Organizing | The Orange Rhino Challenge®

I’m not seeking prettiness, I’m seeking peace. And I’m not seeking prettiness, I’m seeking productivity. But really what I’m seeking are ways to soothe my nervous system, ways to feel better, ways to lift myself up. I write these disclaimers because there is nothing lonelier than being misunderstood or rejected. And if I’m being honest, I fear that sharing my interest in organizing my home will lead to both.

But at the same time, I truly believe in the upsides of the story I’m about to share. Not just from personal, lived experience, but because I know research supports it.

Yesterday, I was feeling depleted and asked myself, “What do I need to feel better? What would make me happy?” My answers? Getting something done. Being creative.

So a pantry cabinet called to me to be organized at long last. As anticipated, I opened the door and things fell out. Oh, has this one cabinet been driving me bat shite crazy. And oh, has it been bringing so much unnecessary stress to the end of my day, since it holds the broom I grab after dinner.

But organizing it? Oh, It. Brought. Me. So. Much. Joy!!! Problem-solving to figure out where everything would go? Finding something in our house that would help organize things? Oh, my brain loved the challenge and the success of figuring it out! Opening the cabinet door and not being attacked by falling paper towels? Or a falling broom? Heaven on earth. Seeing a finished project? Total dopamine rush. I love organizing. Not to achieve Pinterest results, but because of all I just mentioned.

The process.

The results.

The feelings.

The feelings that continue well after the job is done.

The feelings of ease of knowing where everything goes.

The feelings of relief of not over buying because I easily find what I need the first time.

The feelings of peace every time I see a visually pleasing cabinet. I’ve been organizing more and more since the renovation finished.

More systems in place. More stuff donated. Less to organize. Less to tidy. I feel lighter. Less gray. More orange. I want to write more about this, but my old brain — the part of me that has been told before that I’m a perfectionist and too anal-retentive, the part of me that is saying no one cares — is still popping in and saying, “I wouldn’t…” But I gotta tell you. I know there are so many ADHD brains, so many perimenopausal brains, out there like mine thinking:

I can’t organize.

I don’t have the time.

It really isn’t worth it.

But also… I feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and annoyed by over-purchasing, wasting time looking for things, and clutter. I’m living the results of doing a little at a time AND it is possible, even for brains like ours.

And it is more than worth it. I want to scream from the cleaner cabinets all about it. I can barely contain myself. SO much so that I wonder if that should be my job?! No joke. BUT… The truth? My organized cabinet? It isn’t just about more clean, organized cabinets with some bins to boot. It really is about one way I’m finding ease and joy so that I feel lighter in general which is totally Orange Rhino oriented, so I guess I’ll stick around here.

Happy MonYAY everyone. I hope it has started off on a great note and if not, there is still plenty of time to create some orange. Sending warmth as always,

xoxo, Sheila.

🧡 The Orange Rhino

My teenage son totally has my number. And it’s because I taught him well. Ever since I was little, I’ve been super sensitive to certain sounds, textures, and visual clutter. I used to sit in movie theaters thinking, When I grow up, I’m going to invent popcorn that isn’t crunchy sounding… and chip bags that don’t wrinkle when you put your hand in.

So yes…having four loud boys did not exactly help my sensory processing. When they were younger, my nervous system was often fried from the noise, the chaos, the constant touching, the overwhelm, and the exhaustion. A lot of my yelling came from that place. My body was screaming on the inside and it needed somewhere for all that overload to go. Once I started The Orange Rhino Challenge®, I began understanding that better.

And I started handling it differently. I took breaks. Splashed cold water on my face. Turned on music to dance out my energy. Put in earbuds to listen to calming music and tune out the noise. I talked out loud about what was happening in my body. As the boys got older, and it became more obvious we’re a pretty neurodiverse family, I tried to make two things clear: It is my job to take care of me (likewise goes for them!) If I’m overwhelmed, it’s my job to step away, get my earbuds, regulate, and do what I need to do to feel better and less snappy.

And that in a family, it’s loving to consider each other too. If someone says they’re overloaded, the kind thing is to be considerate, help if you can… or at least maybe not chew chips like you’re in a sound effects competition.

Well. Fast forward to last night. I was super off. Later I realized my ankles were massively swollen, so apparently my body was not happy. Then my son started eating potato chips. I was about to absolutely lose my mind. And this child looked at me and said: “Mom, stop telling me to chew quieter. Where are your earbuds? You need them.”

Then he got up, found them, handed them to me, and said with the most loving and playful as possible but irritated voice, “I’ve had enough of you. I want to chew my chips in peace.”

Honestly? Fair. I put them in… but not before I blasted music on my computer and he chewed as obnoxiously loudly as possible. It became a full-on sound off. We both ended up smiling.

And I told him, “Thank you. I appreciate it. And you’re right… it was my job to get up and find them. Sorry, kiddo. Enjoy your chips. But first, may I have one?!”

We teach them and hope it lands. And then one day, it does and you feel so grateful. For the loving help and the potato chips. Sending my warmth and a little oomph to you, today and always,

xoxo, Sheila

🧡 The Orange Rhino

Tag Archives: Organizing

Why I’m Organizing My Home for Peace and Productivity — Not Just Prettiness

Sensory Overload, Clutter and Yelling: What My Teen Understands About Me