I have Feelings About “World Organizing Day

Wednesday, May 20th, is World Organizing Day, and I'm going to be honest with you: this is basically my Super Bowl. 

I've been a Professional Organizer since 2003, which means I've had over two decades to watch people's lives genuinely change because they got organized. Not just tidied up. Not just decluttered. Changed.

So in honor of World Organizing Day, I'm not going to give you a 10-step checklist. Instead, I want to share a few things I truly believe about organizing, after all these years, in case you need to hear them today.

Organizing isn't about perfection. It's about function.

Let me be very clear: the goal of organizing is not aesthetics. Its function. It's being able to find what you need when you need it. Pretty containers are a bonus, but peace of mind is the point.

Getting organized is an act of kindness toward your future self.

Every time you put something back where it belongs, or finally deal with that pile on the counter, you're doing a favor for the future version of you who's going to need to find it later. That future you is busy and tired and doesn't have time for a scavenger hunt. Past you taking ten seconds to put something in its place is a gift.

You don't have to do it all at once.

This is maybe the most important thing I know after 20+ years. The people who succeed at getting and staying organized are not the ones who spend a whole weekend gutting their house. They're the people who did a little bit, consistently, over time.

The stuff isn't the problem. The feelings about the stuff are.

When we dig into the piles and the papers and the overflowing closets, we almost always find something underneath that isn't really about the stuff at all. Grief. Guilt. Fear. Hope. The reason you can't get rid of your mother's china even though you don't use it. The reason the paperwork feels so overwhelming.

Let me reassure you, it’s okay. Go slowly, trust yourself, and it gets easier to make the decisions.

My Organizing Love Language

If you've been in my world for any length of time, you probably already know that my “gift” is to help people organize their paper. I genuinely love the moment when someone finally knows exactly where everything lives and doesn't break into a cold sweat when the mail comes in.

It's why I created The Paper Cleanse, and it's why I'll never stop talking about it. Paper clutter is one of the most common sources of stress in people's homes, and it is 100% solvable. I promise.

How to Celebrate World Organizing Day

Here's your official invitation to celebrate with me! You don't need to tackle your whole house. You just need to pick ONE thing and do it today!

      Clear one surface. The kitchen counter. The bathroom sink. Your desk. Just one. Wipe it down and enjoy it.

      Tackle one pile. You know the one I'm talking about.

      Set up one simple system. A hook by the door for your keys. A basket for incoming mail. Small systems create big relief.

      Do a five-minute paper purge. Grab a small pile of mail or papers, and sort it right now. Toss what's trash. File what matters. Done!

      Tell someone you're proud of them for organizing something. Encouragement goes a long way.

 And if you want to do something really fun, come into our Organizing Solutions for Busy Women Facebook group and share what you tackled today! I'd love to celebrate every win with you, big or small. This is our day, friends. Happy World Organizing Day!