Organizing for Dummies (Paperback)

by Roth (Author), Miles (Author) "I know you think clutter-busting is going to hurt..." (more)
Key Phrases: household information center, snow equipment, incoming queue, Take Action File, Master List, Aunt Babe (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
What’s the favorite four-letter word of people who are less than fully organized? “Help!” So many technological, social, and economic changes affect your life that you need organization just to keep up, let alone advance. Many people have two jobs – one at the office and one taking care of things at home. If you have a family, you may count that as a third job. Caring for elderly relatives or have community commitments? You can count off four, five, and keep right on going.

No matter what life stage you’re in, getting organized can make every day better and help you achieve your long-term goals. Organizing For Dummies is for anyone who wants to

Polish his or her professional reputation

Experience less stress

Increase productivity

Build better relationships

Maximize personal time

Organization isn’t inherited. With the human genome decoded, the evidence is clear: DNA strings dedicated to putting things into place and managing your time like a pro are nonexistent. Instead, organization is a learned skill set. Organizing For Dummies helps you gain that skill with topics such as:

Understanding how clutter costs you in time, money, and health

Training your mind to be organized and developing a plan

Cleaning house, room by room, from basement to attic (including the garage)

Creating functional space for efficiency and storage

Time-management strategies for home, office, and tavel

Scheduling, delegating, and multitasking

Making time for your family

Managing your health – physical and financial

Finding time for love

Organizing and cashing in on a great garage sale

Getting organized is about unstuffing your life, clearing out the dead weight in places from your closet to your calendar to your computer, and then installing systems that keep the good stuff in its place. Organizing is a liberating and enlightening experience that can enhance your effectiveness and lessen your stress every day – and it’s all yours simply for saying “No” to clutter.

From the Back Cover
Praise for Organizing For Dummies "This book is a wealth of valuable information, written in clear common-sense language. I wish I could have had this book years ago!" — Scott Baumruck, Executive Vice President, COO, Paper Industry Management Association "Organizing For Dummies covers it all…. This book will save you time, money, and many headaches." — Lillian Vernon, Founder and Chief Executive Officer — Lillian Vernon Corporation

Get the scoop on how to stay cyberorganized

Clean up your act, get more done, and have more time for fun! Are you having trouble staying on top of everything at work? Is your home messier than you'd like? If so, this friendly guide can help. Packed with proven organizing systems and techniques, it shows you step-by-step how to get a grip on your job, put your home in order, and have more time for yourself and your family.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (November 22, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764553003
• ISBN-13: 978-0764553004
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #64,936 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a difference!, March 12, 2003

By A Customer

I bought this book as a sort of gag for a friend who keeps claiming that he wants to get organized. On the way home I started flipping through it and ended up keeping it for myself. It came along just in the nick of time for my move to a new home. All my life I have been a clutter queen; now I can actually part with things I don't need and showcase the things I really like. My home and work environments are much more functional and enjoyable places to be. It's been several months since I picked the book up and I'm impressed by how much it helped me develop the skills to stick to my promise to get my act together!

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best for the clutter-afflicted who want their lives in order, August 18, 2003

By	A. Dhas (NYC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My family raised me in an insanely messy environment. My father is likely one of the worst packrats alive, and my mother continuously hides her junk in countless bags. A few years ago I realized my own extreme clutter was a reflection of the disarray in my mind and, cyclically, reason for even further confusion. Perhaps this book isn't for those who already know where cleaning supplies are kept and how planners are used efficiently. But I highly recommend this book if you've not been blessed enough to have learned the aforementioned time-management skills other college students know as truisms (there is SOME reasoning behind the "for Dummies" title!). For beginners, this book will lead you section by section to a home as well as a life that finally has everything in place!

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Group Like With Like, February 1, 2003

By	mrav8r "mrav8r" (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews

I found this book wonderfully rewarding to read through, anywhere at anytime. I brought it with me when I traveled and I learned several great ideas: my favorite is "group like with like". That single idea cracked my shell and has helped me organize my entire pack-rat house, as well as my parent's basement. Every room in the house is detailed, and the mnemonics (memory devices) are useful as well, such as P-L-A-C-E (Purge, Like with Like, Access, Contain, Evaluate). Very well written, and organized! The time management section were very useful as well, such as travelling tips. The "Part of Tens" section at the end was very interesting as well, but I won't give away any secrets!