Summer Organizing Projects: No Sweating Required

When the thermometer starts to climb, digging through old boxes, emptying a packed garage, or going through years' worth of stuff in a hot attic is hardly anyone’s idea of summertime fun. Instead, sitting in the shade with a cold drink sounds much more appealing!

The good news? You don’t need to break a sweat to make meaningful organizational progress. On hot summer days when energy and motivation are running low, there are plenty of organizing projects you can tackle with minimal exertion and a lemonade in hand.

Whether you're relaxing by the pool, escaping the heat indoors, or simply looking for a productive way to spend an afternoon, these low-effort organizing projects can help you make progress without overheating.

Declutter Your Phone

You don’t need to leave your beach chair to tackle this often-overlooked decluttering project. For many of us, our phones have become a second brain. When they’re overloaded with digital clutter, it can feel just as overwhelming as a cluttered room. Here are some simple ways to tidy up your digital space:

• Delete unused apps. Let’s face it, we all have plenty of these that we scroll past every time we open our phones. Not only will removing them reduce visual clutter and make it easier to find what you actually use, but you will be surprised by how much storage and background activity some apps quietly use. Check your phone’s storage settings to see which apps are taking up the most space, so you decide whether you really want to keep them or say goodbye.

• Clear your photo roll (goodbye, screenshots of memes). Cleaning up your camera roll makes finding photos and videos easier. Photo bursts, duplicate scenery shots, blurry images, and screenshots you’ve long forgotten about all take up valuable storage.

  • Start by clearing duplicates- most smartphones make this quick and easy.

  • Next, search for a specific month and day. Your phone will display every photo taken on that date across multiple years. Spending just a few minutes doing this each day is an easy habit to build, and by the end of the year, you'll have reviewed your entire camera roll.

  • Creating albums makes finding photos much easier. Name them in a way that makes sense to you, whether that’s by categories (pets, holidays, etc.) or specific years/months/events- there is no wrong way!

• Unsubscribe from email newsletters and marketing emails you never got around to (of course not this one 😊.) It seems like every business asks for your email address these days, and before you know it, your inbox is overflowing. The next time one of those emails lands in your inbox, take an extra ten seconds to click "unsubscribe." Your future self will thank you.

• Group similar apps into folders on your home screen to categorize them. Organizing apps together and putting them into categorized folders like Travel, Airlines, Coffee, Restaurants, Shopping, or Finance makes them easier to find when you need them.

  
  

Inbox Decluttering

Email can become overwhelming quickly, but like any organizing project, it’s something you can chip away at over time. You don’t need to achieve inbox zero unless that’s the goal. Regularly clearing out your inbox ensures important emails won’t get lost in a sea of visual clutter.

• Use the search bar to mass-delete emails. Enter keywords like “unsubscribe,” “sale,” or “notification” to surface promotional messages. This makes it easier to scan and delete all those unwanted and unimportant emails that get sandwiched between emails you need to keep.

• Set up simple filters or rules so certain emails never even hit your inbox. Receipts, refunds, or a specific sender will automatically be routed to designated folders. Similar messages will then be grouped together and can be addressed when you have time.

• Archive or delete anything that isn’t critical. It’s easy to scroll past clutter and tell yourself you’ll deal with it later—but “later” often means never. Tackling a few emails at a time is far more manageable than facing a week or a month’s worth all at once.

• Respond to or take action on emails that have been sitting in your inbox so they don’t get forgotten. When something can’t be handled immediately, take advantage of your platform’s reminder or snooze feature to resurface it at a better time.

  
  

Clearing out your inbox is the digital equivalent of shredding old files stored in a hot attic- minus the sweating.

Plan Out a Project You’ve Been Meaning to Tackle (Just Don’t Actually Do It)

Of course, completing a long-standing project is the goal, but planning it out is just as valuable, even if you don’t lift a finger today.

• List a few projects you’d like to tackle. These can be anything from cleaning out your garage to organizing old photos, or planning a trip. Keep the list focused so you’re only targeting what you’d realistically like to accomplish sooner rather than later.

• Jot down what is involved in each project. Breaking projects down into small steps makes larger ones feel more manageable and easier to start.

• Assign each project a realistic deadline so the project doesn’t linger indefinitely on your to-do list. Setting target completion dates, even blocking out specific days or times, helps create accountability.

• Identify supplies, resources, or support you might need. If organizing your garage means enlisting the help of family members, schedule times when you can all work on it. If you’re planning a trip, consider reaching out to a travel professional who specializes in that destination or type of travel.

  
  

You're setting yourself up for a win later—and that still counts as progress.

Organize Your Online Stuff

Do you have open tabs from sites you would like to order from? Or sites that you’ve bookmarked to look at but haven’t?  So much of our stuff is virtual that it’s easy to forget what we have or what we need to do because the items aren’t lying on the kitchen counter staring us in the face. This is another great “sitting but getting it done” project that often goes neglected.

• Look at sites with saved carts and either buy what’s been sitting there or not. Many times, when we look back at what we thought we needed or wanted to purchase, with the passage of time, we realize we don’t. 

• Go through all your subscription services and tally them up. There are subscription services for just about everything now, and many of us (guilty as charged!) have more than we need. Run the numbers to see which services you are using and if paying for them is worth the money. If not, cancel it right then and there.

• Update your payment methods for autopay accounts if the card is about to expire.

• Change passwords for important online accounts that you’ve been using the same one for since, well, forever. And while you’re at it, sign up for two-factor authentication wherever possible. This adds another layer of security and peace of mind.

  
  

Get Ready for the New School Year

Yep, that’s right. Now’s the time to prep. Once July hits stores start stocking back-to-school items. If you have small children, getting them ready early means enjoying the end of summer and not scrambling in the days before school starts.

• Go Through Backpacks: Chances are good that this hasn’t been looked at since it was tossed in a corner on the last day of school! Decide if it is in good enough shape to get through another school year. If so, toss whatever garbage is inside (kids leave gross surprises) and give it a clean.

• Sort and Save Schoolwork: When kids are little, there is always something coming home. Decide on a few projects worth keeping, snap photos of others, and toss the rest.

• Look Through their Closets: Take advantage of back-to-school clothing sales. See what items no longer fit and what items it’s time to toss (sneakers? jeans?) and do some online shopping.

• Inventory School Supplies: Make a shopping list of what items are needed for the upcoming year. Check your school’s grade-specific lists and shop your home before heading to the store. Some schools offer pre-packaged school supplies, so all the work is done for you. If you are using this option, sign up for it now so you don’t forget!

  
  

  

  
  

Quick Walk-Through: Summer Storage Considerations

Ok, this last one requires a little movement. Take a look at areas in your home that are vulnerable to heat and humidity- attics, garages, basements, storage lockers, etc. You might not think about heat and humidity as an organizing issue until you discover a melted candle or photos stuck together. Consider relocating the following items:

• Candles: Move them off windowsills and out of unventilated spaces to prevent warping or melting.

• Medications and vitamins: Store them in a cool interior cabinet instead of the bathroom medicine cabinet.

• Photos, documents, and sentimental items: Humidity is paper’s enemy, and fabric isn’t far behind. Remove these items from cardboard boxes and place them in lidded bins, ideally in a climate-controlled area. If they must be stored in an attic or garage, add desiccant packets to help reduce moisture.

• Electronics and batteries: Since heat shortens battery life, avoid storing them in areas that become excessively hot.

  
  

If you have a humid basement, consider using a small dehumidifier to protect stored items. Conversely, in dry-heat climates, a humidifier can help prevent wood and leather items from cracking.

Get a Jump on Holiday Shopping

It might be hard to think about holiday shopping when the weather is warm and you’re poolside, but starting now means less standing in long checkout lines in December! Not only that, as your schedule gets more hectic with holiday activities, at least some shopping will already be crossed off your list. Sit back with your laptop or phone, take advantage of summer sales, and start shopping.

• Start a running gift list and a budget. First, figure out a rough estimate of how much you are able to spend on gifts this holiday season. Next, decide who you are buying for. If you have a list from last year, go through and see who should be removed and who needs to be added. Then jot down some ideas for each person on your list, keeping your budget in mind. Keep the list in one place and handy, so as ideas come to you over the next few months, you can easily write them down. And after purchasing, keep track of that too so you don’t forget and re-buy in December.

• Take advantage of summer sales. Many retailers run big promotions in July, so you may score better deals shopping now than waiting for the holiday rush. July is prime time, so it's worth keeping an eye out for deals on electronics, toys, and home goods

  - items that tend to be pricier closer to the holidays. Sign up for email alerts from your favorite retailers so you don't miss a promotion, and consider using a browser extension that automatically applies coupon codes at checkout. If you spot a great deal on something you know a family member wants or needs, don't hesitate to buy now rather than waiting and risking a price increase (or the item selling out) later.

• Order a few gifts at a time. You don't need to finish your whole list in one sitting- even checking one or two names off feels like progress.

• Store gifts in a designated spot. Designate one bin, closet shelf, or even an unused suitcase specifically for hidden gifts, and keep it in the same place all year so you're not stashing presents in random spots you'll forget about. Label the bin discreetly (something like "Holiday" or "Misc." works if you want to keep things a surprise from curious kids) and keep a simple list taped inside the lid noting what's inside and who it's for.

  
  

By the time the season actually rolls around, you'll thank yourself for getting a head start- all while never leaving your air-conditioned living room.

Small Steps Still Count- Even in the Summer Heat

When temperatures rise, our bodies don’t feel like moving, and our brains follow suit. Studies show that heat can reduce memory, lower motivation, and slow decision-making. So, any organizing task you tackle in the summer- even from your chair- counts as a win.