We made it! Hard to believe we’ve accomplished 52 Weeks of Organizing isn’t it? Thank you to everyone for participating whether it was for one week or all 52! At the beginning of the year I wasn’t sure how it was all going to play out especially because I decided ahead of time that I didn’t want it to be too restrictive for participants by assigning specific rooms or tasks to a specific week. I wanted to make this series open to everyone no matter where you were on your organizational journey and so I tried to center each week around a basic organizing principle or “food for thought” idea. I do hope you found it helpful and encouraging even if you weren’t always able to link up each week. What’s important is that you made progress. Progress is good.
Many of you asked if you’ll still be able to access the 52 Weeks posts next year and the answer is yes, definitely. I’ll keep the 52 Weeks tab up at the top of my site and if you click on that you’ll see a complete list of all the posts I’ve done for this series as well as a link to the 52 Weeks of Organizing Checklist. I won’t be continuing with the series in the new year but that’s only because I like to keep things fresh if possible. I think it might be time for another 30 day organizing challenge or two. I’ll keep you posted with details as I figure them all out 🙂
You’ve probably seen around blogland right now there is a lot of talk about resolutions and goal setting. I’m not much of a long term goal setter myself (for instance, I just can’t imagine planning out every single blog post for 2012 now, yikes!) but I definitely understand the merits of doing a little proactive thinking. I’m not saying having long term goals is a bad thing (and I definitely admire those do it) however I do find it can be overwhelming for me at times. So while I think having a 52 Weeks of Organizing plan is a great idea its purpose was/is not to stress you out further but rather have you think about the list of organizing tasks you wanted to accomplish throughout the year without assigning a specific task to a specific week. Each week you then select one task from your list based on the time you have available to devote to it that particular week.
So your challenge for this next week as we enter into the new year is to grab a clipboard (because clipboards are always fun!) and simply walk around your home listing the areas that are currently stressing you out with clutter and disorganization…don’t forget to break those tasks down into manageable steps. Start your year off with a tangible list of tasks and decide today what your first priority will be. Will this be YOUR year to kick chaos and clutter to the curb once and for all?
As always I’ll be here rooting you on. I am so proud of each and every one of you. You can do this! If you need any help please don’t be afraid to let me know where you are stuck and how I can help.
Questions:
1. If you followed the 52 Weeks series this year, how do you feel about where you are today on your organizational journey?
2. Out of the 52 posts I did which post would you say resonated with you the most?
3. Have you been able to develop new habits that have made a difference in how you deal with clutter and chaos?
4. What organizing task on your list is your number one priority for this next week?
5. If you could offer one piece of advice for those who are overwhelmed and up to their eyeballs in clutter and disorganization right now, what would it be?
Thanks again everyone and congratulations!!
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Please feel free to share your organizing journey and encourage one another in the comments. You are also invited to link up to the linky below with any posts related to your 52 weeks of organizing participation or to any post of an organizing nature that you feel will inspire and encourage others in their quest to get organized. Please remember to link back to here though so we can reach out to as many people as possible in need of some inspiration.
One other thing to consider: by including your link below you, you are giving me permission to use parts of your post including pictures as a spotlight in future 52 Weeks of Organizing posts. Proper credit and links will of course be provided. If you are not okay with this please do not link up. Thanks!
Jenn says
Thanks so much for all of your organizing inspiration! Wishing you a fun filled New Years and fabulous 2012!
Jenn 🙂
Laura says
Thanks Jenn!
Michelle @ Getting Through the Day says
I wish I had found this series sooner, but I only found it a few weeks ago. Even before finding the series, this had definitely been a year of organizing for me as we’ve come out of the baby stage and entered solely into the kid stage. The one area that I have repeatedly neglected all year long is my bedroom. I throw everything in there that doesn’t have a place and then let it pile up to keep the parts of the house that the kids use in order. I’m definitely going to be focusing on that into the New Year. I keep putting it on my “To Do List”, but never seem to get to it!
Laura says
Here’s a post that might help:
https://orgjunkie.com/2008/04/organizing-the-master-bedroom-get-the-clothes-off-the-floor.html
Cynthia H. Bannister says
even though we just discovered it we can start 2012 with the52 weeks and we don’t have to wait to read the post each week. Just started my 52 weeks this week.
Kirstie says
I missed most of the series, but still gleaned LOTS of useful organising tips. Currently working on my craft cupboard and the kid’s toys. I’m buying 5L containers and using them to organise with (idea from you, of course!). And your advice to pick and area, clean it out and then organise has been excellent for me – do-able tasks.
Laura says
Progress is good!!!
Martha says
Thanks so much for hosting the 52 week challenge Laura, that’s for all the motivation and inspiration too. Happy New Year!
Laura says
Thanks Martha!!
Mrs. Wilson says
Noah and I are REALLY hoping to have a clutter-free 2012, since 2011 was quite clutter-filled. I’m blaming the baby. We’re trying to do the entire house before the end of the year because we’re insane like that! I plan on following along with your blog more closely in the new year. 🙂
Laura says
You had a very busy 2011, here’s hoping 2012 will be a great one for you!!!
The Bearded Iris says
Hands down, the best part of this series for me was making some new friends who have the same struggles and interests. I made a TON of progress this year, and having the 52 Weeks posts to hold me accountable and give me bite-sized inspiration and focus was the main reason I got as far as I did. I still need to work on completing and maintaining my projects, but overall, I’m very pleased.
Laura, thank you so much for all the inspiration and support! You have been a blessing to me in 2011. Happy New Year!
Laura says
Thank YOU for the great giggles, you are awesome and we’ve missed you around here for sure 🙂
Kim ~Recipes To Run On says
Great tip to make a master list of items we’d like to tackle in the coming year! Will do that this weekend. Happy New Year!
Laura says
All the best to you Kim!
Linda Stoll says
The post that really hit home for me was #26 How Much is Enough?
Wow! How much simpler our lives would be if we simply possessed what we have room to own. What would easily fit into our drawers and closets. What didn’t need to be piled and stacked and sorted and stored and jammed into every conceivable space.
As a counselor and life coach, I was super-familiar with the whole concept of boundaries in relationships. But this has added another level of boundaries that most of us need, as well.
Your blog’s been one of my favorites this year! Thank you for inspiring me with wonderful, hands-on ideas!
Laura says
So nice, thanks Linda! Happy New Year to you as well 🙂
raven says
I feel like we made a ton of progress in 2011, but I’m “down” right now and feel like everything is a mess because Santa exploded all over the house, and we are still recovering/completing the kitchen renovation – but trying to keep in mind it will only be that way for a short time and we’ll be back on track and better than we were before!
The 52 Weeks is something I’d like to do every year especially as I learn more (this year I set goals that were too big – even though I met most, it was stressful.) 2012, I’ll be using what I learned – and list on my clipboard *wink* – to do a better 52 Weeks page. Can’t wait to see what the house looks like and if life is easier in 2013!
My only real resolution is that I want to update my blogs every.single.week at least once. That’s my goal. It’s been a friend, it’s led to some new friends, and it’s neat looking back and seeing where we were then and where we are now.
I have purged SO much stuff that we weren’t using, but there is still a long road to go. I am not an extreme minimalist, but I really dislike clutter and just things that we don’t use or need taking up space. It’s been nice reclaiming nice, open, clear and clean areas of the house.
Laura says
You’ve done a great job, don’t get discouraged! Keep up the great work!!
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
I’m looking forward to some 30 day challenges next year. Thank you for all your wonderful tips all year. Have a very Happy New Year!
Laura says
You too Claire!
hsmominmo says
I’m grabbing my clipboard and doing a walk-through, taking notes. We’ll definitely be focusing on ‘containerizing’ and keeping our stuff within their boundaries.
Looking forward to your 30-day challenges this coming year!
Thanks for getting my New Year off to a great start!
MemeGRL says
Just checking in to say thanks even though I lost it around week 13. Nothing earth-shattering, just life intervened and I couldn’t (didn’t choose to) keep up anymore. I loved the posts and used 3-5 more as inspirations in future weeks….it was a great series though and I’m glad it will be here! Love your challenges…I am a recovering hoarder and am still trying to dissemble my collection back in to the universe and need the prods. Thanks & Happy new year to you!
Laura says
All the best to you in the New Year!!
MemeGRL says
And let me be clear–I’m not a clinical hoarder but I am the daughter of one (sub TV worthy but still–oy)…and I fight the “keep it in case” or “keep it because” mentality every day. I don’t use the term lightly or disrespectfully to those who are truly struggling–been there!
Sandi says
I only wish I had found you sooner. I also did not find this site until 4 weeks ago. I have been a pack rat like my father and grandmother for as long as I can remember. I love to watch those hoarder shows because they make me feel better about my house (we can sit on the sofa and beds and the floors are basically visible) but I can also see myself in those people.
I have a mentally challenged daughter and my own health has not been great. The dust and collection of “treasures” in my room have not been helpful to my asthma. For my and my daughter’s health and welfare I think it is time to start teaching her a simpler kinder lifestyle.
Thank you for breaking the house down into reachable baby steps. I will start my 52 weeks of freedom this year and follow all the other wonderful advise from everyone.
Laura says
It’s never too late to start Sandi. I want to wish you an organized 2012, all the best to you!!
Ellie says
Thank you Laura. I plan on continuing the 52 week challenge on my own, using last years posts. It has made a significant difference in my home. Looking forward to the upcoming 30 day challenges.
Have a very Happy New Year. You have been a blessing to me.
Laura says
Thanks so much Ellie, your kind words mean so much to me. Happy New Year!
Elizabeth@ReadySetSimplify says
Hi Laura,
Thank you so much for this series. I think I jumped in around half-way through, and it really helped me! I need to go back through and read all of the posts.
I think the post that resonated with me the most was week #24: https://orgjunkie.com/2011/06/52-weeks-24-finish-what-you-start.html
I’ve been thinking about it quite a bit, and just posted some tips that I’m trying. i’ll link up the post, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
Cheoy Lee says
Your blog is the only one which inspires me to be organised! Thanks for committing to help the chaotic folk out there!
Laura says
Ahhh so nice, thank you!!
Nita says
Please start the 52 week organising challenge again!
Rebecca says
I am new to your blog and don’t have a site to linky to, but I wanted to let you know that I am inspired to participate in some weeks of Organizing after reading your blogs and lots of the linkys. I started reading on Vacation over New Years and particulary latched onto the Housewife of NYC’s plan of Organizing the weeks leading up to her baby’s birth. Starting with the 1st week of 2013, I had 14 wks to plan for. As a helpful wife, I also made 14 wks of Organizing plans for my husband, the handy-man of this fixer-upper. I’ll just share mine.
1. Vacation! check.
2. Set up Planners, buy OrgJunkie App, Revise schedule, check.
3. Clear out Loft for daughter
4. Organize office, file taxes
5. Rearrange furniture in Master BR
6. Organize Kitchen
7. Organize Boys’ Rm, purge toys, clothes
8. Organize Linen closet and Laundry area
9. Freezer planning and Clean Fridge/Freezer out
10.Seasonal Clothing Swap
11. Start Seeds indoors, turn soil
12. Freezer Cooking for Babymoon
13. Thorough cleaning
14. Baby week
For reference, we live in SW Virginia in a little farmhouse on a little farm, we have 4 boys, 1 girl and baby due 4/1/13, unknown gender.
Thanks for the inspiration and lots of help with the plan. Happy New Year!
Laura says
Hi there, your list is awesome and totally doable. Since this 52 weeks of organizing challenge is an old one there are no more link ups for it but I left all the posts up anyway so people could still follow along at their own pace if they wanted to.
All the best with your baby!