At The Home Edit, we always say start small because small steps lead to big wins over time in your space *and* your life. We focus on this in our new book, Stay Organized, but as an extra gift from us to you, we’re launching Happy Little Home, a new campaign inspired by Joanna’s love of “Happy Little Projects,” or small, attainable projects that can be tackled in a day, afternoon or even just an hour. Over the next month, we’ll touch on a different theme each week to help you reset for the new season, complete with how-tos, expert Q&As, and curated shopping lists. We’ve got this!
HOME
HAPPY LITTLE
A Happy Home Starts with YOU!
WEEK 1
ORGANIZING
WEEK 2
MENTAL HEALTH
WEEK 3
SLEEP
WEEK 4
NUTRITION
in partnership with
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UNDER THE SINK
LAUNDRY
DESK
SHOWER
FRIDGE
5 Happy Little Projects to Tackle This Week
Ask the Experts!
Recommended Reading
Product Picks
What’s a “Happy Little Project?” Glad you asked! Coined by Joanna, we use the term to refer to bite-size, attainable organization projects that can be tackled in a day, an afternoon or even under an hour! They’re just a little serotonin boost to help put a little more happy into your day. Here are a few you can tackle this week. And don’t forget to give yourself a gold star after!
CLEA & JOANNA SPILL
ON ALL THINGS ORGANIZATION
Find more advice and major organization inspo in our bestselling books, and be sure to order Stay Organized, out now!
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Alright, you’ve scrolled our Instagram, flipped through our books and maybe listened to a podcast episode or two. Now it’s time to actually get organized! These heavy-hitting products are our go-tos to help take on any space!
Organizing Bin
Beauty Drawers Edit
Divided Turntable
XL Bin
Divided Fridge Bin
5 Happy Little Projects
What’s your favorite organization product?
CLEA
I love our all-purpose organizing bins. They can be used in every space in the house - your pantry, closet, playroom, you name it. They’re so versatile, and they’re stackable too which allows you to take advantage of vertical space.
JOANNA
Baby bins (aka our bin organizers)! I love using these to create subcategories or organize small spaces like a drawer.
Best piece of advice for beginners?
Start small! You don’t want to bite off more than you can chew. Start with a small space like under the sink or a junk drawer instead of trying to tackle the entire kitchen.
And don’t skip the edit! You need to first go through and make sure each item actually deserves a place in your home, and if not, donate or toss it! Also be sure to leave room to account for items that will enter the space but aren’t there yet.
Can you explain “The Home Edit” method?
We swear by these four steps: edit, categorize, contain, and maintain. The first step is to remove everything from the space, and from there, pare them down to only the items you want or need. This step is crucial for making space for functional systems. After that, group what you decide to keep into categories that make sense for you. Next, you’ll want to give your items a home by containing them in bins, baskets, drawer inserts, etc. Finally, make sure you’re maintaining your systems. If you use steps 1-3 to create smart systems that work for your life, you’ll be able to keep them up.
The last step is often the trickiest so we dedicated our entire third book to it! You can order Stay Organized now.
Favorite space to organize?
I’d have to say a pantry or a closet.
There’s nothing I love more than a drawer. Office drawer, bathroom drawer, craft drawer, you name it! They’re the perfect happy little project!
What space in your home needs a little organization TLC right now?
Always my kids' drawers. No matter how many times I reorganize them, they’re somehow still always a mess. Seriously, I’d be fired if anyone ever saw them.
Agree, 100%. Clearly even our families still need to work at the maintenance piece.
Ok, fun one! What are you excited about right now?
I’m excited about our third book which is out now and also to host the reboot of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”
Me too! I’m also very excited to get settled into my new house. Clea and I will be neighbors now so I’m looking forward to that!
Canisters
BTW, this site contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you buy something through them.
Q&A WITH
A BETTERHELP PROFESSIONAL
MORNING ROUTINE
POTS & PANS
CONTAIN THE CAR CHAOS
SYSTEMIZE YOUR LINEN CLOSET
ENTRYWAY COMMAND STATION
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Organization is a form of self care. A cluttered space is a cluttered mind, and clutter causes problems. No one likes not being able to find their keys in the morning or being greeted at the door with a pile of junk. It’s no way to live. The more you ignore the mess, the messier it gets, and the more overwhelmed you will feel. Stop stress and overwhelm in their tracks with these easy and attainable organization projects.
When life gets busy, it’s easy to put self-care on the back burner because we “don’t have the time.” But it’s called a self-care practice for a reason. There is no shame in showing up for yourself in small ways. One of those small ways is setting an hour or so aside a week for online therapy (No more waitlists or driving to and from appointments - sign us up!) BetterHelp can match you to one of over 32,000 licensed therapists so you can do therapy on your schedule. We get it though. Starting therapy (even from the comfort of your own home) can feel overwhelming. We sat down with Melissa Hummelt, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Senior Clinical Operations Manager at BetterHelp, to talk about how to find the right therapist for you, manage stress, talk to your kids about mental health and more.
Any tips for finding the right therapist for you?
First and foremost, make sure that the person you see is licensed. This ensures that the professional you’re meeting is trained (has a Masters or Doctorate degree) and has been qualified and certified by their state’s professional boards which entails completing necessary education, exams, training, and practice. You’ll want to think about what kind of preferences you might have. For instance, do you know you’d prefer to speak with a woman or person of color? Many of us have an idea of who we might feel most comfortable opening up to. Would you prefer if your therapist was trained from a certain perspective such as trauma-informed? Is it important that they specialize in eating disorders? A benefit of the company I work for, BetterHelp, is that it is the world’s largest therapy service and we have a large number of therapists with different backgrounds and expertise. A therapist can seem like a perfect match on paper, but the vibe you feel during your sessions is important too. In fact, research tells us that the therapeutic alliance, or the relationship between therapist and client, is the most important factor in good therapy outcomes. It can take a few sessions to build some rapport and trust, but if you feel uncomfortable for whatever reason, it’s normal and understandable to switch in order to find a better match.
Projects to Reduce Stress
Give Yourself a Gold Star
Sanity Savers
For people that haven’t tried it, can you explain what to expect during a therapy session?
For those who are new to therapy and don’t know what it entails: therapy is a relationship with a professional where you feel safe, heard, and unconditionally accepted for exactly who you are. In therapy, you can expect to be supported in feeling better, feeling more like your true self, and/or resolving some sort of challenge. In your first session, you can expect your therapist to gather a lot of background information about you including any symptoms of distress you might be experiencing and what sort of goals you’re hoping to work on. You’ll be in the driver’s seat as far as what you’d like to share and concentrate on, and your goals will help focus the sessions. In subsequent sessions, your therapist will have a variety of approaches and modalities to guide you to better understand yourself, your thoughts, and your feelings. There's a misconception that people only go to therapy when something is really wrong. Therapy is not necessarily about fixing something that is broken: instead, I like to think of it as an opportunity to learn about our strengths, an opportunity to challenge ourselves to grow, and learn to embrace and be grateful for what we have in order to reach our full potential and feel our best. If you notice that you want to feel differently or want a safe space to work through something difficult or stressful, or even if you just want to learn more about yourself and have a deeper understanding of who you are and what you want out of life, it might be worth exploring working with a therapist.
It’s officially fall which means the craziness of back to school and after school activities is in full swing. Can you share a few simple tricks for staying calm and grounded in the middle of the chaos?
Back to school time is full of new beginnings and new schedules which can be both exciting and stressful for the entire family. When things start to feel chaotic, one thing that can be helpful is to be intentional about slowing down. That can feel counterintuitive when there are so many things to juggle. But slowing down allows us to be fully present with whatever we’re doing and whoever we are with. We can slow down by inviting a few moments of mindfulness throughout our day. Practically, this can look like taking a few minutes to close our eyes and focus on our breath. Try it: find a quiet space, find a comfortable seat, close your eyes, and take some deep cleansing breaths. Focus on how your breath feels as it’s moving in and out. Notice how your chest or belly may rise and fall. How do you feel afterward? What’s wonderful about using our breath as a mindfulness tool is that we always have it with us! We can use our breath to center ourselves while we wait in line at the grocery store, at a long red-light, or between back-to-back meetings.
How can we speak to our kids about the importance of mental health?
Setting a good example and modeling taking care of our own mental health is so important. Kids are smart and absorb so much of what they observe, so if you’re prioritizing your own mental health, they will notice that and learn from your lead. This really helps to normalize that we all have emotional needs and responses, and there are productive ways to manage tough and completely normal feelings. If you’d like to start a conversation about mental health or inquire how your child is feeling, I’d encourage using open-ended questions when possible. For example, “What did you do during recess?” will invite more of a response than, “Did you have a good day at school?” If and when your child does open up about how they’re feeling, take a moment to validate their feelings. That alone can be so powerful. It can be very tempting to jump into problem solving mode, but remember to give your kids space to be expressive and feel heard.
Can you speak to the connection between organization and mental health?
We spend so much of our time at home, and being surrounded by disorganization or clutter can make our space feel less peaceful. These visual distractions can place unnecessary drain on our cognitive resources. Additionally, when you can find what you need, whether it be your keys, batteries, or umbrella, you’ll experience less stress and frustration with yourself and less stress with your family members or roommates.
Trust us, these must-haves are key for surviving and thriving.
Linen Sheets Cube
Laundry Edit
Lunch Prep Cutting Board
Bath Edit
Entryway Shoe Storage
Massaging Eye Mask
TACKLE THE TOYS
You actually showered this morning today
The kids got to school on time
You got through an entire episode of a show without looking at your phone
You ate vegetables during at least one meal
You fed the dog
You got some sort of cardio in (yes, cleaning counts!)
Designate a Daily Drawer
Our Rest Essentials
CLEAN UP
YOUR SLEEP ROUTINE
As we go into a new season, we’re making sleep a top priority, which is why we’ve partnered with Hatch to help create healthy sleep rituals from sunrise to sunset with products like the Restore 2. We chatted with Hatch’s go-to sleep expert Dr. Jessee Dietch, MD about how we can wake up on the right side of the bed every day.
How much sleep should we actually be getting?
I know that people hear a specific number thrown around, like "you should always get 8 hours of sleep," but it's actually more of a complex answer than that. Sleep needs are very individual - there is no one number that will work for everyone. I think of it like shoe size. Say the average shoe size is a 7. Does that mean everyone should wear a size 7 shoe? No! Same thing with how much sleep people need. There was a consensus statement a few years ago that basically agreed that for most healthy adults, getting over 7 hours per night on a consistent basis is associated with the best health outcomes, so if someone really wants a number then that's what I tell them. However, I think it's best to go by your internal sense. How much sleep do you need to perform at your best and get through your day with energy without relying on tons of caffeine? That sleep need will probably change a bit throughout your life, and it could even change on different days - you might need more sleep if you're recovering from an illness or injury, or if you had a really strenuous workout. So, in that way, I think it's much more accurate to let your internal sense of how rested you feel on a day to day basis guide you, and to give yourself an adequate opportunity for sleep so that you don't feel a huge amount of pressure to "perform" sleep in a narrow window.
What are some healthy sleep habits we can incorporate into our nighttime routines?
Sleep is a 24-hour process, so there are things you can do both at night and during the day to get better sleep! One of my top recommendations to support better sleep is to consider your light exposure. Our circadian system needs light input to function at its best, and it is an important factor in our sleep. So, a simple way of looking at it is to get bright light during the day, and keep things dark in the evening and night! Ideally getting outside and getting some sunlight during the day, but if you don't have that ability, then using a bright light box or glasses to amp up your light exposure would work too. In the evenings, it's best to have your lights dimmer, and to sleep in as dark of a location as you can manage. Another important thing that can benefit everyone's sleep is to create a "buffer zone" between the busy activities of the day and the relaxation that is necessary to make space for sleep. The last hour or two before bedtime should be a time without strenuous mental or physical activities, that includes some pleasant or relaxing routines. Finally, it's important to strike a balance between making enough time for sleep, and not putting too much pressure or effort into sleep. Aim to make space for sleep to occur, but don't fret about a bad night here and there. Paying too much attention to sleep can sometimes have a reverse effect, where it makes sleep harder to come by.
What about in the mornings? What’s an ideal time to wake up?
The ideal time to wake up is at a time when you've gotten enough sleep to perform well during the day that allows you to make it to your first morning activity with enough time! There is no single time that works best for everyone. Some people perform their best in the morning, and they probably have an easier time getting out of bed to tackle the day. But some people, usually those who are night owls, find the morning to be a more challenging time. In this case, starting the day gradually can help them come to terms with wakefulness. So, this doesn't mean snoozing the alarm clock a million times, but rather choosing a time to get up and do something enjoyable before starting the busy morning. Hatch products, like the Restore 2, can help to establish a consistent rise time, make the wakeup a little less painful, and give a moment to pause before jumping in to the day.
As we’re getting back into the swing of things with school and kids activities, how can we help our little ones get the sleep they need?
Consistency and routine is the best thing you can do to support kids' sleep. Have a consistent bedtime and nap time routine, and give kids sufficient quiet time in the evening before bed to disconnect from the busy activities of their day too!
These go-to favorites don't sleep on the job.
Hatch Restore 2
Lemme Sleep Gummies
Personalized Champagne Sleep Shirt
Slippers
Sheets
Kindle
It’s no secret that we love to sleep around here. (Hi, it’s me Clea!). It’s also not a secret that it's hard for us to prioritize it. (Just one more episode!) These simple edits to your night routine will make you wake up on the right side of the bed. Spoiler: Put your phone away!
Create a daily drawer to keep your morning and nightime routine at your fingertips. Setting yourself up with your routine within reach is a self-care practice and an easy win, every day. Gold stars for you!
Remove everything from your drawer and measure it. When purchasing drawer inserts, make sure to buy extras so you can play around with the spacing - you can always return what you don't need!
#1
Start With a Clean Slate
#2
Play Categories
Identify and separate product categories into inserts and organize them so your most-used products are at the ready. If you have more space, store extras within the drawer to avoid overbuying.
#3
No Packaging Allowed
Always, always, always remove the packaging! Most toiletry and beauty items come in boxes or bags that are extremely awkward to store. To maximize space, remove items from their original packaging, especially backstock items, and store them within drawer inserts or under the sink in bins or canisters.
The ideal time to wake up is at a time when you've gotten enough sleep to perform well during the day that allows you to make it to your first morning activity with enough time! There is no single time that works best for everyone. Some people perform their best in the morning, and they probably have an easier time getting out of bed to tackle the day. But some people, usually those who are night owls, find the morning to be a more challenging time. In this case, starting the day gradually can help them come to terms with wakefulness. So, this doesn't mean snoozing the alarm clock a million times, but rather choosing a time to get up and do something enjoyable before starting the busy morning. Hatch products, like the Restore 2 can help to establish a consistent rise time, make the wakeup a little less painful, and give a moment to pause before jumping in to the day.
Designate A Daily Drawer
Gold Star Gadgets
Delicious & Nutritious
How To Organize Your Fridge
A HEALTHY
DOSE OF ADVICE
As we head into the holidays, we’re making health a top priority, which is why we’ve partnered with Green Chef, who are all about flavorful meals with clean ingredients. We chatted with Green Chef’s Christina DelaCruz and Kara Kash about how we can create healthy habits when it comes to nutrition.
It can be hard to decide what to cook for dinner every night. What are some good starting points to make sure we’re eating healthy?
Our key pieces of advice are: • Incorporate variety • Stock up on colorful fruits & veggies. • Go for lean proteins. (chicken, turkey, fish) • Choose whole grains over refined/processed/high sugar foods. • Menu plan in advance and as much as possible. • If your budget allows for it, sign up for a meal kit delivery subscription! For example, Green Chef’s recipes are quick and easy with step by step instructions and ready in about 30 minutes. They use organic, non-GMO ingredients and the recipes are nutritious and good for you.
As we head into the holiday season, it can be hard to prioritize healthy eating. Do you have any recommendations on how to do so?
Yes! Calorically dense foods reign supreme around the holidays but with a few tips you can still enjoy the holiday season without sacrificing your nutrition goals. Fill half your plate with produce first! Prioritizing fiber with proteins can make you feel full more quickly and limit your desire and/or ability to overeat. Honor hunger and satiety cues. Eat when you feel hungry but only eat to about 80% fullness. It is common to eat until you're stuffed during the holidays but this is not ideal. (Pro tip: It takes about 20 minutes after eating for the stomach’s signaling to reach your brain to let you know you are full). Avoid skipping meals earlier in the day to wait for the main holiday meal. This will make it much more likely that you overeat! Include a balanced breakfast and/or snacks throughout the day before the main meal. Be present while eating and minimize grazing on food mindlessly throughout the day. Sitting down with family with conversation and laughter will help you eat more slowly and make it easier for you to recognize your satiety cues. Take a walk after eating - your body can more effectively process carbohydrates after a meal when active. Don't demonize the desserts! Try to add fiber or protein to any dessert, like peanut butter with cookies or a side of fruit with your pie/cake. These nutrients will help you feel full more quickly, so you eat less.
What are some ways to make eating nutritious, clean ingredient foods fun for kids?
Kids tend to be picky eaters, but when they play a role in the food preparation, they feel a greater connection to the food item and are more willing to try something new! When feasible, include your child in the shopping, prepping, and cooking process. Another idea is to get adventurous with some new recipes and even if your kid is a 'brown food lover' you can make things like french fries and chicken nuggets from scratch at home with an air fryer with some healthy swaps like using whole grain breading or purple potatoes instead of white, for example. Even cheese crackers can be made easily with your child and revamped to include whole grain flour, less salt, and healthy oils like olive or avocado. More kid-friendly ideas include: • Take advantage of cookie cutters and extra veggie or fruit toppings to make fun shapes and play scenes! Making mealtimes fun will increase engagement. • Experiment with natural food colorings like turmeric and beet juice. • Limit the availability of ultra-processed snacks and make healthy foods more easily accessible.
Can you speak to the connection between organization and nutrition?
Eating a nutritious diet can be overwhelming. With so many different food choices, and limited time in the day, it’s easy to grab the quickest (and oftentimes less healthy) option. Organization can be an effective tool to help you avoid this pitfall and stay on track to achieve your nutrition goals! Here are a few tips & tricks: • Plan out your meals. Set aside a few minutes each week to decide what meals and snacks you’re craving and want to enjoy for the week. • Take stock of your pantry and create a grocery list. Pro Tip: Organize your grocery list based on the layout of the store to save you time and prevent you from running back and forth. • Organize! When organizing your kitchen and pantry, put the most nutrient-dense foods front and center. Although we fully support occasionally indulging in sweet and salty treats, store these in harder to reach places. • Prepare ahead of time. If there’s a specific area of nutrition that you struggle with, it can be helpful to think ahead. Struggling with planning balanced meals? Try ordering from a meal kit like Green Chef that takes the guesswork out of planning. Lacking fruit intake? Wash and cut your favorite fruits in bulk and store them in a visible section of your fridge for a quick grab-and-go snack!
Stock Up On Healthy Staples
When healthy items, like your Green Chef Box, are easy to access and easy to prepare, you’ll be a lot less likely to cave, which for us means ordering in and calling it a day.
If you want to start eating healthier, you obviously need to stock your fridge with healthy food and Green Chef of course. It helps to create a list of core staples to have on hand at all times. This takes the guesswork out of grocery shopping, and you’ll feel more prepared during meal and snack time. Pro tip: store healthy leftovers.
Edit, Edit, Edit
When it comes to actually organizing your fridge, don’t skip the editing process. Even if you don’t feel like it, start by removing every single item from your fridge until it’s completely empty. We suggest keeping a trash bag nearby and tossing anything expired as you go. And since your fridge shelves are probably due for a deep clean, here’s your chance to actually get in there and wipe off that weird sticky layer!
Create Zones
Every category should live in a designated zone (location) and preferably, within a contained and visible home (clear product). This allows everything to be accessible, accounted for, and aesthetically pleasing...while also maximizing shelf space.
How To Organize Your Fridge To Set You Up For Success
#4
Label It
Labeling isn’t just the finishing touch, it’s actually the secret sauce of the system. Labels are really just straightforward directions for where items go. They concretely identify the contents that live in each container. It not only helps *you* maintain the system, but it holds your kids, your partner, and anyone else using the space, accountable too. *Reminder: Think broad, not specific when labeling your categories. It should be a simple road map that’s flexible enough for the occasional outlier.
#5
Freeze It
Your freezer is valuable real estate in your fridge set up, so clear out those old popsicles and spilled frozen peas to make room for favorites your family will actually eat. We're looking at you last minute meals. We love using our Freezer Bins to contain the chaos amongst the frozen pizzas and kids snacks. Organizing this space will take the dread out of opening this often-forgotten area, we promise!
These healthy meals from Green Chef have our mouths watering! And they can be delivered next week? You had us at spaghetti.
Shrimp Spaghetti Squash Puttanesca
(calorie smart, keto, mediterranean)
(vegan, mediterranean)
Chickpea & Red Pepper Bulgur Bowls
(calorie smart, gluten-free)
Tamari Turkey & Broccoli Bowls
If something can save us time or space (especially in the kitchen), we’re all in!
Meal Prep Cutting Board
Drink Organizer
Herb Scissors
Jar Opener
Vegetable Chopper
Whether you're trying to save time or crush your nutrition goals, organization is key to success! Still struggling? Green Chef offers complimentary nutrition coaching with a registered dietitian to help you get and stay organized! You can book your free session here!
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Gold Standard Gadgets