Conquering Chronic Disorganization [Paperback]

Judith Kolberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1999

The real-life stories of chronically disorganized people and the ground breaking, easy-to-learn organizing methods used to end their chronic disorganization in the area of residential clutter, office organizing, paper management, storage, and time management. Conquering's 132 pages includes an extensive index, user-friendly summaries, quick tips, helpful photographs, and a resource section of products and organizations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Conquering is a wonderfully entertaining and useful book...unlike any other on the topic". -- Nancy Birnbaum-Gerber, NextSteps Coaching Magazine, August, 1999

"Here's a unique book! ...a litany of simple and easy innovative methods to put an end to recurring disorganization" -- The Wellness Network,, Summer/Fall 1999

"I enthusiastically recommend Conquering. Kolberg has a great sense of humor and a deep respect for her chronically disorganized clients. It is a great tool." -- Denslow Brown, Optimal Functioning Newsletter, January, 1999

"I highly recommend this book to the person who has struggled through mainstream books on organization...brief, easy-to-read, and fun" -- Melissa Perry, ADDA-SR Newsletter, Summer, 1999

"Living with chronic disorganization is no longer a reason for embarrassment or fear. Conquering is enlightening, refreshing, and renews the creative individual in all of us. If you've read all the other organizing books and still are disorganized, I urge you to purchase Conquering" -- Debbie Williams, Editor, Let's Get It Together Organizing Ezine, August, 1999

A must for everyone who is challenged by disorganization. -- Sandra Felton, Director, Messies Anonymous, Author- Messy No More

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has failed to find organizing solutions in conventional organizing books. -- Jerri Udelson, Past Vice President, International Coach Federation, NE

I've been chronically disorganized my whole life. After reading this book I implemented the novel ideas and already crystals of organization are forming in my life for the first time. -- A. Troung, Campbell, CA.

Kolberg has written a groundbreaking book. She has worked with hundreds of chronically disorganized clients and has learned how to tailor systems based on their style. I am deeply indebted to her work. -- Mike Nelson, Founder, Clutterless Recovery Group, Author, Clutter Proof Your Business

The only material I've seen on the subject that goes to the heart of how people with organizing challenges respond to their `stuff', and ways to approach them that actually engage and excite rather than frustrate and demoralize. Your book comes from obvious understanding. -- Sari Solden, M.S., LMFT, Author, Women With Attention Deficit Disorganization

From the Publisher

Conquering Chronic Disorganization has been translated into Korean by Wisdom House,the country's premier publisher.It is recommended by the National Association of Professional Organizers as a certification exam study resource. It is a featured book of the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Squall Press; 1st edition (1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966797000
• ISBN-13: 978-0966797008
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #243,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

515 of 516 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When you've tried all the rest, get this book!, July 13, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Conquering Chronic Disorganization (Paperback)

Today, my living room is clear of ALL clutter and papers. And the rest of the house isn't far behind (kitchen 3/4 uncluttered, baths 1/2 decorated, etc).

I've been living a packrat/piler lifestyle for over 20 years. I've read MANY books (yep, still have them), tried MANY systems(yep, still have those, too), joined online self-help discussions, but never once managed to get even ONE room totally cleared.

This book helps you see that you can be "organized" even if it means something different than others (the born organizers) expect. If filing is your thing, you can file everything, if it isn't, you'll discover lots of acceptable alternatives in this book. This book deals with papers, time management, and all the other physical or mental "stuff" which can overwhelm you if not organized for soundness of mind.

I love the summaries at the ends of chapters which list methods and tools for various organizing styles and systems. That is what opened my eyes to what I needed to physically and mentally do. I now use conventional organizing for those areas that I already have a penchant for doing that. But I am also using "body doubles"; asking for assistance (hubby, and best friend) to get in all in control to start.

I am also using other more unconventional methods, since I read about the "wide visual field" and that learning styles and organizing styles are similar concepts, but may be different than each other (visual learner, kinesthetic organizer).

I know I'm not crazy when I won't put things away, because "out of sight, out of mind" really does apply to me (I've been saying that for years). And now I know how to WORK WITH that instead of combat it.

I am re-reading chapters as the house gets cleared (I bought the book just a few months ago) and this helps me remember to not use the conventional methods, when I know they won't stay that way later. That's how the living room finally got cleared.

This is the best book to read to help open your eyes to what you PERSONALLY can customize to organize yourself. You can use it along with some other books, tapes, and methods, but this is the one that will get you thinking, then keep you on track.

Judith, if you're reading this...I thank you with all my heart!

P.S. I bought FIVE more books to give out to friends and family. Yes, I really know this book can help.

REVIEW UPDATE 2006: If you really want to try "unconventional", get the LATEST book from this author "ADD FRIENDLY WAYS TO ORGANIZE YOUR LIFE". MORE uncluttering tips, MORE time management help, MORE ways to think "outside the box" on getting your life together. Hey!, if it can work for ADHD people who are chronically disorganized, think what it can do for YOU!

325 of 331 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Disorganized and Frustrated? You MUST buy this book., November 18, 2001

By 

"jibmeyer" (Small Town South Dakota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conquering Chronic Disorganization (Paperback)

I have purchased dozens of self-help books on clutter, disorganization, cleaning, and organizing. Unfortunately, I can not find most of them...because of the ongoing difficulty I have with "stuff." This book was meant for people like me, people with good intentions of "someday" having everything in its place so we don't spend an hour trying to find a past due bill, a late library book or coming across an invitation to a party held yesterday. Incredible frustrating is how I would describe my dilemma with "stuff." One bedroom is totally filled with overflow from other rooms in the house (my current method of "cleaning"). It holds(self-improvement)books, clothes, papers, bills, pictures, (self-improvement)tapes, boxes, files, baskets, cabinets, the list goes on and on. This book, unlike ALL the other ones I have purchased in the past, finally helped me visualize solutions - NOT conventional solutions but ideas which are helping me solve the chaos and confusion which reins in my home (and sometimes office). Read this book several times, try and re-try some of the suggestions, there is no one-solution-fixes-all recipe. But finally, finally, I have come across a book that spoke directly to me about these frustrating issues in my life that I thought were unique to me. I didn't get into this mess overnight and I know I won't clean it up overnight, but I now have more hope and light at the end of the clutter tunnel.

105 of 106 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you've tried everything else, try this book., July 18, 2003

By 

A. Truong (Campbell, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Conquering Chronic Disorganization (Paperback)

I've been chronically disorganized for my whole life. Clutter just seems to perpetuate like a cloud of dust everywhere I go. I've tried filing systems, organizational tools, but nothing worked. Until now.

After reading this book, which describes several case studies of chronically disorganized people, I discovered how to live with my chronic disorganization. I implemented a couple of novel ideas, and already crystals of organization are forming in my life, for the first time.

Particularly helpful to me was the section on time management: Datebooks never worked for me. I now use the "Panel System" described in this book, which is so far, so good. I also liked the 'Paper Police', how manage out-of-control collections of things, alternate filing systems, and how to attack severely disorganized areas in different ways.

The chronic aspect to this book is comforting as it describes me so well. So often organization efforts dwindle and die. Since filing daily is impossible for me, I now have several cubbies on the wall into which I throw papers and receipts (my version of the 'vertical filing' discussed in the book).

If you just cannot keep your home or office organized, much to the frustration of yourself and others, this book may have insight that will help you. It sure helped me!