Sidetracked Home Executives(TM): From Pigpen to Paradise (Paperback)

~ (Author), (Author) "We wanted to call this chapter "The Way We Were," but, since that's a famous song, we figured we'd have to get permission from the..." (more)
Key Phrases: Lotus Notes, Basic Week Plan, House Fairy (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Two sisters share the system of organising household chores that they created to make managing a home less time consuming and more efficient, in an updated handbook that explains how to reduce chaos and clutter and achieve organisation in the home.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Rev Upd edition (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446677671
• ISBN-13: 978-0446677677
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (103 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,612 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #9 in	Books > Business & Investing > Skills > Time Management
  #12 in	Books > Home & Garden > How-to & Home Improvements > Cleaning, Caretaking & Relocating
  #17 in	Books > Home & Garden > How-to & Home Improvements > Household Hints

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

280 of 284 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Works well - for some, December 21, 2002

By	"kangarex" (Keokuk, IA United States) - See all my reviews

Pam and Peggy certainly know what it feels like to be living in total chaos, and they use that understanding to good effect in this book, showing step by step how they got organized. They don't take any knowledge or organizational ability for granted, and they have great senses of humor. Their card-file system will probably work for most people who are SHE's (Sidetracked Home Executives) because of their creativity, or just general distractedness.

If, however, you are a SHE because you're a frozen perfectionist, someone who never cleans because you don't have time to do it RIGHT, this is not the book for you. The card-file is wonderful - except that I'm entirely capable of spending the next 6 months making sure I've got the file system perfect without ever actually doing any of the stuff on it. There's also nothing to prevent you from overloading yourself with nit-picking chores and burning out. If these sound like things you would be prone to, then I would recommend "Sink Reflections" by Marla Cilley instead. She uses much of the same material as Pam and Peggy (she credits them as her inspiration), but her program is specifically designed for those of us who try so hard for perfection we get nowhere.

If perfectionism isn't your problem, then by all means go with Pam and Peggy. They're great fun to read, and however bad your house is, they will understand.

140 of 145 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars for the Concept -- this really worked for me!, November 28, 2001

By	Quaker Annie "reader" - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This book was my last resort in trying to put some order in my life. Now that I'm not working, there's no personal assistant to follow me around, reminding me of appointments, locating lost papers and plane tickets, or just generally tidying up around me. Trying to get organized, I'd tried a Palm Pilot, a Franklin Planner, promises, prayers, New Year's Resolutions and was seriously considering electroshock therapy.

When I recently gave up my busy work life to come a work-at-home mom, I thought one of the results would be a neat and organized home. My excuse for a more than slightly disorganized home was that, as a full-time traveling working single parent, two dogs, two cats and a tank full of fish, I was just too busy. My fantasy was that more time at home would cure that.

It didn't -- if anything, my disorganization seemed to expand to fit the free time. Worse, even with all the free time, without spending much time on housework, I never seemed to be able to find the time to do a lot of things I wanted to do. My shelves were filled with home craft materials, but even if I had the time to spend on a project, I couldn't seem to locate what I needed.

But when my fourth grader's teacher told me he was the most disorganized child she'd taught in 7 years, and then showed me his desk overflowing with papers, books and homework assignments completed but never turned in, I realized something had to be done. I was training him to live in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). Visions of my son in the future, opening his high school locker only to be buried alive, prompted me to find a solution for him -- which meant I needed to lead by example.

And so -- since nothing else had worked -- I ordered the book, and dubiously started to read it. Skeptically I forced myself to buy some index cards and filled them out (a rather simplistic and foolish notion, I thought). Feeling silly, I began following the instructions (I skipped over the somewhat goofy stories the sisters tell). Slowly my life began to get more organized.

At this point, my house is consistently tidy. My Christmas presents -- some home made -- are finished, wrapped and sent. Instead of taking up all my precious free time, being organized has given me more free time, and some peace of mind. Best of all, my son (whose homework still gets left behind sometimes) is helping with chores (without being ordered to do so) and working on being better organized.

Despite being so simple -- or perhaps because it is so simple -- this system really works for me. If you're lost in chaos and think nothing will work, try this book. It could change your life!

72 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helping keep me sane!, January 17, 2003

By	J. D. Fegler (Chesterfield, VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just love this book! I have been using this system for 2 weeks now, and already I notice a change in my life. I am more relaxed, more organized and can focus on the things I WANT to do. Much of the book is funny accounts of the author's battles with clutter and disorganization. This is entertaining, but I wanted to get right to the heart of things. I am using their 3 x 5 index card plan. Basically, they want you to put all the chores that need to be done on index cards, filed with different colors according to how often they need to be done (daily, weekly, monthly, seasonally). You file the cards behind the appropriate date in an index card box. Each day, you just need to look at the cards to see what you need to do. I find it very helpful in that I get busy right away on what needs to be done and don't worry about other chores, because I have them scheduled for another day. The book has a chart at the back suggesting various household chores that need to be done, and places for you to add your own. Before using this system, I often felt overwhelmed just thinking about all the things that needed to be done, and ended up not doing anything at all! It really helps me to focus on what needs to be done and avoid wasting time. Now I have more time to do the things that I want, and I am happier and better organized. It is an easy system to apply and can be adapted to the areas where you are more or less organized. I highly recommend this book!