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

Possibilities aren’t only about imagining what could be. They’re also about choosing what deserves your energy and recognizing when it’s time to act.

You can feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disorganized and still have options. This is good news, especially if you’re struggling. Things don’t have to stay the same. You don’t have to change everything at once or set a specific timeline.

I chose three ideas to help you:

• Harness the power of the present

• Embrace your season of change

• Remain open to what’s possible

If you feel stuck, struggle to imagine what’s possible, or aren't sure where to begin, try one of these ideas. It might help you see a way forward.

3 Helpful Ideas to Inspire More Action and Explore Possibilities

1. Notice Energy

Recently, I read Michelle Gielan’s new book, Resilient Optimism, which is filled with strategies for embracing what’s possible. I love reading physical books and using my yellow highlighter to capture ideas I want to revisit.

One was a question Michelle posed:

“What is actually worth my energy today?”

This question gets to the heart of things, especially when you have lots of options and are trying to figure out what is possible. After all, on any given day, you have many choices about what you:

• Want to do

• Must do

• ‘Should’ do

• Intend to do

• Love to do

• Hope to do

Some of those tasks and pursuits originate with you, while others come from people in your life, such as family, friends, bosses, or colleagues.

Michelle’s question offers a useful way to evaluate these choices. Like time, your energy isn’t limitless. You have only so many hours and so much energy to pursue what you want, need, and hope to do in this precious life.

Your energy is valuable. It has worth, as the question suggests. When considering what is possible today, factor in the energy you have right now. Which tasks align with your current capacity? Which ones deserve your attention and effort today?

2. Recognize Timing

An inciting incident, season, or time of year can inspire action. Perhaps you’ve wondered how different life would feel if you sorted through the piles of paper, organized your closets, decluttered your schedule, changed careers, or moved somewhere else. As you’ve considered various changes, have you delayed taking action, waiting for the ‘right’ time? I see this frequently.

You might be waiting for a particular season, ideal circumstances, or a sense of readiness that may never arrive. Sometimes the reasons for delaying action sound like this:

• “I’ll wait until winter to start.”

• “I just need to finish the school year.”

• “I have to get through this busy period before doing anything else.”

• “I’ll start when things settle down.”

• “I need a full day to get started.”

• “I’m waiting until I feel ready.”

• “After the holidays, things will be less hectic.”

• “I’ll start when I can give it my full attention.”

• “I don’t know what to do next.”

• “I want things to be different, but I don’t know if I have the energy to do the work.”

• “I don’t have the time. I never do.”

In a recent conversation with my virtual organizing colleagues, we explored when people are most likely to get organized and how marketing messages tie that process to the seasons. As someone who lives in the Northeast, I am deeply influenced by the changing seasons. I often use nature’s seasonal cadence to review and reset each quarter.

You’ve heard phrases like:

• “Fresh Start for the New Year” (winter)

• “Spring Cleaning” (spring)

• “Summer Refresh” (summer)

• “Get Organized Before the Holidays” (fall)

But changing seasons and their accompanying marketing messages aren’t the only cues. Instead of waiting for a particular season to pursue possibilities, what if you considered the Now Season? Thinking of this as your Now Season shifts the focus from waiting for the right time to considering what you can do now. You don’t need to wait one more day, focus on one more obstacle, or delay any more.

Make this your season of change as you journey toward what’s possible. Obstacles will come, but don’t let them stop you. Face them head-on. Reach out for help if needed. Take the next tiny step.

This is the Now Season. Make this your season.

3. Imagine Possibilities

This idea comes from a quote shared with me by my good friend, Yota Schneider, a life coach, women’s circle facilitator, and meditation guide. The quote captures the natural push-and-pull between life as we know it and what might be possible.

Robin Wall Kimmerer said,

“We live in the tension between what is and what is possible.”

What a beautiful truth to recognize. Perhaps more than anything, this idea acknowledges that you live as you do now. It’s what you know and what you’re used to. It’s a safe place to be.

At the same time, whether you are happy with life as you know it or not, you can imagine other possibilities. Those could be major changes or tiny tweaks. Perhaps that tension between “what is and what is possible” creates the opening for change.

What else might be possible? What would you like to pursue?

What Can Exploring Possibilities Look Like?

Be mindful of your present capacity, consider the “Now Season” your time for change, and stay open to what’s possible. These ideas can help you get unstuck and move forward in a compassionate, inspired way.

Which ideas resonate with you? What feels more possible now? 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 pursuing what’s possible are all doable, 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 or

• Call 914-271-5673

Enjoy the latest edition (v57) of the “What’s Interesting?” series, featuring my recent finds that inspire, spark curiosity, and connect to organizing and life balance. These unique possibility discoveries reflect this month’s blog theme.

You are an engaged, vibrant, and generous group. I’m deeply grateful for your ongoing presence, positive energy, and contributions to this community. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and seeing what else you can add to this curated collection.

What do you find interesting?

What’s Interesting? – 5 Best Possibility Discoveries

1. Interesting Read – Possibility Mindset

Do you struggle to stay positive and imagine what’s possible, especially during dark times? If so, I highly recommend Resilient Optimism – The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times by positive psychology researcher and bestselling author Michelle Gielan.

Drawing on neuroscience research and her work with thousands of leaders, Gielan says, “Resilient optimism is not a one-time mindset. It’s a practice. A daily redirection. A moment-by-moment invitation to pivot toward what’s constructive, energizing, and meaningful.”

When your brain focuses on what’s broken, it limits the brain’s potential. Gielan explains, “The brain runs best when fueled by optimism. The brain is naturally good at detecting threats – we call it negativity bias. When we solely focus on what’s broken, the brain’s threat center (the amygdala) lights up, pulling resources away from the problem-solving prefrontal cortex. But when we also engage with what’s working, the brain responds with creativity, energy, and greater resilience.”

The good news is that resilient optimism is a behavioral shift you can learn. Whether you consider yourself an optimist or a pessimist, Gielan shares doable ways to build your reserves through “deliberate, repeatable actions.”      

Her strategies include ways to:

• Recalibrate your mindset

• Change your stress response

• Triage your commitments

• Recharge smarter

• Take small actions

• Be a “positive deviant”

What will become possible as your mindset shifts?

2. Interesting Product – Possibility Openers

What happens when you feel stuck and are in a mental rut? Do you shut down, feel low on energy, get anxious, or find it difficult to imagine a way forward? If so, you’re not alone. There are many ways to get unstuck.

Decades ago, creatives Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt created Oblique Strategies, a deck of cards designed to help artists, musicians, writers, and other creatives “break through mental roadblocks” and “approach their work from fresh, unexpected angles.” The prompts can help anyone.

Each card offers a single, direct suggestion, such as “Use an old idea” or “Listen to the quiet voice.” Not every prompt will resonate with you, but some might offer the fresh perspective you need. “The goal is to challenge habitual thinking patterns and invite new possibilities into the creative process.”

Are you ready to explore new possibilities? If so, this deck could help.

“Resilient optimism is not a one-time mindset. It’s a practice.”

— Michelle Gielan

3. Interesting Article – Possibility Walk  

In the Time article “Why You Should Take a 10-Minute ‘Thinking-Walk,’” writer Angela Haupt highlights the many benefits of walking, including:

• Processing thoughts

• Sparking creativity

• Solving problems

• Taking an intentional break from technology

• Resetting after intense focus

• Improving mood

• Reducing stress

• Protecting long-term mobility

• Easing anxiety and depression

Imagine what a “thinking walk” could do for you. When your mind is full, you’re stuck on a problem, or you’re struggling to imagine what’s possible, take a walk. Research highlights the value of walking without your electronic devices. Disconnect and let your mind wander. You can do this. It’s only ten minutes.

Although you can walk indoors, walking outdoors can further boost your well-being.

4. Interesting Resource – Possibility Shifts

Are you or someone you know overwhelmed by shopping too much? During a presentation on overshopping, I learned that 33.5 million people are addicted shoppers. We live in a society that constantly bombards us with marketing messages to buy more, newer, and better things. Sales entice us to buy things we don’t really need. Messages like “shop till you drop” make light of a serious addiction: overshopping.

Does breaking the shopping cycle feel impossible? If so, help is available. Carrie Rattle is a financial therapist, shopping-addiction expert, and founder of Behavioral Cents. Dr. April Lane Benson, Carrie’s colleague, friend, and a pioneer in the field of overshopping, mentored Carrie. In 2020, April sold her business to Carrie.

Carrie offers a variety of services, including individual coaching, group coaching, an online community, workshops, and her book, To Buy or Not To Buy – Tools to break the cycle and take control of your life.

What would be possible if you could, as Carrie says, shift from “compulsion to control”?

5. Interesting Thought – Possibility Scenario

“You are allowed to imagine the best case scenario.” Mindset matters. Instead of dwelling on “I can’t,” “It will never happen,” or “It’s going to be awful,” consider what might be possible. Focus on learning, growing, and exploring new possibilities.

Shifting your thoughts can help you change your path. Think about a project or situation you’re finding challenging right now. What does the best-case scenario look like? What’s one small action you can take now to move in that direction?

What Is Possible Now?

When it’s hard to imagine what’s possible, what helps? As I’ve shared, there are many ways to shift your thoughts and actions and move forward with a more possibility-focused perspective.

Which of these discoveries resonates most with you? Do you have resources or ideas about possibility thinking to share? I’d love to hear your thoughts and invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disorganized? Are your thoughts keeping you from living the life you want? I’m here to help. Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward—Local feel with 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

Decluttering, getting organized, and seeing what’s possible can happen, especially with support.

Feeling stuck is something everyone experiences. It can also take a toll on motivation. Have you felt this way lately?

There can be many reasons you might feel at a standstill, such as:

• Overwhelm from a big or complex project

• Perfectionism and the belief that you have to do it “the right way”

• Decision fatigue that leaves you with little capacity to act

• Unclear about what to do next

• Lack of accountability or support

• Unrealistic expectations about what can be accomplished

• Fear of failure, success, or making the wrong decision

• Waiting until you feel motivated

Do any of these sound familiar, or is there another reason holding you back?

The “I Can’t” Mindset

When you get stuck, something psychological can happen. Instead of feeling a sense of agency and believing you will figure things out and move forward, you focus on what isn’t possible or what you can’t do.

The “I Can’t” mindset could be what’s keeping you stuck. You might ruminate or focus on messages like:

• “This project is so big. I’ll never get it done.”

• “I don’t know where to start.”

• “I don’t have the time.”

• “I don’t have the energy.”

• “It’s impossible for me to get organized.”

• “I’ll never catch up.”

• “I’m afraid I’ll make the wrong decision.”

• “I need to feel motivated first.”

Are any of these phrases ones you ‘hear’ yourself say? Identifying your unique “I Can’t” provides valuable insight into what’s keeping you blocked.

The Shift That Unlocks You, Builds Momentum, and Sparks Motivation

Mindset is everything. It can make all the difference in how you experience life and in what you do or don’t do. One way to take control of the narrative that hasn’t been working for you is to change the dialogue.

Instead of focusing on what’s not possible or your “I Can’t” list, use one of these possibility-infused questions to work its magic. Some options include:

• What’s one small step I can take right now?

• What’s possible today?

• What’s one thing I can do in the next five minutes?

• What’s good enough for today?

• What would make this a little easier?

And if you want an elegantly simple question, here’s one from James Clear that I love:

“What can I do?”

Ask a possibility-focused question to immediately shift your mindset toward a more positive, proactive one. 

“What can I do?”

— James Clear

The Choice Is Yours

It doesn’t feel good to be stuck. Your internal dialogue strongly shapes whether you stay stuck or move forward. Pay attention to the messages you tell yourself. You have the power to shift the dialogue from “I can’t” to “I can.”

Which phrases help or hurt you? How could a shift in mindset benefit you? How would that shift help you get unstuck? In what ways would it help build your motivation? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you feel overwhelmed, disorganized, and stuck? Are you struggling with a lack of motivation? I’m here to help! You don’t have to do this alone. Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward – Local feel with 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, cultivating motivation, and reaching your goals are possible, especially with support.