Declutter Your Holiday with A Stop Doing List


I first heard about the stop doing list from one of my favorite podcasters, Ruth Soukup. It’s the exact opposite of the to-do list, which makes it a planner’s delight and a big huge relief at the very same time! If you love checking items off your list, but you feel a little overwhelmed by all there is to do in December, then declutter your holiday with a Stop Doing List.
Here’s what’s on my stop doing list this month:
#1: Making pie
Met Market makes a better pie than I do, and that’s ok. We all have our strengths. This year, if I’m asked to bring a pie, I will buy it. I will have a dressing drink before my holiday gatherings and listen to Nat King Cole instead of slaving over flour and iced cold water and curls of butter. This year, my biggest pie dilemma will be deciding between coconut crème and salted caramel apple. Someday, I might have the time and energy to make a homemade crust, and cut little holly shapes in the dough, but not today!
#2: Doing an elaborate advent calendar
For Christians, advent is a reminder that God is with us. I love that reminder. What I don’t love is that it has somehow turned into a tradition of giving kids a toy every day from December 1 until Christmas eve. No thank you!
Right before my oldest son was born, when my sentimentality was the highest and I was the most hormonal, I made an elaborate Advent calendar that contains 24 origami boxes, which I folded and fastened to a canvas, and tied with ribbon. As you can imagine motherhood was quite a shock to me. I made this advent calendar thinking that I’d put something festive to do inside each one: make hot cocoa, or go look at Christmas lights, or I’d include a Bible verse. These are all things I’d like to do anyway, but this year we will do them spontaneously rather setting the bar that we will do something festive each day. It’s too much festiveness! This year that advent calendar will stay packed away, and I’ll think of it fondly, and be happy it’s not something I have to manage.
#3: Feeling like you need to throw a holiday party
Notice I didn’t say “throw a holiday party.” Each year I “feel like” I should throw a holiday party, and often I don’t do it, and I feel guilty. This year, I’m going to let it go. Instead, I’m going to really enjoy the parties that other people host, and I’ll jovially bring along my store-bought pie.
#4: Making a handmade gift for the neighbors
Most years, I do like making granola, cookies, or jam for the neighbors. There’s something old fashioned about giving neighbors something handmade that feels nice and in the spirit of the season. This year, I had everything all ready to go to make cute little mason jar snow globes with bottle brush trees, and I just dropped the ball. I had surgery last week and I’m still recovering from it. All the ingredients for this project are sitting in my art supply closet, but I can’t manage it this year. Instead I’ll take the items back to the store when I can, and send a Christmas card instead. Sometimes it’s okay to let things go in favor of taking care of yourself.
What’s on your stop doing list? Post a comment and let me know! I hope this inspires you to unclutter your holiday list and take good care.
With heart,
Laure
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Laura
Hi Lauren,
My name is Laura, and I live in Portland Oregon. I just found your blog a couple of weeks ago, so I’ve been reading non-stop to catch up on all of your posts that I’ve missed. First of all, I just LOVE your blog! Your whole style of writing and organizing really speaks to me, and I find your posts very inspiring. For the first time in several weeks, since I lost my mother, I actually feel inspired to pick up the pieces and move forward with what I was trying to do before she died. And I thank your for that.
My sister Diane happens to be best friends with your mother-in-law who I love so much since I was a little girl. Diane Rukke Shea has been a very special “sister” to me for many years, and I can imagine how fun it must be to have her and her sense of creativity as a part of you and your little one’s lives.
I really wish you were in Portland so I could hire you to help me realize my goals for my blog, my writing, and my life-long passion of being a homemaker.
Those goals have really taken a dive since my mothers death, and I’m starting to feel an actual spark to pull it all together again since I found your blog!
In the mean time, I will continue to read your blog, and try to put your very inspiring ideas into place!
Laura Miceli
Lauren Fink-Shea
Hi Laura,
Thank you so much for your kind words about my blog! I’m so glad it speaks to you! I’m sorry to hear you lost your mom recently. I’ll reach out, via email, for a longer note to you.