The complete idiot's guide to organizing your life

by Georgene Lockwood

Introduces a host of easy to follow, effective tips to help readers eliminate chaos and clutter at home and in the office, offering strategies for handling paperwork, holiday planning, organizing closets, and files, and more. Softcover. Previous edition c1999.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Reference, Productivity, How To, Unfinished

434 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Lesa Parnham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, my family hated it. While I was still reading it I started organizing and like a mean drill sargeant. I have teenagers,a ten year old and a very messy husband. Along with this I have pets in my home. In the first few days i cleared 16 large garbage of stuff we had but didn't need. I think one of the main things this book stresses is not to be sentimental about things that really don't have a place in your life. The book was more about organizing, hence the title, but I ran with the clutter first. In my opinion, some of the later chapters let things go. The author started talking about plastic bins, and things that in my opinion would not only clutter the house more and make it tacky. All in all, it is going to make my kids hate me and unclutter my home!

[Jennifer Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did glean a few ideas from this but as usual with these types of books, they were for living spaces that had much more square footage than I do. The pantry organizing tips will really be helpful since mine is always a disaster. I liked the bathroom tips as well.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid gold, timeless advice. In fact, I would say that the bits of advice that are a little dated were more refreshing for me than anything else -- it can be nice to look at modern life, stresses, and messes through the lens of understanding that none of these issues are new or unique. There are certain organizational principles that have stood the test of time, and reading this book felt like being pulled up by the bootstraps by a wise aunt. <3

[Aniket Sharma · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is now old. The things mentioned do not apply to modern times thus the book is mostly useless. It took me a lot of time to finish this as I could not get myself to read about techniques/principles/tools I won't require. I forced myself to completely read the book because I started it.

[José · Rating 3 out of 5]

[This version was pretty outdated, 2003]. Comprehensive in the different aspects of your life to organize, but the advice itself was pretty basic (which is their intention). Probably the latest edition of this would be more helpful for people.

[Jake Getch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. The author seems to ramble on on some topics in the end chapters but the book itself really helps if you want to get organized.

[Graemme Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Not a easy book to implement, but well worth the effort!!

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical organizing book. Some tidbits here and there.

[Colin Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not helpful in the slightest. Very repetitious.

[BookishDramas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a book about re-organizing and decluttering and it would include physical stuff in the house. The book asks us not to be sentimental about our things, which is something which is quite difficult. Because it is sentimentality that force us to hold onto things which no longer have any useful place in our lives, i.e. children's clothes and items, which they would never use again but are a forlorn reminder forever of what it was when it happened. Children would out-grow them as well as us.
Being from the East where family is a big deal sometimes sentimentality overwhelms other considerations.

This book is much more focused and concise as it propels your productivity and teaches you lean living and how to keep everything in orderly spaces (to the detriment of friends and family). The book is also dated and many of the advice propounded may not apply.
One thing that stands the test of time is the principle of getting organized, always applicable.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a messy person, but this book can help you improve in and organize other areas of your life: your morning routine, seasonal habits, your finances, and even the organization and planning for your personal goals. No one is perfect and even though I feel pretty comfortable about how my place looks at any random point in the day, I tremendously improved my morning routine and found a method for making dinner after being exhausted from a long day, found a much more stress-free way to keep track of bills and other financial matters, and even incorporated a much more realistic way of planning for my new year's resolutions. The author also incorporates very random "good to know" facts throughout. I recommend this book for anyone -- I just can't believe I didn't read it sooner.

[Oriyah N · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book on a whim because it was on clearance. It turned out to be one of those books that completely changed the way I live my life. In clear, organized, simple terms, it taught me the concepts and skills I needed to organize my possessions - and to get rid of things I don't need.

Now, over a decade later, my things are still super-organized. Besides that, I haven't lived in my parents' home in almost 5 years, and they STILL call me to ask where things belong.

To anyone who hasn't an organizing clue, I highly recommend this book.

[Laura Gilfillan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually it's mostly about organizing your home. Put things in matching baskets, build nice shelves and cases, and so forth. Some useful ideas: use a small planter to store scrub brushes, etc. near the kitchen sink, jars to hold small, odd items, tray in bathroom to hold sink items, large binder with ziplock bags to hold electronics hardware, magazine holders to keep wrapping paper and gift bags tidy, an interesting form for a to-do list. See website: thecreativityexchange.com.

[Vincent · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love being organized and thought this book would help me become more so.
No way.
It's intended for compulsive hoarders, procrastinators, shop-a-holics, messy kitchen types, etc.
If you aren't a disaster this book offers no new ways to take it up a notch.
Typical chapter: if you haven't used something in a year, throw it out.
Really?

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking to get a little more organzed this is the book for you. I found some great ideas and resources to make my life run a little easier. I can't wait to start implementing some of the strategies found in this book.

My new montra: "Don't put it down, put it away"
Now I just need my family to get on board with that montra too.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this kind of stuff. It's my left brain dominance I guess. I enjoyed this book. Practical ideas. I'm motivated, but need to find the time to be able to start & finish one project at a time. I don't like to leave projects undone.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

aka how to be an adult. I've perused other organization books with more specific guidelines, but this was a good guide at approaching organization on a more general level: kitchen, storage, health, food prep, finances, parties etc. Skimmable, but helpful.

[Elke · Rating 3 out of 5]

i can't believe i bought this book and read it. i used it to procrastinate so that i wouldn't have to clean and organize...we'll see how things work out for the move to the new condo.

[Laura]

This will probably stay on the "currently reading" status for a long time....if that tells you anything.

[Anne Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and very helpful

[Mandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems like any other organization book/tv show, but breaks things down into more specifics. I've liked some of the ideas and am trying to implement them.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good overview on how to organize all kinds of different areas within your life. Worth a read, but nothing spectacular.

[Kristy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found a few things in this book irritating..

[Gina Guesby Mays · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like it and it makes me think - but some of the websites are kinda outdated...

[Martha]

I'm too organized to find anything new here

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers everything.