For Detail-Oriented Sarah Myers, Creating Book Nooks Is the Perfect Way to Unwind

When Sarah Myers thinks about her nine years working at Methodist, one thing quickly comes to mind.

“The focus is on the patient,” said Myers, a room service representative at Methodist Hospital.

Myers began at Methodist in 2014 as an ambassador – delivering trays to patient rooms and restocking condiments, among other duties. About five years ago she moved to her current role, where much of her work involves taking patient calls for meal orders.

It’s a job that requires the right mix of attention to detail and people skills. With each order, Myers makes sure a patient’s request is appropriate for their dietary needs and allergy restrictions before sending it to the kitchen. Equally important, she said, is providing a good experience to someone who can hear but not see her.

“I try to always be polite, formal and friendly so they feel comfortable,” she said. “I don’t know what’s going on with them. They could be having a bad day. They need to hear someone who’s not going to blow them off. To me, tone of voice is very important.”

Perfect Hobby for a Perfectionist

Myers’ attention to detail is on display away from work, too.

“I’ve always liked doing diamond painting, latch hooking and puzzles,” she said. “I like little projects where I can get lost in them.”

Earlier this year, she found her latest hobby: book nooks.

Book nooks are small dioramas meant to be placed between books on a shelf, providing a glimpse into another world. They can be made from kits purchased at hobby stores or online, or they can be built from scratch. They’re generally less than a foot tall and deep, and about 6 inches wide – but what they lack in size, they make up for with possibilities of themes.

Myers discovered the hobby in March. She’s been hooked since, working on scenes that include a library, a snow globe, a rabbit’s forest home and a chocolatier’s shop. Time spent on each project can vary, as Myers cuts fabric, plastic and other materials; glues pieces together; bends wire; works with clay; paints; and does whatever else is necessary to make a scene come to life. She’s even installed working lights on one.

“You don’t have to follow the instructions,” said Myers, who might spend two or three hours a day to complete a scene in a few days. “It’s kind of like a puzzle, but you can arrange things however you want. Depending on how detail-oriented you are, it can take a lot longer to do.”

She added: “I’m a perfectionist, so I do get a little frustrated working on them sometimes because it might not work how I want it do in my eyes.”

But as a perfectionist, she also can’t give up. And her finished scenes reflect the concentration and meticulousness that comes natural to her.

“It’s the Accomplishment”

Myers loves the feeling she gets when she completes a project.

“When I finish it and look at it, I’m like, ‘Man, that looks really good. I can’t believe I did it from start to end.’ It’s the accomplishment.”

But she doesn’t admire her work for too long. She gives away the completed scenes to family and coworkers, and she’s even starting to have people ask her to make scenes for them.

Then it’s on to the next project – and the next test of patience.

At home or at work, she’s at her best when focusing on the details.

“Sometimes the guests we talk to might be distracted or have something going on,” she said. “You’ve got to have that attention to detail and pay attention to things to give them the best experience.”