If you told me that I’d be spending part of a Friday afternoon in January being interviewed on ABC News Live about home organization, I’m not sure I would have believed you. But here we are in January, and that in fact did happen. Still can’t believe it!

This year, I’m learning to push myself outside my comfort zone. And in ways I never expected.

The Opportunity

 

When ABC News reached out in December, I was immediately torn between two emotions: incredible excitement and absolute terror. I’ve spent the last 12 years building Simply Organized by doing what I love most – working behind the scenes in people’s closets, garages, and pantries. I’m comfortable in the trenches of organizing work, helping clients create systems that work for their real lives. But stepping in front of a camera to share that expertise with potentially millions of viewers? That’s an entirely different story.

The interview was originally scheduled for January 1st, but got rescheduled to January 23rd. Honestly, the extra time didn’t make me any less nervous. In fact, I spent the days leading up to it practicing my talking points over and over, reminding myself that I was just going to have a conversation with one person – the interviewer – not think about everyone who might be watching.

By the way, Stephanie Ramos is the incredible anchor who interviewed me and she is SO lovely!

Why This Matters (And Why I Said Yes Despite My Nerves)

 

I know my stuff. I’ve been a Certified Professional Organizer for years, I’ve helped hundreds of clients transform their homes, and I’ve built a community of over half a million people across social media who trust my advice. But there’s a big difference between sharing tips on social media and being interviewed live on a national news program.

This year, though, I’m making some significant changes in my business and in how I show up professionally. Part of that means being willing to step out from behind those closet doors and share my expertise in bigger, sometimes scarier ways. If I have valuable knowledge that can help people – and I know I do – then I owe it to myself and to the people who need that help to push past the discomfort.

So I said yes. I put on one of my favorite black sweaters, took some deep breaths, and reminded myself why I do this work in the first place: because I genuinely want to help people create homes that support their lives instead of overwhelming them.

What We Talked About: The Power of Three Approach

 

The segment focused on something I’m really passionate about: realistic, sustainable organizing that doesn’t rely on New Year’s pressure or perfection. We broke it down into four main points, and I want to share them with you because I think this approach can truly change how you think about getting organized.

1. It’s Never Too Late to Start

First, we addressed the elephant in the room: we were filming on January 23rd, well past that “fresh start” feeling of January 1st. But here’s what I want you to know – any time of year is the perfect time to start organizing. We deal with clutter year-round. Your home doesn’t care what month it is, and neither should you. In fact, the intense pressure of January 1st often sets people up for failure. You’re more likely to succeed when you start from a place of realistic intention rather than desperate resolution.

2. Self-Reflection Before Action

This is the step most people skip, and it’s the most important one. Before you touch a single item or buy a single organizing product (by the way – products are not what will get you organized! We will be talking a lot more about this in 2026 and beyond.), you need to sit quietly with paper and pen. Make a list of every space in your home that needs attention. Don’t judge it, don’t try to solve it yet – just acknowledge it all.

Then comes the critical part: identify your biggest pain point. What area causes you the most daily stress? Where do you lose things constantly? What space makes you feel frustrated every single day? That’s where you start – not with the guest room nobody uses or the garage that’s been a mess for five years. Start with the space that’s actively making your daily life harder right now.

3. Pick Your Top Three Spaces Based on Impact

Once you have your full list, it’s time to get strategic. Choose your top three spaces based on IMPACT, not perfection. Think about which areas, if organized, would make you feel the difference immediately and create momentum for continuing.

Common winners include kitchen counters (because you use them multiple times every day), your entryway (because it sets the tone for coming and going), and your primary closet (because starting each day with ease matters). These spaces affect your daily life in tangible ways, which means organizing them will actually improve how you feel every single day.

4. Create a Realistic Timeline

Here’s the game-changer, and this is what I really wanted viewers to understand. We missed the opportunity to share this during the interview (we only had 4 minutes) so I want to share this important point here: Give yourself permission to take your time. If you identified three spaces, consider tackling Space 1 in February, Space 2 in March, and Space 3 in April. By spring, you’ve made real, lasting progress without burnout, overwhelm, or giving up halfway through January.

Personally, I like to break down the 12 months in a calendar year into 4 seasonal sprints. You can choose different spaces around your home to focus on each quarter, instead of trying to get everything accomplished in 1-2 months.

Small, intentional progress beats grand, unsustainable plans every single time. I’ve seen it with hundreds of clients, and I’ve lived it myself. The tortoise really does win this race.

The Big Takeaway

 

Getting organized isn’t a destination – it’s an ongoing practice. Just like health and fitness require consistent maintenance, so does an organized home. You can’t work out once and expect to be fit forever, and you can’t organize once and expect your home to stay that way without any effort. The key is setting up systems that work WITH your lifestyle, not against it.

Watch the Interview

 

I’m so grateful for this opportunity to share this message on a bigger platform, even though it pushed me way outside my comfort zone. If you’d like to watch the full interview, you can find it here.

As I head into the rest of 2026 with some exciting changes ahead, I’m committed to continuing to push myself to show up in new ways. Not because I love being on camera (spoiler: I still find it terrifying), but because I believe in this work and I believe the practical, realistic approach I teach can genuinely help people.

If you’ve been putting off getting organized because you “missed” the New Year window or because the task feels too overwhelming, I hope this gives you permission to start small, start now, and give yourself grace along the way.

Here’s to progress over perfection, always.

xo,

Sam