You can organize like the PROS using the HEART Process!

Rhonda and I started out together in business in June of 2004.  One of the books that we appreciated then, and still value today, is ORGANIZING FROM THE INSIDE OUT  by Julie Morgenstern.

We took her organizing process (known as the SPACE concept) and tweaked it to create our own HEART process.

This method is tried and true and we have used it with hundreds of clients over the years, and not to mention in our own homes as well!  One of our most frequently asked questions is……Where do I start?

We’ll admit, that even as the professionals, sometimes this question can be tough to answer.  We are glad for the peace of mind to know that the HEART process is the answer – every time!

When tackling an organizing project  THINK HEART!

H = Handle & Sort

Group similar items together – related categories that MAKE SENSE TO YOU!   This is NOT the evaluation stage.

E = Evaluate

• Identify what is important to you – what you currently use and love not what“might be important” in the future, or “used to be” in the past.
• Decide what to get rid of.  Think of what you gain in return!

Space – for the things you really love and really use

Time –  saved searching through the unused clutter to get at what you really want

Satisfaction – share the items & bless others!

• Ask the question “If I had uninterrupted time, what project(s) would I go to first?”

Give yourself permission to pass along unfinished projects that are weighing you down.

As you evaluate you are deciding what to keep, what to donate, what goes to recycling and what goes to garbage.

A = Assign a Home

Everything needs a Home!

Once you have evaluated and know what you are keeping, you need to decide where you are keeping it.

We often leave things sitting out because they don’t have a home.  This creates “Hot Spots”.  Make sure the appropriate “home” is accessible.  Don’t set yourself up for failure!

Labelling helps you and other family members know where items belong.

Remember, once you have assigned an item a home then ** DON’T PUT IT DOWN, PUT IT AWAY! **

Primary storage (Prime Real Estate) – store things you use often in easily accessible places

Secondary storage – things you use less often on higher shelves, or more “out of the way” spots

Archival storage – old records and mementos in attic or basement

The Kindergarten Model – Setting your home up in Zones – everything you need for a specific task is within arms reach.  East tidy-up!

R = Restore Order

This is where we think about products.  Warning – don’t jump to this step before sorting & evaluating!

– Containers give you boundaries and keep things sorted, organized and maintained.

– Consider containerizing “ambivalent” items & storing them to be dealt with later.  Label the box as to the contents and date it for one year down the road.  Make a note in your planner to retrieve the box from where you stored it in a year, realize you have done fine without it and donate it without feeling the need to open it first.

– Label shelves and/or containers to ensure success!

T = Tune-up 

Keep it simple!

– Tidy up at the end of the day, or even at the end of each hour

– Make friends with your timer.  Work by yourself, or get the whole family on board.  If you work hard and fast for 15 minutes it is amazing how easy the tune-up will be.

• Train yourself (labels help)
• Train your family so there are reasonable expectations for them to maintain the organizing that has been done.

Everything needs a home.  Once everything has a home then remember – Don’t put it down, put it away!!

We come with no judgement.  This is what we do every day and we love it!

• Do you feel like you are drowning?
• Do you feel like you can hardly keep your head above water?
• Do you dream of getting yourself (and your home and family) to a level playing field so that you can be in maintenance mode rather than always feeling like a failure?

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