Are you excited about the holiday season or already feeling overwhelmed? You might feel both. Mixed emotions are normal. Perhaps you’re feeling positive anticipation because you’ll get to spend more time with your family and friends. At the same time, you might also feel overwhelmed by everything you have to prepare.

I’ve been there, and so have many of my clients. I always look forward to extra time with loved ones, whether we’re hosting or visiting. Yet I also recognize that without self-compassion and planning, I can easily become overwhelmed. My goal each holiday season is to lean into the beauty of the holidays while doing ‘just enough’ planning to experience all the love and joy, too.

If you want more joy and less stress this holiday season, consider focusing on three areas that can help: thoughts, time, and things. If working on all three feels like too much, choose just one. Even one small shift can make a positive difference.

How to Easily Prepare Yourself for the Holiday Season

1. Your Thoughts Matter

The mind is powerful, and what you feed it matters. What thoughts are you focusing on?

Are your thoughts:

• Nourishing or negative?

• Making you feel more anxious or more self-compassionate?

• Tearing yourself down or reminding yourself, “You’ve got this”?

• Keeping you stuck in the past or helping you focus on the present?

• Focusing on everything that could go wrong or imagining what will work out?

• Stressing over the details or reminding yourself that you can ask for help?

We’re human, and we’re not perfect. I understand that it takes work to feed the brain positive thoughts, especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed. However, during those times, it becomes even more essential to speak to yourself with kindness, compassion, and positivity.

When you catch yourself heading down the path that fuels distress and overwhelm, stop, breathe, and notice. Then reframe. Just as the body needs nourishment to thrive, so does your brain. In this case, the nourishment your brain needs includes thoughts that lift you up, boost your agency, and foster compassion.

Focus on positive thoughts that resonate with you. Or try saying one of these sentences out loud or in your head:

• Just take the next small step.

• Take a breath.

• I will ask for help.

• I can work through this.

• I’ve got this!

ASK: What helps you refocus your mindset on the positive?

2. Your Time is Limited

One interesting aspect of the holiday season is that it has a distinct start and end. Honestly, that’s a good thing. It doesn’t go on indefinitely. If it helps, imagine the holiday season contained in a not-too-big bucket that holds a few months.

How will you fill your bucket? Will you:

• Overfill it until it spills over?

• Fill it comfortably, leaving a little room?

• Fill it only slightly, leaving plenty of free space?

It’s worth thinking about how you want your holidays to feel. It’s easy to get swept up in saying “yes” to every invite and doing more than you have time, capacity, or energy for. Think of your ‘time bucket’ as a visual boundary. Let’s extend that idea and consider your personal boundaries and how they shape your time.

When thinking about how you want to spend your time during the holidays, what do you want to invite in? Do you want:

• A lot of unplanned downtime

• Many parties and gatherings

• Quiet time with family and friends

• Travel time

• Time to make progress on special projects

• Time for yourself

The wonderful part is that you get to decide. It’s not too late to think about what you want first. That way, when an invite or request arrives, it's easier to say “yes” or “no.”

Here’s the most important part: Once you decide on your ideal holiday time mix, embrace it fully. You can adjust your plans and be flexible when needed. However, planning ahead can bring more ease and reduce decision fatigue.

ASK: What will your holiday time bucket include?

“We’re human, and we’re not perfect.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

3. Your Things Don’t Have to Overwhelm You

Have you noticed how the volume of stuff in your space seems to increase during the holidays? More belongings mean more to manage, and additional clutter can increase feelings of overwhelm.

Holiday thing-overwhelm can include:

• Gift buying and receiving

• Decorating and putting things away

• Preparing food and cleaning up

• Cards and other papers piling up

• Guests’ belongings ‘living’ in your space

• More recycling than usual

• Existing household stuff and clutter

If your goal is to have more ease and less overwhelm, editing and decluttering before the holidays helps tremendously. This might be the point where you start to panic at the thought of decluttering and letting go. I understand. However, acknowledging some uncomfortable thoughts and taking action anyway can make a meaningful difference.

If decluttering your entire home isn't realistic in the time you have, focus on one to three key areas that will have the biggest impact.

Areas that tend to get the most use during the holidays include:

• Kitchen

• Living room

• Dining room

• Guest bathroom

• Entryway

• Guest bedroom

To make decluttering less complicated, consider these ideas:

• Determine how much time you have to focus on decluttering.

• Select one to three areas to declutter.

• Schedule ‘decluttering time’ on your calendar.

• Focus on a decluttering sprint (15–45 minutes per area) rather than a deep dive.

• Prioritize clearing surfaces and floor space.

• Start with one area, such as the kitchen.

• Relocate anything that belongs elsewhere.

• Box or bag items for donation.

• Put other items in the trash or recycling.

• If you get stuck deciding, give yourself a pass for now and move on to the next thing.

• After you complete your sprint, take a break. Return when you’re ready to declutter the next area.

• Repeat until you’ve decluttered the areas you chose.

If you run out of time or energy, that’s OK, too. Even if you only get to one area, this is still a win. You can always reset and return to decluttering after the holidays.

ASK: Which area or areas would you most like to declutter before the holidays?

What Will a Compassionate, Human Approach to the Holidays Look Like to You?

Invite more ease, joy, and compassion this holiday season. Choose progress, not perfection. Give your attention to these three areas:

• Focus on reframing your thoughts.

• Decide what deserves your time.

• Make your physical spaces easier to manage.

Which ideas resonate with you? What will make the holidays less stressful and more joyful? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disorganized? You don't have to face this alone. I’m here to help! Get unstuck and make progress. Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward—with a local feel and a global reach.

Getting organized, making progress, and feeling less overwhelmed are possible, especially with support.

Let’s talk! I’m easy to reach.

• Schedule a discovery call

• Fill out the contact form

• Email me at linda@ohsoorganized.com

• Call 914-271-5673

Figuring out what’s possible can feel elusive for many reasons. Your mind can be busy, distracted, clouded, or overloaded. This “noise” can make it hard to see your options. Other factors can make possibility thinking harder, including:

• Unsupportive physical environment

• Overwhelming schedule

• Difficulty making decisions

What if you had a toolbox of questions that could reduce the chatter, bring clarity, and spark action?

Powerful questions can help you get unstuck while also offering benefits such as:

• Lowering stress

• Ruminating less

• Taking more action

• Boosting energy

• Improving well-being

James Clear writes a weekly 3-2-1 newsletter that I love receiving. The format is simple: he shares three ideas, two quotes, and one question. This post draws inspiration from his newsletter.

3 Powerful Questions to Cut Through the Noise and See What’s Possible

1. Remove Your Distraction

Oh, those distractions! They can be everywhere. There can be so many that trying to eliminate them all feels overwhelming. If physical interruptions or annoyances in your environment are getting in the way, removing one distraction is an excellent place to start.

To do this, Clear suggests that you “Pick one room where you spend a lot of time…Keep what serves you or inspires you. Remove what distracts you.”

Powerful Question 1:

“What is one item in this room that you no longer use or do not benefit from?”

— James Clear

2. Narrow Your Objective

There’s nothing wrong with thinking big or having a lot you want to accomplish. However, if too many goals or ideas make it hard to know what to focus on, consider narrowing the scope. This can help you get unstuck and make progress.

Clear says, “Clarity isn’t about knowing what you want to do with your life, it’s about knowing what you want to do this week. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to know your next step.”

Powerful Question 2:

“What is the next step you can take right now to support what you want to do this week?”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

3. Reframe Your Focus

Each day, do you tend to focus more on fixing problems or on enhancing what’s working? Neuroscience research suggests that our brains are wired for a negativity bias. In our evolutionary past, paying attention to potential threats helped keep us safe by detecting danger and responding quickly through fight, flight, or freeze. However, this bias can create obstacles today.

By recognizing this bias, you can ask different questions that shift your focus from fixing what’s wrong to building on what’s right. Clear shared an idea from executive coach Joe Hudson. Instead of asking a question that reinforces the negativity bias, “What’s wrong and how do I fix it?” try experimenting with this reframe instead:

Powerful Question 3:

“What’s right and how do I grow it?”

— Joe Hudson

What’s Possible for You?

When you clear the noise, clarify where to focus, and change how you approach what’s in front of you, meaningful progress follows. With three simple questions, you can not only imagine what’s possible but also take the action needed to make it happen.

Which questions resonate with you? How have you used these or similar questions? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disorganized? You don't have to face this alone. I’m here to help! Get unstuck and make progress. Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward—with a local feel and a global reach.

Let’s talk! I’m easy to reach.

• Schedule a Discovery Call

• Fill out the Contact Form

• Email me at linda@ohsoorganized.com or

• Call 914-271-5673

Getting organized, making progress, and focusing on what’s possible are all doable, especially with support.

This is a wonderful time to reflect on the past twelve months before the new year begins. In 2025, we had emotional, enriching, and deep conversations on the blog.

We walked together, shared tumultuous times, made exciting discoveries, and navigated life balance. In our free-flowing exchanges, insights, new perspectives, and hope emerged.

Meaningful Conversations

Our conversations about life balance, change, clutter, letting go, time management, motivation, organizing, hope, and more brought comfort, connection, learning, and joy.

Thank you for being part of this community. You inspire me to show up, write, think, and engage.

Deepest Gratitude

I am profoundly grateful for your thoughtful words and generous sharing. Based on your comments this year, I curated twelve of my favorite insights from you. Thank you, Diane Quintana, Ellen Delap, Hazel Thornton, Janet Barclay, Jill Katz, Jonda Beattie, Julie Bestry, Kim Tremblay, Melissa Gratias, Sabrina Quairoli, Seana Turner, and Yota Schneider.

You are consistent voices and participants who bring our conversations to life. I am grateful to you and to everyone who reads the blog, contributes to our discussions, or shares the posts. You infuse this community with hope, humor, curiosity, perspective, and learning.

Enjoy the year in review, one quote at a time!

12 Inspiring Quotes from Our Conversations This Year That Will Make You Feel Hopeful

1. Fresh Start | 3 Ways to Take a Slow Exhale & Refocus Energy for a New Fresh Start

“Giving yourself permission to downshift, reset, and refresh is the best way to pave the way for the next project.”

— Ellen Delap

2. Embrace Change | One Clarifying Question to Help Embrace Change in Your Life

“Change can be hard. Focusing on one small thing at a time can help.”

— Kim Tremblay

3. Next Step | How to More Easily Approach the Next Thing by Not Imposing Toxic Preconditions

“I was just in the middle of talking myself out of doing something because of uncertainty. Okay, time for a deep breath and some rational thinking.”

— Melissa Gratias

4. Letting Go | One Fun and Informative Letting Go Exploration with Organizing Colleagues

“People are more likely to let go of items if they know they are going to a good place.”

— Jill Katz

5. Clutter | 7 Inspiring Resources to Quickly Motivate You to Declutter Now

“Focusing only on the next step keeps me from becoming overwhelmed by decluttering and other large projects.”

— Janet Barclay

6. Time Management | How a Helpful Productivity Reframe Makes More Time for Fun

“As for productivity, no, it isn’t a dirty word, but neither is setting it aside for a while. I get a lot of satisfaction from completing my to-do list and from giving myself to the activities that soothe my spirit.”

— Yota Schneider

7. Motivation | 7 Powerful Motivation Quotes to Make You Feel Inspired When You Need a Boost

“Waiting to feel motivated never works for me. It’s more like I start, and then the motivation catches up.”

— Seana Turner

8. Enlisting Help | Here Are 5 Most Interesting and Best Finding Help Discoveries – v51

“I have my people to call for different types of help – the ones who just let me vent, the ones who want to help me brainstorm and plan, and the ones who are on my doorstep almost immediately. ”

— Jonda Beattie

9. Virtual Organizing | 5 Focused Ways a Virtual Professional Organizer Can Help During a Move

“Virtual organizers can pull out the essential steps and manage them, helping the client feel more in control of their time during this stressful moment.”

— Sabrina Quairoli

10. Possibilities | What Becomes Immediately Achievable When You Get Out of Your Own Way?

“I love reframing! One of my favorites is this: Instead of thinking ‘I’m anxious,’ or nervous to do something, think ‘I’m excited!’ to do it.”

— Hazel Thornton

11. Wonderfully Human | 5 Life Lessons I Learned About Patience and Promising Progress

“Tolerating discomfort, in particular, means that waiting is so much easier when you can focus on the fact that any uncomfortable situation is temporary. ”

— Julie Bestry

12. Life Balance | How to Nurture Joy, Reduce Anxiety, and Bring Balance to the Holidays

“I love the idea of embracing fun! It’s easy to get bogged down by the minutiae and to forget to look outside our to-do list and notice things around us.”

— Diane N. Quintana

Past Reflections and Future Possibilities

What was most significant to you this year? Which quote resonates most? What do you want to focus on in the New Year? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Let’s make 2026 a fabulous year! Do you want support in creating a better balance, letting go of what no longer serves you, or getting more organized? I’m ready to help. Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward - Local feel with a global reach.

Let’s connect! I’m easy to reach.

• Schedule a Discovery Call

• Fill out the contact form

• Email me at linda@ohsoorganized.com or

• Call 914-271-5673

Getting organized is possible, especially with support.

I wish you a happy, healthy, organized, and joy-filled New Year!

Motivation isn’t always there before you start what you want to do. It might be, but more often it shows up after you begin taking action. The mind can play tricks on itself and psych you out. It dwells on reasons why you can’t start or reach your goal. 

When that happens, motivation disappears, progress is elusive, and you feel stuck. You’re at an impasse. You can remain in this limbo, negative state, or you can turn things around.

If you’re ready to change the dynamics, I have some ideas to help. There are many ways to get unstuck, boost your motivation, and act on what matters most. I compiled three approaches related to focus, fear, and perspective.

3 Simple Ways to Improve Your Motivation and Get Unstuck

1. Motivation and Focus

“Focus on the seeds, not the trees. What seeds are you planting today?”

— James Clear

A common reason for a lack of motivation is feeling overwhelmed. It’s important to understand your overall goal or objective. However, focusing too far in the future on what it will take to reach that goal can be demotivating.

Instead, narrow your focus and stay present. This will help boost motivation. Invest in small actions that support your larger goal. Keep your attention on the now and your next step, while remembering your ‘why’.

Eventually, the seeds you plant will grow into the trees you desire.

REMEMBER: “Focus on the seeds, not the trees. What seeds are you planting today?” – James Clear

2. Motivation and Fear

“Any next action.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

A few months ago, Kara Cutruzzula, a writer, playwright, lyricist, and friend, wrote a piece on Substack called “Hop to the other side of fear.” She shared how being unprepared and scared can get in the way of progress, yet these are fixable challenges.

In response, I commented that fear, indecision, and uncertainty can be paralyzing and demotivating. However, taking any next action can help break that cycle.

• What fears are holding you back?

• What decision are you struggling to make?

• How can you get ready to take the next small step?

• How is uncertainty preventing you from moving ahead?

Taking action holds undeniable power. It encourages further progress, boosts motivation, quiets fears, and helps you move forward.

REMEMBER: “Any next action.” – Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

3. Motivation and Perspective

“Make your what-if questions positive, not negative.”

— Todd Henry

Someone once suggested to me that it’s unhelpful to ask ‘what-if’ questions. Honestly, that has never prevented me from pondering them. How you phrase the ‘what-ifs’ is essential.

Especially when you’re feeling stuck and lacking motivation, it’s more helpful to reframe your ‘what if’ questions from an optimistic perspective.

Instead of dwelling on:

• What if I never get my home organized?

• What if I don’t complete this decluttering project?

• What if I can’t change my unhelpful habits?

Instead try:

• What if I make my home organized enough so that our family feels calmer and less stressed?

• What if I finish this decluttering project so I can downsize to my new home?

• What if I change my bad habits to feel healthier and more energetic?

‘What if’ questions can motivate and encourage action when they are framed to highlight positive outcomes.

REMEMBER: “Make your what-if questions positive, not negative.” – Todd Henry

What Motivation Strategies Are Most Effective?

If “action precedes motivation,” as Julie Bestry, my friend and colleague, says, what helps you take that next step? Do you have motivational challenges? Which of these strategies resonates most with you?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you need support with motivation, activation, or organization? I’d love to help! Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward – Local feel with a global reach.

Let’s talk. You can:

• Schedule a Discovery Call

• Email me at linda@ohsoorganized.com or

• Call 914-271-5673

Organizing and sustaining motivation is possible, especially with support.