Organize Archives

Makeover Monday:Escalators on my bookshelves

April 24, 2017 by Heather Filed Under: Books, Home, Inspiration & Education, Organize, Systems & Techniques Leave a Comment

I’ve been super busy lately and haven’t shared many makeovers:( But I’ll be back soon with loads of great before and afters. In the meantime, here’s a quick Monday makeover from my own Living Room with color Escalators on my bookshelves!

OCD Bookshelf Organizing: Color Escalators on my Bookshelves!

I’m sure you’ve seen this kind of thing before and I actually love to group books within color “families” but one evening last week I was laying on my sofa looking at this bookshelf thinking, I need to give this a serious update! I love color and I love order but this was just feeling way to rigid, would you agree?

I also have this other shelf in the same room with my collection of cookbooks and pottery, so I worked on both shelves together, bringing some of the books to the other shelf and some of my pottery to the taller shelf. Color is still a big part of the finished arrangement but there are no longer “escalators” of colors…running across each shelf:)

Instead, there are groups of books by color, size and subject, arranged in both vertical and horizontal manner to break up the space and create display vignettes that show off some of my pottery and other favorite objects (crystals, this vintage capiz shell globe etc).

My lawyers bookshelf still contains my cookbooks and some other books, as well as more objects and collections. I have a lot of feathers that I love and have to keep out of the way or the cats will steal them! So, my feather collection remains behind glass as well as some of the more delicate porcelain and pottery pieces.

While I was at it, organizing and re-arranging…I also took the opportunity to purge a bag full of books for donations. I love books and I still have more books not shown but I can’t bring myself to part with the many books I refer back to again and again. What do your bookshelves look like? Would you like to share them with me on social media? If so please find me on IG or FB and share your bookshelves with the hashtag #creativelyorganizedbooks!!

Organizing using the 5S Methodology

March 28, 2017 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Paper management, Productivity, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 1 Comment

Long before the Kondo Method came along…the Japanese were using the 5 S Methodology

Learn how it can help you Get Organized! It’s so simple it’s brilliant!

The 5 S Methodology

This post was originally published Oct 19, 2011. I recently learned about a fascinating methodology used in Japan for organizing the workplace. I found this long before the currently popular Kondo Technique and books came along. Perhaps she had read and learned something of this technique too! I have a love of most things Japanese and this methodology is one I feel could be effectively implemented by many business’s or individuals even though it’s primary application seems to be in the manufacturing sector (Toyota and Canon are examples of Japanese companies that have implemented this system).

I tend to better remember systems that employ a simple name mnemonic‘s. I think the Japanese agree!

The 5 S Methodology works by sorting, straightening, systematic cleaning, standardizing and sustaining.

Seiri or Sorting
Seiton or Straightening (setting in order / stabilize)
Seiso or Systematic cleaning
Seiketsu or Standardizing
Shitsuke or Sustaining (sustaining the discipline or self-discipline)

It’s so simple it’s brilliant!

The main objectives in the 5S methodology include improve productivity and quality.

Another benefit is that this system encourages each person to take ownership of every item and their surroundings.

This is where personal creative participation should be encouraged (whether it be getting the children involved or the employees!) Health and safety improvements can be included as additional benefits. As with all systematic changes that individuals or companies may choose to adopt, they must be clearly understood by all and there should be clear goals associated with the implementation of such a system for it to be effective. If you would like to learn more about this methodology check out

If you’d like to learn more about this methodology check out Wikipedia to start with. From there you can find many other informative articles related to “lean principles“.

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Curb the Chaos…with a swift kick!

March 6, 2017 by Heather Filed Under: Organize, Organizing Projects, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources, Uncategorized, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

Since we are almost officially into Spring now I’ve heard a lot of people getting the itch to de-clutter and do a nice deep round of spring clean out! As we ease our way out of our winter hibernation mode, this can feel like a lovely time to focus our energy on the home front, creating a sense of order, doing a nice round of deep cleaning and giving a swift kick in the butt to the chaos in our life! Consider this a Healthy dose of Spring home maintenance!

*Note-if your feeling like you need to hire an organizer than try this technique with a small area first to see how it goes. This is more of a “Maintenance” round than a deep organizing or cleaning session.

Here’s a little visualization tool to help you feel your home as you want it to be!

Lets start by closing our eyes, taking a few deep breaths and envisioning how we want our space to look and feel. Are you seeing a light filled space with windows that frame blue skies, puffy white clouds and tree’s and flowers budding out? Do you feel your feet sliding across floors that are clean and clutter free? Are your kitchen counters, sink and table clear of papers and anything else that might stop you from preparing and sharing healthy nurturing meals for your family? Are your clothes (dresser, closet etc) easy to take out and put away, with your go to favorites well cared for and easy to access? I hope you can see your home as a relaxing space that you can enjoy with your family in your down time. If you can envision it with your eyes closed and feel it, then you can totally create it when you open your eyes! If your ready to make this feeling a reality, take a few more deep breaths and set your intention to create this reality in your home.

Great, now lets get started kicking chaos to the curb! Give yourself a few hours for this whole house “once over”. This can be very helpful to do before you deep clean (if that’s a part of your routine).

Curb the chaos anytime your feeling the “urge to purge”! This usually happens to me several times a year and when it does, I try to take advantage of that feeling and go with it!

Before we break it down, get yourself some water, turn on some music, light a candle or diffuse some essential oils to support your energetic work! We will not be focusing on deep cleaning here…we will be focusing on the chaos that you need to kick to the curb! That’s going to be different for each of us, take a mental tally of what that means for you and we can start right at the front door…

Grab a laundry basket or bin to gather things into, for putting away and trash bags for toss and donate items.
Empty your car so it’s ready to take donations that day or have a donation pick up scheduled for the next day. Don’t let things linger where they can be a temptation.
Clear away anything that doesn’t welcome you or serve a function to support your family as you come and go in your daily life. If you keep shoes, bags and keys here, that’s fine, just give them homes (hooks, shelves, a bench, cubbies, baskets etc). If you’ve got a “donation” bin started here, great, we can add to that. Remove anything that doesn’t belong. *Don’t stop now to put it where it goes, put it in your “put away bin”, toss or donate bag-this will keep you moving room to room.
Work your way into your home, from the “front” or whatever main entrance you use, towards the back. Leave out major storage areas like the attic, garage or shed. In this round we focus on living spaces.
Start from the bottom and work your way up, skimming the floors-picking up toys, clothes and anything out of place. Remove clutter from surfaces and sweep the chaos into “put away”, “toss” or “donate” bags/bins. If your not sure where something goes but you know it doesn’t belong in that room, that’ fine. Add it to the put away bin. If trash or donate accumulate rapidly, take them right out to the car or put them by the door and get new bags.
Repeat this process in each room, especially your main living spaces, kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms. As you got into each new room, check to see if anything in the put away bin belongs and put it away:) Chaos need not linger!
Be brutal, be quick, touch each item if you need to and decide if they “spark Joy” as KonMarie has now famously en-sighted:) If not, kick it to the curb!
Once your done with each room, haul your trash and donate out. Scan your put away bin and see what is left. If there are things that don’t have permanent homes, think about why. What category are they? Can they be stored with other like items or someplace you commonly use them? Once everything is put away, thrown away or hauled out for donation, you have officially kicked your chaos to the curb!

Congratulation! How does that feel? Can you see yourself doing a quick version of this several times a week or even daily? They less we let our chaos build up, the less overwhelming it becomes. There will always be chaos in our life. It’s messy, it’s ugly, it drags us down and makes us feel heavy at times, but we don’t have to let it stick around. It’s our choice to curb the chaos in our life and our home. Good luck and reach out if you have any questions about this process!

How to be true to your extraordinary superpower!

February 22, 2017 by Heather Filed Under: Tips & Resources, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

Have you considered the way in which you feel ordinary might be your extraordinary superpower?

What we think about our strengths or weaknesses are likely not the full picture. The psychological term for this is strength blindness, coined by Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener. In other word, we take ourselves for granted!

Recently I’ve been in a deeply reflective place, seeking a better understanding of ‘who’ I am. I’m digging in based on the context of my upbringing, spiritual influences in my life, my personality & my education. What I’ve come to realize is that some of my beliefs about myself are either not true or so biased I need to investigate further.

One such belief is that being a sensitive person is a weakness.

On the contrary, in my work as an organizer, being a highly sensitive person gives me compassion! It also helps me be non- judgmental and find deep connections with other.

This newly discovered strength has been also been one of my greatest challenges. The idea of women fully embracing their ’emotions’ has historically been an example of how women give their power away! We do not have to act like something we are not. In doing so we don’t serve anyone, least of all our higher selves or God (goddess, higher power- what you equate to God).

Discovering our super powers is the most sacred work we are called to.

These are lessons that will come to us again and again, desperately asking us to go deeper and become more aware of ourselves. By understanding ourselves outside the terms of “strength or weakness” we see how our differences makes us incredibly strong! Here is where the transformation can happen. When we emerge from the depths of a place we once viewed as weakness, to discover a different perspective, it’s like breaking up from a deep dive to invite a full breath of oxygen into our lungs! When this happens, we feel the most incredible sense of release, like a burden has dropped away, we can breath again fully! From that new found perspective we begin to see the world differently, beginning with how we think about ourselves.

The key here is that we shift our focus from what others have been telling us about ourselves to what we say is our truth!

That’s what I a superpower is all about! Believe first and foremost in your gifts and do not just give them away to please others.

Being Well means Sleeping Well

February 15, 2017 by Heather Filed Under: Tips & Resources, Wellness & Mindset 1 Comment

Being well means sleeping well and feeling well literally begins with getting a good night sleep.

I know that I generally need 7-8 hours of sleep a night to feel my best.

We each have to listen to our internal clocks to determine the right amount of sleep and the optimal time for sleep.

If you have a hard time adjusting and getting to sleep, do what you can to support your circadian rhythms. This can mean removing electronic’s from near your bed, or even from your bedroom all together. Some people swear by melatonin to help regulate their internal clock but working towards a natural state of relaxation is certainly the most healthy approach.

Creating a peaceful environment to sleep in is very personal. Removing “Clutter” and objects that can keep your mind working overtime will make it easier to unwind when your head hits the pillow.

Imagine entering a room that is painted in a soothing color (whatever that might mean to you!) with calming artwork that evokes peaceful, harmonious rest. Your room smells clean and fresh, you can diffuse lavender oil or use a naturally scented candle to further help you unwind. Maybe the room has a comfortable chair and lamp to read, write in a journal and relax in. There are no piles of clothes on the floor or in corners because you have easily accessible storage for your clothes including drawers, hanging and folding space and a few hooks for a robe, PJ’s or other frequently used clothing. You have space next to your bed for something to drink, one or two books and a lamp but it’s not piled up with books and clutter. Your bed invites you to curl up and sink in, fully supported! The natural daylight filtering in your window helps you rise with the sun, feeling fully rested. When you get up in the morning it is easy to make your bed, not too many pillows, just what you need for the best sleep possible.

Creating a pattern that supports our internal rhythms and helps us to relax might include a cup of warm caffeine-free tea, reading or taking a bath.

We also need to think about what activities keep our minds and bodies in a more active state and stop doing those things at least an hour before bedtime. These activities may include certain kinds of exercise, eating, drinking alcohol and “screentime”. Keeping digital devices at least 10 feet away and/or getting into the practice of putting our phones on “airplane” mode can minimize some of the impact.

What to do when you find yourself waking in the middle of the night, restless, anxious and not able to get back to sleep? For each of us that depends, on our schedule, how much sleep we need, what we have to do the next day. If you need some tips for taming the restless mind check out this great article by Unstuck. The consensus seems to be that laying in bed for hours of restlessness is unhelpful for anyone though, so do what you can to either get back to sleep or get up and get your mind out of the anxiety rut.

I know the practice of napping is something some people swear by but I’ve never been able to nap. I’m just not a napper, wish I was! So that means I need to get that sleep at night because once I’m up, I’m up.

There are so many fascinating studies that illustrate all the ways in which sleep is important for us.

Lack of sleep and fatigue can lead to stress, weight gain, depression, anxiety, heart and other health problems (especially with sleep disorders) and it can be downright dangerous (as in driving and falling asleep etc). Take a few minutes to listen to this excellent TED Talk by Arianne Huffington which reveals Health Research on Sleep deprivation & Sleep disorders

Do you get enough sleep? How many hours does that mean for you?

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Makeover Monday:Escalators on my bookshelves

Organizing using the 5S Methodology

Long before the Kondo Method came along…the Japanese were using the 5 S Methodology

The 5 S Methodology works by sorting, straightening, systematic cleaning, standardizing and sustaining.

Seiri or Sorting

Seiton or Straightening (setting in order / stabilize)

Seiso or Systematic cleaning

Seiketsu or Standardizing

Shitsuke or Sustaining (sustaining the discipline or self-discipline)