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.

• 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

• 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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