Post-Holiday Chaos?

Here’s the 15-Minute Fix

There’s a very specific moment after the holidays when the house feels… off.

Not dirty exactly. Just heavy. A little cluttered. Like the energy never quite came back down after everyone left.

The good news? You don’t need a full day, a storage bin overhaul, or a sudden personality shift into “ultra-organized person” to fix it. You just need about 15 minutes—and the right order of operations.

Because when it comes to resetting your home after the holidays, what you put away first matters more than how much you put away.

Here’s a simple, realistic reset you can do even if you’re still tired and living on leftovers.

Start Here: The Visual Noise

Before you touch a single storage bin, deal with the things that are visually loud.

These are the items that make your space feel chaotic even if everything else is fine.

Put away first:

• Extra throw pillows and blankets that were added “just for company”

• Decorative trays, signs, or seasonal knickknacks on counters and tables

• Centerpieces that have served their purpose (yes, even the pretty one)

You don’t have to put them in their final storage spot. Just get them out of sight. A closet, a basket, or a spare room works for now.

Immediate payoff: the room feels calmer within minutes.

Next: The Flat Surfaces

Flat surfaces are sneaky. When they’re cluttered, your brain stays busy—even if you’re not consciously thinking about it.

Do a quick sweep of:

• Kitchen counters

• Dining table

• Entryway console

• Coffee table

You’re not organizing. You’re clearing.

Mail goes in one pile. Decor goes in another. Random items get a temporary home. The goal is to give your eyes somewhere to rest.

If you only did this step and stopped, your house would already feel 50% better.

Then: The “We’ll Deal With It Later” Items

You know the ones.

The extra serving dishes.

The backup paper towels.

The beverage stash that multiplied overnight.

These items tend to linger long after the holidays are over, quietly taking up space and making everyday routines harder.

Put away:

• Extra dishes and serving ware

• Hosting supplies you don’t use weekly

• Overflow food items (or at least consolidate them)

This step restores function—not just aesthetics.

Save This for Last: Seasonal Decor

This surprises people, but seasonal décor doesn’t actually need to be first on your list.

Why? Because it’s usually contained and intentional. The mess around it is what’s draining your energy.

When you do get to décor:

• Group like items together before storing

• Label the bin if you have the energy (future you will be grateful)

• Don’t overthink perfect organization—“good enough” counts

If 15 minutes runs out before you finish, stop anyway. Progress beats burnout.

The Final 2-Minute Reset

If you have a couple minutes left, do one small thing that makes your home feel lived-in again instead of hosted-in.

Ideas:

• Light a candle you actually use

• Put one everyday blanket back on the couch

• Open a window for fresh air

• Reset the entryway so it works for you, not guests

This step signals that the holidays are over—and normal life is back (in the best way).

The Big Picture

A reset doesn’t mean erasing the holidays. It just means reclaiming your space.

Fifteen focused minutes, in the right order, can shift the entire mood of your home. And that’s often all it takes to feel like yourself again.

No marathon cleaning.

No perfection.

Just a calm, intentional reset.

You’ve got this.

— Annie