Ebook Organizing from the Inside Out Second Edition The Foolproof System For Organizing Your Home Your Office and Your Life Julie Morgenstern 9780805075892 Books

Product details Paperback 336 pages Publisher Holt Paperbacks; 2nd edition (August 12, 2004) Language English ISBN-10 0805075895

Organizing from the Inside Out Second Edition The Foolproof System For Organizing Your Home Your Office and Your Life Julie Morgenstern 9780805075892 Books Reviews

• I can quite honestly say this book changed my life. I grew up in the most chaotic, disorganized household you could imagine. My mother is a hoarder, so basic organization skills were completely absent from my upbringing, and I struggled against this for the better part of my adult life. I seriously used to wonder how the "normal people" lived. It affected every area of my life, as you may well imagine.
  
  That is, until I got this book! In here, she doesn't teach you one system; she teaches you how to create YOUR OWN systems. She taught me the skills that my mother, God love her, never could. People now make fun of me because of how organized my spaces are, and then ask me to organize theirs! Since buying this book roughly 6 years ago, I have become one of those annoying people who are capable of keeping their glass front cabinets, shelving, and drawers in near perfect order with minimal effort. It's absolutely crazy, but 100% true. This was far and away the best purchase I have EVER made. I recently bought two more copies to give as Christmas gifts to my mom and sister. Hopefully it will have as big an impact on them as it did on me!
• Wow, I finally found a GREAT book about the underlying reasons why we struggle so much with getting -- and staying -- organized.
  
  Most of my co-workers think I'm really organized, but at home things were a mess. I just hid the mess inside closets and drawers. Reading this book helped me start tackling each room methodically, one area, one shelf or drawer, one little piece at a time. A key insight is that each thing must "have a place." I was constantly losing my keys, reading glasses, favorite earrings, checkbook, and cell phone -- but now after reading this book I have a designated place for everything. This makes it so easy to find them! For example, now I have one little drawer for all my reading glasses and I've found over 20 pair in the past couple of months that used to be scattered all over the place.
  
  I also love the book's idea of creating "zones" -- like a "money zone" in my office where I now keep all my financial records, checkbook, spare change, and bills to pay. I also created a "gift zone" where I keep presents and wrapping paper and boxes, a "fix-it zone" where I keep my tools, glue, and various broken things that need to be fixed, and a "play zone" for all the jigsaw puzzles, board games, and scrapbooking supplies that I like to play with in my spare time.
  
  I really enjoyed the inner work that the first few chapters addressed, such as what are the costs of being disorganized and what would my life be like if I were organized? So many books about getting organized address only the "technique" (like divide your clutter into "keep" or "donate" or "toss"), but this one really dives deep into why it matters and how to build on what already works in your life. It made me feel increasingly successful as I continued to work through the excellent exercises in the book. I've only been using it for 3 months but my life and belongings are already SO much more organized, and I feel so much less stressed.
  
  The author Julie Morgenstern makes getting organized fun and fascinating. I've already recommended this to many friends. Well written, funny, human, and a huge help!
• Exactly what I needed! Filled in that missing piece of reasons why and how to shed. We actually cleaned out or 40 years worth of stuff in the garage with minimal trauma, arguments and with complete satisfaction! SO freeing...and now the back yard looks beautiful and my car is clean. So much less emotional weight, that I've actually lost physical weight. Cannot recommend this book enough to people who have been trying for years to deal with their stuff and have all but given up. Give it one more try and one more book. I'm going to give this book as presents. Thank you so much Julie!
• I bought it for my grandson to help him get organized - his room, his schedule, his life. But as teenage boys go, he hasn't been organized to even open it. However, I read it, and I give him suggestions. So I think a teen who would read this would probably already be organized. A disorganized teen won't read it. But hey, it's got amazing suggestions, so mom, or grandmom, you read it, and then pass the suggestions on.