I was honoured to be featured on WMTW News 8 Portland in their post-holiday article, “10 Little Things Professional Organizers Always Do the Week After Christmas.” Written by Juliana LaBianca of the Good Housekeeping, the piece thoughtfully captured what many professional organizers know from experience: the most effective resets rarely begin on January 1st. They start earlier in the quieter and often-overlooked space before the year speeds up again.
What I appreciated most about the article is how it framed this in-between week. Rather than presenting it as a time for pressure or perfection, it highlighted it as a pause. A moment to notice, reflect, and gently reset without the weight of “starting over.” A space that allows us to move through seasons without burning ourselves out.
As a professional organizer for over two decades and the founder of Out of Chaos, this philosophy sits at the heart of my work. I see it every year: many people arrive in January already mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted. This feature helped normalize a more compassionate and realistic approach to organization, that clarity does not come from doing everything at once, but from paying attention to what actually needs care.
Why Professional Organizers Focus on the Week After Christmas.
The days between Christmas and New Year’s are often underestimated. Routines are disrupted, homes are fuller than usual, expectations soften, and a quiet mental list for January has already begun forming. From an organizing perspective, this creates a rare and valuable opportunity.
Rather than waiting for January 1st and attempting a full reset during one of the most demanding weeks of the year, this in-between time allows for something far more effective: observation. I intentionally use these days to notice patterns.
- What truly earned a permanent place in my home?
- What belonged only to the season?
- What quietly became clutter without meaning to?
From there, it becomes much easier to see what actually worked in your home and what didn’t. This kind of awareness is powerful. Often, it brings more relief than action ever could.
The Intentional Choices Behind the Tips
Many of the practices highlighted in the article reflect how you can approach organization during the in-between week and carry these habits throughout the year.
Assessing holiday overflow zones is always a starting point. Pay close attention to areas like gift-wrap bins, decoration storage, and the temporary landing spots where holiday items tend to collect (entryways, spare rooms, and closets). I also address gift-adjacent clutter, such as duplicate items or aspirational gifts. This is an ideal moment to donate or sell anything that doesn’t fit your current lifestyle, before good intentions quietly turn into clutter by January.
Moodboarding can be a surprisingly effective practice during this quieter week. By mapping the flow of your home alongside your daily movement, you may notice small but meaningful opportunities for change, like relocating frequently used items or simplifying routines to better support how you naturally move through your space. Taking photos of organized spaces that worked well can also serve as helpful reference points for the year ahead. Take a photo of organized spaces from your home that you like the most or grab inspirations online. Over time, the moodboard becomes a quiet reference point, helping you make decisions without slipping back into overcomplication. It’s a visual guide for living with intention and ease.
Add gentle structure to systems and calendars. Rather than committing to a full overhaul in January, decide how often things realistically need attention whether quarterly, seasonally, or through short digital cleanups. Gentle structure supports rest, maintenance, and sustainable rhythms. This might look like reminders for personal admin, home upkeep, or simply protected downtime.
Another important step is tackling one problem area at a time. Reflect on what felt heavy in your home over the past year and address the root causes slowly and thoughtfully. This is about noticing patterns and making small adjustments that create lasting calm. Leave space in drawers, closets, and even in your schedule, because space itself is a form of organization. Reset systems so they’re ready to use by January, even if they are not perfect.
Clear digital and financial clutter. Reviewing subscriptions and digital clutter can lift mental weight before it quietly follows you into the new year. This is the ideal time to cancel anything that crept in unnoticed: streaming trials, delivery apps, unused memberships. Taking care of this now helps you avoid starting the new year with unnecessary financial and mental noise.
The article also features insights from other professional organizers, including Cathy Orr, co-founder of The Uncluttered Life and a certified KonMari Master, who suggests refreshing the fridge or pantry by wiping it clean as you go for a total reset. Brittany De La Fuente of St. Louis Closet Co. highlights sorting through kids’ items and inboxes, while Alison Finn of Reclaim Professional Organizer recommends clearing your camera roll to reduce digital overwhelm. More of these thoughtful tips are shared in the full article.
Each suggestion is small by design. Small actions, when done with intention, are far more sustainable than dramatic clean-outs fueled by guilt or urgency. You don’t need to do everything during the in-between week, give yourself permission to move through these changes one step at a time this year.
What I Hope Readers Took Away
This media feature validated a quieter and more compassionate approach to organization.
Clutter is rarely about the stuff. More often, it reflects timing, energy, life transitions, and the stories we tell ourselves about what should be done. Being included in this conversation allowed me to reinforce a core belief at the heart of my work:
You don’t need a fresh start. You need permission to move at a human pace.
I’m deeply grateful to WMTW News 8 Portland for highlighting that organization can be supportive, flexible, and compassionate, especially during seasons of transition. I also appreciated how Juliana LaBianca captured that tone so clearly. The article reminds us that you don’t need a dramatic reset to move forward, just a moment of attention and permission to begin gently.
If this approach resonates with you, know that the right support and resources are available.
Organization doesn’t need to be loud, rushed, or rooted in “starting over.” Sometimes it’s about noticing what feels heavy, leaving space instead of filling it, and resetting systems so they’re ready without needing to be perfect.
Full credit goes to Good Housekeeping, the original publisher of this article.
We greatly appreciate Good Housekeeping for providing this valuable information. We also thank WMTW News 8 Portland, MSN, and KOAT Action News 7 for helping share and spotlight this content across their platforms.