Welcome to 2026!

 

Happy New Year guys! Welcome back to a New Year of organizing discussion and sharing here on the Simply Organized blog!

I am SO happy to be here and back to consistent blog time each week. Last year, I returned with at least a weekly post, but this year I’m craving more time together. There’s something about hitting “publish” and connecting with you all that I genuinely missed during the busy seasons of running the business, and I’m excited to show up more consistently.

We had a great holiday season and I’ll share more soon, but one of many highlights was spending a few days relaxing in Sonoma. Is this not the most amazing tree?…

Talk about a clutter-free, totally recyclable tree!

I’ve realized in all this time blogging I’ve never shared more about Napa and Sonoma – our incredible wine country. I’ll definitely be sharing more details about this region, places to stay and eat and more. And I’m hoping to spend more time there this year.

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are starting to feel refreshed as we begin a new year. Whether you’re feeling energized and ready to tackle projects, or you’re still in recovery mode from all the festivities (totally valid!), I’m glad you’re here.

Here’s the thing about New Year energy: it can be incredible fuel for positive change, but it can also create unrealistic pressure to transform everything overnight. And that’s exactly what I want to talk about today—because after years in the organizing industry, I’ve learned that the best transformations happen slowly, sustainably, and without the January 1st panic.

A Different Kind of New Year Message

 

If you’re reading this while staring at a list of organizing goals that feels overwhelming, I’m encouraging you to take a deep breath.

Here’s something you won’t hear from most organizing experts: You don’t need to have it all figured out by January 31st.

After years of running Simply Organized and working with hundreds of Bay Area families, I’ve learned that the most successful organizing journeys are the ones that start with realistic expectations and sustainable habits—not pressure and perfection.

Organization Isn’t a Destination

 

Let’s be clear: getting organized is not a finish line you cross. It’s not a one-time project that you complete and never think about again.

Organization is ongoing maintenance. It’s a series of small systems and daily habits that make your life easier. Some days you’ll maintain those systems perfectly. Other days, life happens, and things get messy again. And that’s completely normal.

The Power of Writing It Down (Without the Rush)

 

One of my favorite organizing tools costs nothing: a simple list.

When the New Year motivation hits, we tend to create massive, ambitious lists that set us up for burnout. Motivation is great, but it’s fleeting. What is truly necessary for successful organizing is understanding what systems will work for you and your habits. What will work for your available space. What works for the items you’re organizing and the volume of those items.

It’s really a matter of knowing what will work best for YOU and then having the discipline to keep it up.

Instead, I encourage you to:

• Write down everything that’s bothering you about your home organization (or lack thereof)
• Don’t prioritize yet—just brain dump
• Walk away from the list for a day or two
• Come back and choose just 1-3 items to focus on for the entire first quarter

Notice I said first quarter, not first month. You have time.

I also didn’t say the entire year. Let’s break down the year into manageable chunks of time.

That messy junk drawer? It’ll still be there in February. The overflowing coat closet? Not going anywhere. You don’t have to tackle everything right now.

Start Small, Build Sustainable

 

The organizing projects that stick are the ones that:

1. Start with one small area (a single drawer, one shelf, the entryway)
2. Address a daily pain point (where do the keys always end up?)
3. Include easy maintenance (can you realistically keep this system going?)

I’d rather see you successfully organize and maintain one kitchen drawer all year than watch you tackle your entire pantry in January only to have it fall apart by March.

Join Me on ABC News Live Primetime

 

Speaking of realistic New Year organizing, I’m excited to share that I’ll be discussing these exact topics on ABC News Live Primetime on January 23rd at 5pm Eastern time!

We’ll be diving into “New Year, New You” organizing strategies—but with the practical, sustainable approach I’m known for. No pressure, no perfection, just real solutions for real homes.

This interview was actually rescheduled twice earlier this month due to breaking news and the segment being pushed, which feels like the perfect metaphor for organizing: sometimes things don’t go according to plan, and that’s okay. We adjust and keep moving forward!

I am excited and honored to join ABC later this month and will definitely return to share a link to the interview here on the blog.

Your New Year Organizing Mantra

 

If you take nothing else from this post, remember this:

“Progress over perfection. Systems over stuff. Maintenance over makeovers.”

You’re not behind. You’re not failing if your home isn’t magazine-ready. You’re simply living in your space, and that means it needs ongoing attention—not a one-time overhaul.

What’s Your One Thing?

 

I’d love to hear from you: What’s the ONE organizing pain point you’re going to address this quarter? Not this month—this quarter. Give yourself that grace.

Drop a comment below with your realistic organizing goal for Q1 2026.

Here’s to a year of sustainable progress, realistic goals, and giving ourselves permission to take our time.

Back soon!

xo,

Sam