If you're not a "paper person," you might be surprised to know how many people in these modern times still receive statements and hold on to paper for various reasons. In the case of the photo here, my client is 90, but I've created systems just like this for people in their 20s. Sometimes, it's actually a crucial step in a journey towards digitizing more.

20 years into my organizing career, I'm still learning new things. (2021 marked my 20 year anniversary as a Professional Organizer!) I always make it a point to not recycle lessons learned, and this year was no exception. To be honest, I only outlined this a couple of weeks ago. This means a LOT more was learned, but I scrambled at the last minute and most lessons remembered came later in the year. In 2022 I'd like to create these lists more often, triggering me to reflect as I go.  

Ever since I joined the library a couple years ago, I've become an avid reader. 90% of my reading is done for about 20-30 minutes in bed before turning the lights off. One night at a time, I finished 18 books this year.

No matter where you are in your organizing journey, it’s possible to feel relief. No matter how much you have to sort, it’s possible to feel hopeful from where you stand. What can you do today to put yourself on the path to being more organized? 

When I'm in a client's home organizing their paper, it's common for woes about a disorganized financial life to enter the conversation. I'm always listening out for what tools and resources people I personally know are using. Here are five that my clients and me use and love, from apps to financial organizing pros.

Many of my clients have a shelf or more of old notebooks. They range from barely filled to completely filled. These can date back many years and take up a lot of space. Just knowing they're there can subconsciously weigh us down. A lot of us are keeping them for too long, never taking the time to review their contents to see if any of it is worth keeping.