Jul 1, 20135 min read

My M³: Maeve’s Method Moment

A reflection on #organizing using Maeve's Method, by Deborah Weisshaar.

The Setting

I’m out in Park City, Utah staying in a place that belongs to my in-laws. We were looking around in various #drawers to find the key to the swimming pool gate. On the phone from Memphis, my father-in-law suggested that I look in a drawer underneath the telephone. I opened it and found about 200 brochures and maps strewn about. There was no way to look in the drawer for an errant key without taking them all out. So, I found myself hauling out all the papers and clutter in the drawer, and the search inspired a Maeve’s Method Moment… (should we call it MMM, triple M, or M3?).

The Stuff

I've been organizing lately in my own home with Maeve (see related stories below!) and she taught me how to create piles of like things in 'categories according to me'. These weren't my things, so I decided to focus on common categories, just to see what was there.

Amongst the piles I made when I pulled out the contents of the drawer were: a 2003 AAA Utah Tour Book, 2006 Things to Do in Park City Guide, Summer 2008 Park City Mountain Resort Brochure, the Utah Festival Opera 2011 schedule, Park City Recreation Annual Publication PLAY 2008... I could go on and on.

Sticky note labels kept me organized as I worked.

I couldn’t leave it all in one big messy pile, so I started sorting, making up #categories as I went along – Area Maps, Trail Maps, Spa and Massage, Activities in the Area, Food and Dining…and Toss or Replace. Maeve suggests making labels or writing sticky notes to keep piles organized as you work, and doing this felt really great.

Maeve suggests making labels or writing sticky notes to keep piles organized as you work.

The Challenge

A friend wanted to help. The goal was to go swimming, so everyone kind of wanted me to move things along. Her instinct was to toss anything that had an old date. I think she was a bit frustrated with me that I wasn’t ready to toss so much, but I felt uncomfortable making a decision like that with stuff that wasn’t mine…..and I knew

With the labeled piles complete, I placed them back in the drawer.

that trail maps and town maps don’t change that much from year to year.

On the other hand, old coupons, schedules, and price lists won’t do us much good now. So, I had move cautiously and make careful decisions. #CATY

The truth is that we weren’t here to straighten up the brochure drawer, so this activity was put on hold a few times so we could go to the pool (with the key finally found elsewhere!) and later out to dinner. I was with 5 wonderful old friends and soon we were soaking in the hot tub chatting about about life, families, jobs, busy lives…. I forget about the drawer.

I didn't even mean to start this project, and I did it to find to a key to help everyone, but it didn’t take long before I was being made fun of for taking on too many projects at once, which I a prone to doing. So, whether I liked it or not, my spontaneous project became a topic of group conversation, which brought up some emotions.

Whether I liked it or not, my spontaneous project became a topic of group conversation, which brought up some emotions.

How I Roll

In my life, a trip to the grocery store rarely allows me to go through the express lane. Even when running in for a quick trip, I buy a lot of stuff. I also always have various things cooking at a time, while also finding a way to entertain my 4 year old. Sometimes that means cooking up homemade play-dough, or allowing her to play with 'ingredients' in the kitchen, creating a mess. You know, normal mom stuff.

So gratifying! It feels great getting down to basics.

We like to say, that 'making a mess is just part of the cycle of the kitchen'…..followed by cleaning it up and making another mess, and so on…. Unfortunately, my husband is less fond of the mess part of the cycle than my daughter Lucy and I are. But that is the topic of another blog post.

A prime example of my expanding projects is when I look for something. If I don’t find it quickly, I usually start cleaning up and putting things away. If I’m lucky I can get Lucy to help me with her toys as she sings a Maeve’s Method concept she has internalized – 'Everything has a home.' #everythinghasahome

If I’m lucky I can get Lucy to help me with her toys as she sings a Maeve’s Method concept she has internalized – 'Everything has a home.' #everythinghasahome

Lucy worked with Maeve as well and now enjoys putting things away (that is also a topic for another blog post.) And sometimes, like yesterday, I realize that there really isn’t any obvious way to clean up….or a part of the house is just too crowded and needs some work, and that is when I find myself in a Maeve’s Method Moment.

Deb Creating Categories

The Takeaway

As a psychologist, I know that during therapy things often feel more chaotic and confusing before they get better. I think Maeve’s Method is like therapy for your space. Before you can create the #systems and structure that work for you, you need to evaluate what you have – and that usually means pulling it all out and making a mess.

I think Maeve’s Method is like therapy for your space....Before you can create the #systems and structure that work for you, you need to evaluate what you have – and that usually means pulling it all out and making a mess.

You also need to take sometime to think about your space and what you want it to do for you. I talked to Maeve about my brochure drawer experience and we began musing on how to simplify Maeve’s Method down to its essential principle. What seemed to make most sense to me was this – The most important thing in your space is YOU. That means that YOU need to be in charge of your space and your experience in it. YOU need to decide what your priorities are and how to create systems and structure that work for you. Then, you need to allow Maeve’s Method Moments to pop up now and then to inspire you to take charge again when something isn’t working anymore.