BOOK REVIEW –- ORGANIZING FROM THE INSIDE OUT

By Ramona Creel of OnlineOrganizing.com

Many people try to tackle their space organizing issues by buying a bunch of containers and moving their "stuff" around. But that doesn’t even begin to touch on the reasons why the clutter accumulated in the first place.

In her ground-breaking book, Julie Morgenstern encourages readers to let go of INEFFECTIVE ORGANIZING HABITS -- such as tackling bits and pieces of your problem without looking at the big picture, adopting organizing tips and techniques that do not fit your personality, and going on ruthless "purging sprees" in an attempt to reduce your clutter. Instead, Ms. Morgenstern offers an insightful and easy-to-understand process for "Organizing From The Inside Out.

WHAT’S HOLDING YOU BACK?

Julie Morgenstern starts out by asking her readers to spend a few minutes analyzing why they haven’t been able to get organized in the past. She points out three potential pitfalls which may have thwarted your best efforts. The first are TECHNICAL ERRORS -- problems with the mechanics of your organizing systems. This might include the fact that you have more stuff than space, your storage is inconvenient, or you have a lot of "homeless items" floating around.

You also may face certain unfortunate EXTERNAL REALITIES -- environmental situations beyond your control that keep you from being as organized as you could be. You could be afflicted with an unrealistic work load, an uncooperative partner, or a period of transition, such as a move or a new baby. And finally, there are a number of PSYCHOLOGICAL OBSTACLES that can impair your organizing abilities -- such as the need for perfection, sentimental attachments, and unclear priorities. Understanding the underlying cause of your clutter is the first step toward creating order. As Ms. Morgenstern points out, self-awareness is your most powerful tool in getting and staying organized.

TAKING STOCK

For each space in your home or office, Ms. Morgenstern suggests asking yourself these two basic questions. The first step is to look at your CURRENT SYSTEMS and see which ones are successful. This is a good starting point for your organizing efforts -- once you can see what is working, you only have to change those things that ARE NOT. You are also giving yourself a pat on the back by acknowledging your accomplishments. And you have the opportunity to recognize why those systems are easy to maintain -- then you can set up similar systems in the areas that are not working as well.

Once you know what is working, Ms. Morgenstern asks that you examine areas that need some IMPROVEMENT. The last step is to identify which items are most ESSENTIAL to you. Knowing which of your belongings help further your goals also makes it easier to determine which ones serve no purpose. This four-step process will keep you from wasting your time and energy, and will focus your organizing efforts for the greatest return.

THE KINDERGARTEN MODEL

Ms. Morgenstern offers a lot of "secrets" for getting your life in order, but all of her systems are based on the KINDERGARTEN MODEL of organizing your space. This model is based on five simple strategies: 1) divide your rooms into ACTIVITY ZONES, 2) make it easy to focus on one activity at a time, 3) store items at their point of use, 4) have a home for everything, and 5) create a VISUAL MENU of everything that’s important. You can accomplish these goals by first deciding what activities will occur in the space you want to organize. Then, list the supplies you will need to perform each activity. And finally, list the storage units you have or may need to store those supplies. That will form the basis of your organizing systems. Once you have defined your ZONES, the rest is just a matter of mapping out your space and re-arranging your furniture!

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Ramona Creel is the founder of OnlineOrganizing.com -- offering "a world of organizing solutions!"

Visit OnlineOrganizing.com for organizing products, free tips, a speakers bureau -- and even get a referral for a Professional Organizer near you. And if you are interested in becoming a Professional Organizer, we have all the tools you need to succeed. (Copyright 2001, Ramona Creel)
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