At this reflective time of year, I love revisiting the past before moving ahead to the future. As part of this year-end review, I selected the best-loved organizing concepts of 2023, one from each month. I hope you discover or rediscover a seed idea that will bring inspiration and balance to your New Year.

Where will you focus to create organization and achieve your desired balance? Which people and projects will receive your time, energy, and attention? If you’re ready for a fresh start, embracing change, taking your next step, letting go, decluttering, enlisting help, and more, this is for you.

12 Hopeful and Best Loved Organizing Ideas of the Year

1. Fresh Start: Is Resistance Something That Has Paralyzed Your Fresh Start?

“What would it take?”

— Zoe Chance

2. Embrace Change: How to Make the Courageous Connection Between Risk and Change Really Helpful

“Making a change involves taking risks.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

3. Next Step: How to Take One Next Step Now When You’re Feeling Unusually Overwhelmed

“Consider the big picture, yet approach it one small step at a time.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

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4. Letting Go: When Your Big Plate is Quickly Overflowing, Can You Let Go of One Thing?

“Is there simply ‘one thing’ you can let go of, reschedule, or delegate?”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

5. Clutter: What Kind of Overwhelming ‘Noise’ Does Your Clutter Actually Make?

“Clutter can create more stress and overwhelm than you realize.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

6. Time Management: One Absolutely Effective Time Crafting Strategy to Bring You Clarity

“Time passes in the blink of an eye.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

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7. Motivation: How to Revitalize Your Motivation Now Using Helpful Progress Principle Insights

“… of all forms of human motivation, the most effective one is progress.”

— Greg McKeown

8. Enlisting Help: 7 Ways to Joyfully Enlist Help Making Decisions When You’re Really Stuck

“When all else fails, flip a coin.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

9. Mindfulness: One Simple, Positive Way to Be More Mindful During Your Day

“We’re doing now, not next.”

— Twink McKenny

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10. Possibilities - One Remarkably Brave Question to Open the Door for Possibilities

“Does this belong in my life right now?”

— Juliet Landau-Pope

11. Wonderfully Human: What is the Value in Your Life of Appreciating More Spaciousness?

“The mosaic you create is the magnificent life you get to live.”

— Cassie Holmes, Ph.D.

12. Life Balance: 5 Positive Benefits of Creating More Balance for Happy Holidays

“When your balance wanders too far in one direction, it’s time to adjust.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

My deepest gratitude for being an integral part of this vibrant community. We’ve had an incredible year of conversations and sharing. You bring learning, growth, support, and inspiration to every exchange. Thank you for participating and sharing your best each week.

What inspired you this year? Which organizing concept resonates most with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

As we wrap up the year, some unique words and phrases describe 2022. They include the big quit, resilience hubs, nomophobia, goblin mode, sharent, quiet quitting, de-consumerism, infodemic, permacrisis, situationship, mys, and slow working. I frequently heard or witnessed three words: exhaustion, overwhelm, and hope.

Despite the challenges, we continued forward as we navigated the unknown, found untapped inner strength, extended compassion and grace to ourselves and others, and searched for balance and meaning in a continually changing landscape.

At this reflective time of year, I appreciate revisiting the past before moving ahead to the future. As part of my review, I selected highlights from each month’s favorite and best-loved organizing concepts of 2022. I hope you discover a seed idea to bring inspiration and balance to your New Year.

Where will you focus on creating the organization and balance you desire? Which people and projects will receive your time, energy, and attention?

12 Exciting Favorite and Best Loved Organizing Ideas of the Year

1. Fresh Start - 5 Guaranteed Ways That Will Make You Get a Hopeful Fresh Start

“Your blank slate is ready to be painted with a wash of gorgeous colors.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

2. Embrace Change - One Beautiful Idea Will Shift Your Perspective About Every Change

“Change is happening for you, in favor of you, and doesn’t that change everything?”

— Bethany Auriel-Hagen

3. Next Step - Use This Helpful Strategy Now to Feel More Motivated to Take Your Next Step

“While thinking is an integral part of progress, an action also needs to happen for movement to occur.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

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4. Letting Go - What Can You Easily Let Go of Now to Reap One Astounding Harvest?

“Progress happens when we finally lean into letting go.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

5. Clutter - 3 Brilliant Little Lessons ‘Magic Lettuce’ Taught Me About Clutter

“Clutter will increase if you don’t create intentionality and boundaries for your stuff.
”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

6. Time Management - Has Your Time Arrived to Prompt a Supportive Pause?

“If you continually go without stopping, you’ll burn out.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

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7. Motivation - Discover One Surprising Solution When Doomerism Sabotages Your Motivation

“... the best way to spur action is to begin from a place of optimism - a belief that the thing you want really is possible.”

— Jane Coaston

8. Enlisting Help - What’s the Value of Enlisting Help as You Make a Positive Change?

“Reaching out for help is the secret sauce for success.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

9. Mindfulness - How to Joyfully Inspire Every Question with Mindfulness

“Is it necessary?”

— Yota Schneider

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10. Possibilities - What’s Achievable When You See Life as a Petri Dish of Astonishing Possibilities?

“Life is a petri dish of possibilities.”

— Chris Bianco

11. Wonderfully Human - How to Have Compassion Navigating Life’s Every Day Amazing, Awful, and Ordinary Experiences

“Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary.”

— L.R. Knost

12. Life Balance - Make a Happy Holiday Season Life Balance Inspired by One of Einstein’s Timely Ideas

“Build in some stillness and rest.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

My deepest gratitude for being an integral part of this vibrant community. We’ve had an incredible year of conversations and sharing. You bring learning, growth, support, and inspiration to every exchange. Thank you for regularly returning to participate and share the best of who you are.

What inspired you this year? Which organizing concept resonates most with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

As we are about to wrap up year two of the pandemic, many words describe 2021. Some common words and phrases for 2021, including “vaxxed, variant, hybrid work, The Great Resignation, and languishing,” appeared in a recent Grammarly article. Uncertainty flavored the year, along with many ups and downs. Two words I frequently heard or witnessed were exhaustion and resilience.

Despite the challenges, we continued forward as we navigated the unknown, found untapped inner strength, extended compassion and grace to ourselves and others, and searched for balance and meaning in a continually changing landscape. 

At this reflective time of year, I appreciate revisiting the past before moving ahead to the future. As part of my review, I selected twelve highlights, one from each month, of the most valuable and loved organizing concepts of 2021. I hope you discover a seed idea that will bring inspiration and balance to your New Year. 

Where will you focus on creating the organization and balance you desire? Which people and projects will receive your time, energy, and attention? 

12 Most Valuable and Loved Organizing Ideas of the Year

1. Fresh Start - How to Embrace a Fresh Start After Feeling Upset by Your Break in Continuity

“What lesson can I learn?”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO™

2. Embrace Change - My Surprising Find in a Fortune Cookie is the Amazing Secret About Change

“The greatest lever for change is awareness.”

— Fortune Cookie

3. Next Step - What Does Your Next Step Look Like During a Virtual Organizing Session?

“Taking that next step builds momentum.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO™

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4. Letting Go - Ways to Let Go and Grieve When an Enormous Loss Happened

“In our letting go, the stories about those we love live on.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO™

5. Clutter - What Reasons Motivate Every Client to Easily Let Go of Clutter?

“Decluttering is a verb, which involves action.
”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO™

6. Time Management - Why It Absolutely Matters Where Your Time Gets Focused

“Your life is purchased by where you spend your attention.”

— James Clear

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7. Motivation - How to Improve Motivation By One Perspective Shift From Time to ‘Energy’ Management

“Pay attention to what depletes or energizes you.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO™

8. Enlisting Help - 7 Best Organizing Self-Help Discoveries Made With My New Simple Plan

“It’s liberating to live with less.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO™

9. Mindfulness - 5 Positive Ways to Easily Practice Mindful Organizing in Your Life

“Mindfulness is a quality of being we can bring to all aspects of our lives.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO™

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10. Possibilities - Are You Curious What’s Possible When You Hire a Professional Organizer?

“When we enlist support for our challenges, it’s incredible what becomes possible.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO™

11. Wonderfully Human - How to Use Your Top Strengths and Flourish With These Simple Idea

“We know that ‘flourishing’ … is a state of mind where life feels good.”

— Misty Pratt

12. Life Balance - 12 Amazing Ways to Mix Balance Into Your Life By Doing Less

“Finding balance, even when you’re overwhelmed, is possible.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO™

My deepest gratitude goes to you for being an integral part of this vibrant community. We’ve had an incredible year of conversations and sharing. You bring learning, growth, support, and inspiration to every exchange. Thank you for regularly returning to participate and share the best of who you are. 

What inspired you this year? Which organizing concept resonates most with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

There have been many words used to describe 2020. In a recent article in The Washington Post, readers offered their one word or phrase for the year, including “exhausting, lost, chaotic, relentless, heartbreaking, transformative, and the year of missing.” Perhaps the word that I heard (and possibly used) the most was unprecedented. It was that kind of year. We tried our best to navigate the unknown, find strength when life got worse than ever imagined, extend compassion and grace to ourselves and others, and find some balance in a continually changing situation. 

It’s been a harsh year, a year of struggle. We needed love, compassion, support, and connection more than ever. With pandemic restrictions reducing in-person contact, technology played a starring role to help us virtually spend time together. I blogged and had meaningful conversations with you throughout these past months, as we experienced and worked through this year together. We shared our silver linings and losses.

Being a reflective time of year, I am revisiting the past before moving ahead to the future. As part of the review, I selected highlights, one from each month, of the most compassionate organizing concepts of 2020. My hope is you discover a seed idea that will inspire your New Year. 

Where do you want to focus on creating the level of organization and balance that you desire? Which people and projects will receive your time, energy, and attention? 

12 Compassionate Organizing Concepts

Winter 2020

Fresh Start - How to Choose Words That Will Positively Affect Your Fresh Start

“Your life and success will not be defined by the nouns you choose. It will be defined by the verbs.”

— Todd Henry

Embrace Change - 3 New Ideas That Will Help Inspire Your Change

“If you’re not sure about the change you want to make, give yourself some ‘wander time’ and see what transpires.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO

Next Step - 7 Uplifting Discoveries That Will Help You Cope With Next

“Next might need to be a big dose of self-compassion. Or, perhaps it will be you reaching out to someone else that is hurting.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO

Spring 2020

Letting Go - How to Let Go of Guilt During the COVID-19 Crisis

“What expectations of normal am I letting go of today?”

— Rick Breden

Clutter - How to Release Mind Clutter That Makes You Worry

“Mind clutter worry is unproductive. And as it turns out, it’s a good teacher too.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO

Time Management - Are You Making Time for ‘The Good Stuff’?

“In your mix of doing, are you making time to notice and embrace the good stuff?”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO

Summer 2020

Motivation - Big Lesson I Learned How Motivation Is in The Growing

“Motivation is in the growing.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO

Enlisting Help - How to Get Help Setting and Celebrating Your Big Goals

“A goal doesn’t happen in a vacuum. We need help with accomplishing our goals and celebrating them along the way.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO

Mindfulness - How Do Mindfulness and Focus Remarkably Appear in Your Life?

“It is in the practice of shifting attention, awareness, and return that we become more mindful.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO

Fall 2020

Possibilities - 7 Valuable Lessons I Learned About Weddings, Hope, & Possibilities

“We live in challenging times. Yet even in the darkest days, there is hope. There is love. There are possibilities.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO

Wonderfully Human - How to Enjoy Pandemic-Time Holidays With More Gratitude and Creativity

“The initial sadness for not being able to gather has morphed into positive anticipation for the ways we’ve reimagined the holiday.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO

Life Balance - How to Effectively Balance the Extremes of Your Holiday Season

“Feeling balanced is a fluid and a continually shifting dynamic.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO

My deepest gratitude goes to you for being an integral part of this vibrant community. We’ve had an incredible year of conversations and sharing. You bring learning, growth, support, and inspiration to every exchange. Thank you for coming back again and again to participate and share the best of who you are. 

What inspired you this year? Which compassionate organizing concept resonates most with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.