How to Embrace Simple Living After the Holidays: 6 Easy Tips
Embrace simple living after the holidays with tips for slowing down, decluttering, and creating peace in your home. Discover how to prioritize rest and balance in the new year.
The holiday season is a whirlwind of festivities, gatherings, and to-do lists. While it’s filled with joy, it can also leave us feeling drained and overwhelmed. As the new year begins, it’s the perfect time to step back, embrace slower days, and find balance in your life. Simple living after the holidays is about creating space for rest, peace, and meaningful moments.
Here’s how to slow down and embrace a more intentional pace in the weeks following the holiday rush.
1. Prioritize Rest and Recovery
After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, your mind and body need time to recover. Instead of rushing into new goals or obligations, allow yourself to rest and recharge.
Ways to prioritize rest:
- Schedule downtime into your day, even if it’s just 15 minutes to enjoy a cup of tea or read a book.
- Focus on getting quality sleep by maintaining a consistent bedtime and limiting screen time before bed.
- Practice gentle self-care, like taking a warm bath or going for a slow walk in nature.
Rest is not wasted time—it’s an essential part of finding balance and renewing your energy. It’s essential to pursuing simple living after the holidays.
2. Declutter Your Space
A cluttered home can contribute to mental overwhelm. Post-holiday is the perfect time to clear out the excess and create a more peaceful environment.
Decluttering tips:
- Start with small areas, like a countertop or drawer, to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
- Donate items you no longer need or love, especially holiday decor you didn’t use this year.
- Simplify your decor to create a calm and welcoming atmosphere.
A decluttered space promotes relaxation and sets the tone for slower, more intentional days.
Ready to Simplify Your Home?
If you’re feeling inspired to start fresh after the holidays, join my 7-Day Decluttering Challenge! This free challenge is designed to help you tackle one area of your home each day, creating more peace and simplicity along the way. It’s the perfect way to kick off a simpler, more intentional new year. Sign up for the waitlist here.
3. Simplify Your Schedule
One of the best ways to embrace simple living is by being intentional about how you spend your time. Resist the urge to fill your calendar with obligations and instead leave room for unstructured moments. The holidays are often the busiest time of the year with gatherings, gift exchanges, and parties, but to truly enjoy simple living after the holidays it is essential to embrace a simplified schedule.
Tips for simplifying your schedule:
- Say “no” to activities that don’t align with your values or current season of life.
- Block out time for things that bring you joy, like family dinners or hobbies.
- Create a daily rhythm that prioritizes rest and productivity in balance.
Slowing down allows you to focus on what truly matters and eliminates the stress of overcommitment.
4. Create a Cozy, Peaceful Home
Your home should be a sanctuary where you can unwind and feel at peace. After the holidays, take time to make your space cozy and inviting.
Ideas for creating a peaceful home:
- Add soft textures like throw blankets and pillows to your living spaces.
- Incorporate warm lighting with candles or lamps for a calming ambiance.
- Play soothing music or nature sounds to enhance the atmosphere.
- Keep your favorite warm beverages, like herbal tea or cocoa, easily accessible.
A cozy home encourages slower, more restorative days.
Once the twinkling lights are down, and the festive decorations are packed away, the house can seem bare and cold. I encourage you to lean into this winter season and enjoy the fresh start winter often brings. This is a great time to look at nature for inspiration for your decor. It may seem bare and sparse, but there’s so much beauty in this season too.
5. Embrace Intentional Practices
Simple living is about focusing on what’s most meaningful and letting go of what doesn’t serve you. Adopting intentional practices can help you savor the slower pace of life.
Intentional practices to try:
- Start a gratitude journal to reflect on the blessings in your life.
- Practice mindfulness by being fully present in your daily activities. (In other words, stop trying to multitask and put down your phone!)
- Spend time outdoors, even if it’s just a short walk, to connect with nature and reset your mind.
- Limit time on social media and instead engage in meaningful offline activities, like reading or crafting.
These small practices can make a big difference in helping you find balance and joy in the everyday.
6. Reevaluate Your Priorities
The start of a new year is an excellent time to reflect on your values and realign your priorities. Ask yourself:
- What brings the most peace and joy to my life?
- Are there commitments or habits I need to let go of?
- How can I simplify my routines to create more space for rest and connection?
By focusing on what matters most, you’ll naturally embrace a slower, more fulfilling pace.
Final Thoughts
Embracing simple living after the holidays is a gift to yourself and your family. By prioritizing rest, simplifying your space and schedule, and practicing intentional living, you can find peace and balance in the quieter season. Simple living isn’t about perfection; it’s about creating a life that feels meaningful and manageable.
Take a deep breath, savor the stillness, and let the post-holiday season be a time of renewal and contentment.
