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Is Your Home Still Working for You? Time to Rethink Your Space

How the Way We Use Our Homes Has Changed – and What That Means for Your Home Today

When Did Your Home Stop Keeping Up?

I’m in a reflective mood today.

As my daughter left for school, I had one of those moments where time catches up with you. She’s growing so quickly. I know, I say that every year — when she was a baby and I couldn’t believe she would ever grow into the large-size sleeping bag, when she started school and talked about what she’d enjoyed doing in class. And now? She’s a teen, organising her costume for the school play and making plans for the holidays.

Over recent years, our lives have changed in ways we never could have imagined. From juggling growing family and work commitments, to adapting to working and learning at home during the covid pandemic and then transitioning into a new way of working.

Has your home kept up with you?

The demands on our homes are always growing and changing – but we rarely notice it.

If you reflect on the changes that have taken place for you and your family over the last 10 years for example, what would you list?

When we feel frustrated or a little embarrassed by the state of our home it can often be because things have changed but our home hasn’t adapted to support our needs.

If your home no longer feels calm, organised or functional, you’re not alone — and you don’t need a bigger house to make it work better. Sometimes, it just takes a fresh perspective.

How Modern Life Has Transformed Our Homes

It’s easy to see how clutter can build up and our home can start to feel out of sync when we think about all the changes we’ve been through. Here are just a few of the changes we have lived through:

Working from home (or a hybrid) became the norm and suddenly the dining table became a make-shift office
Online shopping soared, bringing more parcels (and packaging) into our homes than ever before. Even during lockdown!
Family needs evolved – perhaps you welcomed a baby, adjusted to young people moving out or staying longer, or even made room for elderly parents,
Technology spread across every room – with devices, chargers, and cables spreading to every room
Time felt tighter, and clutter crept in as daily life got busier again
Boundaries blurred, with living rooms doubling as classrooms, gyms or offices

These changes are a part of our modern life. But they do mean that your home might no longer support the way your daily life has evolved.

The Emotional Impact of a Home That No Longer Fits

When your home isn’t working, it can chip away at your sense of control. Lost keys, piles of paper, children’ things everywhere, and that hallway you try not to look at… It all adds up to mental noise and emotional weight.

Many of my clients tell me their home stressed and exhausted trying to manage it all. They feel embarrassed to have visitors over and guilty that they’ve not been able to “keep on top of things”.

If you feel this way, know that you’re not disorganised, or lazy. And you’re not alone. You’re doing your best to live in a home that hasn’t had chance to evolve with you — but the good news is that’s something you can change.

How to Rethink Your Space for the Life You Live Now

Start by asking yourself a few simple questions:

Which rooms or areas in your home work well – and which cause frustration?
Are there belongings you no longer use or love, or that you’re keeping “just in case”, that no longer reflect who you are?
Is your space set up for how you actually use it, or how it was used 10 years ago?

You might notice that:

Toys are spilling into every room because there’s no clear play zone
Your office setup is a laptop and papers stacked on a kitchen chair
The hallway is chaos because shoes, bags and coats have no defined home

These are all clues that your home is ready for a refresh. Sometimes it’s not about getting rid of everything — it’s about creating systems that support your daily routines.

This blog takes you through my top decluttering tips Si mplify Your Life in 2025: Effective Decluttering Tips

You Don’t Need a Bigger House – Just a Better System

A common myth is that more space equals more calm. But in reality, it’s not the size of your home — it’s how it functions for you.

By decluttering and creating zones that reflect your current needs, you can transform your home without knocking down a single wall. I’ve helped families reclaim entire rooms just by letting go of what no longer serves them and reorganising what does.

The result? A weight is lifted. And space that finally feels yours again.

‘once it was done everything felt simple and ordered and is honestly life changing. It will make a significant difference to me and my life with three young children‘- Alice

How I Can Help You Make Your Home Work Again

If this has struck a chord, this is your sign to rethink what you need and start making changes.

And if you feel you need support, I want you to know that you don’t have to figure it out alone.

I work with people just like you — busy, overwhelmed, and unsure where to start. My approach is calm, supportive and non-judgemental. Together, we’ll tackle the areas that are bothering you most, create simple systems that work for your lifestyle, and bring a sense of ease back into your home.

Sometimes it just takes a fresh pair of eyes and a bit of encouragement to get things flowing again.

👉 Explore my home organising services

Your Home Should Support You – Not Stress You Out

You deserve a home that helps you feel calm, and able to focus on what’s important to you. A home that energises you, not drains you. And if that’s not how it feels right now, it’s okay — because change is possible.

Start small. One drawer. One cupboard. One decision at a time.

And if you’d like a bit of expert support along the way, I’d love to chat.

📅 Let’s have a quick chat – book your free consultation today

How Decluttering and Organising Can Transform Your Home – and Your Life

I know it feels like a bold statement to say that organising your home can be transformational, but I truly believe it! I’ve felt it myself when I made small but intentional changes in my own home, and I see the impact for my clients all the time.

Are you wondering how organising your home could improve your life?

Do you spend too much time searching for things or struggling to stay on top of everyday life? One minute things are under control and the next, you’re surrounded by overflowing cupboards, piles of paperwork and daily stress.

A tidy home can feel out of reach when life gets busy. But you’re not alone. Lots of mums juggling families and full schedules feel the same.

In this post, I explore some of the common challenges that come with clutter and disorganisation, and how sensitive, guidance and practical support can help you feel more in control and able to relax in your home.

Why Does My Home Always Feel Cluttered?

Clutter and chaos aren’t just about having too much. They often reflect deeper everyday struggles, such as:

Systems that don’t work for you: Tidy spaces can quickly become messy and out of control if you have storage that doesn’t support your needs or routines
Too much stuff and not enough time: With packed schedules, it’s easy for decluttering and tidying to fall to the bottom of the list. But if your home is disorganised you will waste time searching for the things you need
Feeling mentally overwhelmed: Visual clutter can create stress, impact your mood and make it hard to switch off

The Benefits of a Tidy, Organised Home

Research has shown that an organised home can contribute to lower stress levels, improved sleep, and better mental focus. A Psychology Today article highlights that clutter can spike cortisol levels and contribute to the mental load — particularly for women — which can lead to anxiety, stress, and fatigue. Creating order in your home can help ease that load and improve your overall wellbeing.

When you remove the things you no longer use or love from your home and organise the things you do want to have around you, it has a hugely positive effect on your wellbeing and life runs more smoothly.

Why Take Time to Declutter?

It’s well worth the investment because it can:

Improve your mental wellbeing – decluttering reduces stress and overwhelm caused by visual and mental clutter. It can create a sense of calm, control, and clarity and boost your mood and motivation
Save you time – less searching for lost items, cleaning and tidying, makes your daily routines run more smoothly
Save you money – encourages mindful spending, you spend less buying duplicates and you have the opportunity to sell or donate unwanted items
Make your space work for you – maximising storage and functionality, helps each room serve it’s intended purpose and creates a more relaxing and welcoming environment
Support Life transitions – makes moving home, having a baby, or managing a bereavement less overwhelming. Organising helps you establish new routines and systems to suit your current lifestyle
Encourages healthy habits – an organised kitchen can promote health meal preparation, a tidy bedroom supports better sleep, and an orderly entryway can make mornings run smoother

What Does a Professional Organiser Do?

A professional organiser helps people regain control of their home by decluttering those things that are no longer used or loved, and putting systems in place to keep everything tidy. But they do much more than simply tidy up – much like a personal trainer, they work alongside you to understand your challenges, offer practical advice, and help you create lasting change.

How a Professional Organiser Can Help?

Decluttering rooms, wardrobes or entire homes	Creating practical organisation systems and storing sentimental items creatively
Making the home safer and more accessible for clients with mobility issues	Managing paperwork, important documents, devices and digital systems
Teaching organisation habits and devising tailored routines	Preparing for house moves, downsizing or life transitions

Professional organisers provide an objective, non-judgmental approach, helping you make decisions with confidence. They don’t just tidy up—they work with you to understand why clutter builds up and how to prevent it in the future.

Whether you need a little motivation or hands-on support, an organiser can help you transform your space in a way that feels manageable and tailored to your household.

How Do I Choose A Professional Organiser?

Choosing the right organiser is personal and it can make a big difference in how supported and comfortable you feel during the process. I want you to feel respected, heard, and in control throughout the experience.

Here are some points to consider:

Respectful and non-judgemental: A good organiser will always listen, support your decisions, and never pressure you to ‘get rid’ of anything you’re not ready to let go of. Look for someone who works with you, not just for you — helping you build confidence in your own organising habits
Their approach: You’ll be sharing your home and possibly your emotions — so choose someone you feel relaxed and safe around. They should explain what to expect, and give you the chance to ask questions or voice concerns. Do you want a gentle, supportive coach to guide you through the process, or do you prefer a practical, no-nonsense approach? Do you want the organiser to work alongside you or work independently. A free consultation is often offered to enable you to get to know the organiser and ask questions
Their expertise: Some organisers focus on specific areas, such as helping families, supporting hoarding behaviour, or preparing for home moves. Others specialise in digital decluttering, helping you organise emails, files, and photos. Look for someone experienced in supporting your specific challenges
Pricing & packages: Organisers charge in different ways – some by the hour, others by package. Check what’s included, and whether they offer in-person services where they work together with the client or independently. Virtual services may also be an option – often more affordable if you want guidance and accountability
Confidentiality & trust: Your home is a personal space and you may want support with managing confidential matters. It’s essential to work with someone who respects your privacy and knows how to manage your personal information correctly
Reviews & recommendations: Check their website for testimonials, Google Reviews or ask friends if they’ve used a service they’d recommend.

Not all organisers work in the same way, so it’s important to find someone who aligns with your needs and personality.

The Association of Professional Declutterers & Organisers (APDO) is the UK body for the UK home organising industry. APDO members follow a code of ethics, are insured to work in your home and invest in their professional development, so you can trust they will be professional and respectful.

How to Find a Professional Organiser

If you’re ready to bring in expert support and want help finding the right organiser, the best place to start is the APDO members directory.

You’ll find details of the organisers covering your area and most have websites showcasing their work. You might also wish to sign-up for emails to get to know them.

How Can OrganisedWell Support Your Home Organising Goals?

I don’t just love to organise, I think it’s well worth the investment to make your life easier and save precious time to spend on what’s important to you.

Your home doesn’t need to be perfect, and you’re not doing it “wrong” if your home doesn’t look like a show home all the time (or at all!).

I’m here to support you to create the home that works for you and your family, to make your days feel easier and reduce the effort needed to manage everything on your plate.

‘…once it was done everything felt simple and ordered and is honestly life changing’. – Alice

Every organiser is different, but if you choose to work with me you’ll find that I’ll work with you in a calm, down-to-earth way to:

Clear your space and your head: Make space for what matters by letting go of what you no longer need
Set up easy-to-maintain systems: We’ll find practical solutions that fit your preferences and how you live, so your things are easy to access and tidy away
Adjust your mindset: Consider different ideas for managing your things that meet your needs whilst also supporting your goals

I know everyone’s situation is different. My services are always shaped around your needs, with sensitivity, pragmatism and a focus on making your home work for you.

OrganisedWell’s Services

I help families across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and surrounding areas (and across the UK virtually) to create calmer, more organised homes. My sessions enable us to work together in different ways to fit your lifestyle and preferences:

Hands-On Organising Support: I’ll visit your home and work side-by-side with you to declutter and organise your space. Sessions typically last 4 hours and fit neatly between school drop-off and pick-up
Organised For You: I’ll organise areas of your home for you, such as kitchen, wardrobe or garage, while you work or tend to other tasks
Virtual Organising Support: Great for anyone who prefers remote support for planning and accountability. We discuss your goals and challenges, create step-by-step plans and have regular check-ins
Student Organising: Helping young people get organised, create space to study and live, and feel confident living independently. I also support student accommodation moves

Find out more about my organising services here.

‘Laura really is one of a kind and has taught me so much already’ – Lindsay

Why Do People Love Working With OrganisedWell?

Clients often tell me they feel lighter, motivated and more hopeful after working with me. I’m known for my gentle, no-judgement approach and the real, lasting change I help people achieve.

Here’s what one client had to say:

‘Her clear mind stopped me getting caught up in the indecisions about what to do with the dreaded ‘stuff’ and her fresh approach helped to inform new ways of organising things. She was completely and utterly non-judgemental and asked sensible questions where needed without any sense of prying’ – Harriet

Having Systems That Work Means:

Fewer lost items, less stress and less decision fatigue
Calmer mornings and a brighter feeling when you return home after a busy day
A lighter and more peaceful home environment

Systems give my clients back precious time and headspace and can also provide their children helpful routines.

And importantly, having a clutter-free, organised home contributes to a greater sense of wellbeing.

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Feel More Organised and in Control

Decluttering isn’t just about releasing things – it’s about creating a home that feels calm, functional, and easy to manage.

Whether you’re organising a family home, helping a student settle into uni life, or managing a big change, I’m here to support you every step of the way.

‘I would recommend Laura to any mum of young children that just needs a little help to become more organised’. – Sarah

Are you ready to feel more in control at home? Book your free enquiry call now and let’s talk about how I can help.

How Home Organising Can Improve Your Mental Health

Mental Health Awareness Month is the perfect time to consider how an organised home can support your wellbeing

You might not realise it, but the piles of paper, overflowing wardrobes and cluttered surfaces don’t just frustrate you and waste your time —they can affect your mental health. Research shows that our physical environment can have a direct impact on our emotional wellbeing.

But the good news is; creating a more organised home doesn’t have to be overwhelming—and the benefits are worth it.

The Science Behind Clutter and Stress

Clutter doesn’t just make it harder to find things – it changes how we feel. Studies show that a cluttered environment can lead to increased levels of cortisol, the hormone associated with stress.

Researchers at UCLA’s Center on Everyday Lives of Families found that women who described their homes as “cluttered” experienced elevated cortisol levels. Interestingly, men in the same study made no mention of and were not affected by the state of the spaces.

A Princeton University study discovered that physical clutter competes for our attention, reducing performance and increasing stress. In essence, our brain is not good at blocking out clutter as objects compete for our attention. The mess around us makes it harder for our brains to filter out the distractions, causes fatigue over time and makes it difficult to function effectively.

So when we create order in our environment, our brain no longer needs to work overtime just to function. Less clutter means greater calm, clarity, and mental energy.

Why Decluttering Feels Emotionally Lighter

Many of my clients tell me that they feel a sense of emotional release after decluttering – ‘like a weight has been lifted’. That’s because our belongings often carry emotional weight. They may remind us of unfinished tasks, unresolved decisions, or even personal loss.

Decluttering is more than just throwing things away—it’s about making peace with what we no longer serves us and giving ourselves permission to let go. That emotional shift creates real relief.

The physical act of organising and making decisions about what to keep often sparks a sense of accomplishment. these actions help build build confidence and lift your mood. Clearing space in your home clears space in your mind too.

“Laura helped me to think straight as we tackled my kitchen together. Her clear mind stopped me getting caught up in the indecisions about what to do with the dreaded ‘stuff’.” — Harriet Hanmer

The Power of Organising and Creating Order

Decluttering is just the beginning. Once you clear the excess, home organising brings lasting results by creating systems that make it easier to find, use, and put away your belongings.

When you assign a home for every item and develop clear routines, you reduce daily decision fatigue. Fewer choices mean less visual clutter and less mental effort, freeing up brainpower for more important things.

An organised home promotes calm. You stop wasting energy looking for things or battling chaos. Instead, your environment supports you. It helps your day flow more smoothly and brings a sense of structure and stability.

Organising gives you back control. It reduces stress, sharpens your focus, and fosters a calmer, more positive mindset. That’s why it’s such a powerful support for your mental wellbeing.

The Benefits of Home Organising:

Efficiency – you can find what you need when you need it
Save time – you don’t have to waste time looking for things or moving things out of the way to get things done. You also have less stuff to tidy up, clean, maintain…
Save money – no need to buy duplicates of the things you can’t find!
Reduce decision fatigue as you don’t have to make as many decisions
Reduce stress and guilt caused by your stuff
Improved focus – you have less visual distraction and less unfinished business
Calmer, positive environment – has a positive effect on your mood and mindset
More confidence – in your ability to cope with your priorities

A Calmer Home for a Calmer Mind

Home organising isn’t just about having a tidy house—it’s a form of self-care that can have a significant impact on your mental health. When you clear clutter and set up systems to make life easier, you create a space that helps you feel calmer, more in control, and supported by your surroundings. When your home works for you, your mind can rest.

If you’re looking to take the next step, here are some other blog posts you might enjoy:

Each one offers practical tips and gentle encouragement to help you move forward—at your own pace.

Are You Ready to Feel Calmer at Home?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your space or unsure where to start, I’d love to help. Whether you’re tackling a single room or your whole home, we can work together to create order and calm that lasts.

Book your free Enquiry Call today and take the first step toward a more peaceful home and mind.

Eco-friendly Home Organising Tips for Earth Day

I know you want to be organised at home but you also want to do your bit to reduce your household’s impact on the environment. There are so many things we ‘should’ or ‘could’ be doing, but the practicalities can be difficult to manage when also juggling the demands of daily family life.

Clutter can soon build up when we want to dispose, recycle and donate items in an environmentally responsible way, but are unable to find manageable methods. Common barriers to organising our homes include;

where to give away quality items that we no longer need or love;
how to recycle the numerous items that aren’t accepted in curb-side collections;
and what to do with things that could be repurposed, such as the postage packaging that enters our homes on a regular basis.

We want to avoid saving things that ‘could potentially’ be re-purposed, repaired, recycled in future. Whilst good-intentioned, this approach clutters up our home and the items will be wasted anyway.

The good news is, it is possible to organise our home to be a little more eco-friendly. We need to be intentional about what we want to do to make our household eco-friendly, considerate of what we can reasonably manage; and take some action, no matter how small it may feel.

How Can I Make a Difference to the Environment?

It’s not easy to manage the competing demands of an environmentally responsible lifestyle with your household needs. I’m not suggesting that you should recycle at all costs to your home, time, stress levels. It’s a balance, and you don’t have to be perfect to make a differences. Every little thing you can do to reduce the impact of your household on the environment is a good thing.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. – Theodore Roosevelt

Your family, lifestyle and energy will change over time so you can adapt your approach as things ebb and flow. Think about what you can realistically manage in this phase and put in place arrangements to allow you to manage it as effortlessly as possible.

How Can I be Organised and Eco Friendly at Home?

When we decided to be as eco-friendly as possible in our house, we had to decide what we could manage. For a while we collected mini baby bel wrappers in the hope that we could recycle them, but it was too difficult to find a local outlet for them. Now our compromise is to recycle the film part with soft plastics.

It took some thought and planning to work out how to store the things we are able to recycle/re-purpose. To make it easy for you, I’m sharing my quick environmentally friendly home organising ideas to implement in your home for this Earth Day.

Simplify Household Management:

Reduce food packaging – buy fruit, veg, meats and fish from your local shops or ‘Too Good to Waste’ boxes from Lidl. These often come with little or no packaging. If this is not practical for your household, you might like to try a veg box delivery service such as OddBox or buy or save food items using the Olio app
Recycle Food packaging – If you struggle to wash your food packaging for recycling; pop it in the dishwasher when you do a load. It might shrink a little, but it will come out clean and ready to go into the recycling bin. *
Soft plastics – place a bin or bag in the kitchen to capture films, bags and other soft plastics. When full, pop into your shopping bag ready to drop at the supermarket
Paper, cardboard, plastics, tins – Place small recycling bins next to waste bins in the kitchen, bathroom and where ever you open post. This will help you to separate recycling at source and you can then easily pop them in your wheelie bin for curb-side collection
Share postage packaging – boxes, bubble wrap and other packaging can be re-used but you may not have the need or space to store it. Check Packshare to find local small businesses who can re-use your packaging
Contact lenses and packaging – if your household use contact lenses you’ll know it can generate a lot of waste. Keep a small bin in the bathroom for contact lense waste and drop at your local opticians store or post to Vision Direct
Glass – have a glass recycling bin in the kitchen or a container outside in a shed/garage to store until curb-side collection day
Old batteries – keep a glass or plastic food container for old batteries (tape the ends of ensure that batteries can’t touch ends and cause sparks). Drop these off at local shops offering recycling or at your local household recycling centre
Bathroom products – Designate a container to store old toothpaste tubes, and toiletries and makeup packaging, and when full drop off at your local supermarket or Boots recycling point (you can even sign up to receive Boots Ad Card points when you recycle)
Medicine blister packs – if you use medicines and vitamins, designate a box or bag for empty packs and drop-off at your local Boots or Superdrug pharmacy for recycling
Other household items – check the Terracycle website to find local recycling points for other items you might recycle

Eco-friendly Decluttering:

Remember, when decluttering, you want to remove items from your home within a day of doing your declutter, if you can. If not, schedule a date and time to move them on soon. You don’t want your decluttered items to become clutter by hanging around your home or car boot for months.

Decluttering Clothes:

Clothes donations/sharing – Donate at charity shops, clothing schemes such as Sharewear, a local clothing bank if out of hours, or use websites such as Freecycle, Freegle, Facebook marketplace or Olio to share items locally for free
Textile recycling – charities can sell damaged items as rags. Label these and drop at a charity shop or household recycling centre
Items to sell – this has to be worth your while (do a search to check for high value, in-demand items), take photos immediately and diarise a deadline by which you will donate if not sold. Find a temporary home for these items whilst they are up for sale so that they don’t clutter your home

Decluttering Linens and Towels:

Bedlinen – can be donated or recycled as per clothes above
Blankets and towels – can be donated or recycled as above. Also vets, animal shelters and pet groomers often accept old towels and/or blankets
Pillows and duvets – Dunelm’s Textile take-back scheme accepts pillows and duvets

Decluttering Electricals, metals and cables:

Donate old computers, printers, tablets – search online for schemes that can refurbish and distribute old equipment to schools in the UK or abroad. Ensure that you remove old personal data from your machines before passing them on
Games consoles and games – companies that resell these include Computer Exchange, Ziffit and Music Magpie. Check their websites to see if yours is accepted
Old mobile phones – some old mobile phones can be sold to the above companies (remember to remove your old personal data). Alternatively household recycling centres will take old tech and break them down into their component materials
Metals, electricals, cables, old tech – keep a jar or box in a cupboard to gather together bits and bobs for the household recycling centre. Factory reset, and/or remove and smash up computer hard drives to remove any personal data.

Damaged Items:

Broken jewellery, clothes, electricals, etc – your local repair café may be able to help repair items and prolong their life – find out about Beeston Repair Café here, check Eventbrite or your local news

How Can Storage be Eco-friendly?

Re-use containers you have at home – for example old food containers are great as first aid boxes, for handy DIY tools or stationary equipment. Shoe boxes make great drawer dividers for underwear
Re-purpose boxes – mobile phone boxes and small packaging are great to help keep drawers tidy and stop contents flying around
Buy storage for a specific purpose and choose quality that will last. Wait until you have decluttered an area and understand what you need to store and the space you want to organise, rather than buying storage before you start. Ensure you measure the space and the items you intend to store so that the area is fit for purpose and lasts.

If you’d like advice to organise your home to support your household whilst reducing your environmental impact, I’m here to help.

Book a Free Enquiry Call with Laura

Find out more about OrganisedWell Home Organising Services here.

5 Practical Strategies for a Stress-Free Christmas Season

Are you looking forward to Christmas as we head into the last months of the year, feeling calm and in control, or are you starting to feel the pressure?

Christmas can be a special time of year where we slow down, recognise the year that has past, give thanks, spend time with family, sing carols, watch favourite movies, eat turkey with all the trimmings, and enjoy cheeky drinks with friends.

It can be exciting, and magical, especially if you have children… but it can also feel very stressful if you are trying to do it all. It’s tempting to feel like we have to create the perfect Christmas for everyone, full of wonderful memories, treats and fun!

If you are trying to do it all, it can feel overwhelming. You deserve to enjoy yourself too, to relax, have a good time and be present to enjoy time with loved ones. You don’t want to reach Christmas Eve frazzled and stressed out!

If you are feeling the pressure, these Christmas preparation tips will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed this season.

1. Take a pause!

Doing more and working late into the night may get you there eventually but it will burn you out in the process, making you stressed and taking the enjoyment out of it for you and your family. So make a little time to stop and take a breath, perhaps take yourself off to a café or for a walk so that you can get some headspace. It may feel counter intuitive but pausing will actually make you more focused and productive.

2. Make lists

Write out of everything that is spinning around in your head; to do lists; gifts lists; Christmas cards to write; events to attend, food shopping – get everything out of your head. Then let it go. You don’t need to remember everything now that’s it’s captured and you can focus on the most important.

Whilst I use my phone a lot, when I feel overwhelmed, I find it helps to write everything down on paper to get it out of my head and keep track of it all. So I’ve created the Ultimate Calm Christmas planner which includes checklists, key dates and ideas to help you stay organised this Christmas. Download your free copy here.

3. Strategise

It may not be possible to do everything you would like to do in the time available and it will stress you out trying. No-one wants you to reach Christmas a frazzled mess so you need to be strategic. Think carefully about what is most important to you this Christmas – for example, it might be spending time with family, meeting friends, taking a break or making time for community. Now go through your lists and prioritise. Pick out the things that align with what’s most important and down-grade those that don’t – if you don’t get to these it’s ok (cross them off if you are really feeling ruthless!)

The best thing you can do if it all feels overwhelming is stop for a moment. Refocus and think about what’s important. Remember…

‘Less is more’ – Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

4. Be efficient with your time

Block time in your diary for events and meet ups, along with time to shop, cook and take other actions. This will give you visibility so that you can adjust your plans according to your priorities and energy levels.

Save energy by choosing gifts that are easier for you to manage; gift vouchers for experiences and treats that friends and family wouldn’t normally get for themselves. You could bulk-bake biscuits or other treats (handmade goods are always special), send e-cards instead of physical cards or make a donation to charity instead of sending Christmas cards. I share lots of other ideas in my Ultimate Calm Christmas planner).

5. Do it your way

Christmas is a big deal, particularly for retailers; more than 20% of sales are made in the month leading up to Christmas. Marketeers work super hard to sell us the best Christmas décor, foods, gifts, activities and events. But don’t be pressured to do, be and buy everything; create the Christmas that works for you.

Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

Get your Free copy of my ultimate Calm Christmas Planner