Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from Thomas Nelson books via FrontGate Media, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it. All opinions are my own.
So you want to keep your kitchen counter clean but you aren't ready to toss the toaster? You want to be able to find your kids' socks but aren't looking to spend your 401(k) on clear bins? You long for a little more peace but minimalism isn't sparking joy? Discover 100 practical, do-able tips to organize, declutter and manage your home.
Traditional organizing advice never worked for decluttering expert and self-proclaimed recovering slob Dana K. White. Is it possible, she wondered, to get organized without color coding my sock drawer? As Dana let go of the need for perfection, she discovered the joy of having an organized house in the midst of everyday life. You can too!
In Organizing for the Rest of Us, Dana teaches you how to make great strides without losing your mind in organizing every room of your home. You'll find her 100 easy-to-read organizing tips invaluable, including:
- Why you need to get a grip on laundry and dishes before getting organized
- The basics of organization for people who don't like to organize
- Why changing how we think about clutter is the first step to getting rid of it
- How living with less stuff is better for the environment, our spiritual lives, and our relationships
- The simple yet life-changing tactic that is the container concept
Organizing for the Rest of Us includes colorful, practical photos, a presentation page, and a ribbon marker, making it a thoughtful and useful gift or self-purchase if you are:
- Doing spring cleaning (or cleaning during any season)
- Making New Year's resolutions
- Downsizing your own home or your parents' home
- Decluttering and organizing for your own peace of mind
Fans of Dana's popular podcast, A Slob Comes Clean, will treasure this book as a timeless (and frequently revisited) resource. With her humorous, lighthearted, easy-to-follow approach, Dana provides bite-size, workable solutions to break through every organizational struggle you have--for good!
Review:
This book is meant for the reader to pick out one section at a time and tackle what is talked about, and then move on to the next:
"Start decluttering in the most visible area of your home. Not the most cluttered area, the most visible area."
It's pretty much common sense really, but when we get overwhelmed, sometimes we forget the basics. But there is sound psychology here- start with a small job, succeed, get the endorphins, and then you'll be ready to move on to the next task, and once you see how it looks, you'll want to keep that area uncluttered.
"“Less” and “better” are more effective goals to work toward than “finished” or “done.”"
That in a nutshell is the concept behind the book- keeping your home uncluttered is an ONGOING chore. You don't finish and it just automatically stays that way, so by looking at goals of better than it was before/less clutter than there was, you'll move on establishing a habit of picking up right away, working for 5-15 minutes, and keeping goals of one in, one out.
Overall, I agree with most of everything in the book. My only issue is when it comes to sentimental items. Maybe it's the Southerner in me, but getting rid of Greatgrandma's rocker because it doesn't meet the decor design of my room, or because it takes up too much space, isn't gonna happen. Especially if it was made by Greatgrandpa! Or getting rid of family photos-maybe because I don't have siblings that I can fost them off onto- the idea of scanning all photos and getting rid of photo frames isn't gonna happen either. Do we print out all the photos we take now? No, but important ones we still do, and love to display them.
This book is handy with it's ribbon bookmark, and its easy to tackle small chapters, so it's perfect for gift giving (less than 16 weekends until Christmas!) to friends and family! So if you need some common sense help, to tackle your home's clutter, be sure to check it out.
Purchase:
Want to purchase your own copy? Click here!
About the Author:
Dana K. White is a blogger, podcaster, speaker, and (much to her own surprise) a Decluttering Expert. She taught both English and Theatre Arts before leaving her job to make her family her life's work. In an attempt to get her home under control, Dana started blogging as "Nony" (short for anonymous) at A Slob Comes Clean. Dana soon realized she was not alone in her housekeeping struggles and in her feelings of shame. Today, Dana shares realistic home management strategies and a message of hope for the hopelessly messy through her blog, weekly podcasts and videos. Dana lives with her husband and three kids just outside of Dallas, Texas.
Oh, and she’s funny.
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