Customer Reviews

The Organizing Sourcebook : Nine Strategies for Simplifying Your Life

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Although I'm a professional organizer and author ("Rosemary Brown's Big Kitchen Instruction Book"), and I thought I had my organizing engine hitting on all cylinders, I can't describe how much I've benefited from reading Kathy's incredibly useful tome! Man, did I need a tune-up! I might add that the benefit has been visible as well as invisible.

Over the more than 20 years that I've been a professional organizer, I've read plenty of books on this subject, since after all, it is my profession. If I can glean a few practical new ideas from every book I read, I consider it a good thing. But my response to Kathy's book is off the charts!

Kathy describes nine clearly-defined strategies that help get you get organized and then stay that way. I think the strategy that has been most helpful for me (so far) is to "Label Everything." I was good about labeling "things" around the house, such as spices in the kitchen and files in my office, but I had really overlooked the technique of mentally labeling areas. Kathy has opened my eyes to an incredibly insightful approach with this strategy. A verbal tag is a strong incentive to put things where they belong, and to help you find them when you need them.

Although our home has plenty of storage space, the fact that my husband (H. Jackson Brown, "Life's Little Instruction Book") is a prolific author and inveterate saver of ANY shred of information, in ANY form, that might EVER give him an idea (including magazines, books, loose papers, and objects large and small!), caused me to succumb to the temptation to stash things in all sorts of places, just to get everything put away. I pretty much knew where to put my hands on what I needed, but I had to maneuver around things many times.

Not any more. The times, they are a'changin'. First, I realized that the walk-in closet in our guest room was NOT being used at all effectively. But I never "saw" that until I read Kathy's book. So I mentally "re-labeled" it as a "reference library." In spite of the fact that we have a abundance of bookshelves in our home, there never seemed to be enough. (Did I mention that authors LOVE to read?) I cleared out, recycled, gave away, and re-located most of the odd assortment of things that had found their way into that closet. Then, with my trusty screwdriver, I dismantled the "Closet Maid" shelving, since we didn't need it for hanging clothes, and it certainly wasn't suitable for books. My next step was a trip to Office Depot, where I found some reasonably-priced shelving (29.95 for a 5-shelf unit, made by Grosfillex). I bought 3 sets to begin with, but quickly went back for 2 more. Each unit, when assembled, is about 11" deep by 26" wide, although the box each unit comes in is lightweight enough for me to carry upstairs by myself. The shelving can be assembled without any tools, and is made of laminated particle board, so it's sturdy. Not too large, and not too small, but just right! (Look, Mom, I can do it all by myself!)

Then I began going through our reference collection, stashed in many rooms, and started rounding up entire categories of books and magazines to re-locate them to our "new reference library." (Unlike many folks, writers really DO have a good excuse for saving certain types of magazines, since they provide timeless reference material, as well as temporary enjoyment.) Now, when I want to put my hands on information about planning kitchens, troubleshooting a Mac, or learning Hebrew, I know exactly where to look. Not all over the house. In ONE place.

But that little exercise just whetted my appetite. Now I was seriously hooked. A couple of days ago, I noticed that one of the closets under the eaves in our "son's bedroom" (another case of faulty labeling, since our son is 32 and lives in Atlanta) was being badly misused. Why? Because it didn't have a proper label, of course! If I'd had to label it honestly, I would have had to refer to it as "Catch-All Zone, One of Many." So I "re-labeled" it "Office Supply Closet." (Both my husband and I have offices in our home, and he also has another one away from home, since our successful almost-34-year marriage is predicated on the motto, "For better or worse, but NOT for lunch.") However, neither of our home offices really had adequate space for storing bulky things like toner cartridges, reams of paper, extra file folders, computer supplies, etc. So I went back to Office Depot for yet 2 more sets of those shelves. (You know a good friend when you find one! ) Organizing that closet will be my new-best-friend project beginning today.

The personal case histories in Kathy's book are so helpful. It's easier to recognize your own mistakes when you see other people making them. I've recommended the book to several friends, and I plan to re-read it myself, because it is so packed with practical advice that I'm sure I couldn't possibly have absorbed it all on the first reading!

If you want to get organized and stay that way, this book is a MUST! Don't put it off another minute. You can't imagine how much better you'll feel, once you get your engines fired up!

This was a wonderful motivating book. From day one that you read this book you will be inspired. Offers easy to follow suggestions. Helps get you started to tackeling those dreaded get organized projects but once you start, there is no stopping. This book shows examples of other people who are in similar situations and how they got organized and stayed organized. The 9 steps are clearly explained and overviewed at the end of each chapter. Then at the end of the book, they go thru the steps one at a time as a check list to make sure your new set up is working for you and your current needs. If not it refers you back to the specific pages to go thru again as needed. It doesn't leave you hanging. This book is a keeper. I am sure I will need to go back to it for reference from time to time. Very inspiring and well worth every penny. Well written and easy to follow. A great book overall. Highly recommended.

I never would have believed that a book on getting organized could be so interesting to read! I was absolutely fascinated by Waddill's stories of some of her past clients, the types of (sometimes pretty amazing, sometimes more mundane) messes they were in, and how she helped them solve the problems that got them into a mess in the first place. I used to think of myself as a "totally disorganized person" but, after reading this book, I realize that, like most of her clients, I'm actually pretty organized in most areas of my life, but there's a few areas that need improving (unfortunately, those areas are threatening to take over my apartment and my life!). I thought the book was written in a very well organized way (it's surprising to me how many books on getting organized are not very well organized themselves), with simple, basic principles that are easy to understand. I especially benefitted from reading about Waddill's first principle, which is to think about the activities that take place in your home, and have an area that supports each (simple yes, but I wasn't doing this till now). I also like the idea of "labelling everything" -- including mentally labelling areas of your home -- I have a two year old son, and have realized I still don't have a designated "play area", which helps explain why there are toys all over our apartment! And she uses examples to show how, even if you're living in a very small space, you can still get organized (with great examples of how to do so). I was jotting down ideas like crazy as I read the book, and now have a long "to do" list. Unfortunately, I haven't found an organizing book yet that will actually do the organizing for me :) but at least this book was interesting enough that I got through the first step, which is reading the darned book in the first place! I think this is the first "how to get organized" book that I've actually read cover to cover. If you're looking for a book on organizing that is interesting enough that you'll actually read it, then this is the one for you!

I've tried many books on house cleaning and organizing in the past 25 years of being a wife and also a mother to our 6 kids. The systems were either too rigid for my fun-loving personality, or didn't help me see what was causing the MESS in the first place, so it would eventually reappear. I heard Kathy Waddill being interviewed on a radio station and ordered the book from Amazon.com that very morning. Although still reading through the introduction, I have already decluttered and reorganized my desk drawers, dresser, and closet. The Organizing Sourcebook meets you inside your own front door, helps figure out your own #1 source of irritation, and then gives ways to resolve it (mail and other things piling up on my kitchen table ARRGGGHHH!!!). This book gives 9 strategies to create your own workable plan. Check out the 22 pages that are previewed and get a glimpse of what The Organizing Sourcebook can do for you.

I have read a number of organizing books, and this is one of the most realistic. Ms. Waddill points out that one must actually be motivated to do what is necessary. For example, a family said they wanted to pare down their supply of clothes, but when it came time to actually give them away, they balked.

Most of the time, I have considered myself organized as well as neat. The past couple of years or so, I felt as if things were falling apart, that the house didn't reflect who I was because if its unusual level of disorder. I had been working full-time, caring for our young son, and helping my husband, and later my mother, through their final illnesses. Ms. Waddill noted in a story about one client that he had lost his job and gone through other disorienting experiences. He, too, was less organized than usual. I saw myself in that story, and was encouraged that the way things had been for a while wasn't the way they had to stay.

Ms. Waddill is analytical without being stuffy, and doesn't condemn clients or readers. She does point out the facets of life that affect our level of organization, and the decisions we may eventually have to make to change it.

I live (or should I say lived) in a chronically disorganized home. Every year, my New Year's Resolution would be to organize my home. I have purchsed many organizing books and grabbed a great tip here and there, but the clutter and disorganization basically remained. I finally hired a professional organizer. She came a few times and started with the kitchen. Although I did not know why at the time, I felt that starting with a room was not the right approach for me--I felt I needed a plan, but I did not know where to start. So, I got back on Amazon, read a few more reviews on organizing books, and decided to purchase The Organizing Sourcebook. It was the best decision I could have made. The book breaks organizing down into nine strategies--1)Make Your Systems Fit Your Life, 2)Sort Everything by How You Use It, 3)Weed Constantly, etc. I implemented this plan and it is working beautifully for me. The first step was to look at my home through the eyes of a stranger. This is a simple, yet effective tool. What does my house look like to people who just walk through the door? Next, I matched my rooms to the activities I performed in them (or wanted to) and moved everything that related to that activity to the place where I would be doing it so that my systems now fit my life. I then sorted, weeded, etc. You get the point. This book was a match for the way I think and do things. It just may be the magic answer for you, too. I have not picked up the book in over a month, yet I continue to organize a little each day and every day my house looks noticably a little better. I get things done faster because I know where things are and the clutter is slowly disappearing. My house did not get into this condition overnight and I know that getting the entire house organized is going to take time(ugh), yet I am no longer frustrated--I feel like I have control and a viable plan and it keeps me motivated. I highly recommend this book to you--it did what the others could not do for me and that is to truly get me on the road to organization. Give it a try, you won't be sorry.

An excellent, pragmatic guide to producing a simpler, more peacful life that takes care of the concerns important to you. I've read the book twice, the second time with a highlighter, and have implemented her suggestions around bill payment flow, photo boxes, dry cleaning sorting, and others. Our house is in the midst of renovation: a wonderful reason to discard, simplify and organize. For a recovering packrat her suggestions are invaluable. The stories anchor it in the real world.

I've read this wonderful organizing tool from beginning to end and have been using it ever since as I organize a room at a time in my home. Kathy Waddill has put down the right words to describe the nine steps to making a clutter free environment. What I best like about her book is the recognition that each one of us, individually or as a family, will go through different stages in our lives - stages that reveal the reasons why messes begin happening in our lives and our homes. No matter what the circumstances, if we become aware of where we stand, we will see an opening for change; it is this opening that is needed to start the process toward a reasonable, organized life! I have recommended this book to several colleagues & clients because it offers abundant personal stories. Most people change when they see their own life reflected in another's. When people see themselves in another's shoes they feel not alone, and not like the only one with such messiness at home or in the office. Such affirmations give people the hope that they too can change! I've tried other organizing books, but it is only this one that has really helped me start changing my messy home into an organized one. Thank you Kathy!!

I think every organizing book out there has some good points, and this one certainly does, but,unless you are completely clueless and/or completely unorganized to such an extent that you don't know to give away something you aren't using, don't bother with this book! Her clients seem to be completely clueless. One guy didn't know to put his socks and underwear in a dresser, and she helped him with that. One couple had 3 extra bedrooms but built on to their house because they thought of the bedrooms as bedrooms, and not offices. One couple kept their children's play gym in their bedroom, taking up most of the space,even though their children had outgrown it! She had to tell them to get rid of it!!! Another lady didn't know what to do because her kitchen counters were full of things she used, but her cabinets were full of things she didn't use. She had to be told to take the things she didn't use out of her cabinets and give them away, so she could put the things she used in them!! I could go on and on, the book is full of stories like this. I just thought most of this book was common sense. Try "Organized from the Inside Out" if you are looking for a good orgaizning book.

Just two main points: the ideas in this book really work; and, it's an entertaining book. Kathy Waddill lays out nine strategies for organizing your house, then she backs them up with dozens of specific suggestions for making each strategy work, and shares stories that bring the strategies to life.

With two small kids at home, some of the ideas that we've implemented include using pegs instead of towel bars; using clear storage containers in the kitchen, instead of opaque; and, "weeding out" quite a few unneeded possessions. Here's the point -- these ideas have made a significant difference for us every day of the week. We have less clutter, and more time.

The book is also chock-full of true stories, based on the author's experience. If you think you have a messy house ... well, you are in good company. Some of these stories made me smile, a few are good for a laugh, and the stories make the strategies easier to remember.