Back to School: Great Books on Organizing
August - October 2009

Organizing is about more than decluttering, sorting and placing. When you are organizing an area in your home or your office, it requires a mental shift and a readiness to make a change. How to accomplish this? By going “back to school” with some suggested reading to make a difference! Here are 4 books mentioned frequently by my clients that help them take a new path in their lives and organizing.

Messy No More by Sandra Felton
Sandra Felton's strategies use humor and a positive outlook to shed light on emotional and physical reasons for “messiness.”Felton explains who “messies” are, why most organizational systems don't work for them, and how to change their behavior by changing their mind-set. Client Kathy says, “I learned there is hope for anyone who has a problem with disorganization. Not only does she identify reasons behind your disorganization, she clearly outlines solutions too. The Mount Vernon Method really worked for me.”

Busy Moms Guide to A Happy Organized Home by Kathy Peel
Kathy Peel knows moms! You're juggling lots of tasks including driving your kids, paying the bills, getting dinner on the table, and taking care of your home. As a Family Manager, Kathy offers solutions to managing your home and family, and more. Client Jane says, “Kathy offered ways to include my family in organizing and make our home run smoothly. The Family Meeting, House Rules and Standard Operating Procedures helped our family.”

ADD Friendly Ways to Organize by Kathleen Nadeau and Judith Kolhberg
Authors Nadeau and Kohlberg offer effective, practical ADD-Friendly advice with the ADDer in mind. Organizing advice ranges from self-help, to utilizing the help of non-professionals to using professional assistance. Client Janell says, “This book gave me ideas to get started on my own and helped me see when I needed more assistance.”

Its All Too Much by Peter Walsh
Peter Walsh, aka Oprah’s Organizer, understands how easy it is for clutter to overtake your life and how hard it is to get rid of it. This book shares his proven system for letting go of your emotional and physical clutter so that you can create a happier, more stress-free home and life. My client John says, “This book reaches into the dark corners and illuminates characteristics to create an ‘aha’ moment. Be sure to read the first part of the book, not just the solutions.”

Not sure how to organize your reading materials? Consolidate books and magazines in a basket where you read by the bed or in a comfy chair. Be sure to carry reading material in the car too. Be decisive on how much to read and realistic on how much time you really can read. Tear out articles from magazines and keep them by topic in a binder or file folder. Donate magazines and books to local libraries or sell to vendors when you are ready to part with them. If your basket is overflowing, take time to read and enjoy!

For more tips on organizing, visit the Tips Archive (left column). Please call or email me if I can be of assistance!

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