Simple Systems to Create Breathing Room During the Holidays

Holly Blakey
13 minutes ago
4 min read

The holiday season can feel equal parts magical and overwhelming. Between school events, gift lists, travel, hosting, and the everyday load of running a home, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly catching up. This is where simple, sustainable systems can be a lifesaver—especially during a season that asks a lot of us.

These systems aren’t meant to be perfect, complicated, or time-consuming. They’re designed to create breathing room: a little more mental space, a little more physical space, and a little more connection with the people living inside your home.

Below are simple holiday-ready systems your whole family can participate in—each one quick to set up, easy to maintain, and designed to reduce overwhelm so you can actually enjoy the season.

1. The Seasonal Swap Basket

A quick, family-friendly reset to keep winter clutter from piling up.

The holidays bring in so much stuff: gifts, gear, décor, crafts from school, extra layers, and the everyday inflow of life. A Seasonal Swap Basket is an easy way to create order without overthinking it.

How It Works

Grab a medium-size basket and place it somewhere central—near the entry, in the family room, or inside a closet.
Label it “Seasonal Swap.”
Throughout the week, add anything that feels out of season, out of place, or simply not needed right now:
- Fall décor you’re done with
- Halloween crafts
- Lightweight jackets
- Outgrown items
- Random toys that have been outgrown
Once the basket is full, do a 10-minute empty-and-reset: return items where they belong, donate what you’re ready to let go of, and store seasonal items in their proper bins.

Why It Helps

This system creates built-in breathing room. Instead of clutter lingering on counters or floors “until you have time,” you give it a home for now. It keeps your home visually lighter, and your brain calmer because you’re not subconsciously tracking every misplaced item.

2. The “GFD” Bin (Guests-For-Dinner)

The easiest hosting hack—because clutter shouldn’t be the thing keeping you from inviting people in.

Hosting during the holidays can feel intimidating when life gets messy (because it always does). The “GFD” Bin gives you a simple way to create a welcoming space in minutes.

How It Works

Grab a basket with handles (easy to walk around with) —something easy to tuck beside a sofa, console or in the hall closet.
Before guests arrive, do a quick scan of the room.
Toss any visual clutter—random mail, socks, art projects, hair ties, books, fidgets. Especially anything that you're currently working on, that you'll need to grab the next day. (This is not the same thing as a "F-It Basket")
Place it somewhere for the night, with the plan of getting back to all the items the next day – when you have the time and attention to go through it.
Open the door for your guests. You’re done.

Why It Helps

Perfection is not the goal—presence is. The GFD Bin creates instant breathing room without the pressure to deep clean or declutter your entire home. It’s a tool that helps you shift from “I’m behind” to “I’m ready to enjoy my people.”

3. Weekly Reset Tray

A small tray or basket that collects the things that need attention before the week gets too busy.

How It Works

Set a tray on the kitchen counter, mudroom, or living room console.
Throughout the week, add anything that needs a small task: to sign, replace, repair, return, or schedule.
Choose one moment that works for your family—Sunday evening or Monday morning—to go through the tray together.

Why It Helps

This stops micro-tasks from stealing your presence throughout the week. Instead of scattering sticky notes, school forms, mail, and tiny “to-dos” all over the house, they live in one calm landing spot until you’re ready.

4. "F-it" Bin – or for this Season, the "Falalala" Bin :)

A quick, low-pressure routine that keeps chaos from taking over during the busiest month of the year.

How It Works

Set a timer for 5 minutes.
Pick up as many things from common areas and place them in the "F-it" Bin placed centrally between your kid(s) rooms.
If you finish early—stop. This is not a deep clean. It’s a reset.
Let family members know that their items will remain in the bin until it's full – they can retrieve their items when ever they want, but once it's full, the items will be donated.

*the key here is to set ground rules and expectations – they know how the system works since it's clearly explained to them – they have the opportunity to retrieve their items and put them where they belong. But if items aren't claimed, it shows that they aren't wanted/needed which indicates someone else (donation) could use them more.

Why It Helps

During the holidays, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s prevention. Tiny resets a day prevent one giant meltdown later. It keeps your environment feeling calm and leaves more room for cozy moments.

A Final Reminder

Simple systems aren’t about doing more—they’re about doing less, but with intention. When your home has easy rhythms that support you, you feel lighter. More grounded. More open to the magic of the season.