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
  
  

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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.

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abcdecluttercommunity
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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!!

Welcome back to the JJ's Declutter Podcast ~ Fractured Fairy Tales Edition!

We're heading back to Whoville, where the halls are decked, the stockings are hung, and the glitter is absolutely everywhere. Full-on festive explosions that would make even the most enthusiastic decorator question their life choices.

The Holiday Chaos
It's early December in Whoville—garland on banisters, bows on pets, twinkle lights tangled in ways that defy physics. But in his cave on Mount Messmore, the Grinch sits clutching his "Silent Night, Please" mug, glaring at the chaos below. His cave is still recovering from last year's holiday hangover—broken ornaments everywhere, fake snow stuck to everything, and a half-melted candle shaped like Santa's leg.

The Spirit Returns
When the Grinch declares he'll skip Christmas and cleaning altogether, the Spirit of Clean floats in! "You learned to declutter last year, but look at this place! You've got more glitter than a kindergarten art room!"

She's here to help him manage the holiday chaos with simple maintenance routines. "Joy doesn't have to mean junk, and celebration doesn't require chaos."

The #Tidy12 Festive Edition
The Spirit hands him a timer: 12 minutes. "Pick one small area. This isn't about perfection, it's about progress."

The Grinch protests but hustles through sweeping, wiping, and muttering. When the timer dings, he smiles: "It's clean! And I didn't die!"

"That's the magic of the #Tidy12. You don't need hours, you just need focus and 12 minutes."

Taming the Tinsel
Next: organizing holiday decorations. Unlabeled bins, broken ornaments mixed with good ones, enough fake snow to trigger an avalanche.

"You've got to categorize," the Spirit explains. "If it doesn't spark joy or fit in a labeled tote, it's time to let it go. Remember our Keep or Let's Go system?"

The Grinch sorts everything into 3 neat bins: Tree, Trim, and To Donate.

"You're clinging less and cleaning more—keeping it intentional instead of keeping everything."

Party Prep Panic
Cindy Lou invites the Grinch to tomorrow night's party. He freezes: "Tomorrow night?"

The Spirit asks: "What's the rule?"

"Don't panic, plan it."

He sets his timer and does a pre-party power clean—wiping counters, loading the dishwasher, scrubbing his sink until it shines like a Christmas star.

The Whoville Secret
At the party, the Grinch is amazed—everyone's homes are festive and tidy. Cindy Lou shares their secret: "We clean as we go. Do a quick #Tidy12 session each day! The best gift you can give yourself is not waking up to a mess that steals your holiday joy."

Christmas Morning
The Grinch wakes to a quiet, cozy, clean cave. "It feels good to live in a space that sparkles without overwhelming me. I can actually enjoy the holiday instead of drowning in clutter."

The Spirit asks what he learned: "That joy and clutter don't have to be roommates. That small doable doses actually work. And that maintenance makes the magic last longer."

"May your days be merry, and your surfaces clear."

The Lesson
You can have a beautifully decorated home and your sanity with simple routines. With a daily #Tidy12 session, bin labeling, and a clean-as-you-go mindset, you can keep your home festive and functional.

Join the Clutter Crushers Club at www.abcdeclutter.com!

#Decluttering #HolidayCleaning #Tidy12 #ClutterCrushersClub #KeepOrLetsGo #DeclutterCoach

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

Welcome to the JJ's Declutter Podcast Fractured Fairy Tale Edition! This holiday special tells the transformation story of the Grinch of Mount Messmore—a grumpy, cluttered soul who discovers that joy was hiding underneath all that junk. Spoiler alert: He didn't steal Christmas, but he did reclaim his peace, one #Tidy12 session at a time!

Meet Our Grinch

Forget Mount Crumpit—our Grinch lives on Mount Messmore, where:

• Every flat surface is covered in chaos
• Laundry mountains rival actual mountains
• Half-dead batteries breed like rabbits
• Unmatched socks could start their own band
• Even his Roomba filed for early retirement (with a strongly worded resignation letter)

Sound familiar? Yeah, we thought so.

The Journey from Grunge to Grinchtastic

A Messy Mountain Morning The Grinch wakes up to tangled Christmas lights, fossilized fruitcake, and coffee that tastes like "dust and regret" (what happens when you haven't cleaned your coffee maker since the moon landing). His excuse? "Why bother cleaning? It's just gonna get messy again." Classic clutter denial, right?

The Spirit of Clean Arrives Armed with yellow gloves and a Swiffer wand, the Spirit of Clean isn't here for excuses. She introduces the Grinch to the magic trio: Sort, Simplify, Shine. This is our emotions-first approach in action—we're not just cleaning surfaces, we're clearing minds and reclaiming peace.

The #Tidy12 Transformation The Spirit sets a timer: 12 minutes. That's it. The Grinch grumbles (naturally), but here's what happens:

• Expired cans tossed
• Floor-dwelling clothes folded
• Sock couples reunited after being separated since 2019
• A counter surface spotted for the first time in months!

That feeling when you see progress? That's dopamine, nature's reward for doing hard things. And it doesn't require Wi-Fi.

Deep Clean, Deep Thoughts Once he gets rolling, the Grinch can't stop. He runs vinegar cycles in the washer, wipes down counters until they gleam, and vacuums under couch cushions (finding 3 candy canes, 2 quarters, and an unpaid electric bill from March). His little green heart grows three sizes—one for each bag of junk donated to the Whoville thrift store.

The Big Revelation "I never knew less could feel like more," the Grinch realizes. "I thought I needed all this stuff."

The Spirit's wisdom: "Less mess, more peace. You don't need all this stuff to be happy. You just need room to dance, room to breathe, and maybe a clean mug so your coffee doesn't taste like dust and regret."

The Happy Ending By Christmas Eve, the Grinch's cave sparkles. His socks are folded, his sink is empty, and his heart feels light. He didn't just clean his space—he cleared his mind. He can think better, breathe easier, and the stress of constant mess is gone.

The Moral of the Story

Even the grumpiest, messiest soul can rediscover joy through cleaning and decluttering. A clean space really can make your heart grow three sizes. This is what we teach in the Clutter Crushers Club—you're not broken, you're not hopeless, and you absolutely have the power to transform your space and your life.

You just need to start with one Small Do-able Dose, one #Tidy12 session, and build from there.

Ready to transform your space? Join the Clutter Crushers Club at www.abcdeclutter.com!

#Decluttering #HomeOrganization #CleaningMotivation #HolidayCleaning #Tidy12 #ClutterCrushersClub #SmallDoableDoses #KeepOrLetsGo #OrganizedHome #DeclutterCoach

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

In this heartwarming Magazine Moments episode, Julie and Janis dive into one of the most freeing concepts of the holiday season: gifting experiences instead of stuff. Inspired by Joshua Becker’s article “How to Gift Experiences Instead of Things” from Becoming Minimalist, this conversation unpacks why experience-based gifts deepen connection, reduce clutter, and create lifelong memories—without adding anything to the closet, drawer, or donation bin.

If you're ready to simplify your holidays, shop with intention, and give gifts that truly matter, this episode is for you.

What We Talk About in This Episode

• Why traditional gift-giving has shifted—and why it’s time to rethink it
• The four guiding rules for clutter-free gifting
• How to transition your family to experience-based gifts without overwhelm
• Thoughtful ways to choose the perfect experience for each person
• A massive list of 30 experience gift ideas ranging from free to luxurious
• How to present an experience gift so it still feels exciting to unwrap
• Long-term experience gifts that keep giving joy all year
• The magic of shared memories and DIY experience ideas
• How experience gifts can change a child’s life (yes, really!)
• When to honor loved ones’ requests for physical gifts

Plus, Julie and Janis share personal stories—camping trips, cooking subscription boxes, family experiences, and even a grandmother-granddaughter trip to Japan—that illustrate how powerful and memorable clutter-free gifting can be.

Why Experience Gifts Work

Experience gifts aren’t just “less clutter.”
They are:

• Meaningful
• Memorable
• Personalized
• Connection-building
• Budget-flexible
• Emotionally rich

And they reduce stress, storage needs, and the guilt that comes with unwanted items. Yes, please!

30 Experience Gift Ideas Mentioned

From simple to spectacular:

• DIY spa days
• Stargazing nights
• Cooking classes
• Museum passes
• Escape rooms
• Pottery lessons
• Nature walks
• Winery tours
• Ziplining
• Weekend getaways
• Luxury cruises

… and 20 more ideas to fit any budget or personality.

Perfect For:

✔ Minimalists
✔ Declutterers
✔ Busy families
✔ Parents wanting fewer toys
✔ Gift-givers who want more meaning
✔ Anyone tired of holiday overwhelm

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abcdeclutterwithjj

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abcdeclutterwithjj/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abcdecluttercommunity

🖥️ Website: https://www.abcdeclutter.com/

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🖥️Email: hello@abcdeclutter.com

#GiftingExperiences #ClutterFreeLiving #MinimalistGifts #DeclutterPodcast #HolidaySimplicity #IntentionalLiving #ExperienceGifts #SimplifyTheSeason #JJsDeclutterPodcast

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

Julie and Janis tackle the often-neglected laundry room, transforming it from the "Bermuda Triangle of the home" into a clean, functional space. They break down the cleaning process into manageable steps that work whether you have a dedicated room, stacked units, or just a basement corner.

Why Your Laundry Room Matters

• A cluttered laundry room makes an already unpopular chore even more stressful
• Organization reduces time spent hunting for supplies and dealing with spills
• Regular cleaning prevents mold, mildew, and musty odors
• A functional space makes the whole laundry process smoother

The 6-Step Laundry Room Refresh

Step 1: Declutter First

• Remove items that don't belong (tools, shoes, sports equipment)
• Check expiration dates on cleaning products
• Consolidate duplicate detergents
• Deal with orphan socks (if they've waited more than a few months, let them go)
• Make decisions about clothes that have been sitting there forever

Step 2: Clean Your Machines

• Wipe down the rubber seal on front-load washers (mold magnet!)
• Run a cleaning cycle with white vinegar
• Scrub the detergent dispenser drawer
• Clean the lint trap housing with a vacuum
• Check and clean dryer vent hose (fire hazard if neglected)
• Rinse dryer sheet residue off lint trap screen

Step 3: Tackle Surfaces and Storage

• Wipe down counters and folding surfaces
• Clean shelves one at a time
• Use bins or clear containers to organize small items
• Store frequently-used items at eye level
• Group supplies by category (detergents together, stain treatments together)

Step 4: Floors and Walls

• Pull out machines and clean behind them if possible
• Sweep or vacuum thoroughly, especially corners
• Mop hard surface floors
• Scrub grout if needed (humidity causes mildew)
• Wipe down walls for splatters and marks
• Clean the door and handle

Step 5: Organize the Chaos

• Create a sorting system for dirty laundry (darks, lights, delicates)
• Add a hanging rod or collapsible wall rack for air-drying
• Use mesh laundry bags for delicates (and remember: never put them in the dryer!)
• Keep a small trash can for lint and empty bottles
• Create a "stain station" with all your stain-fighting supplies
• Maintain a "lost sock basket" for reuniting separated pairs

Step 6: Maintenance Habits

• After every load: Wipe spills, leave washer door open, clean lint trap
• Weekly: Quick tidy, restock supplies, wipe folding surface
• Monthly: Run washer cleaning cycle, check behind machines
• Every 3-6 months: Deep clean dryer vent system

Bonus Tips

• Keep a basket for items needing special care
• Address moisture issues with a dehumidifier if needed
• Clean your iron and wash the ironing board cover
• Use collected lint as camping fire starters (store in empty toilet paper rolls!)

Key Takeaway

You don't have to do everything at once! Tackle this project in chunks if needed. Progress over perfection, always.


Join the conversation: Share your before and after photos in the Declutter with the JJ's community at www.abcdeclutter.com

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

Episode 51 | The JJs Declutter Podcast

Episode Description

Get your home holiday-ready! Julie and Janis tackle the two spaces that make or break your hosting game—the entryway and dining room. Learn the "Clear, Clean, Contain (+ Celebrate!)" system that transforms these high-traffic areas from cluttered chaos to guest-ready gorgeous.

In This Episode:

The Entryway Strategy

• Clear, Clean, Contain system for first impressions that wow
• Smart coat and shoe storage for extra guests
• The 5-minute declutter challenge
• Creating dedicated guest zones
• Lighting and seasonal touches that say "welcome"

The Dining Room Makeover

• Rescuing your table from "horizontal filing cabinet" status
• The deal-with-it-later box method (game-changer!)
• Furniture arrangements for larger gatherings
• Cleaning checklist from chandelier to chair seats
• Setting up self-serve drink stations

Hosting More People Tips

• Buffet-style flow strategies
• Kids' table setup ideas
• Disposable plate permissions (yes, really!)
• Centerpiece rules: keep it low so you can see Aunt Carol's whole face!

Key Takeaways:

• Pro tip: Items untouched for 2+ weeks don't need to be in your entryway
• Create temporary staging areas for family's everyday items
• Set your table the night before and photograph it for next year
• Goal = welcoming spaces, NOT Instagram perfection
• Your tall uncle WILL notice the cobwebs (trust Janis on this!)

Resources Mentioned:

📋 Free Holiday Hosting Checklist at www.abcdeclutter.com

Connect With Us:

🌐 Website: www.abcdeclutter.com

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/groups/abcdecluttercommunity
📸 Instagram: @abcdeclutterwithjj

✉️ Email: hello@abcdeclutter.com

Share your transformations! #HolidayReadyJJs

Next Episode: Laundry Room Deep Clean


#HolidayHosting #EntrywayOrganization #DiningRoomDecor #JJsDeclutter #HolidayPrep #GuestReady #HomeOrganization #CleaningTips #HolidayReadyJJs #HostingTips

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