One of the tenets of the KonMari Method™ is to always tidy first. We can only fully organize when we’ve let go of what’s weighing us down and holding us back. 

Before layering on new goals or routines, take a moment to tidy the items and techniques that support your daily routine, weekly schedule and year-round priorities. 

• Tidy Your Calendar: Review your commitments from last year. Are there recurring appointments or obligations that no longer align with your priorities? Release them to create space for what sparks joy.
  
• Tidy Your Inbox: Unsubscribe from newsletters or notifications that overwhelm you. Then, categorize your emails, ensuring your digital space serves you rather than burdens you.
• Tidy Your Digital Desktop: Organize files into folders, delete what you no longer need, and choose a desktop background that uplifts your spirit each time you see it. 

A tidied space, whether physical or digital, clears the way for progress. For a more in-depth guide to digital organization, try this guide to digital tidying by one of our Certified KonMari Consultants. 

Your goals are the guideposts that bring clarity to your path. Take some time to identify what you’d like to accomplish in the coming month, six months, and year. 

• Short-term goals anchor your weeks, like completing a project or trying a new organizational tool.
• Mid-term goals sustain your momentum, like improving a skill or cultivating a new habit.
• Long-term goals inspire you, pulling you forward toward a vision of your ideal life. 

Write these goals down, either in a journal or planner, to bring them to life. Studies show that putting pen to paper significantly increases your likelihood of achieving your aspirations. For more, read our guide to setting joy-sparking goals. 

Our minds can only hold so much at once. Research shows that writing things down – whether it’s a to-do list, a reminder, or a moment of inspiration – helps free mental space for creativity and focus. 

• Use to-do lists each day to organize your tasks and reduce overwhelm. Break larger projects into smaller, manageable steps.
• Explore daily or weekly journal prompts to reflect on what’s working and identify what might need adjustment.
• Another wonderful use of a journal: Document joyful moments along the way. The act of recording them deepens your gratitude while looking back adds an extra layer of happiness over time. 

Consider this simple practice a partnership with yourself – a way of saying, “I see you, I understand what matters, and I’m here to support you.” 

Tidy Tip: If you’re not a regular journal user, Marie’s planners for Blue Sky feature special monthly prompts and areas to reflect on moments of gratitude each week – the perfect opportunity to become more mindful of your writing practice this year.

Your calendar isn’t merely a place to list obligations. It’s a sacred tool, a canvas on which to design the life you envision. 

• Create separate calendars for work tasks, personal events, family plans and even self-care rituals. Seeing these areas color-coded can help you visually balance your commitments.
• Share a digital calendar with your partner or family for smooth coordination.
• Block time for joy, whether it’s an afternoon walk with your partner, a monthly catch-up with friends or a solo coffee or tea ritual for creative brainstorming. 

When you maximize your calendar, you give structure to your goals and permission to your joys. No achievement is too small to celebrate or schedule. 

Organization becomes even more meaningful when shared. If your dream is to reach a joy-sparking milestone this year, consider finding ways to build accountability and support into your day-to-day.  

• Use tools to help you! Building a routine around writing everything down in a daily planner, including notes about how the last week and month went, can help you stick to plans. You can also add goal check-in dates to your calendar each month or quarter, so you remember to review your progress. 
• Share your goals with a close friend or partner, and set periodic check-ins to celebrate progress and adjust as needed. We’re all more likely to reach our goals if someone is committed to the same goal as us.
• Find a community that shares your goals. Our new KonMari Club, for example, connects like-minded individuals together and also pairs you with a dedicated coach who will encourage and support you as you cultivate a year filled with more intentionality and joy.  

When you invite others into your organizational rituals, you create a beautiful circle of shared passion, inspiration and gentle support.