What do you want to accomplish in 2026?

The start of a new year is a traditional time to think about desired goals. However, to be successful in achieving those goals it is important to have one’s personal priorities in order. The right mental approach is vital to success. So, how do we get organized enough to create the conditions to make it happen?

For helpful advice on how to organize priorities, we turn to Marie Kondo. Her KonMari Method™ has helped many people organize their belongings. This year she gives advice beyond tidying a closet. Instead it starts with tidying your digital life.

One of the tenets of the KonMari Method™ is to always tidy first. We can only fully organize when we’ve let go of what’s weighing us down and holding us back. 

Before layering on new goals or routines, take a moment to tidy the items and techniques that support your daily routine, weekly schedule and year-round priorities. 

Kondo recommends focusing on getting the calendar in order, emptying the inbox, and then organizing the digital desktop. These non-physical items can easily be forgotten or seem unimportant. Yet, maintaining them is an important first step for getting priorities in order.

Next, she suggests creating on a set of clearly written goals.

Your goals are the guideposts that bring clarity to your path. Take some time to identify what you’d like to accomplish in the coming month, six months, and year. 

• Short-term goals anchor your weeks, like completing a project or trying a new organizational tool.
• Mid-term goals sustain your momentum, like improving a skill or cultivating a new habit.
• Long-term goals inspire you, pulling you forward toward a vision of your ideal life. 

Write these goals down, either in a journal or planner, to bring them to life. Studies show that putting pen to paper significantly increases your likelihood of achieving your aspirations. For more, read our guide to setting joy-sparking goals. 

To discover her remaining three suggestions for organizing priorities, please read the rest of her posting.