Add This Tradition to Your Holidays

Pssssst! It Won’t Cost You a Dime!

Have you heard of Boxing Day? (Besides seeing it noted on the calendar?) My little organizer heart went pitter patter when I discovered this old tradition rooted in the UK. Initially, it was a day for servants and the poor to receive boxes of goods or money. (My mind goes to the Downton Abbey Christmas episode.)

The tradition has been modernized and morphed into post-Christmas sales (like we need any more stuff!) and what I like to focus on, post-Christmas cleanup and giving back to your community.

Boxing Day is an excellent way to declutter while blessing others with your donations. I love how this aligns so well with the challenges of and strengths of ADHD as well because it is a short, concise goal with plenty of feel-good hormones still lingering from Christmas (hopefully!).

Boxing Day and Decluttering are Like Peanut Butter and Jelly

A match made in organizer heaven. They just go together and deliver more feel goods.

If you are already practicing the One-In-One-Out rule, you are already a pro at this. Got a new shirt? Purge the tired one you’ve been hanging on to (but still don’t wear.)

It’s also a great time to capitalize on the holiday excitement. Riding the wave makes it easier to part with items that no longer “spark joy” as Marie Kondo puts it.

Bonus! You will not find a quicker weight loss plan. Oh wait, I’m not talking about removing the consequences of a month of making merry so your jeans fit better. Nah. But you can tell your friends at work later how you lost 100 pounds in a day.

Quick and Not-So-Dirty Declutter Project

The key to keeping the fun in this activity is to keep it small and focused. I understand as an ADHDer, it’s easy to catch a wind in your sails and start stirring up other organizing projects. For example, you start on thinning out the kids’ toys, but now you’re neck deep in the garage and feeling completely overwhelmed.

Put your blinders on and pick one category or space. A toy box, clothing closet, laundry area. Note I’m not saying a room. Remember the purpose of this fun with the ultimate goal of blessing others.

I don’t recommend my usual four-box method either. Keep-but move to a better space, trash (“Go See Jesus Box”, in Theresa parlance), “think-about” (Pooh Bear Box), and the donate box, which for today, will be The Blessing Box.

And that is the one box you will fill today-The Blessing Box. You are focusing on things to donate. Doesn’t that sound easier?

If you get inspired while you’re filling it, sure, feel free to purge or organize other things but not at the expense of causing overwhelm. If it’s helpful, jot down ideas and action plans for later.

You may find it helpful to use another one of my favorite organizing tools-a timer. But this is streamlined declutter so keep time lengths short and sweet. Especially if the kids are in on it. Make it a game! How many things can you find for the Blessing Box in five minutes?

A Word of Caution

Because these items are destined for a thrift shop or agencies that provide items for family at no cost, make certain your items are lightly used and clean. There is a shockingly small amount of thrift store donations that will actually end up on the sales floor-only about 20% or so. The rest will end up going abroad or to the landfill.

I was surprised at this but then again, when I look at some of the crap, and yes, I mean CRAP people drop off, I shake my head. Crusty waffle irons, lidless Tupperware, clothes in need of mending, etc, you get the idea. This includes things like “It’s just so nice it only needs a new cord, or buttons, or…” Nah. Part with it. Or give it directly to someone who would happily use it and have the skills to make the minor repairs.

It is More Blessed to Give Than to Receive

Blessing Box filled, pause and enjoy the warm fuzzies. If you wish to take things a step further, deliver your box of goodies to the charity. Just a slight aside, we learned of a small boutique hotel that was upgrading their pillows and offering pillows to their employees. There was still a massive amount of pillows left over, several huge boxes worth. And they were destined for the dumpster.

We contacted a local homeless shelter, thinking it was a long shot given hygiene concerns with used pillows. But these were in clean and in great condition.

They were thrilled and gratefully accepted every one. It felt like Christmas (or should I say Boxing Day?) in July.

Also, it can be more fun and meaningful to pick a charity that is dear to your heart. Having had a brother who lived on the streets for several years, I lean toward homeless shelters. Have an autistic child? See if a daycare that focuses on special needs’ kids can use toys. Or perhaps you wish to see if the nursing home that took care of your mom in her final years would appreciate the quilts you no longer use. For these niche agencies, you may enjoy including a plate of baked goods or a pot of Turkey Noodle Soup. Let your creativity and joy be your guide.

Thrift stores aren’t the only options for donations. Community pages on Facebook are a great place to connect with these smaller agencies. Or you can use the “Buy Nothing” group for your city and gift your items to a family in need.

How About You?

I hope I’ve motivated you to implement Boxing Day as a new holiday tradition. It truly kills two birds with one stone: a little decluttering and a lot of goodwill for others. The success you’ve had may even encourage you to tackle the bigger organizing projects you’ve been putting off. Big successes build on small successes.

The benefits you reap are many. Besides a more organized space, you’ve blessed others through your generosity. What a great way to wind down the year. And bonus! Your new year will start less cluttered.

This Boxing Day, let’s make space for what truly matters by giving from the heart and clearing our homes for a brighter, less-cluttered new year!

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