Last Updated on April 26, 2020
I created this Get Organized Checklist series to help busy moms make daily life more manageable. We all know that when we are organized, life runs more smoothly. The problem is finding the time and energy to GET organized.
I can only tackle intimidating projects by breaking them down into small, manageable pieces. So, rather than trying to organize my entire life over a weekend, I’m tackling one area at a time.
Each week I choose a new area, break it down into simple steps, and create a checklist to mark off my progress. If you want to tackle this task with me, bookmark this page and check back every week for a new checklist.
Not ready to take on a detailed overhaul of your whole home? Get the essentials in order with this annual get organized checklist.
Week 1 – Command Center
The command center is the hub of my home so it’s the first space I tackled when I decided to get organized.
Week 2 – Taxes
The best time to set up your system for tracking tax documents is at the beginning of a new year, not the day before you start preparing your tax statement. This checklist will help you set up a system that will make tax season a breeze.
Week 3 – Linen Closet
Following the holiday season, my linen closet was a disaster area so it was the next area I focused on.
Week 4 – Laundry Room
Folding and organizing all those linens from the previous week, drew my attention to the laundry room. Ours got an overhaul with this checklist.
Week 5 – Bathroom
A few simple tweaks to how you organize your bathroom can make a big difference in how clean it stays. Grab the checklist and find all my tips here.
Week 6 – Family Room
Week 7 – Bedroom Closet
Week 8 – Bedroom
Week 9 – Pantry
Week 10 – Kitchen
Week 11 – Guest Room
Week 12 – Junk Drawers
Week 13 – Family Car
Remember to check back each week for a new checklist. Or, sign up to receive my weekly newsletter filled with other tips and tricks to help make home life easier and more fun. I’ll never share your e-mail with anyone else (spam is a pet peeve of mine).
Want to organize MORE than your home? Check out these posts:
19 Ways to Organize Your Life to Organize Your Mind from Kori at Home
Organize My Life Planning Kit from Outside the Box Mom
5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Life (no cleaning supplies needed!)
Do you have any advice for decluttering and organizing your email. I have 2 accounts one for important emails and one for everything else. However the important emails now have been mixed between both accounts. Any suggestions for, filtering, combining or just started over? I’m drowning in 20,000 + emails going back years. Most are junk but I do have some important ones mixed in there that need to be saved from years ago. Any advice would be greatful. Due to my own health issues, I’ve been struggling for the past few years to maintain and keep up with running my household all while caring for my family and caring for my mother who has been chronically ill and no longer can care for herself. I’m looking forward to trying the system you’ve set up here. Thanks in advance! Oh and FYI my name is Carin as well. Mine is spelt different but pronounced the same. I’ll take that as a sign of good luck!
You’re definitely not alone — overflowing inboxes are such a common problem! Here are a few realistic steps that can help you get your email under control without losing the important stuff:
1. Search + Label First (Before You Delete Anything)
Use the search bar to find and label (or move to folders) emails you know you want to keep. Try searching by:
Sender (e.g., boss’s name, school name, bank, etc.)
Keywords (e.g., “invoice,” “receipt,” “confirmation,” “important,” etc.)
Date ranges (e.g., emails from 2018–2022)
Once those are tagged or moved into folders, you’ll feel safer deleting the junk.
2. Mass Delete by Sender or Subject
Sort your inbox by sender or subject, and mass-select newsletters, sales, and updates you no longer need. For example:
Type from:noreply or unsubscribe in the search bar — then bulk delete.
You can often safely delete 1,000+ at a time that way.
3. Unsubscribe Ruthlessly
Unroll.me or Clean Email can help you unsubscribe from mailing lists in batches, which prevents new junk from piling up while you declutter.
4. Set Up New Filters/Labels
Create folders or labels like:
“Action Needed”
“To Read”
“Saved for Reference”
“Receipts”
Then set up filters (in Gmail or Outlook) so future emails go into the right place automatically.
Don’t try to do it all at once! Set a timer and do just one section or folder a day. Little by little, it adds up — and it won’t feel so overwhelming.
I’m sorry you have been struggling with so many things over the past few years. I can definitely relate. I love that our names are pronounced the same!
Thank you so much for these forms and all your help! I am a mother of 6 youngest in first grade and oldest enlisted in the Army so I am learning to be a military mom as well as keeping my life sane…I am artistic by nature and able to organize things for the visual part but have a hard time keeping it up…Thanks again and I do want your weekly emails but have to opt out of other stuff that has my inbox sooooo crammed…specially with juniors and senior colleges never stop emailing.
Hi Cristina! Thanks so much for your comments. Thank your oldest child for serving! Sounds like you definitely have your hands full. Do you use filters for your email? It’s the only way I’m able to manage all those details! If you need help setting some up, let me know. I’ll be happy to send you an email with details.
I would like to sign up for your weekly get organized emails. I couldnot find a place to do this.
Thank you.
Hi Joell, sorry about that. A good reminder for me to make sure I add opt-in boxes for e-mail on every page. I’m adding you manually to my newsletter (it comes once per week). You should receive a confirmation e-mail so if that wasn’t what you intended, just ignore the e-mail and you won’t be added. 🙂
I am so grateful for your blog/site. Being a mom of twin 8 year Olds, a 6 year old and a 19 year old I tend to get lost in life. Things become chaotic because I have never been am organized person. Your articles and tips, detailed charts have given me tremendous hope in settling down our home lives.. thank you so very much for the time you take to share this with other moms like me. What a true blessing and calling you have! Keep it coming please!
I can’t possibly convey how much your comment means to me. I write for busy moms who, like you, barely have enough time to keep their lives together, let alone leave comments on blog posts. I always HOPE I’m helping my readers but rarely do I know if what I put out there is doing any good. After all, I’m just an ordinary mom struggling to get it all done too. I just happen to share my story on the internet. 🙂 I am humbled by your kind words and so very grateful for the time you took out of your busy day to share them!