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NABBW Columnist - Organizational Skills
| Name: | Regina Leeds |
| Title: | Author, Teacher, Seminar Leader |
| Expertise: | Organizational Skills |
| Web Site: |
http://www.reginaleeds.com |
| Email: | zenorg1@aol.com |
| Bio: |  New York City native Regina Leeds has brought order to home and work environments across the United States since 1988 when she started her company, Get Organized! by REGINA. Currently based in Los Angeles, her clientele run the gamut from movie stars to business people and housewives. Regina regularly travels throughout the United States to assist her clients.
Regina is the author of two books: The Zen of Organizing; Creating Order and Peace in Your Home, Career and Life and Creating a Place Without Losing Your Space: a Couples Guide to Blending Homes, Lives and Clutter. A one-hour TV special called ?The Zen of Organizing' was created for the Fine Living Cable Network and began airing on Mother's Day, 2003. Regina is one of the approved expert guests for ?Soap Talk' on the Soap Opera Network. She is currently developing an idea for a TV series with Film Garden, a Los Angeles production company, The ?Zen Organizer' has been featured in national magazines, including Bon Appetit, Redbook, Delta Airlines' Shuttle Sheet, The Utne Reader, New Age Magazine, In Style and Los Angeles Magazine among others. The latter named her the Best Organizer in LA. Regina was featured this year in the Home section of the Los Angeles Times. In addition, she was the resident expert for the Home and Garden Channel at iVillage.com for over 4 years. Regina had the honor of representing Sears Grand in the media for their opening in Rancho Cucamonga. Regina's first career as a professional actress (she received a Bachelor's degree in Theatre from Hunter College in Manhattan) has made the transition to teacher and seminar leader an easy one. Regina's credits as a professional actress include national commercials, guest spots on TV, theatre roles and three happy years recurring on The Young & the Restless. The ?Zen Organizer' has taught classes and delivered speeches on the art of ?Zen Organizing' to diverse groups around the country. Her audiences have included: Conde Nast, Coldwell Banker Real Estate Offices, the Mile Hi Church of Religious Science in Denver, the Unity Church of Christianity in Houston, The University Club and Doubles in New York City and the City of Hope in Los Angeles. Regina is a spokesperson for the National Search and Rescue Dog Foundation in Ojai. |
The Art of 'Zen Organizing'
By Regina Leeds
Someone once said that we are not physical beings having spiritual
experiences but rather spiritual beings having a physical experience. I
believe we each come here with unique talents. Just as the world is
waiting for your gifts, your soul is waiting for you to create an
environment that literally nurtures your best efforts rather than one
that sabotages you at every turn.
Imagine a large orchestra. The conductor brings the musicians to
attention. Suddenly he realizes that one of the violinists is missing.
The orchestra can continue and the audience will be pleased. But the
music cannot live up to its full potential because someone has not
shown up. It is just so with you: the world will not be the same
without your unique and special contribution.
For me the art of ‘Zen organizing’ is establishing outer order so that
inner peace can reign. When I first became a professional organizer
over 16 years ago, I noticed that a finished project quite literally
felt different from the rest of the home. I wondered how I would
describe that palpable difference in words so that everyone would
understand.
While few have studied Zen as a spiritual philosophy, everyone seems to
identify the word with a feeling of serenity. I so loved this idea that
I used it as the title for my first book “The Zen of Organizing:
Creating Order and Peace in Your Home, Career and Life.” It is my
belief that with such a ‘Zen organized’ home environment, you are in an
optimum position to hear the still, small voice of spirit directing you
to the work that is yours. And, once known, its fulfillment will be
easier in this environment.
The Magic Formula
What are the practical steps you might ask to achieving this
feeling of peace and calm? There are three and I call them The Magic
Formula because you can use them to organize any challenge you face
from an unruly closet, to papers in search of a file system to the
completion of a project for work. In fact when I teach my classes, I
challenge my students to offer a task that will not surrender to this
formula. I have yet to find one.
The first step is to eliminate what does not belong. Here are a few ways to eliminate the old or unwanted from your closet:
• Some items will be earmarked
for a charity. They will have a new lease on life while you receive a
tax deduction. This choice is truly a win/win for everyone involved.
• Other items will need to be tossed.
• Some things may need to be
taken to the area of the home where they belong. I frequently find
items like fans, hobby supplies and workout equipment on the floor of a
closet occupying valuable real estate that rightfully belongs to things
like shoes racks.
• Perhaps you have some things
that belong to a friend or family member? This is a wonderful time to
return them.
As we go item by item in quest of things to eliminate, you will
automatically be working the second step of the magic formula if you
place all the items that remain into categories. I like to use the
example of a closet because we all have them and the categories are
universal. Ergo, please keep your slacks, blouses, suits, shoes and
evening wear in distinct groups.
The final step of the Magic Formula is where you organize your
categories. Here you may need the assistance of a professional
organizer or a book like “The Zen of Organizing.”
Using a closet as our example, here are some practical tips to help you organize your clothing:
• One of the most efficient ways
to keep clothing categories in order (and easy to find) is by color.
Every section in a Zen organized closet goes from white to black
following the same color progression.
• All of the hangars are the same. Wooden hangars are now my personal favorite.
• The clothing faces the same direction.
• Shoes are off the floor and on shoe racks.
• If you have a lot of shoes, you
may want an over the door canvas shoe rack for your sporty shoes.
• You can also consider plastic shoeboxes with pull drawers.
• If you have lots of sweaters,
consider placing them in acrylic drawers on a shelf or in individual
plastic bags with zipper closures.
• Ladies handbags look prettiest
and maintain their shape when stored with a few pieces of rumpled issue
paper.
Just about every store now has a section for closet organizing supplies
so be sure and check out what’s out there that will work best for your
particular needs. One word of caution: don’t being home containers that
attract you because of their unusual shape or color with the idea that
‘one day’ you will find ‘something’ to put in them. This can result in
new clutter. Be sure and purchase just what you need and can use right
now.
Reality: What a Concept
My best friend has a wonderful button collection. The one that
says: “Reality! What a Concept” has long been my favorite. Reading
about ‘Zen organizing’ will hopefully stir within you the desire to
create a home that is not only a haven from the world but also a place
where you are free to express and nurture who you are at your core.
Achieving these results is possible with a little know how and some
elbow grease. Whatever has been in place until now is but the prologue.
There’s no time like the present to begin this wonderful journey.
Visit Regina at
http://www.reginaleeds.com