To Tree or Not to Tree and Other Decorating Decisions

How much decorating for the holidays feels right for you and your family?

As I drive around the neighborhood, I see homes so decorated that I wonder how they get in through the front door and if they had to remortgage their home to pay for their light bill. I also see homes that have no decorations at all.

I never do a lot of holiday decorating but for the Christmas season I do the most. How much I do each year changes according to what is happening in my life.

I know that much of the reason that I decorate as much as I do comes from my mother who always decorated in anticipation of her family coming home for the holidays. She would always look for that perfect tree – even going from lot to lot until the right one spoke to her. They were usually as huge as the house would hold. I can remember my father having to use twine tied to window frames to hold some of them upright. One year I remember a small fence around the base to keep my younger sister from pulling on it.

I have always had a live Christmas tree. One year after my last husband died in ’96 I decided that I did not want to put up a tree. My grown sons felt differently and helped me put up that tree and I was glad that they did.  And so again this year after my husband’s death, with one of my son’s help, I have put up the tree with the lights. And today a friend stopped by to visit and together we put the ornaments on the tree. I am enjoying the cheerful presence of the tree in my living room.

 I have one client who has over the years gone from all out decorating to not wanting to do anything this year. She has told me that in the past she often decorated for the children who lived next door and now they have moved away. I coaxed her this year to put up a small artificial tabletop tree in her living room and a few lights on her railing outside her house. She tells me that she is happy to have those lights in the evening when she comes home from work.

I have had other clients who have complained to me about the effort of decorating and then putting things away again. Sometimes they just go out and buy new decorations rather than making the effort of bringing down and unboxing what they have used before.

If you are rethinking about how much decorating you want to do this year, I suggest that you think about your “why”.

Are you decorating because:

·        you have always done it – it’s a family tradition

·        it is expected by others

·        it lifts your spirits

·        you feel it gives joy to others when they pass your house

·        there are spiritual connections to many of your decorations

If you have always decorated and now don’t want to decorate, also know your “why”.

Are you not decorating because:

·        you are super busy, and you would just rather enjoy other’s decorations

·        you plan to be gone most of the Christmas time so why bother

·        you have recently had a traumatic experience and the whole idea just depresses you

I like the quote from the minimalists who say, “If it gets in the way of the holidays, it’s holiday clutter.”

Once you know what is motivating you in making your decorating decisions, then feel good about what you are doing and carry on.

This year I am decorating but not as much as in years past. In past years I have often given a December party and want decorations up for the party. It’s been many years since I have had any family visit except for one of my sons. So, this year the decorations are there for my enjoyment and for my spiritual connection. I also feel that the outside lights on the holly bush lift the spirits of the people traveling past my house in the dark, especially the school buses.

Jonda S. Beattie, Professional Organizer owner of Time Space Organization, and co-owner of Release, Repurpose, Reorganize. She is based in the Metro-Atlanta area. As presenter, award-winning author, as well as a retired special education teacher she uses her listening skills, problem solving skills, knowledge of different learning techniques, ADHD specialty, and paper management skills to help clients tackle the toughest organizational issues. Jonda does hands on organizing and virtual organizing. For more of Jonda’s tips connect with her on Facebook.