It's the beginning of November and, let's be honest, everyone has thought about Christmas by now. It's everywhere and, for those of us who like to spread the cost, we may even have been organised enough to buy a couple of bits! (For the record, I've only got a few bits.)
Now, before you switch off and stop reading because you're wondering why this woman is writing about Christmas in November, this isn't actually an article about the festive season. Well, not entirely. It's about something I think is worth doing before we get there: having a good look at everything we own.
I always think autumn is a good time for a little reassessment. Our homes are perhaps starting to accumulate things already, whether that's a few Christmas presents we've picked up, decorations or even that pack of crackers we've bought ready for Christmas Day. And before we add even more, it's quite nice to take stock of what we already have.
I don't mean a huge decluttering exercise or emptying every cupboard in the house. More a little look around and a think about what we actually use, what we've perhaps outgrown and what might be better off finding a new home.
As a family, there are bound to be things we've accumulated over the years that no longer serve the same purpose. Things have been outgrown, things we've replaced or simply things that have been sitting in a cupboard for goodness knows how long. If they're still in good condition, there's every chance someone else could make use of them. And I quite like the idea of passing things on rather than automatically buying something new.
It can also be quite a good way of getting you thinking about Christmas gifts. Is there something we already own that might be just right for someone else? Or perhaps something we've outgrown that could be donated and enjoyed by another family? Not everything has to involve another trip to the shops.
Of course, this isn't to say I'm not looking forward to Christmas. Quite the opposite! I love the little lights glowing in the darkness, the smells of the season, the tree, the mince pies, the nostalgia of having lived these days so many times before, watching the same films goodness knows how many times and, of course, those little faces lighting up with excitement. And Christmas dinner with good company. Come on, doesn't Christmas dinner have to count as one of the best meals of the year?
I do think, though, that we all have our own idea of what Christmas should look like, and I love seeing how differently people celebrate it.
For us, I tend to keep the decorating quite simple. We have a tree with beautiful lights and decorations, along with lovely things we've collected over the years, dotted around the house. Lots of lovely retro lights and little nods to the season, but nothing too over the top.
My brother and his family, on the other hand, like to live it large, with antlers everywhere, multiple trees and the works! And I absolutely love that for them. It's just their way of doing Christmas, as ours is ours.
I think that's part of the fun, really. We all have different tastes, different traditions and different things that make this time of year special. I'm not particularly interested in creating a picture-perfect Christmas, and I don't think we need to get carried away trying to make everything look a certain way. Although, of course, if you love going all out with the decorations, then why not?
I'm also aware that Christmas isn't an easy or particularly happy time for everyone. Loneliness, loss, family circumstances and financial pressures can make this time of year difficult, and I wouldn't want the excitement surrounding Christmas to add to anyone's sense of expectation. We all have our own circumstances, and there's no one way that this time of year needs to look.
Anyway, back to my autumn reassessment!
I find there's something quite satisfying about having a little sort out before the Christmas things start appearing. It doesn't need to be a big job, and it certainly doesn't mean getting rid of things just for the sake of it. It's more about rediscovering what we have and perhaps making a little room for things that are coming.
And who knows, you might even come across something you'd completely forgotten about, which is always interesting!
I've been doing this for a few years now, and I always find it gives me a little more headspace going into the busier months. It helps me feel less overwhelmed, be a bit more intentional about what I buy and, perhaps most importantly, feel more present to enjoy the things that really matter.
So, if you're feeling inspired to have a little autumn reassessment of your own, happy organising!