Organize & Cherish with The Organized Flamingo

In this episode of Organize & Cherish, we explore the emotional weight of stored clutter and the items we keep out of sight but still carry with us. From a professional organizer’s perspective, Stephanie explains why storage can feel comforting, how emotional attachments quietly shape our spaces, and what clutter continues to do even when we’re not looking at it. This episode offers compassionate reframes, practical awareness tools, and one gentle action to help listeners move forward without pressure.

In This Episode, We Talk About:
Why storage often starts as relief, not avoidance
How “out of sight” clutter still impacts emotional well-being
The difference between comfort and stagnation
What stored items silently cost us over time
How to approach emotional attachments without guilt or urgency
A simple action to bring clarity back into storage spaces

Mentioned in This Episode:
Episode 119: “Out of Sight, Still a Problem”
Action of the Week
AI Prompt of the Week

Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast
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Not all storage is created equal. Some storage is thoughtful, temporary, and intentional.
Other storage is stress, avoidance, and postponed decisions, just packaged neatly in bins, closets, garages, and storage rooms.
In this episode, we’re unpacking the difference between stalling and storing, a framework first introduced in Episode 114, and taking it deeper, specifically through the lens of storage spaces.
You’ll learn how to spot when storage is helping you—and when it’s quietly holding you back—plus one small, realistic action you can take to interrupt the cycle without diving into a full organizing project.

In This Episode, We Talk About
The difference between intentional storing and stalling disguised as storage
How stress, life transitions, and decision fatigue show up in the way we store things
Signs a space has shifted from “holding” to “avoiding”
The most common “I’ll deal with this later” patterns professional organizers see
One small action you can take this week to break the stalling cycle
How progress in storage spaces builds momentum and lowers stress, even when life is full

Mentioned in This Episode
Episode 114: Stalling vs. Storing
The ongoing Storage Series

Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast
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In Episode 2 of our Storage Year, we explore the real reasons we store things, far beyond “just in case.”
From inherited habits and emotional holding patterns to identity clutter and delayed decisions, this episode helps you understand the psychology behind storage so you can reclaim your space with clarity and compassion.
Just like last year’s Storage Series, we’re pulling back the curtain on why storage becomes both a blessing and a burden, and how naming the “why” brings powerful momentum to your organizing journey.
We wrap up with a high-impact Action of the Week designed to spark an instant aha moment.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
The emotional drivers behind storage: guilt, overwhelm, sentiment, identity, and avoidance
How family patterns and generational habits shape what we keep
Why storage often becomes a “holding area” that turns permanent
The psychology of delayed decisions and how it affects stress and focus
How understanding your why transforms how you approach any storage room
Your high-impact Action of the Week: identifying one inherited storage pattern
Mentioned in This Episode:
Storage Series episodes from 2025, including:Episode 113: Storage Series Kickoff : An Introduction
Episode 114: Storage vs. Stalling : Are You Keeping It or Postponing a Decision?
Episode 117: When Storage Makes Sense : Smart Reasons to Keep Things
(Referenced for themes, patterns, and messaging continuity)
Research notes from the American Psychological Association on clutter and stress
The 2026 Storage Year framework for understanding your patterns before decluttering your space
Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast
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We’re kicking off a brand-new year-long emphasis on one of the most overlooked yet emotionally loaded areas of the home: storage rooms. Whether your storage space is a basement, garage, guest room, attic, or an off-site unit, these areas often hold delayed decisions, inherited items, unfinished projects, and emotional weight we don’t even realize we’re carrying.
In today’s episode, Stephanie shares why 2026 is dedicated to storage, how this focus evolved from the popular Fix It or Free It series, and why storage rooms deserve thoughtful attention—grounded in research, psychology, and real-life client experiences. She also shares her personal story of how storage organizing became her professional path, long before she ever knew it could be a career.
This episode sets the foundation for The Storage Year: 52 weeks of clarity, compassion, and needle-moving action steps designed to help you make meaningful progress without overwhelm or guilt.

In This Episode We Talk About
Why storage rooms are emotionally heavy and often avoided
What research tells us about the psychological and physical impact of clutterIncreased cortisol levels (UCLA)
Reduced cognitive clarity (Princeton)
The surprising rise in national storage use
How Fix It or Free It inspired a deeper storage conversation
Stephanie’s origin story from wedding planner to Certified Professional Organizer®
Why storage rooms are where delayed decisions live
How this year will blend practicality, compassion, and storytelling
What to expect from the weekly action items and momentum-building approach
The first action step to begin your own Storage Year
Mentioned in This Episode
Fix It or Free It Series (2025) - Listener-favorite episodes that inspired a deeper look at storage
UCLA Center on Everyday Lives of Families Study - Linking clutter to elevated cortisol
Princeton Neuroscience Institute Findings - How clutter impacts focus and cognitive processing
Self-Storage Industry Data - Trends showing the increasing amount of items Americans store
Stephanie’s early business: Smiles Forever Events
The Organized Flamingo - Professional organizing, compassionate decluttering, and resources
Organize & Cherish Podcast Archives - Past episodes supporting this year’s themes
Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast
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In this episode, we share our top 8 organizing products of 2025. The tools we used the most, recommended the most, and returned to because they genuinely work. This year’s list builds on our 2023 and 2024 favorites while introducing new standouts that made a real difference in daily routines.
We also talk about why these tools matter, how we update our recommendations, and how you can use each one in different areas of your home.
In This Episode We Talk About…
Why some products stay on our list year after year
Why we only recommend products that pass our long-term tests
What makes a product “worth keeping” in your home
How to use each of the 8 favorites in real-life spaces
How digital systems support physical organizing
When and how we update product recommendations for safety or quality
Mentioned in This Episode
Our 2023 Favorite Products Episode
Our 2024 Favorite Products Episode
Our Amazon Shop (for specific product versions)
Turntables, labels, dividers, totes & digital tools
Review full show notes and resources at https://theorganizedflamingo.com/podcast
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