The Surprising Freedom of Owning Less: A Holiday Reflection from a Professional Organizer

Every time I step into a client’s home, I see something familiar...not just the piles of things or the overflowing rooms, but the look in their eyes. The stress. The overwhelm. The silent panic of I don’t even know where to start. It’s like the clutter around them begins to whisper that they’re behind, buried, failing.

And I get it. I truly do.

Because I live in the same culture they live in — the one shouting, all day every day, “Buy this.” “Upgrade that.” “You need this to keep up.” “You’ll be happier if you just get one more thing.” We’re swimming in messages that tell us our joy, our identity, our success is somehow tied to what we own.

But every time I help someone sort through their belongings, I watch something else happen too...

A visible lowering of shoulders.

A deep breath.

A shift that happens somewhere inside them when they realize,

I don’t have to carry all of this.

And that’s why I’ve been reflecting more personally lately, especially as we head into the holiday season where the pressure to accumulate is at its loudest.

The Things That Stress Us Out Were Once “Must-Haves”

Isn’t it interesting that the very items causing us anxiety today…were once exciting? New? Something we just had to have?

I never judge anyone for this — how could I? I’ve been there. We all have. These messages are designed to be loud enough to drown out our instincts.

But once the excitement fades, the objects stay — and they start demanding something from us:

Our space.

Our attention.

Our time.

And eventually… our peace.

Clutter doesn’t show up all at once. It grows quietly, and then one day, it starts to steal from us.

The Hidden Cost of “Stuff”

Here’s something I’ve learned after countless homes:

Every item you own costs more than money.

It costs time — to clean it, store it, move it, think about it.

It costs energy — because everything in your home is something your brain has to process, even subconsciously.

And it costs emotional bandwidth — clutter contributes to cortisol spikes, decision fatigue, and that sinking sense of overwhelm.

So the real question this season isn’t: “Can I afford it?”

It’s: “Do I want this object making a claim on my life later?”

What If Less Is Actually What You’re Longing For?

During the holidays, it’s easy to get swept up in the cycle of giving and receiving things. But when I step back, when I watch clients rediscover their peace in a decluttered space, I can’t help but wonder:

Could it be that the thing we’re actually craving… isn’t another thing?

Could it be that owning less is the quiet desire under the noise?

Could it be that what we really want is space — in our homes, yes, but also in our hearts?

The Joys We Forget

When you clear away the noise, you start to remember the joys that truly make life meaningful:

• Deep relationships

• Our spiritual walk and the quiet moments with God

• The blessing of meaningful work

• The ability to serve others

• Friendship, laughter, connection

  
  

And this season — Christmas — at its core is meant to point our hearts toward something far richer than anything we can wrap. It’s meant to lead us toward Jesus, toward hope, toward light.

And I just want to gently encourage you:

This year, before you buy something “because it’s on sale” or “because everyone has one,” pause for one breath and ask,

“Do I really want this in my life, my space, my world?”

And also ask,

“What would my holidays feel like if I chose simplicity instead?”

Maybe… This Is the Year You Choose Freedom

Minimalism isn’t about deprivation. It’s about liberation.

Less stuff. Less stress. Less noise.

More peace. More presence. More room for what actually matters.

So this Christmas, maybe, the gift you give yourself is permission to step off the hamster wheel of consumption?

Maybe the gift you give your family is a calmer home.

Maybe the gift you give your soul is space to breathe, worship, love, and simply be.

Because owning less isn’t about having an empty house.

It’s about finally having room for a full life.

Merry Christmas, friends!

XOXO Catherine