I'm a professional organizer, and this is how to Organize Yourself Healthy – you'll 'feel lighter, calmer, and more aligned with what matters most'

My useful Organize Yourself Healthy method came to life when a very human side effect emerged as a result of sorting out my clients' homes – an improvement in their sleep, quality of life, and stress levels.

I’ve worked with countless families, moms, and professionals over the last 13 years, and many report how much better they feel physically and emotionally after their spaces have been streamlined and organized. As a result of their home's newfound tidiness, my clients were spending more quality time with their families, sleeping better, and feeling less stressed in general.

And, after 7,000 hours of professional organizing, I know now it's not a coincidence, and you, too, can benefit from my expert tips. Here, I detail my very own decluttering method to Organize Yourself Healthy with ease.

What is the Organize Yourself Healthy method?

I'm Di Ter Avest, the creator of the Organize Yourself Healthy (or OYH) method, which is my signature approach combining home organization with personal well-being.

It’s built on six core pillars: Mind, Time, Home, Social Life, Meal Planning, and Exercise. Each one connects the organizational elements with your overall well-being.

My organizing method is a holistic, lifestyle-based approach that goes way beyond just tidying up. It’s about building systems that support your well-being – mentally, physically, and emotionally. It’s rooted in both real-life experience and lifestyle wellbeing concepts, and it’s designed to be realistic and supportive for busy moms and families, where it might typically be more difficult to organize a home with kids in mind.

Put simply, the OYH Method helps people reset their space, their habits, and their mindset so everything works together to support their overall well-being. It’s not about being perfect – it’s about creating a home and lifestyle that feel lighter, calmer, and more aligned with what matters most to them.

I realized clients didn’t just want help with their closets and kitchens, they wanted guidance on how to create home organizing systems and weekly organizing schedules that supported their whole lifestyle.

So, I began blending home organization with strategies for time management, routines, and overall well-being, using things like command centers, which are amazing for keeping schedules, reminders, and family communication in one spot.

I like the Skylight Calendar available at Amazon, or The Susan Wall organizer available at 1Thrive. Both are great for keeping the whole family on track in one visible place.

Over time, this evolved into what I now call the Organize Yourself Healthy Method – a holistic approach that helps people manage not just their homes, but also their schedules, habits, and health, so everything works together to support a calmer, healthier lifestyle.

How to organize yourself healthy

The way I see it, an organized home isn’t the finish line – it’s the foundation for healthier habits. When your space is calm and your systems are working for you, it naturally supports your mind, body, and daily routines.

Even in the very beginning of my business, I had a client tell me that she treated our sessions almost like therapy, to declutter her mind at the same time. She would share about her life, talk through challenges, get guidance, and at the same time end up with a more organized home. She loved that it wasn’t only about tidying – it gave her emotional relief too.

Many of them started asking me how I managed to fit it all in – keeping up with organizing, balancing routines, and staying on top of daily life.

Here’s how to start bringing the core organizing pillars into your life:

• Mind: Start by setting clear goals and building simple systems and habits that support them. For example, if your goal is to feel calmer in the evenings, create a “wind-down basket” with a journal [such as The Gratitude Journal available at Amazon], book, or calming essentials such as your best candle, instead of reaching for your phone. Organizing your environment to match your goals makes those habits easier to stick with.
• Time: Time management isn’t about cramming more into your day – it’s about building routines that fit your real life. Try organizing your calendar by blocking off not just appointments, but also time for meal prep, workouts, or family connection. Having a plan helps you protect what matters most.
• Home: Your space should support your lifestyle. For example, organizing your pantry with useful pantry organization ideas so that healthy snacks and ingredients are front and center makes it easier to reach for nourishing options. A tidy kitchen isn’t just nice to look at – it directly influences the choices you make every day.
• Social Life: An organized home makes it easier to spend quality time with the people you love. Whether it’s clearing visual clutter in your living room so game night feels inviting, or setting or organizing the bathroom so mornings aren’t chaotic, small changes at home can free up mental space for more connection.
• Meal Planning: Having a system for meals is a game-changer. Organize your weekly plan and grocery list so you reduce waste, save money, and make healthier food choices without the last-minute stress of “what’s for dinner?” A simple meal board, such as the CHALKY CROWN Magnetic Dry Erase Menu Board available at Amazon, or a digital planning tool can keep you consistent.
• Exercise: Movement becomes so much easier when your space supports it. Whether it’s setting up a corner in your home with a yoga mat and weights, or keeping your gym bag packed and ready by the door, having a system in place removes the friction that often keeps us from moving our bodies.

When all six pillars work together, you’re not just organizing your home – you’re organizing your whole lifestyle in a way that helps you feel calmer, healthier, and more in control.

What I love most about the Organize Yourself Healthy Method

What I love most is that the OYH method allows me to help more people than I could ever reach just by working in homes locally. I’m based in Baltimore, MD, so of course I can work one-on-one with clients here, but this method has opened the door to supporting people all over the world.

Through my book Organize Yourself Healthy, available at Amazon, one-on-one virtual sessions, and the ongoing Organize Yourself Healthy Club, I get to guide moms step by step – helping them organize one area of their home each month, focus on one healthy habit at a time, and connect in Q&A sessions.

The best part? There’s also a growing community of like-minded moms who support and cheer each other on. It’s so much more than organizing ideas – it’s about creating a lifestyle shift with encouragement along the way.

What to shop

I always encourage people to declutter first before buying any new supplies. When used intentionally, organizing tools can make a huge difference.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

With my Organize Yourself Method, the key is to choose tools that fit your lifestyle and needs. When your systems match your habits, staying organized becomes so much easier.

I've also penned a piece on how to stop nightstands from becoming catch-alls, sharing exactly what I keep on mine and why.