Inspiration & Motivation

Yes, you really CAN afford it, and you really DO have the time!

By Hazel Thornton | July 21, 2014 |

So, what is it, exactly, that I think you can afford and have the time for? Anything you want! All you have to do is to prioritize it and include it in your budgets. You know — your financial and time budgets. And I mean budget in the sense of allocating resources, which does not…

I Can See Clearly Now…Can You?

By Hazel Thornton | July 13, 2014 |

I was driving to a business networking luncheon, admiring the blue skies, fluffy white clouds, and Sandia mountains with my brand new eyes (post cataract surgery), singing the old Johnny Nash song (“I can see clearly now the rain is gone…”), and it occurred to me that cataracts are just another form of clutter.

What is Your Clutter Costing You?

By Hazel Thornton | January 27, 2014 |

You know you have clutter. We all do, in one form or another, and to varying degrees. But have you ever thought about what it is costing you? Sometimes the cost is obvious, such as late fees incurred for an overdue bill that was lost in a mystery pile of paper, or that you couldn’t…

Clearing Mental Clutter

By Hazel Thornton | May 17, 2013 |

Clutter comes in many forms. If you are worried about something, but aren’t doing anything about it — or can’t do anything about it — it’s mental clutter. For any persistent, worrisome thought, ask yourself: Can you do something about it? If you think so, or if you don’t think so, or if you’re not…

Why Am I Organized and You Aren’t?

By Hazel Thornton | May 8, 2013 |

The first thing you should know is that I am not a psychologist and this is not a scientific paper. I’m just a professional organizer sharing some personal observations. The second thing you should know is that I’m not organized in every possible way at all possible times! And my standards (what “organized” looks like,…

How to Live and Work by Design, not by Default

By Hazel Thornton | January 14, 2013 |

Living and working BY DEFAULT means choosing the easiest path, either by unconsciously resorting to bad habits, or by maintaining the status quo. Sometimes we seek to avoid the conflict that can come with making a change. Sometimes we feel we have no choice in the matter. But I’m with Henry Ford, who said, “Whether you think…

Does Progress Equal Happiness?

By Hazel Thornton | December 30, 2012 |

Last year I decided I wanted a mantra/slogan/motto/theme. Something that I could fall back on to keep me motivated and — dare I say it? — happy. As a fan of Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project (book and blog), I know that many things can contribute to one’s happiness, from kittens and rainbows and enjoyable…

How to Organize Your Kitchen for Health and Weight Loss Success

By Hazel Thornton | November 7, 2012 |

We all know how to lose weight. Eat less and move more…right? And we all know that fresh produce and whole grains are healthier than fried foods and sugary desserts…right? I’m not here to tell you what to eat. But I do want to share some tips for organizing your fridge and pantry to set…

How Can Less be More?

By Hazel Thornton | October 30, 2012 |

I have always struggled with the phrase “Less is more.”  I suppose I have taken it a bit too literally, thinking, “Less is NOT more. Less is BETTER, in many cases, but it’s not MORE, so why would anyone say that? “ But now, from an organizing perspective, I understand the phrase to mean that…

Be Prepared: How Girl Scouts helped me get organized for life

By Hazel Thornton | September 9, 2012 |

It probably wouldn’t surprise you to learn that I was a Girl Scout. I started out as a Brownie and ended up working as a counselor at Girl Scout camps in the mountains of Idaho and Colorado as a young adult. I recently reconnected with some camp friends who reminded me how valuable the skills…