In the midst of year-end and holiday stress, it is still possible to do some decluttering. Here are a couple of strategies used by Nony at http://www.aslobcomesclean.com/2011/12/decluttering/
Forgive me if I've posted these before, but I feel the need for the reminder of a strategy that is still working really well for someone else.
First, do the easy things first. Throw away trash. Put away things that already have a designated home. As Nony says, "Once I get the Easy Stuff out of there, the Hard Stuff isn’t any less hard, but it is less. Meaning the piles are smaller and my despair-level is lower. And the visual progress from removing the Easy Stuff spurs me on to tackle more."
Second, if you have several spots that need help: Prioritize decluttering projects by visibility. You may be tempted to start with a drawer or closet, but once that's done you might not have visible proof of all your hard work. Instead, start with an area that is the first thing that people see when they come into your home. You're less likely to feel good about your perfectly organized closet if you can't find a place to sit to watch a favorite holiday show on tv.
Or you might need to do a lot of cooking for the next family gathering, but that will be hard to do if your kitchen counter looks like mine does right now, a jumbled mess of misc. stuff. It would be easier right now for me to reorganize my sock drawer, and that is a job that is needed, too -- but I will get more value and ease of mind if I make the kitchen counter my priority.
Finally, Nony has only 2 decluttering questions to keep her focused.
"(1) If I needed this item, where would I look for it? (take it there)
"(2) If I needed this item, would it ever occur to me that I already have one? (If not, get rid of it because I’d just buy a new one if I needed it.)"
A side note to the 1st question is that when she says "take it there," she means immediately. Don't collect things in a box or basket to put away later, do it as soon as you pick the thing up. Otherwise, she warns of the tendancy of being interrupted in the job and then ending up with one or more boxes of things that still need to be put away ... someday ...
I have found a lot of useful information and inspiration at Nony's site. Our Focus threads are already into the weeks of home maintenance and holiday preparations, rather than decluttering. However, if you feel the need to do some decluttering as well, please keep the job as quick and easy as you possibly can. No one needs the burden of extra stress in December.