Home Organization on the list for New Year's Resolution?

Why it's just not that simple to tackle those home organization goals.....

Accomplish Your Home Organization Goals

Here we are, a month into 2025 already. And we're well past "Quitters Day." That day is the 2nd Saturday of January if you can believe it. Barely gives someone a chance to get started on their goal for the year. I guess it speaks to how hard it is for us to keep New Years Resolutions?

If you haven't made much progress towards organizing your home, you might be asking yourself, "What is wrong with me? Am I a failure?" Please don't go there! Only about 10% tend to accomplish these resolutions. While many of the struggles to make the changes you resolved to do might be similar, having an organized home can be difficult for many reasons anytime throughout the year.

• Expectations. I certainly love a photo of a pantry or bookshelf sorted by the rainbow. But let's be real here. While these images can be inspiring, they do not tend to reflect the reality of everyday life for most people. It is a lot to keep up with and maybe it's worth it for you. But it's definitely important to be asking yourself if it's worth the time and effort because an organized system should not be adding stress to your life. The ideal result of working with a Professional Organizer is working with you to set up systems that work for you. It gives you no benefit to set up a system that is too difficult to maintain.

  
  

• Time. It's a thief isn't it? Our calendars tend to get filled up so quickly and unexpectedly, with appointments, responsibilities, and commitments that seem to multiply overnight. Time slipping away from us so quickly makes it difficult to carve out dedicated moments to focus on an organizing project. What's worse, is how that it's often difficult to complete and if you have to leave mid-project, it tends to leave quite a mess when you're working on it alone. During organization jobs, I usually say that it gets worse before it gets better. Trust the process! There's a reason we have to make it such a mess (spoiler alert: it's because we need to see everything). However, when working with an organizer, even if the project isn't done for the day, the mess is cleaned up and contained until the project can be continued.

  
  

• Desire. Ok you have some time to spare. But is that what you want to be doing? For some of us, organizing can be a relaxing activity. We might be a rare breed though and understand that for many others, it is absolutely not the case. It can feel overwhelming, tedious, or even frustrating to confront a disordered space. There is absolutely no shame in feeling this way! We all have our different interests, talents, and preferences that shape how we choose to spend our time. Or maybe you do like to organize but it's fallen by the wayside. When you work with The Sorted Home, you can choose the level of involvement. Whether it's working side-by-side to sort and organize your belongings or preferring to have a hands off approach.

  
  

• Stress. Not only can it fail to be a relaxing activity, but it also might be doing the opposite and causing stress for you. And yes, while addressing the clutter can lead to calm in your mind and home, tackling it alone can be hard to handle. The process of sorting through accumulated items, making decisions about what to keep or discard, and organizing what remains can feel like an insurmountable task, especially if the clutter has built up over quite some time. Furthermore, the emotional attachments we often have to our possessions can complicate this process, making it even more challenging to let go. Collaborating with a Professional Organizer can allow you to talk through these challenges which can help you make a decision. Or an Organizer can simply recommend how and where to store items that you're not quite ready to donate or discard.

  
  

You've got a goal to work on bringing some organization into your home and I genuinely love this goal for you. It is a significant step towards creating a more harmonious living space that reflects your personal style and promotes well-being. That being said, I want to emphasize that it is completely normal to feel overwhelmed by the prospect of organizing your home. Many people find themselves in similar situations when faced with the task of decluttering and organizing their spaces. Therefore, I don't want you to be discouraged if you're not able to make it happen on your own. Seeking support from a professional organizer can provide not only practical assistance, but also emotional encouragement that can motivate you to stay committed to your goal. My goal is to help alleviate the burden that often comes with disorganization and transform your space into a more tranquil and inviting environment.

Ultimately, the journey towards decluttering is not just about physical space; it is also a crucial step towards achieving mental clarity and fostering a more serene lifestyle. As you embark on this journey, remember that each small step you take brings you closer to a more organized home and a more peaceful mind. And that New Year's Resolution? An organized home is something that will always need modifications as your needs change. So don't give up on your goal. Recognize why it might be difficult to accomplish, try to adjust accordingly, and be gentle with yourself.