Why Simplicity is the 2020 Holiday Gift You Didn't Know You Needed

"It's the most wonderful time of the year! There'll be parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and caroling out in the snow."

When I first hear this iconic Christmas song bellowing through the air, I get giddy with holiday glee. My adrenaline goes on auto-pilot as I begin plotting and planning how I'll wow my family and friends with another decked-out season.

Well, not this year. Things are drastically different. None of us could've ever imagined that when we welcomed 2020, we were actually embarking on one of the most unprecedented years of our lifetime.

There's no doubt that 2020 has pushed families to the limits of their endurance, which is why I want to take some time to focus on one bright spot—simplicity. In fact, simplicity may just be the one holiday gift you didn't even know you needed this year.

"Spark Real Joy" and let go of the everyday madness

I remember my days as a stay-at-home mom when my eight kids were younger. I loved my kids, but I felt so cooped up and desperately wanted to spend time with people I didn't have to change and feed. And since I didn't get out often, I remember how draining it was to be surrounded by endless piles of toys and other paraphernalia.

Many families have embraced organizing and purging clutter as a way to bring peace to their home environments despite the chaos outside.

Now that we're cooped up for reasons other than having to manage young children, many families have embraced organizing and purging clutter as a way to bring peace to their home environments despite the chaos outside.

Millions of people worldwide—myself included—fell in love with Marie Kondo by reading her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, or watching her star in the Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. With eight kids, the amount of claptrap our family managed was unthinkable. Then I followed the KonMari method, which mandates that you only keep the items that bring you joy. Her approach is unlike any other decluttering process because you create a vision for your ideal lifestyle before you begin. The KonMari method is category-based, not a room-by-room approach. Her philosophy of only keeping things that "spark real joy" is a fantastic concept.

Once you let go of the extra "stuff" in your life, you automatically make room for clean energy and happiness. Simplifying your everyday surroundings will help spark joy and fuel a...

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