Home Organization is Elementary!, 29. Juli 2000

I admit it, I'm addicted to organization books, even though my house is usually in shambles -- a cry for help, I guess. Although most of them just sit on my shelves, "Organizing from the Inside Out" is packed with helpful info that I actually used.

Morgenstern's best advice -- organize each room in sections according to their usage, like a kindergarden classrom does -- was worth the price of the book alone.

Armed with her book and a free afternoon, I transformed my kitchen into an efficient work center. Instead of a random mishmash of dishes and pans, I now have well-thought-out areas like my beverage center (where I store my coffee maker, tea pot, mugs, teas, Vita Mix, etc...). It's so much easier when like things are grouped together!

My home still has a ways to go, but I feel like the goal is now in sight thanks to this book.

       Be prepared to work...., 4. Juli 2000

I'd like to start off saying that this book is very practical and makes a lot of sense. It makes me keep saying to myself "Now why didn't I think of that?". After using the plan for a while, I have found that my thinking is more hopeful and logical.

Be prepared to work and give yourself plenty of time. One of the statements in the book says it can take up to 12 hours to sort each item in a room (and that's only one room). And that's only one part of the process! This is true but that's a lot of tedious work. Pace yourself and set realistic goals to finish. I've only done one room so far. Keep in mind also to budget if you have to buy containers for each room you tackle.

I've only done one room and I can see that it will take a while to get through the whole house. I'm now starting my second room. The first room is a real motivator because I thought it was hopeless.

It's a great book and lots of luck. I think it's worth the effort.

       It Changed My Life!, 1. Juli 2000

I am already organized and in no need of this book. I bought the first copy for my mom and just "dipped in" before I gave it to her. Whoa! It helped me organize a few areas of my life I was just ignoring! I then started passing out copies like candy to my friends. No fewer than three told me "Thanx! It changed my life!" Julia's approach is much better than those endless lists of what to buy or what to do. She helps you figure out what is unique to your life and how to organize it! Great book. (Unfortunately my mom didn't read it!)

       This Book WILL Help You Get Organized !, 27. Juni 2000

This currently popular 262 page softbound volume really can help ANYONE become better organized for a better life. This was recommended to me by a friend, but I was doubtful that it could help. The other books I read on this subject didn't do the job for me. I was pleasantly surprised that by followingMs. Morgenstern's recommendations I really am able to put some organization into the clutter that I've learned to live with. She explains systems to use, without the need for all of the store bought gadgets I've tried in the past. By following her simple steps you really CAN get your stuff in order and become more productive with better use of your time. Her Three Step System is useful at home or work, and can be used by anyone, regardless of their level of clutter. The time frames that she presents helps you get started and motivated to carry the tips on to completion. You'll learn why you feel disorganized and why now is the time to act to aleviate it once and for all. It's probably not your fault that you've always been disorganized. All you really need is the expert advice offered in this book to get you onto a better more organized work and home life. Her simple philosophy is SPACE. Mainly sort, purge, assign a home, containerize, equalize. No magic or gimicks, just sound, tried and tested advice. Well worth reading.

       Thorough, effective, and therapeutic. One of the best., 18. Juni 2000

Morgenstern has a different approach than most authors who write books about getting organized. She divides the book into four sections: Laying the Foundation, Secrets of a Professional Organizer, Applying what You've Learned, and Tackling Time & Technology. Sounds ordinary, but the first section is priceless. And, throughout the book she includes textboxes of "insiders tips" and "avoiding common pitfalls."

Many of us try hard to be organized and end up cluttering our house with organizing books, baskets, filing cabinets, and other gadgets. We get our house almost organized, yet find there's one room or task we just can't do. Are we sabotaging ourselves?

Yes, according to Morgenstern. She quotes, "You can't fix it till you know what's broken" and explains that until you know why you stray toward disorganization, you will never master it. Psychological obstacles are one of three factors in clutter, according to Morgenstern (the other two are errors in your "organizing system" and external realities. But she deals with the psychological aspect in a brisk, energizing chapter that actually motivates you.

Her actual organizational tips revolve around three essential steps: 1. Analyze (evaluate your current situation and what's not working.) 2. Strategize (Create plan and realistic estimate of how long it will take.) 3. Attack (Dive into the work.)

The Analyze and Strategize sections are actually very useful and are easy to tackle. You will need a notebook, and will go from room to room answering 5 questions: What's working? What's not working? What items are most essential to you? Why do you want to get organized? (i.e., in the kitchen the answer might be - stop wasting money on duplicate purchases), and What's causing the problem. She advocates creating zones in each room. Again, a kitchen example might be: food prep zone (counter space between sink/fridge), daily cooking zone (build around oven and cooktop), daily dishes zone, food serving zone, and food storage zone. You'll learn to store items for each zone near that zone. No sense keeping dishes in cabinets near the food prep zone and corningware near the dishwasher zone.

Once you get a solid grasp on the three steps, you can take your notebook through the house and quickly identify what needs to be done, room by room.

While this isn't a "organize your house in one hour" kind of book, it also doesn't bog you down. The essentials are basic and what I've listed above, and they help you get the prep work out of the way while setting a solid foundation for you to tackle the clutter.

You will see a real transformation of your house - or of whatever rooms you attack. It's not just a matter of "cleaning" them. You will turn them into efficient workcenters.