Professional organizers — though they swear they’re not perfect! — tend to be the type of people who just have it all together. So, of course, we wondered what they do every morning to set their day up for success.
When we asked a bunch of organizing pros, we were surprised to learn that it’s not all about clever tricks for decluttering their space. In fact, many of them preached healthy habits that will help you feel energized, focused and ready to take on the day. Take a look at the top things these pros do every morning, and we promise, your whole life will feel a bit more organized.
Start the day with a check-in.
Rather than reaching for your phone to check emails or starting on your list of chores, give yourself a few minutes of peace, using that time to check on your physical, mental and emotional well-being.
“I like to do a mantra, often in the shower, just a phrase I say that allows me to check in with my day’s capacity,” says Maeve Richmond, founder of the organizing coaching service Maeve’s Method. “I read about a CEO who asks himself each morning, ‘What type of day am I having, on a scale of 1 to 10?’ If I’m feeling a 5, then I know to tone things down, as I might not be at my best. If I’m feeling an 8, I go for it — and honestly, some days I am feeling at zero and I need to be gentle on myself.”
Make your bed.
This simple task can help you kick off a more productive day. Not only does making the bed keep your room looking tidy, it can help improve your mood and provide a feeling of accomplishment — which might encourage you to tackle the rest of your to-dos.
Making the bed in the morning also means coming home to a clean bedroom. “At the end of the day, I want to relax and crawl into bed without fighting with the sheets,” says Julie Stobbe of Mind Over Clutter.
“For years, I loved the freedom of not making my bed, but as I grew older, I began to understand that not doing it meant crawling into a crumpled bed at night,” adds Richmond. “Bedding that is tangled, misaligned or half falling off the bed can disrupt our sleep. The key to a restful night’s sleep — and ultimately a productive day — is eliminating anything that causes our body to ‘toss and turn’ in the night.”
Review your to-do list.
Try giving yourself a few minutes in the morning before thinking about your responsibilities, but looking over your to-do list can help you prioritize and organize the day. “Having a routine can help you set priorities, reduce procrastination and track your goals,” says Rosenthal, who spends a few minutes each morning reviewing her daily tasks to ensure she’s using time effectively.
Stobbe also dedicates a few minutes to her email and answers important messages first thing in the morning — which she says starts her day “with as little as possible cluttering my mind.”
Lean into prepping.
“As a working mom with an eight-year-old daughter, I’ve learned that a smooth morning starts the night before,” says Laura Kinsella, founder of Urban Organyze. “My evening routine includes cleaning up the kitchen and running the dishwasher, prepping the coffee machine, packing my work bag and laying out my clothes for the next day. This preparation simplifies my morning tasks and lightens my mental load — because let’s face it, the fewer decisions I have to make pre-coffee, the better.”
Write daily reminders.
Here’s a low-tech life hack everyone should learn: If you need to remember something, stick it right smack where you’ll see it.
“If I need to bring something with me, I put it right in front of the door,” says Williams. “I might tape a reminder to my mirror, my bedroom door, the refrigerator — or all three! I recently taped a note to the toilet tank because I had a head cold and really needed to remember something — I knew I’d stumble into the bathroom in a fog but still see the note.”
Meditate, even for just a few minutes.
Many of the pros we spoke to espoused mediating in the morning — and that’s actually not surprising. Studies have shown that meditation can help ease stress and anxiety, and make you more focused. But don’t think you need a formal system — even five minutes of quiet time could do the trick.
“I just lie there — not looking at my phone or rushing to get out of bed,” says Amelia Meena, pro organizer and founder of Appleshine. “I find that those first few moments when I wake up have such clarity and gratitude, before the stress of the day sets in. I recite a daily mantra, or a daily meditation — this has taken different forms over the years but I’ve always had one — it’s how I stay connected to the universe and stay reminded that life is larger than the days’ problems.”
Do one thing that makes you happy.
“Life’s too short to have grumpy mornings!” says Rashelle Isip, the Order Expert. “You could listen to a favorite song, read your favorite quotes, watch a funny video or just tell yourself you’re ready to have an enjoyable day.”
It can be as simple as enjoying your morning brew. “I savor a few moments of peace with my hot coffee, which is a non-negotiable ritual I look forward to each day,” says Kinsella. “Those precious five minutes with my coffee aren’t just about caffeine — they’re my morning moment of peace.”
Lay out your clothes the night before.
Decision fatigue is a real thing: If you waste too much energy on choices that don’t really matter much (like what outfit to wear), you might find that you’re not making great decisions at the end of the day. Plus, making decisions is a time suck in the morning — so cut them out.
That could mean having the same breakfast every day or adopting a daily “uniform,” minimizing the time you have to pick out clothes. Or, if you prefer a little variety, at least try choosing an outfit the night before. “It’s easier to get out of bed for my morning walk when my clothes are laid out on a chair next to my bed,” says Stobbe. “This means I didn’t have to decide anything first thing in the morning and I didn’t waste time looking for clothes.”
Overseeing all things home for GoodHousekeeping.com and HouseBeautiful.com, Lauren swoons over midcentury design and employs tough-love approach to decluttering (just throw it away, ladies). She loves anything neon coral, puts bacon on her veggie burgers, and would follow Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to the end of the earth.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
