How this Chicago Home Organizer is Bossing This October
It’s Boss October!
My coach, Melissa Klug of Pro Organizer Studio, sings the praises of something she learned from a fellow organizer: Boss October. (You can listen to Melissa talk about it on this episode of the Pro Organizer Studio podcast.)
The idea is simple but powerful: pick October as the month to handle all those nagging, unglamorous tasks you’ve been avoiding. They’re not fun, they’re not exciting, but when completed, they free up so much mental space once they’re done.
I love this idea. In fact, I need it. Like most of us, I have a long list of things I’d rather not deal with. On the professional side, it’s administrative pieces of running a small business; important but unglamorous things like calling my insurance provider, designating my work drives in MileIQ, and filing a DBA. On the personal side, it’s everything from scheduling overdue doctors’ appointments to staying on top of basic home maintenance (when was the last time I cleaned the AC unit?)
None of it makes me want to jump out of bed in the morning, but all of it supports me, my family, and my business. And as someone with ADHD, these kinds of tasks can be particularly difficult. I tend to avoid them until they become a problem, but this avoidance takes a toll on me. That’s why Boss October feels like such a gift: it gives me a clear framework to say, This is the month I put on my boss pants and just get it done. And when it’s over, I get to roll into the holiday season lighter, clearer, and stronger.
How Boss October Applies to Home Organizing
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re struggling with home organization. Boss October is tailor-made for you! It’s not about time-intensive projects, it’s about those small ankle-biters.
Think about it:
Donations: Maybe you’ve decluttered, but the bags are still sitting in your house. You keep telling yourself you’ll take them to the perfect charity that’s only open one Saturday a month. In the meantime, the stuff just sits. Here’s my Boss October memo to you: done is better than perfect. Getting it out of your house today matters more than waiting for the “perfect” drop-off option.
Returns: That item you meant to send back weeks ago? Toss it in your car and drop it off. And if you missed the return window, add it to your donation bag. The mental relief of not seeing it anymore is worth it.
Paper clutter: That pile of mail you’ve been meaning to sort through? Set a 20-minute timer and boss through it. (Most of it is recycling anyway!)
Seasonal swaps: Now is the perfect time to swap summer clothes for fall and winter, check coats and boots for fit, and make sure everyone in the family has what they need before the cold really hits.
The point isn’t to do everything at once; it’s to pick the things you’ve been avoiding and decide that October is the month you stop letting them weigh you down.
A Tool That Helps: Focusmate
One trick I’ve recently added to my own toolbox is Focusmate. It’s a virtual coworking platform that pairs you with another person for a timed, focused session. At the start, you each share your goal for the hour. Then you go on mute and get to work, checking back in at the end to report what you accomplished.
It’s free if you use it three or fewer times a week, and you can use it for absolutely anything: folding laundry, paying bills, sending emails, writing, decluttering a closet.
If you struggle with starting tasks (especially those “Boss October” ones you’d rather avoid), this light layer of accountability can be just the ticket. Sometimes knowing someone else is working alongside you is all it takes to initiate and follow through. In fact, this is a big part of what a professional home organizer provides during the decluttering phase of a project.
Why It Matters
When you put off these small but important tasks, they add to your mental load. You think about them every time you walk by the pile, open the drawer, or glance at the calendar. That constant background stress adds up.
But when you do the thing, whether it’s dropping off donations, scheduling an appointment, or handling paperwork, the relief is immediate. You get energy back. You create momentum. You feel lighter.
That’s the beauty of Boss October. It doesn’t seem like much, but it can transform the way you feel.
Join Me!
So here’s my challenge: what’s on your list that you’ve been avoiding? What’s one thing you could tackle today that would free up mental space and make you feel like a boss?
This October, I’m committing to tackling mine, and I’d love for you to join me. Imagine how good it will feel to head into the holidays with those annoying little to-dos finally checked off. Remember…
Done beats perfect.
Small steps create big transformations.
You can be the boss of your own list.
A Peek at What’s Next
As I build Amy Louise Coaching, I’m struck by how often the same principles apply. In organizing, we declutter closets and clear piles to free up space (physical and mental). In coaching, we declutter limiting beliefs and old patterns to free up possibility. Boss October is one of the ways I practice what I preach, choosing to handle what I’ve been avoiding, so I can create space for what’s next.