Conquering Chronic Disorganization

by Judith Kolberg

Chronic disorganization is disorganization that undermines a person's quality of life and recurs despite traditional self-help efforts. Conquering Chronic Disorganization is filled with real-life stories of people who used simple, innovative and fun organizing methods proven in the field to end clutter, mismanagaed time and paper pile-ups in the home or office. Featured Book of the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Adhd, Productivity, Psychology, Reference, Humor

132 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Laura]

A tragedy in three acts:
I. read this book only to reach my secondary goal of 30 books this year
II. it is painfully obvious that it was written in the 90s
III. i do, unfortunately and fortunately, think many of these ideas could help me😭

[Emi Yoshida]

I am obsessed with Hoarders on A&E. I don't know why, but I have been since it first aired. I have a Library Science degree, I'm a purger and couldn't hoard if I wanted to, but I like reading about people who can't get organized. I don't think I'll ever need to organize somebody's home office according to a kinetic, auditory, or anatomical system, but just in case it happens, I'll be prepared now that I've read Conquering Chronic Disorganization.

I learned some other things too. "Infomania is the joy of indulging in simultaneous, diverse interests from any and all sources." Somebody I love very much would probably like to use that line in defense of their towering Wall Street Journal collection. So in response I can again paraphrase Judith Kolberg, "information in a newspaper is obsolete about eight hours after publication. Over 70% is advertising. 100% is obtainable online. 50% is repeated in the next day's issue. A newspaper unread is closer to trash than orange peels."

I think it's fascinating that highly functioning people can be completely averse to organization. Kolberg does a great job presenting about 20 different ways to work around that kind of resistance. I like how she manages breakthroughs using innovation, and without judging.

[Wendy Beckman]

To be honest, I'm not actively reading this right now: I can't find it.

[Isla McKetta]

I found this entertaining and helpful. While the text is a bit dated, so am I, and the concepts remain fresh and useful. Hoping to go on a "treasure hunt" with my kid very soon, before he drowns in Legos.

[Kris]

Includes creative "emotional" and less conventional organizing techniques

- More personal folder labels (e.g., Things my clients bug me for, Stuff I can never find when I need it, Proves my point, This makes me feel good, In my dreams, This may come back to haunt me, Wish I had thought of that, Treasures, Did I get paid for these yet?)
- Different in/out ratios (e.g., 1:1 = one old item out for every new item in, control your collection at its current level; 1:3 = three old items out for every new item in, begin to replace your old collection with new items & decrease your overall collection; 1:5 = decrease your over collection permanently, keep only the very best of your existing collection)
- Partner's comfort level as a trigger for getting organized - Does X have space to do Y?
- Searching for treasure is a more effective organizing method or motivator than the negative act of throwing junk away
- Create mini-action centers using action verbs (e.g., Call, Share, Renew, Invent, Teach, Solve)
- Creative organizing themes using imagery (e.g., The Human Body - brains, stomach/digest, legs/errands, heart/volunteer work; Travel - departure & arrival checklist; Stores/Shopping; Timeline; Scenes from a Play/Novel; Command Central; Factory; Sports; Board Games)


► Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism by Fumio Sasaki - minimalism, decluttering, focus
► Organizing for the Rest of Us: 100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control by Dana K. White - decluttering, routines
► New Order: A Decluttering Handbook for Creative Folks (and Everyone Else) by Fay Wolf - organizing tips & tools
► Clean Mama's Guide to a Peaceful Home: Effortless Systems and Joyful Rituals for a Calm, Cozy Home by Becky Rapinchuk - cleaning, rituals
► How to Be Organized in Spite of Yourself: Time and Space Management that Works with Your Personal Style by Sunny Schlenger - organizing personality types & strategies

[Violetmyst17]

As someone with serious disorganization and time management issues, i need more books like this. It was abit disappointing that the book is rather thin and mostly anecdotal. But the author does illuminate why some of us struggle so much in these areas -- its not because of laziness or for lack of trying. She details hiw the typical chronically disorganized-ist processes information and objects in very different ways (ways that don't work with items from the Container Store). "Emotional Filing" was a concept that strongly resonated with me, as i can always think of 10-20 topics something could be filed under, and thus get paralyzed in the process. The overriding theme of the book is by understanding one's unique learning or processing style, one can customize your methods of organizing, and stop being stymied by mainstream methods of organization. Again, i wish the book was longer with more strategies,,,but perhaps in time she'll release a revised edition

[Lauren Williams]

Conquering Chronic Disorganization by Judith Kolberg. This author, a godmother of the Professional Organizing community, is funny and inspires intensely creative "out-of-the-box" organizing solutions which give people permission to organize on their own terms.

Lauren Williams, Owner, Casual Uncluttering LLC, Woodinville, WA, USA

[ADRIAN ROHARD]

Very Helpful

This will help you if you cannot organise conventionally - time blindness, curly thinking and out-of-sight--out-of-mind type person will benefit most. It’s a bit dated now in that it is primarily aimed at a ‘paper’ world but the principles are very helpful nonetheless.

[Annburnett]

This is a good book for people who are chronically disorganized and have difficulties with organizing. It gives many different ways to go about decluttering for different people. It has a lot of different techniques to choose from.

[Gina]

I really enjoyed this one. I’ve read several (ok, LOTS of) book on organization and organizing, and this one actually had a few new ideas that clicked for me and sounded like fun. It’s always good to try new things!

[Gabrielle]

Truly a great book full of great insights and plenty of humor to keep it interesting. Judith knows well how to tell a good story in the middle of teaching how to get a grip on a more-than-expected common problem.

[Tammy McCarthy]

helpful

This is an easy read and quite helpful. Although I didn’t completely “see” myself in any of the clients featured, I do have a bit more of a sense of what my issues are and maybe how to turn them around… things to try anyway.

[Mary Hamilton]

Entertaining As Well As Informative

I’m generally an organized person but the methods in this book encouraged me to try new ways of staying organized. I’m really impressed with the way the author thinks outside the box to help people accomplish their goals.

[Keesa]

I won't know if this book was actually helpful or not until I see if it helps, but I can at least say that I enjoyed reading it. Fun, light, and hopeful.

[Brave]

CPO read, not rating it. More valuable than many other things I've read for work, though.

[Nan Babcock]

Some unique and offbeat methods for organizing.

[Heath]

Dated but some helpful ideas!

[Shannon]

What a gem of a book for professional organizers. A lot of ideas for people who aren’t mainstream thinkers but creative in so many ways. Good points about learning styles that translate to organizing styles. I think there is probably an better term than “chronically disorganized” but I didn’t write the book. She uses offices and paper work for the majority of her illustrations. Also, just ignore the seemingly unrelated illustrations of the knight. Definitely can’t judge this book by its cover. A must-read for professional organizers!

[Alexandra]

This was really smart and inspiring and interesting to read. She has all kinds of weird techniques to organize people in idiosyncratic ways. Like she has her clients walk around the office "muttering", saying "oh man I have to pay this" and "my wife has been hassling me about this" etc. Then the things that come up repeatedly she makes file folders for no matter how random the categories. Things like "stuff I have to deal with or I will go to jail" for unpaid traffic violations, etc. .

And a bunch of crazy organization tactics that take into account the emotional aspect of organization (slash disorganization). She also goes into learning styles and how they affect organization a lot. A really interesting little book that has helped me feel better about being disorganized and has made me understand that I don't always have to be.

[Shana]

This book is fantastic. Judith Kolberg is the co-author of ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life, and I knew I wanted to read more about what she has to offer. She is creative and upbeat, taking all the boredom right out of organization. Her suggestions about organizing around a theme have led me to the decision to set up my space like a classroom--it being the space within which I am most comfortable. Great, great little book.

[Cinda]

Sadly I've learned that I am chronically disorganized. Can't even read this book in chapter order. Somebody save me....

[Erika]

Very easy to read, with a lot of unconventional techniques. Of the many organizing books I've read, this one falls in my top three.

[Lindsey]

Not great, didn't think I learnt much

[Carrie Schultz]

one of the best tip books for chronic disorganization

Like the Messies Manual, I learned so much from this book and gained very valuable insight on myself and what is helpful for me