The box said “Dining Room Lights” in my handwriting, and I hadn’t opened it in four years.
It sat on the top shelf of the hall closet, behind the boxes of ornaments. Every year, my husband lifted it down with the others. And every year, I set it aside and used the lights that were already on top.
Last November, I finally opened it. Inside were three strings of lights. One didn’t work at all, and one had a cracked socket.
That box made me think about all the Christmas boxes we carry down each year, and all the things inside them we never use.
So last year, I tried something new. I gave myself four short weeks to sort my Christmas things before decorating day.
It worked so well that I’m doing it again this year. If you’d like to try it too, here is the whole plan, with this year’s dates.
Why I Start in November
At our house, the Saturday after Thanksgiving is decorating day. This year, that’s November 28.
That gives us four weeks if we start on Sunday, November 1. Four weeks is enough time to go slowly. You can do a little each week, sit down while you sort, and still have energy left for the fun part.
It also gives the things you let go a chance to be used this year. A wreath you give away in early November can hang on someone else’s door by December. A wreath you give away in January waits in a donation bin until next year.
Last year, when decorating day came, I opened each box and found only things I loved. No broken lights, no tired garland, no mystery bags.