The beginning of a new year usually sparks fresh optimism, which in turn inspires a laundry list of ambitious resolutions that we hope to accomplish. But with the turning of the calendar, we often fall right back into old habits and abandon those goals—so quickly that January 10 is often referred to as “National Quitter’s Day.” With just a few days ticked off in 2025, it’s not too late to focus on establishing helpful new routines instead of stressing out with anxiety-provoking to-do lists.

Much of what I share and teach has come from my personal experience. I found that as I became more organized, the rest of my life seemed to fall into place as well. Calmness in one area seemed to spill over into other areas, and I felt a greater sense of peace – even with the “normal” stressors of everyday life that were beyond my control.   

I readily acknowledge that there is no “right” or “wrong” way to organize. Given many different factors—such as your house, schedule or kids—and different stages of life, what works well for one person may not work for another. But the underlying principles of successful organization can be broadly applied to most any situation, with slight tweaks for a custom fit.

When I talk about establishing or improving routines, it is important to practice adaptability—which simply means recognizing that “life happens.” Very rarely will each day look like the one before it: toilets overflow when you’re late for work, kids get sick on the day of their band performance, and storms knock out power when you have a full laundry basket and you’re out of clean socks. We have to accept that our routines will become interrupted—and having a strong system of organization will help us stay calm so we can focus on getting life back on track.

If you find yourself rushing around in the morning with constant bad luck, you can greatly improve your fortunes by getting as much done before bed as possible. I have found that what I am able to accomplish at night will dictate how the morning starts off, which in turn sets the tone for the rest of the day—it also helps me sleep better at night without having to repeatedly run through a mental checklist of everything I must do when I wake up.

For those who work from home (and especially if you’re caring for children or other family members), it’s just as important to establish a daily routine of getting up at the same time and getting dressed—just as you would if you were leaving to drive to a physical location.

Here are a few tips for putting more organization and control into your daily routines:

• Try to have a set bedtime for both kids and adults, allowing for 30 minutes of flexibility, so you’re able to fall asleep faster and get more rest.
• If possible, divide shower/bath times between nighttime and morning, if that works for your family, so you get out of the house earlier and build in more time for your commute.
• Have outfits and accessories picked out and ready to go the night before, so you’re not rushing around trying to match socks, shoes and belts.
• Prepare some or all of any lunches that will be taken to-go and use your refrigerator to keep them fresh.
• Depending on the size of your family and ages of your children, assign some of your morning tasks, such as walking the dog, making the coffee, etc. to others who may have extra time (perhaps because they showered the night before).
• Put work laptops and charging cords in work bags and have them by the door ready to go—same for kids’ backpacks and athletic bags for after-school practices.
• Review your calendar each night. If you’re going to a new location or a first-time appointment the next day, save the address in your phone so the driving directions are readily available.
• Load dirty dishes into the dishwasher (or hand wash, if necessary) before going to bed.
• Clear and wipe all kitchen countertops at night so they are clean and ready to help you function in the morning.
• Make your bed each morning! Even if you just straighten the sheets and covers, fluff the pillows and fold down the comforter—it will make a huge difference in feeling more organized and you will sleep better each night.

What are you incorporating into your daily routines in 2025? Leave me a comment below. And reach out if I can help you develop time-saving organization strategies for your family.