Episode Description

The holidays are over, the decorations are shoved back into bins, and now you're standing in the middle of the mess thinking, "What just happened to my life and my bank account?" Between leftover cookies, wrecked sleep schedules, and uninvited credit card bills, it's a lot.

In this Magazine Moments episode, Julie and Janis tackle the post-holiday reset from three practical angles: your overstuffed pantry, your crying wallet, and your completely destroyed routine. Because guilt isn't productive, and misery isn't a goal.

What You'll Learn

Shop Your Pantry First

• Why the average family wastes $3,000 annually on uneaten food (that's a vacation, not garbage!)
• How to audit what you already own and build meals around it
• The genius of the "use-first bin" for opened or expiring items
• Smart storage tricks like freezing tomato paste in ice cube trays

No Spend January Challenge

• How to stop the flow of new clutter into your house
• Common rules: no coffee shops, shop the pantry first, delete Amazon (harsh but effective)
• Why online grocery pickup deserves a standing ovation
• The difference between intentional spending and mindless drive-through decisions

Transitioning Back to Normalcy

• Why structured (not rigid) routines help you adjust 40% faster
• The 15-minute bedtime shift that's 60% more effective than forcing immediate change
• Why your body needs recovery, not punishment, after December's chaos
• How to handle the "holiday hangover" when it's suddenly just... Tuesday

Key Takeaways

The post-holiday reset doesn't need to be harsh.
Pick ONE thing - pantry, spending, or sleep.
Small changes compound. Give yourself grace because you're human, and this is a transition, not a failure.

Featured Resources

• FoodDrinkLife.com - Shop Your Pantry First
• LifeWithLesMess.com - No Spend Challenge
• ZenNutri.com - Transition Back to Normalcy After the Holidays
  
  

Follow us! Join our community! Share with your friends!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abcdeclutterwithjj
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abcdecluttercommunity
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abcdeclutterwithjj
Website: https://www.abcDEclutter.com
Podcast website: https://www.TheJJsDeclutterPodcast.com
eMail: hello@abcdeclutter.com

Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!

Let's be honest—if you made a New Year's resolution on January 1st, you're probably side-eyeing it like it's decorative decor, not an actual plan. And the stats back this up: only 25% of people stick with resolutions past 30 days, and fewer than 10% actually finish what they started.

But here's the relief—it's not your fault.

The Science of Why Resolutions Fail

According to research from Crucial Learning and Yale, most resolutions fail because they never become habits. And since 40% of what we do daily is habitual (brushing teeth, making coffee, washing your hands after you pee... especially if you're a guy), creating actual habits is the key to success.

The Three Brain Traps:

1. Hyperbolic Discounting - Your brain wants immediate gratification over long-term gains. That's why scrolling on the couch beats organizing the garage every single time.
2. Identity Attachment - When "I missed a session" becomes "I'm a failure," you've turned a setback into a character assassination. Your clutter isn't a moral failing—it's just stuff.
3. The Intention-Action Gap - We ignore predictable obstacles every year, thinking "this time will be different" without changing the plan.

The Revolutionary Solution: Wait Until April

Psychology Today research suggests January might actually be the worst time to start new habits. You're fighting post-holiday burnout, financial stress, short dark days, and depleted mental resources.

Why April Works:

• More energy and sunlight
• Time for genuine reflection
• Less stress and social pressure
• Spring's natural season of growth

What to Do Now

Use January through March as your planning season. Notice what's bothering you, explore strategies, and join our Clutter Crushers community. Then launch in April with energy, clarity, and a solid plan.

Remember: Real change happens when you're ready—not just because the calendar says so.

Join us! Follow Us! Subscribe to Us!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abcdeclutterwithjj
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abcdecluttercommunity
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abcdeclutterwithjj

Website: https://www.abcDEclutter.com
Podcast website: https://www.TheJJsDeclutterPodcast.com
eMail: hello@abcdeclutter.com

Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!

🎉 Episode 56: Looking Back with Gratitude – Celebrating Your Year’s Wins

As the year wraps up, Julie and Janis invite you to put down the self-criticism, step away from the “good riddance” posts, and take a gentler, more empowering look back. This episode is all about finding and celebrating your wins, even if this year felt messy, exhausting, or downright hard.

Instead of focusing on what went wrong, the JJs guide you through a thoughtful Year-in-Review framework that helps uncover progress you may have overlooked. From decluttering wins and habit changes to personal growth, relationships, finances, health, and plain old survival, no victory is too small to count.

You’ll learn why your brain naturally fixates on the negative, how acknowledging wins rewires your mindset, and why progress does not have to be dramatic to be meaningful. Whether you cleared a junk drawer, set one boundary, asked for help, paid a bill, survived a hard season, or simply kept showing up, this episode reminds you that those things matter.

Julie and Janis also share practical ways to celebrate your wins: writing them down, sharing them with supportive people, creating visual reminders, and starting a simple “Wins of the Week” practice so future reflections feel lighter and more encouraging.

This is not toxic positivity. It’s balanced reflection, honest compassion, and building momentum rooted in gratitude instead of defeat.

So grab something cozy, give yourself 12 intentional minutes, and let’s end the year proud of what you accomplished, survived, and learned.

💬 Share your wins with us in ABC Declutter with JJ – Community on Facebook or at www.abcdeclutter.com. We can’t wait to celebrate with you.

Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and — as always — Keep Decluttering!

#DeclutterWithTheJJs #CelebrateYourWins #YearInReview #GratitudePractice
#SmallWinsMatter #DeclutterMindset #IntentionalLiving #ProgressNotPerfection
#EndOfYearReflection #MindsetShift #DeclutteringJourney #SimpleLiving

Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!