Taking Care of Yourself During Organizing Projects
When you're deep into your organizing projects, I recommend taking care of yourself the same way you would take care of your favorite young person if they were working right beside you.
I had the sweetest reminder of this recently during a professional organizing session with an eight-year-old client. We were working through her bedroom — toys, books, school supplies, her closet — all the wonderful (and sometimes overwhelming) stuff that fills a child's room. Her space was truly full, but she genuinely enjoyed the organizing process and was excited about decluttering and letting go of things she no longer needed.
We had a wonderful rhythm: making decisions, getting things done — until I noticed that her energy was starting to dip. Decision-making became harder. I gently asked, "Are you getting a little tired?" She nodded and said, "Yeah... and I'm hungry."
That was our signal to pause. I suggested she grab a healthy snack and reassured her that I'd take care of the organization of everything she had already decided on. After a quick break, she came back refreshed and ready to tackle a few more items. But soon enough, it was clear: she was running out of energy. Her little battery was almost drained after a long week and a late night.
Rather than pushing through, I offered her a different kind of participation: "There’s still plenty for me to organize. How about you lay here and relax? If I have any questions, I’ll ask — but only if you’re still awake." She could stay involved without feeling overwhelmed, and she loved that. We worked with her energy level, honored her limits, and still made great progress — keeping the whole experience positive and supportive.
It was such a powerful reminder: energy management and self-care are just as important in professional organizing as any other skill.
If you’re taking on a big project — whether it’s home organization, decluttering, or any other task that requires focus and decision-making — I hope you’re treating yourself with the same compassion. Rest when you need to. Fuel up with good food. Get excellent help. Be patient with your pace and progress.
You deserve the same care, flexibility, and support you would offer someone you love.
If you need expert organizing help, don't hesitate to reach out. Visit pinkyjackson.com to schedule a free assessment. We would love to help you with our Onsite Organizing services if you are in the Louisville, KY area or our Virtual Organizing services if you are more remote or prefer to work online.
Pinky Jackson is an Organizing Expert and Decluttering Specialist. She and her team organize homes & small businesses in Louisville, KY. For more information about Pinky’s pricing & services or to schedule your free assessment, go topinkyjackson.com
Photo: Christian Erfurt @christnerfurt
