy shelves. These are the spots where mess seems to breed overnight, and where the energy of our home feels the most “loud.” Clearing them brings an almost instant exhale. Not because the space looks perfect, but because it feels more peaceful.Teach Your Kids That Space Is ValuableWhen it comes to the kids, I don’t force a clear-out. But I do invite them into the process. Not with sticker charts or bribes because that’s not our vibe here, just honest conversation. “What toys do you still love playing with?” “Is this coat still comfy?” “Which books can we pass on to someone else?” We don’t get it right every time. Sometimes they want to keep everything. But over time, they’re learning that letting go isn’t a loss, it’s part of the cycle. Space isn’t just empty. It’s powerful.Declutter Your Mind, TooNow here’s the part that most people skip: mental clutter. We clean the cupboards but keep the chaos in our heads. Especially in the lead up to Christmas, when pressure starts creeping in from all sides. The lists. The expectations. The comparison. The sense that we need to do more, buy more, be more.This time of year, I sit down and ask myself: What expectations am I still carrying that don’t feel good anymore? What am I holding onto out of habit, guilt, or pressure? Sometimes it’s traditions that no longer feel joyful. Sometimes it’s a belief that I need to make everything magical for everyone. Sometimes it’s just a nagging feeling that I’m not doing enough, even when I clearly am.Letting go of those stories is just as freeing as letting go of stuff. Maybe more so.Choose Space Over SpectacleOnce the clutter, both physical and mental, has started to ease, there’s this beautiful opportunity to get intentional. Not just about what’s going out, but what you’re letting in. Because that’s what decluttering really does, it reveals what matters.For me, what matters is a home that feels cosy, calm, and lived in. A December that doesn’t feel like a sprint. Space to sit with my kids and read. Evenings where dinner doesn’t feel like a battlefield. A season that isn’t about performing some idealised version of Christmas, but about actually enjoying the parts that make sense for us.Do It Now, Not LaterSo many people wait until January to “start fresh.” But honestly? This time of year is the perfect time to clear space. Nature’s already shedding. The energy is slowing down. Why not use that momentum and make a little room in your home, and your head, before December arrives with all its intensity?You don’t need to gut your house. You don’t need a skip on the driveway. You just need to notice where the tension lives and start loosening your grip.If this resonates with you, and I’m guessing it might, I want to gently invite you to join me for my seasonal workshop, which is designed exactly for this moment in the year. It’s a cosy, no-pressure space to help you slow down, simplify, and create a Christmas season that actually feels good. Not performative. Not exhausting. Just grounded, intentional, and kind to your nervous system. We’ll talk about simplifying traditions, making space in your home, and crafting a season rooted in connection rather than chaos. If you’re craving that, it’s there for you.Join the Slow & Simple Christmas WorkshopThe goal isn’t to do it all.It’s to do what matters, and to have enough room to enjoy it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://theslowlivingcollective.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">theslowlivingcollective.substack.com/subscribe</a>

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