Spend your holiday break improving daily rituals and start the year with less chaos and more comfort. Think about what you need to get done in a day, and incorporate new ways of accomplishing those tasks for simplicity, efficiency and effectiveness for next year.
Create Morning and Evening Routines with Minimal Steps by preparing the night before — laying out clothes and setting your coffee machine on a timer. Or use multi-purpose products in your skincare and grooming (like 2-in-1 moisturizers or body wash-shampoo combos). Then, set a 10-minute timer before bed for a quick home reset — pick up clutter, wipe surfaces, and straighten pillows.
Streamline Cooking with Meal Planning and Prep by planning weekly meals ahead to avoid last-minute stress. Batch-cook ingredients or meals and store them in portions to save time on busy days. Or use one-pot, crock pot, or sheet-pan meals to cut down on dishes.
Create Zones to Reduce Clutter by organizing frequently used items in “zones” — like a coffee station or entryway drop zone with hooks, bins, and trays for shoes, bags, and keys. And practice the one-minute rule: If a task takes under a minute (like putting away shoes or wiping a spill), do it immediately to prevent a mess from building.
Don’t Forget to Build Relaxation into Daily Rituals by incorporating small moments of self-care, like drinking tea during a break or diffusing essential oils during cleaning. These calming rituals make daily chores feel more enjoyable and reduce stress.