More than Organized

How to Plan a Project

Miriam Ortiz y Pino — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:49:22 +0000

How to Plan for an Organizing Project Without Getting Overwhelmed

One of the biggest mistakes people make when starting an organizing project is skipping the planning step entirely.

They decide they’re finally going to tackle the garage, the closet, the office, or the entire kitchen in one afternoon. A few hours later, everything is spread out everywhere, they’re exhausted, and somehow the space looks worse than when they started.

Sound familiar?

That’s usually not a motivation problem. It’s a planning problem.

When you take a little bit of time to think through how you’re going to approach an organizing project before you begin, the whole process becomes easier, less stressful, and much more likely to actually get finished.

Why Planning Matters Before You Start Organizing

A good organizing plan helps you avoid biting off more than you can chew.

It gives you a realistic understanding of:

How much time you actually have
What materials you’ll need
What obstacles might come up
How much of the space you can realistically handle in one session
Where things are ultimately supposed to live

Without a plan, most people either freeze before they begin or create such a giant mess during the process that they don’t want to continue.

Planning gives you structure so you can keep moving forward, even if the project takes time.

Start With the Right Materials

Most organizing projects do not require fancy supplies or expensive containers.

In fact, you need much less than people think.

At minimum, I recommend having:

Trash bags or a trash can
A donation staging area
A “not sure yet” box or pile
A spot for items that belong elsewhere
A dust rag or cleaning cloth
A vacuum if needed
Water nearby
Music if it helps keep you motivated

If you’re working in a dusty garage, attic, or storage space, you may also want gloves or a mask.

The goal is not perfection. The goal is to create a setup that helps you comfortably keep moving through the project.

One of the Biggest Organizing Obstacles: Not Knowing Where to Start

People often spend so much energy trying to figure out the perfect starting point that they never actually begin.

The truth is, it matters less where you start and more that you start methodically.

If you’re organizing your entire home, I usually recommend starting in either:

The kitchen
The primary bedroom

Why?

Because those spaces typically have the biggest daily impact on your life. Improvements there tend to create the most visible results and help build momentum.

If you work from home, your workspace may make more sense as a starting point.

The important thing is choosing one area and working through it intentionally instead of jumping all over the house.

Break the Space Into Smaller Sections

This is the part most people skip.

You are almost always better off organizing a smaller section completely than partially organizing an entire room.

Instead of saying:

“I’m doing the whole garage today.”

Try:

One shelving unit
One section of floor space
One cabinet
One drawer
One side of the closet

Think in terms of manageable chunks.

That way, if you run out of time or get interrupted, you can stop without leaving yourself with an even bigger mess than when you started.

Work Through the Room Methodically

I usually recommend starting by clearing enough floor space to safely work.

Then move through the room in a consistent order.

For me, that’s typically:

Start to the left of the doorway
Move clockwise around the room
Work top to bottom

So if you’re organizing a bookshelf, you’d start with the top shelf and work downward.

If you’re organizing a closet, you might work:

Top shelf
Hanging rod
Lower shelves
Floor

The specific order matters less than staying consistent and avoiding random zig-zagging around the room.

A methodical approach helps your brain stay calmer and makes it easier to pick back up where you left off later.

Organizing Takes Longer Than You Think

One of the biggest mindset shifts people need to make is realizing that organizing is not usually a one-day project.

And that’s okay.

I would much rather see someone spend:

One hour consistently every week
Thirty minutes daily
Three hours twice a month

than attempt one giant organizing marathon that leaves them exhausted and discouraged.

Consistency matters far more than intensity.

The goal is steady forward progress.

Define What Activities Happen in the Space

This part is incredibly important.

Every room in your home supports certain activities.

For example, one room might function as:

A home office
A craft space
A workout area
A guest room
A storage space

You have to define what actually belongs there before you can organize it well.

Otherwise, the room becomes a dumping ground for random items that don’t support any clear purpose.

Once you know what activities belong in the space, you can start evaluating what items truly support those activities and what’s simply taking up room.

Some Things Will Be Temporary During the Process

This is where people often get frustrated.

Not everything will immediately land in its final resting place while you’re organizing.

That’s normal.

Sometimes you’ll discover categories of items throughout the house before you decide where they ultimately belong.

A good example is batteries.

You might find batteries in:

A desk drawer
The kitchen
A nightstand
A utility room

At first, you simply gather them together. Then later, once you’ve decided where batteries logically belong in your home, you move them all there.

That temporary transition phase is part of the process.

You don’t have to have every final answer immediately.

Organizing Is About Creating Systems That Work

The real goal of organizing is not just making things look better.

It’s creating systems that support your actual life.

When you take the time to:

Plan realistically
Work in smaller chunks
Think through obstacles
Define how spaces function
Create logical homes for your belongings

you create organization that actually lasts.

And that’s what makes the process worth it.

If you want more organizing tips, planning strategies, and practical systems for simplifying your home and life, go here to find free resources.

The post How to Plan a Project appeared first on More than Organized.

Stop Smooshing

Miriam Ortiz y Pino — Wed, 27 May 2026 05:12:00 +0000

Stop Smooshing: Why Overstuffed Spaces Make Organization Harder

One of the biggest mistakes people make when organizing has nothing to do with buying the wrong containers or not having enough space.

It’s what I call “smooshing.”

Smooshing happens when you cram so much into one space that you can no longer easily access what’s inside. Pens packed too tightly into a cup. Containers shoved in front of other containers. Cabinets so full you have to move five things just to grab the one thing you actually need.

At first glance, it can look organized because technically everything fits.

But functionally? It creates friction everywhere.

Easy Access Matters More Than Maximum Storage

A space is not truly organized if you have to fight with it every time you use it.

That’s the real issue with overstuffed drawers, shelves, baskets, and containers. Once things become difficult to grab, put away, or even see, the system starts working against you instead of supporting you.

Sometimes the solution is surprisingly simple.

Instead of cramming more pens into one overflowing cup, split them into two containers. Instead of stacking items in front of each other, give frequently used things breathing room. Instead of packing shelves to their absolute limit, leave enough space to comfortably grab what you need.

Organization works best when you can interact with your space easily.

Not when every task feels like a game of Jenga.

Containers Are Not Always the Solution

This is where people often get tripped up.

Just because something can go in a container doesn’t mean it should.

Containers can absolutely help organize categories, but they can also create new problems if they:

Waste usable space
Make items harder to access
Add unnecessary lids, layers, or extra steps
Encourage overstuffing

A perfect example is soda cans.

Many people use can dispensers or bins that actually take up more room than simply lining the cans up neatly on the shelf. Some containers are flared outward, which means you lose usable storage space immediately.

The same thing happens with baskets, bins, and decorative organizers throughout the house.

Sometimes the “organized” solution is actually less functional than no container at all.

Think About Frequency of Use

One of the easiest ways to determine whether something is organized well is to ask:

How often do I use this, and how easy is it to access?

That answer should shape the system.

For example:

Frequently used items should require very little effort to grab.
Rarely used items can live farther back or higher up.
Open containers often work better for daily-use items than containers with lids.
Drop-in systems are usually easier to maintain than systems that require multiple steps.

This is why a simple file folder sometimes works better than a binder.

A binder requires opening rings every single time you add or remove papers. A file folder allows you to quickly drop things in and move on. When something is part of your regular workflow, fewer steps matter.

The easier the system is to use, the more likely you are to maintain it.

Leave Room for Your Hands

This sounds obvious, but most people completely overlook it.

Your fingers take up space too.

If shelves are packed so tightly that you have to wedge your hand between objects or knock things over to remove something, the shelf is too full.

That tiny bit of breathing room matters.

You need enough space to comfortably grab, replace, and move items without disrupting everything around them.

A little empty space is not wasted space.

It’s functional space.

More Storage Is Not Always Better

A lot of organizing advice focuses on maximizing storage, but maximizing storage and maximizing usability are not the same thing.

Sometimes storing fewer things actually creates a smoother, more efficient home.

Think about your schedule for a second.

When every minute is booked solid with no transition time, everything feels rushed and stressful. But when you build in a little buffer time, things flow more naturally.

Your physical spaces work the same way.

When every shelf, drawer, and container is packed to capacity, your home starts to feel stressful to use. Giving things a little breathing room creates flexibility and ease.

The Goal Is Function, Not Perfection

At the end of the day, organization is not about fitting the maximum number of items into the smallest possible space.

It’s about making your life easier.

So before buying another container or trying to squeeze one more thing onto a shelf, pause and ask yourself:

Can I easily grab what I need?
Am I storing more than I realistically use?
Is this system easy to maintain?
Am I organizing… or am I just smooshing?

Because sometimes the fastest way to make a space feel calmer is simply to stop overstuffing it in the first place.

The post Stop Smooshing appeared first on More than Organized.

Plug the Money Leaks

Miriam Ortiz y Pino — Wed, 13 May 2026 05:58:00 +0000

Simple Organizing Habits That Save Money Every Month

When I first started organizing professionally, I thought I was helping people clear clutter and make their homes easier to manage.

What surprised me was how much money people started saving once they got organized.

And I’m not talking about extreme budgeting, cutting out every small pleasure, or depriving yourself of things you enjoy. Most of the time, the savings come from something much simpler than that. They come from reducing the constant little money leaks that happen when your home, your routines, and your purchasing habits aren’t working together.

Over the years, I started noticing the same patterns in almost every house I walked into. People were buying duplicates because they couldn’t find what they already owned. They were overspending at the store because they didn’t have a plan before they walked in. They were stocking up on things they didn’t actually have room for, then forgetting about them and buying more later.

A lot of spending has very little to do with actual need and a lot to do with exhaustion, overwhelm, avoidance, or simply making decisions when you’re depleted.

That’s why organizing helps so much. It creates awareness before the purchase instead of regret afterward.

One of the biggest money-saving habits is simply knowing what you already have, where it is, and when it actually needs to be replaced. That sounds basic, but it changes everything. I can’t tell you how many people have multiple half-used cleaning products, toiletries, or laundry detergents sitting around because they forgot they already had backups somewhere else in the house.

I’m a big fan of simple inventory systems, especially for everyday consumable items. You do not need a complicated spreadsheet. You just need enough awareness to know what you use regularly and how quickly you go through it. Personally, I prefer a “one backup” system. One item is in use, and one backup is stored. When the backup becomes the active one, it goes onto the shopping list. That’s enough to prevent panic buying while also avoiding clutter and overspending.

Shopping with a list is another huge one. And I mean an actual list, not wandering through Target hoping you’ll remember what you needed once you see it. Every extra trip to the store creates opportunities for impulse purchases. Even small ones add up quickly over the course of a month.

This doesn’t mean you can never buy something fun or spontaneous. It just means slowing down enough to make intentional decisions instead of emotional ones. If you find something you really love, especially outside of groceries or necessities, wait a day before buying it. Most of the time, if it’s not truly important, the urgency disappears surprisingly fast.

I also recommend limiting how often you shop in general. The more frequently you run errands, the more likely you are to spend extra money simply because you are there. Having a plan for when you go to specific stores helps tremendously. Grocery store once or twice a week. Drugstore when the list actually requires it. Target for specific items instead of browsing because you were nearby.

And then there’s the one people resist the most: using up what you already have.

Before buying more groceries, look at your pantry and freezer. Before buying another cleaning product, use the twelve partially-used bottles already sitting under the sink. Before purchasing more office supplies, see what’s buried in the drawer first.

Most households have far more inventory sitting in their homes than they realize.

Once you start using things up intentionally, two things happen. First, you save money immediately because you stop overbuying. Second, you become much more aware of what you actually use versus what you purchase out of habit, fear, or convenience.

That awareness changes your relationship with both clutter and spending.

The goal here isn’t restriction. It’s alignment. It’s making purchasing decisions from a place of clarity instead of overwhelm. When you know what you have, shop with intention, and use what already exists in your home before bringing in more, you naturally start plugging the money leaks without feeling deprived.

And as a bonus, your home becomes much easier to manage too.

The post Plug the Money Leaks appeared first on More than Organized.

How to Create Laundry Systems

Miriam Ortiz y Pino — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:41:00 +0000

How to Create a Laundry System That Actually Works

Laundry feels complicated for a lot of people.

Not because it actually is, but because we’ve been sold the idea that it needs to be.

There are so many products, so many steps, so many “right ways” to do laundry that it starts to feel like you’re missing something if you’re not doing all of it.

And what I’ve found is that the more complicated you make your laundry, the harder it becomes to actually keep up with it.

That’s when you end up with piles, rewashing clothes, or things never quite making it back to where they belong.

So instead of thinking about laundry as a complicated process, I want you to think about it as a simple system that supports your wardrobe.

The goal isn’t perfectly washed clothes.

The goal is having clean, accessible clothes ready when you need them.

That’s it.

Once you shift into thinking about it that way, everything becomes easier.

A laundry system really comes down to a few key decisions:

Where Your Laundry Goes

This is your starting point.

Where are your hampers? How many do you have? What makes sense for your space and your household?

You don’t need anything fancy here.

You can do:

One hamper and sort on laundry day
Two hampers for lights and darks
Divided hampers for a larger household

There isn’t one right answer. The key is choosing one system and actually using it consistently.

How You Run Your Laundry

Some people do a load a day.

Some people do one or two larger loads on a set day each week.

Both work.

What doesn’t work is constantly changing your approach or letting it build up to the point where it feels overwhelming.

Pick a rhythm that fits your life and stick with it.

What Actually Needs to Be Washed

Not everything you wear needs to go straight into the hamper.

If you wore something for an hour, you may be able to wear it again.

Having a designated place for those “worn but not dirty” items can significantly reduce how much laundry you’re doing.

This alone can cut down on extra loads, save time, and extend the life of your clothes.

How Much You Own

This is the part people don’t always want to hear, but it matters.

The more clothes and linens you have, the more laundry you create.

When you have fewer, more intentional items:

It’s easier to choose what to wear
You notice when something needs to be replaced
You naturally do less laundry

The same applies to towels and bedding.

You don’t need five or six sets per bed. One in use and one backup is usually enough.

Anything beyond that just adds more to manage.

Where Laundry Actually Ends

Laundry isn’t done when it comes out of the dryer.

It’s done when everything is put away.

If your closet or drawers are overstuffed, that step becomes frustrating, and that’s when laundry starts piling up again.

Having a system for your space makes it easier to finish the process completely.

And finishing it right away saves you time later.

Because once things sit, they wrinkle, they collect lint or pet hair again, and you end up creating more work for yourself.

A good laundry system doesn’t require more products, more steps, or more effort.

It just requires consistency.

Pick a simple system that works for your home, use it regularly, and let it support your day-to-day life.

That’s what makes the difference.

Want more tips like this? Check out the free resources page.

The post How to Create Laundry Systems appeared first on More than Organized.

5 Household Systems That Save You Time & Money

Miriam Ortiz y Pino — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:28:00 +0000

We talk a lot about decluttering.

And yes, that matters.

But there’s another piece of this that doesn’t get talked about enough, and that’s systems.

Because you can declutter all you want, but if you don’t have systems in place for how things function in your home, the clutter is going to come right back.

What I see most often is that people have the stuff, but they haven’t thought through how they’re actually going to use it, replenish it, or adjust it when life changes.

That’s where systems come in.

A system is simply three things:

Where something happens
The tools you use
The steps you follow to get a result

When those are clear, life runs more smoothly. When they’re not, everything feels harder than it needs to be.

There are five main systems in every household that tend to create the most clutter when they aren’t defined.

Kitchen and Pantry

This is one of the biggest ones.

If you don’t have a clear process for how food moves through your home, things pile up quickly. You end up buying duplicates, food goes bad, and no one knows what to make for dinner.

A kitchen system isn’t just about where things go. It’s about how you:

Shop
Store food
Prep meals
Cook
Clean up

When you think through those steps ahead of time, everything becomes easier. You waste less food, spend less money, and reduce a lot of daily decision-making.

Wardrobe and Laundry

This is about more than just having clothes.

It’s about how you maintain them so you can actually get dressed and move through your day without friction.

If laundry isn’t getting finished all the way through, or you don’t have a clear system for what gets worn, washed, and put away, this is where things start to break down.

Linens and Cleaning

These go together.

Cleaning isn’t just about having supplies. It’s about having a system for how and when things get cleaned.

That includes:

Towels
Sheets
Cleaning tools
Cleaning routines

When there’s no system, cleaning feels overwhelming and inconsistent. When there is one, it becomes much more manageable.

Paper and Information

This is where a lot of people get stuck.

Mail comes in. Information piles up. And without a system for processing it, it turns into clutter very quickly.

You need to know:

Where paper goes when it comes in
What needs action
What needs to be stored
What can be discarded

Without that, it just accumulates.

Memorabilia

Everyone has this.

And if you don’t set boundaries around it, it will slowly take over your space.

This isn’t about getting rid of meaningful things. It’s about deciding:

Where they live
How much space they’re allowed to take up
How often you review them

Without that, it turns into clutter, even though it’s important to you.

The reason systems matter so much is because they remove the guesswork.

You’re not constantly deciding what to do next. You already know.

And that’s what saves you time, energy, and money.

If you’re not sure where to start, pick one system.

Start with your kitchen. Start with your laundry. Start with your paper.

Think through the steps. Define the process. Adjust as you go.

That’s how you create a home that actually works for you.

The post 5 Household Systems That Save You Time & Money appeared first on More than Organized.

What Are You Accommodating?

Miriam Ortiz y Pino — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:32:00 +0000

A Simple Shift That Can Change How You See Clutter

When it comes to organizing your home, most people think in terms of what they’re tolerating. The piles on the counter, the overstuffed drawers, the things that have slowly blended into the background of daily life.

But what if that’s not the most accurate way to look at it?

In this conversation, Miriam Ortiz y Pino from More Than Organized introduces a different perspective. Instead of asking what you’re tolerating, she invites you to consider what you’re accommodating.

That shift matters more than it might seem.

Tolerating vs. accommodating

To tolerate something means you’re simply putting up with it. It exists, and you’ve learned to live around it.

But to accommodate something means you’re actively making space for it. You’re providing room, energy, and attention. You’re giving it a place in your home and, whether you realize it or not, in your life.

When you start to look at your belongings through that lens, clutter takes on a new meaning.

You’re already making space for everything

Every item in your home is there because you’ve made space for it. You’ve allowed it to stay. You’ve created systems, even unintentionally, that support its presence.

And when those items no longer serve you, that’s where the disconnect begins.

You may still be accommodating them, even though they no longer align with your needs, your routines, or the way you want your space to function.

Why this creates that “stuck” feeling

This is where many people start to feel stuck.

It’s not just about having too much stuff. It’s about continuing to provide space for things that no longer belong.

Over time, that leads to frustration, overwhelm, and a sense that your home isn’t working the way it should.

Start with awareness, not action

One of the most practical ways to start shifting this is by taking inventory.

Not in a complicated, time-consuming way. Just by looking.

Open the drawer.
Check the back of the cabinet.
Lift the lid on the box you haven’t touched in a while.

You don’t need to make decisions right away. The goal is simply to become aware of what you’re actually accommodating.

That awareness is powerful.

Ask better questions

Once you see what’s there, you can begin to ask better questions.

Do you need multiple places for the same category of items, like batteries?
Would it make your life easier to have one designated space?
Are there things you’ve been holding onto out of habit rather than intention?

These are the kinds of shifts that start to change how your space functions.

Make space for what supports you

From there, organizing becomes less about decluttering for the sake of it and more about creating space for what truly supports you.

The goal isn’t to get rid of everything. It’s to be more intentional about what you continue to accommodate.

When you start making those shifts, even in small ways, your home begins to feel different. More functional. More aligned. Easier to maintain.

And that’s where real organization starts to take shape.

A simple question to start with

If this idea resonates with you, take a moment to look around your space today and ask yourself one simple question:

What am I accommodating that I don’t actually need to be?

You might be surprised by the answer.

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Things in Your Way

Miriam Ortiz y Pino — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:30:37 +0000

Identifying Physical, Emotional, and Perceived Obstacles to Getting Organized

If you’ve ever felt like you can’t get organized no matter how hard you try, it’s easy to assume the problem is time, energy, or motivation.

But often, the real issue is much simpler and more complex at the same time.

There are things in your way.

In this conversation, I break down the different types of obstacles that keep people stuck. And once you start recognizing them, it becomes much easier to take back control of your space and your routines.

Physical obstacles

Most people immediately think of physical clutter.

The items that fall out of cabinets, the piles of paper on the counter, the things you have to move just to get to what you actually need.

These are the most visible barriers, and they tend to create the most overwhelm because they are constantly in your line of sight.

The good news is that physical obstacles are also the easiest to change.

You can move them. You can reduce them. You can create systems that make your space more functional so that your home supports you instead of slowing you down.

Even small changes can make a noticeable difference in how your day flows.

Emotional obstacles

But physical clutter is only one piece of the puzzle.

Emotional obstacles often sit just beneath the surface.

These can show up as feelings of overwhelm, exhaustion, or even avoidance. Sometimes they are tied to past experiences or a lack of confidence in your ability to make changes.

You may not even realize they’re influencing your decisions, but they can quietly keep you stuck in the same patterns.

Perceived obstacles

Then there are perceived obstacles.

These are the stories you tell yourself about what you can and can’t do.

Thoughts like:

“I don’t have time”
“I’m not organized”
“I can’t say no”
“This will never work for me”

These beliefs feel real, but they are not always grounded in reality.

In many cases, they become the excuses that prevent you from taking action.

Where to start

This is where awareness becomes key.

When you start to notice the difference between what is physically in your way and what is simply perceived to be in your way, you begin to reclaim a sense of control.

And that control is what allows you to move forward.

You may not be able to change everything at once, but you can start with what is directly in front of you.

Clearing a surface. Creating a single home for frequently used items. Reducing the friction in your daily routines.

These small, practical steps build momentum and help shift your mindset over time.

What happens next

As you take action on the physical obstacles, something else happens.

You begin to challenge the perceived ones.

You gather evidence that you are capable of making changes.

And that creates a feedback loop that makes future decisions easier.

Over time, this process helps you move from feeling stuck to feeling in control.

A simple place to begin

If you’re not sure where to start, ask yourself one simple question:

What do I keep saying is in my way?

Listen to the answers. Notice the patterns.

Then take one small step to remove or rethink one of those obstacles.

The more you focus on what you can control, the more possible everything else begins to feel.

For more on this, check out the Declutter Masterclass - it's free!

The post Things in Your Way appeared first on More than Organized.

How to Know Your Outcome for Success

Miriam Ortiz y Pino — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 08:13:00 +0000

One of the biggest reasons people struggle to stay organized has nothing to do with motivation, discipline, or even how much stuff they have.

It comes down to not knowing what success actually looks like.

In this conversation, we highlight a common pattern I see with clients. They start an organizing project with a general idea in mind, something like “I just want this space to be clean.” And once the visible clutter is cleared, it can feel like the job is done.

But that’s often only the first step.

Clearing clutter is not the end goal

Clearing clutter is important, but it doesn’t automatically create a system that works long-term.

Without a clearly defined outcome, it’s easy to stop too early or miss the deeper issues that will eventually bring the clutter back.

That’s where defining your outcome becomes essential.

What a clear outcome actually does

When you know what you’re working toward, you have a roadmap.

You can make better decisions about what stays, what goes, and how your space should function.

Instead of organizing based on what looks good in the moment, you’re organizing based on how you actually want to live and use that space.

A simple example

If your goal is simply “a clean office,” you might declutter your desk and put everything away.

But if your true outcome is “a workspace that supports focused work and is easy to maintain,” the decisions you make will be different.

You’ll think about:

Accessibility
Workflow
How often you use certain items

You’ll also start to notice what might create friction later and address it now instead of dealing with it later.

Where most people get stuck

This is where many people stop too soon.

They achieve a surface-level result but don’t take the next step to build systems that support that result.

Over time, the space slowly returns to its previous state. Not because they failed, but because the outcome wasn’t fully defined.

Knowing when you’re not done yet

A clear outcome also helps you recognize when you’re not actually finished.

You may clear the clutter and feel relief, but then notice things like:

Items don’t have a consistent home
Certain tasks still feel harder than they should
The space doesn’t support your daily routines

Those are signs there’s another layer to address.

Organizing for sustainability

Organizing isn’t just about getting to a clean space.

It’s about creating a system that allows you to keep it that way without constant effort.

That requires thinking beyond the initial result and considering what will make the space sustainable.

Building systems that support your outcome

Once you know your desired outcome, you can start building systems and habits that support it.

That might look like:

Creating designated spaces for frequently used items
Simplifying categories
Adjusting your routines so your environment works with you

A question to start with

If you’re starting an organizing project, take a moment before you begin and ask yourself:

What does success actually look like for me in this space?

Be specific.

Think about how you want the space to feel, how you want to use it, and what would make it easier to maintain over time.

Because when you’re clear on your outcome, it’s much easier to know when you’ve actually reached it and how to stay there.

Find more resources like this on the blog.

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How to Avoid Failed New Years Resolutions

Miriam Ortiz y Pino — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 08:02:00 +0000

Every year, it happens.

You start with the best intentions. Clear goals. A fresh sense of motivation. Maybe even a full plan for how the year is going to go.

And then something interrupts it.

Life happens. You get sick, your schedule shifts, something unexpected comes up, or it simply doesn’t go the way you imagined.

And just like that, it’s easy to feel like you’ve already failed.

In this conversation, Miriam shares a refreshingly honest take on New Year’s resolutions and why so many of them fall apart so quickly. More importantly, she walks through how to approach your goals in a way that actually makes them sustainable.

Because the problem usually isn’t the goal itself. It’s how we approach it.

When things don’t go as planned

One of the biggest reasons resolutions fail is that people expect everything to go perfectly right from the start.

When that doesn’t happen, instead of adjusting, they give up entirely.

But an obstacle doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It just means you need to shift your plan.

That mindset alone can change everything.

Starting too big

Another common issue is starting too big.

When a goal feels overwhelming, your brain naturally resists it.

If thinking about your resolution makes you feel stressed, frozen, or like you don’t even know where to begin, that’s a sign it’s too much all at once.

Instead of aiming for perfection, focus on progress.

If you want to get organized, don’t try to overhaul your entire house in one weekend.

Start smaller.

Clear one surface. Build one habit. Work through one space at a time.

These smaller actions are what actually lead to long-term change.

Planning matters more than you think

Planning is another piece that often gets overlooked.

It’s easy to set a goal without thinking through what it actually requires.

Do you have the tools you need? The time set aside? The support from others in your household?

Without that foundation, even the best intentions can feel frustrating to follow through on.

Taking a little time to prepare can make a big difference.

Sometimes it’s as simple as making sure you have what you need before you start.

If your goal is to work out regularly, do you have the right equipment?

If you want to cook more at home, is your kitchen set up to support that?

Removing those barriers ahead of time helps you stay consistent.

Make sure your goals actually matter to you

Another key factor is making sure your goals are aligned with your values.

When a resolution is based on what you think you should do, it’s much harder to stick with.

But when it connects to something meaningful to you, it becomes easier to prioritize.

It stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling like a choice.

For example, saving money can feel restrictive if it’s tied to a vague future goal.

But if it connects to something you truly care about, like supporting your family or giving to others, it becomes more purposeful and easier to maintain.

This takes time

At the core of all of this is one important truth.

Building new habits takes time.

It’s not about getting everything right immediately.

It’s about showing up, adjusting when needed, and continuing forward even when things don’t go as planned.

The more you allow for flexibility, the more likely you are to stick with your goals long enough to see real change.

If you feel like you’ve already fallen off track

Take a step back and reassess.

Are your goals too big?
Do you have what you need to support them?
Are they aligned with what actually matters to you?

Make a few small adjustments and keep going.

Because success isn’t about a perfect start.

It’s about staying in it long enough to create something that lasts.

The post How to Avoid Failed New Years Resolutions appeared first on More than Organized.

Year End Review

Miriam Ortiz y Pino — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 05:34:00 +0000

How to Reflect, Reset, and Plan for a More Organized Year

Most people skip this step.
They jump straight into setting goals for the new year without ever looking at what actually happened in the last one. And then they wonder why nothing really changes.
A year-end review is what closes that gap.
In this conversation, Miriam shares how she approaches reviewing her year and planning ahead in a way that’s realistic, flexible, and actually useful in everyday life.
Not complicated. Not overdone. Just intentional.

Start with what worked (and what you actually enjoyed)

The first question Miriam asks is simple:
What did I love about this year?
This isn’t just about productivity or business wins. It can be anything that stood out in a positive way.
Projects, clients, routines, events, even books or shows. If it mattered to you, it counts.
This part matters because it gives you direction.
Instead of guessing what to focus on next year, you’re building from real experience. You already know what felt good and what worked.
That’s what you want more of.

Then get honest about what didn’t work

The second question:
What do I never want to do again?
This is where most people either rush through or avoid completely.
Sometimes it’s obvious. Something didn’t go well.
Other times, it’s more subtle. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t worth the effort. Or it didn’t move things forward the way you expected.
This is where refinement happens.
You don’t have to throw everything out. You can pull pieces from what worked and leave the rest behind.
This is especially true with things like launches, workflows, or recurring commitments.
Not everything needs to come with you into the next year.

Look at what you learned (this is where it clicks)

The third question:
What did I learn about myself?
This is usually where the most useful insights come from.
Over the course of a year, you get real data about how you work.
What you can handle. What drains you. What actually fits your life.
Maybe you realized you need more structure.
Maybe you learned you’re capable of more than you thought.
Maybe you figured out where things consistently fall apart.
That kind of awareness makes future decisions easier.

Use that information to plan ahead (without overcomplicating it)

Once you’ve looked back, planning the next year becomes a lot more grounded.
You’re not starting from scratch. You already know:

What you want to keep
What needs to go
What needs to change

Miriam talks about planning ahead not as a control tactic, but as a way to reduce decision fatigue.
If you already know what you’re focusing on, you don’t have to reinvent the plan every week.
You’re not wasting energy trying to figure out what to do next.
You just show up and execute.
That’s especially important on the days when your energy is low or things feel off. The plan is already there.

What this actually does for your year

A year-end review isn’t about looking back for the sake of it.
It’s about creating a clearer starting point.
When you take the time to review your year honestly, you stop carrying forward things that don’t belong.
You stop repeating the same patterns without realizing it.
And your plan for the next year actually reflects how you live and work, not how you think you should.

A simple way to start

If you haven’t done a year-end review before, start simple.
Look at your calendar.
Think through what stood out.
Write down what you’d repeat and what you wouldn’t.
That alone will give you more clarity than most goal-setting exercises people do in January. Our professional organizing services can help. Explore our free organizing resources for support.

Learn more: how to get organized

The post Year End Review appeared first on More than Organized.