Final Thoughts
It’s our first full week of Spring, and we say goodbye to the 13th Annual Clever Girl Organizing Challenge! I know that my house is in better shape because of the last 11 weeks, and I hope you can say the same! (If you haven’t already chimed in on the final Facebook Group #Shareit Sunday about your thoughts and your plans, please head over there and share!)
In the #Week11 Facebook Live with Kathy, I talked about how the week was about planning for what comes next, and how to think about using the lessons learned, new habits, and motivation to take your great work into the future (including using the Facebook Group, which stays open all year). I hope you take 30 minutes or so to watch it and keep it bookmarked for when you need future inspiration on how to get started and keep going!
Regardless of how far you got this year, how much you accomplished, how engaged you were, I hope you feel that you’re in a better place than when you started 11 weeks ago, and you learned some lessons that will help you in the future. I’m so grateful you were here!
ALL THE WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS
Maybe you missed a week, or maybe you’re looking to do the whole thing over again this summer, or just finally getting started. Whatever your reason, if you want all the weekly assignment emails, you can have them at your fingertips for the rest of 2026:
- Week 1 – The Food
- Week 2 – Kitchen/Dining – How we cook, serve, eat, store, and clean
- Week 3 – Bed, Bath, and Beyond
- Week 4 – Wardrobe Week
- Week 5 – Home Office and Paper
- Week 6 – Living Spaces
- Week 7 – BREAK WEEK
- Week 8 – Hobbies and Leisure Activities
- Week 9 – Memorabilia
- Week 10 – Smorgasbord / Challengers Choice
- Week 11 – Big Spaces – Kick off to Spring Cleaning
WHAT COMES NEXT?
I’ve already mentioned last week’s Facebook Live up at the top of the email to watch, if you haven’t already, but here are a few important points:
THE FACEBOOK GROUP
The Facebook Group stays open for the rest of the year. In past years, people have continued to use this FB Group as a way to post about questions, celebrate their wins, share their projects for accountability. While I’m not going to be posting weekly emails, I’ll continue to post in the group through out the year to ask about what people are working on, their goals, interesting resources I come across, #local or #exit opportunities, If I have any speaking events open to the public, etc.
While it’s much slower activity than we’ve had the first 3 months, if you’re looking to declutter your digital life, I won’t be offended if you decide to leave the Group!!
#BANDA FREE HOUR WINNERS:
I‘ll be reaching out to everyone who earned their FREE Virtual Hour with me! If you think you should have but haven’t heard from me by Wednesday, please reach out and we’ll get to the bottom of it!
WANT MORE HELP? SPECIAL OFFER!
For any Challenge member who would like to continue working with me 1:1 Virtually, I’m offering 10% off up to 3 hours of Virtual Organizing with me! (An hour is $90 before the discount). Virtual Organizing allows us to strategize together on some of your #scaryspaces or topics we didn’t tackle in The Challenge that you know needs attention. Reach out if you want to schedule some time!
WHAT IS ON KATHY’S HORIZON?
What’s on the horizon in 2026 for me?
Some of you know me and my complex world pretty well, some of you are new to all-things-kathy! Here is a little bit of what my life and business looks like:
1) In-Person Organizing
I do still do some in-person organizing, hyperlocal to the Melrose / Wakefield etc. area. If that’s you and you’re craving a few hours with me in person to jumpstart or accelerate your work, reach out.
2) Virtual Organizing
The bigger part of my organizing business is virtual. Whether that’s collaborating to help you design a project plan to approach your #scaryspace or having me “in the room” with you while you’re doing work, or just using me as an “accountabilibuddy” for text support, if you or someone you know (even if you’re local!) could use some support on your organizing or time management goals, please reach out.
3) Career Coaching and Resume Writing
If this is not something you already know about me, I’m ALSO a certified career coach and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW). I primarily work with GenX and older Millennials – midcareer professionals across a variety of industries. Some of that work is career exploration, trying to figure out what to do with the next professional chapter. For many, it’s getting their resume in good order or improving their LinkedIn profile and engagement. It might also be help on telling your story more effectively or improving your interview skills. If this sounds like something you or someone you know could use, I offer free consultations, which can be booked here.
4) My podcast!
You’ve likely already heard me talk about my podcast, Surfing the Quicksand, where I try to bring content to help midlife women get unstuck! I’ve released about 25 weekly episodes so far and planning another 12-15 for my first season.
I’m ACTIVELY seeking potential guests – people with strong experience/expertise in an area midlife women would care about (caring for aging parents, parenting, women’s health, menopause, finance/legal issues, midlife career management, etc) or women who have made big changes in their professional journey in their 40’s or 50’s. If that’s you or someone you know, please reach out!
If you’re a podcast watcher/listener, you can find Surfing the Quicksand on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple or subscribe at my website. Follow me on Instagram or Facebook – @QuicksandPod. (Also, even if you don’t listen or watch, I’d be so grateful if you gave my streaming and social media channels a follow <3 )
5) Speaking events (in person or virtual)
I’ve had a few in-person and virtual speaking events already in 2026, and a few more are on the books. If you know a group that would love to hear from me about Organizing, Living with Less, or Time Management/Productivity, let’s talk! I work within a variety of budgets and I’m sure we can make something happen.
PERSONAL STUFF
Right now, 2026 feels more like a low key year. My husband’s job was eliminated at the end of 2025, so we’re navigating what comes next for him. My parents live a few miles from me in Wakefield, and as you already know, helping manage their life and health situations has been ramping up for me this year (it’s an honor, but it’s a real factor in managing through life these days. I know many of you can related). We’re also in the process of navigating through serious medical and financial issues with my husband’s parents, who live in eastern Tennessee, so we’re deep in this phase of life, for sure.
No big vacation plans this year as a result of all that paragraph you just read, but hopeful for maybe a trip to California to visit some family and friends at some point. (Saving up for a big trip or two in the coming years)
If you’re not already following me on instagram (@kathyvinessays) you can watch for some photos and updates on the fun part of life there, too!
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’m so very grateful to have had so many people join in this year’s Challenge and make it one of the best experiences for me yet! It still amazes me how this little project I started 13 years ago continues to grow and inspire, and I’m filled with gratitude for those of you who return each year, and for those who bring along friends and family to share in the inspiration!
I am blown away by the achievements people create for themselves, the support that strangers give to each other, and the sense of community and trust that is organically built. I’m truly blessed to bring content I love to a group of people who appreciate it and rise to the occasion!
I’m in the business of changing lives for the better, and I’m filled with gratitude that you invited me into yours this year.
Happy Organizing!
Kathy (aka Clever Girl)
