How to Get Motivated to Organize (Even If You’d Rather Do Anything Else)
The stacks of Pokemon cards were everywhere, there had to be a better way!
Let’s be honest—if you’ve ever opened a drawer and thought, “What if I just tossed it all?”... you’re not alone.
Organizing doesn’t always feel natural, especially when your brain is wired for creativity, newness, or a little bit of both. But even if you’d rather watch shorts, look for new trips, or take a nap (guilty), organizing can actually feel good. And no—this does not require a shopping trip or a complicated multi-step organizational process.
Your Brain’s Not Broken. You Just Need a Dopamine Strategy.
Just because others have success with one way of organizing, doesn’t mean that the same strategy will work for you too, and that’s ok. You’re just a human whose brain might light up for fun challenges, fast wins, or a little bit of novelty. That doesn’t mean you can’t organize—it just means the usual “sort everything into matching bins for 7 hours” method might not be your vibe.
Reframe it:
From a challenging thought “I’m bad at organizing.”
To an opportunity thought “I’m still building a system that works for how my brain functions.”
This allowed me to use my creativity and design a system to keep the stacks somewhat organized
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Coaching Questions to Kickstart Your Brain (Without Overwhelming It):
What space is driving me the most nuts—and why?
What’s one small win I could get today that would feel satisfying?
What time of day do I have the most energy—and can I sneak in a 10-minute tidy then?
Hey, even 10 minutes is better than nothing and feels like a 100% mood boost.
The drawers under my bathroom sink were driving me nuts because they were such varying sizes
Tips That Trick Your Brain Into Organizing (Without Feeling Like a Chore)
Let’s make it satisfying and fun—yes, really.
Pair it with a reward: Clean one drawer, then get your iced coffee. You earned it.
Narrate it like a reality show: “And here we see the one-of-a-kind art supply drawer, fully decorated with a unique assortment of mixed media materials…”
Rename your zones: Call your kids shoe pile “The Tripping Trap” because even if you know the shoes are there, even you get caught in the trap sometimes.
Use habit stacking: Organize the fridge while catching up on a podcast or listen to an audio book while gathering toys to donate.
Use a timer + music combo: Pick a 10-minute energizing playlist. When it ends, you’re done…or you might be surprised to lean you have the energy to keep going.
Go for visibility: Start with the areas you see most—countertops, desks, living room. You’ll feel the win every time you walk by.
✨ Feeling buried in baby stuff? I shared some quick tips in this Redfin article about 6 Smart Nursery Organization Ideas for Small Spaces. Hint: You’ll find my tip under #4!
Celebrate Every Sparkle
Did you toss out old candy from Halloween? Double celebration because you have a cleaner space, and the kids have cleaner teeth.
Did you finally match your socks instead of letting them go solo? Celebrate their union.
Did you clear the corner of doom and find… that lovie you almost bought a replacement for? Finally, something that pays off, literally!
After the cabinet under my sink was organized, I celebrated with a much-needed walk around the neighborhood!
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Progress counts—even when it’s tiny. Especially when it’s tiny.
Each time you organize something, you’re telling your brain, “I deserve ease. I’m choosing simplicity. I’ve got this.”
Final Pep Talk
You don’t need to organize like an influencer with a rainbow-coordinated pantry and a toddler who doesn’t know how to open cabinets yet. You just need systems that work for your life, your energy, and your vibe.
Start where you are. Use what you’ve got. And when in doubt—trash that mystery piece from your junk drawer. You will never find what it goes to anyways.
Until next time, enjoy the journey!
Copyright Me Time 4 Mom, LLC
