2022: Organized YOU! | 5 Organizing Goals to Consider for 2022

So many of us have been cooped up in our homes for the past two years. Because of that breadth of time, it can be so easy to say, "I should have already done this" or "If I didn't do it yet, it's probably never going to get done." But here's a fact: the way we have experienced our homes for the past two years is different than ever before. To expect for all of your previous systems to work for the new way we live our lives? It doesn't add up, friend, and that's okay! It's highly likely that you have a few pain points that could use a little love, and I'm here to help! 

In this post, you'll hear 5 Organizing Goals to consider for 2022 for a more organized you. Pick one or all five, but take a moment to think about how these goals could serve YOU in the upcoming year!

Resolution #1:
​Choose one space and make visible ONLY those things which I love

How many times has someone on the internet told you to go through your closet and keep only the clothes that make you feel like you are your best self? I do this seasonally, and it's always such a great refresher for my self-confidence and my space. But have you tried applying this to other areas of your home? I have a book shelf in my office closet that houses ALL of the books that I want to keep, and each season, I pull books of a certain color and decorate the living room hutch with them. Since we recently moved, I was able to reassess my art collection and created a gallery wall of my favorite pieces--which all happen to be black, white, and yellow! By making visible only those things which I love in certain spaces and containing those I keep for practical reasons or reference, my home feels less cluttered and a lot more loving.

Resolution #2:
Organize my papers so I can find the documents I need

I have moved over ten times in my adult life--which is a lot! One move I made in my early twenties that has legally and logistically saved me many times? I have a paper filing system for significant documents. Though we live in a digital world, a small system for organizing papers you might need for reference or identification (think mortgage paperwork, birth certificates, marriage licenses, etc.) can save you days of searching for documents when you need them to make already stressful big life changes (buy a car, sell a home, change your name). Whether you keep it in a plastic filing tote, a binder, or a fireproof safe, a simple paper filing system can save you a lot of stress down the line.

Resolution #3:
​Decide once where donations go when they leave my home

One of the top barriers to my clients' happiness with their home? Getting rid of things quickly and efficiently. So many of my clients have previously decluttered their homes, only to end up with 3-10 piles of things going to as many places. Many were unsure if their items were even wanted before determining their location--to a friend's children, to a neighbor's dog, to a shelter that wasn't even taking donations when I called them. Guess where those piles were when I followed up with my clients a week later? You guessed it--still in their homes. By deciding ONCE where each category of stuff will go BEFORE you start decluttering (and verifying via phone call that it's actually needed there) you have eliminated the piles-in-waiting problem that keeps many from their dream spaces. (And, as a side note, unless my clients specify a specific location for their donations that is within the OKC metro area, I already have my decide once drop-off for each metro area town).

Resolution #4:
Automate an organizing system

Does your purse end up junky and embarrassing before you realize it? Do your dog toys all get mangled and strewn about the floor before you can say, "Sit"? Did your Christmas decorations end up in different parts of the garage and attic, yet again? Grab a pen and paper, and sit down to think through an automation. Start with your end goal, and work backward through what steps need to be in place to make maintenance as easy as possible. So easy you could accomplish this task with two toddlers hanging off of you and a pot of soup on the stove. A little planning of our organizing systems can go SO far in the never-ending struggle of maintaining our spaces to serve us in the way we want them to!

Resolution #5:
Get support for projects I need help with

Okay, yes, I'm going to take a moment here to remind you that my literal business is about supporting people through organizing projects. I love working closely with clients and helping lift the burden of shame and not knowing from their hearts. It truly makes me warm and fuzzy. But maybe you're a pretty organized person already and you want someone to come clean your home to help motivate you to keep it organized. Maybe you organized all of your print photos and need someone to help you figure out how to use them to tell your story (if this is you, please chat with my friend Lisa at Scissortail Digital, because helping people tell their stories through their photos is her literal job--and she's great at it!). Maybe you realized you need to donate some large pieces of furniture and need to hire some movers to get those items out of your home. Whatever the project is, figure out what you need help with, if you have the budget to hire someone, and finally request that quote or schedule the consultation! Get support when you need it and you'll make organization dreams a reality. 

So to recap:

1. Choose one space and make visible ONLY the things I love
2. Organize my papers so I can find the documents I need
3. Decide once where donations go when they leave my home
4. Automate an organizing system
5. Get support for projects I need help with

I hope these tips have helped you find a little bit of organization inspiration and motivation to meet your goals in the upcoming year and love your home a little more!