Messie No More: Understanding and Overcoming the Roadblocks to Being Organized

by Sandra Felton

Sandra Felton's foolproof strategies can help even the most frazzled reader become Messie No More. With humor and much-needed affirmation, she sheds light on emotional and physical reasons for messiness and shows why most organizational systems don't work for Messies. She then shows readers how to break free from messy behavior by changing their mind-set and arresting the stress that plagues them. Originally published in 1989 and with more than 90,000 copies sold, Messie No More is now thoroughly revised and updated with the latest information on attention deficit disorder and two new chapters dealing with fatigue and depression and their relevance to messiness. Each of the twenty chapters in the book ends with a question-and-answer section called "Assess the Mess," which helps readers take practical steps in applying the book's principles. Messie No More contains the basis for a permanent change in readers who long for an orderly home but aren't sure how to have one. It is a practical guide that is sure to be snatched up by frustrated Messies everywhere.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Adhd

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[DivaDiane SM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book that had been sitting unread (or as I found partially read - but just a few pages) on my shelf for at least a decade. The category “House & Home” for my Smartypants non-fiction challenge on Habitica, prompted me to read it finally.

I’m happy to report that I have actually made huge progress in the area of keeping a tidy house, Decluttering and organization over the pst 15 years. Mostly due to the FlyLady and my very organized husband.

But this book was interesting in that it focused on getting to the bottom of why we are messy and how to change our mindsets so as to become a happy medium, average good housekeeper. She also mentions God a few times, so think about it, whether that’s a bad or a good thing for you. For me it was good and her thoughts on the connection are grounded and appealing.

At any rate, I’m glad I read it, if only to discover that I don’t have that far to go anymore!

[Cori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was much different than I expected and I felt a lot of it didn't apply to me...but much of it did, and it was just what I needed to hear. Aside from other housekeeping books which have been lists of to-dos and have left me discouraged, this book discussed the reasons some people have trouble staying organized and what you can do about it. (Messies Anonymous...really!) So you won't find cleaning or organizing tips. But it gave me hope, and I think that was a far better gift!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Messie No More by Sandra Felton is slowly changing the way I do things at home, which is amazing. I am learning the how’s and why’s behind my housekeeping style and it’s been fascinating. She explains several different ways/personalities/mental blocks that people get stuck in. It has questions for you to answer at the end of each chapter. I highly, highly suggest this book to anyone stuck in a rut.

[Carolyn Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the absolute best book on becoming neater (if you're naturally messy). It takes you through the psychology of messiness and helps you understand how to work with your messy self and not in opposition to it. A compassionate and intelligent treatment of how to become less messy and more organized written with a light, entertaining tone.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book digs into the psychology behind things like why we procrastinate organizing; why we can’t part with knick-knacks; and how clutter is actually the result of unmade decisions. As this is my last in a long line of Sandra Felton books, I guess I better stop reading about organizing and start organizing!
Note: A few of the ideas here may be a little outdated, and she strangely includes an appendix at the end about makeup (most likely because the better we feel about ourselves , the more likely we are to spread it to other areas of life). However, I still found this book to be worth reading.

[Lindsey]

This book was a pleasant surprise - found it in my mom's library. It's more about the psychology of why you are messy/cluttered/scatterbrained and it was very helpful in that it helped me see that I probably have some degree of ADD - never would have known since I did extremely well all the way through college, so because of this book I will be reading up on how to manage ADD as an adult. Example - Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder I also never put together the idea that perfectionism leads to a cluttered house - makes a lot of sense. I don't like to do anything unless it can be done perfectly, which makes me never want to start things because they appear too daunting to do it to perfection.

[Camiwar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good, this book is much more than an inspiration to become more organized. It's also a microscope into the heart of the problem; namely, in my case, I am much more interested in practicality than in having a Better Homes and Garden home. Finding a good balance will really be the key to my being happy with my choices. The author points out that having beauty in the home will reduce stress and lift the spirit: "Depression and listlessness can be overcome by bringing the spark of beauty into the house."

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The biggest thing I take away from this book is that I'm far more right brained than I thought. So, the 'understanding' part of the title delivered. Although, it's not like I didn't know why I was disorganized already. The 'overcoming' part...not so much. "Just go through every room in your house and remove everything that doesn't belong there." Um, thanks. Now I have a whole pile in my backyard that I don't know what to do with?

[Frangipani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was lead to believe by the blurb/review on Amazon. I found this book enlightening and irritating but of no practical help. It ends with an appendix on how to apply bloody makeup! MAKEUP? WTF? Also too many references to god, which would alienate half the likely readership. Perhaps I should have got the newer edition!
Newer Edition has arrived finally. Hopefully it's better ...

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

had to skip a few middle chapters, but the book was amazing otherwise. the first 4.5 chapters was me to the 't'

[Nadja Levesque · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a Christian propaganda/shaming book, not the helpful household routine book it is advertised as. I would never have wasted my time and money if I knew it was all about the “glory” of just spending all your energy on some church sanctioned nonsense.

[Shebbles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Sandra's books. Great motivation. She's dealt with the clutter/messies issue. Great advice and I love that she includes God in this process of dealing with overcoming mess!!

[Coralie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book I read was actually called: "Messie No More: Practical Steps to Put the Messy Lifestyle Behind You"... but it's probably the same book.

We have come a long way in our understanding of how ADHD affects women and of the actual facts of this neurodivergence.

If you can glide over the obvious inaccuracies (thoughts on ADHD, circa 1989), the occasional "olde world" humor, and the repetitive invocation of Biblical quotes and exhortations of how God can help you through this (unless He shows up at my house, ready to help, he's not my guy here), there are some interesting tools in this toolbox.
Not the most sophisticated, but like all tools, it depends on whether they are useful for what you need to do, and whether they work for you.

Honestly, I love her approach that going a full-180 and suddenly maintaining one of those "museum" homes is really not much healthier, and that an average-but-improved household goal is best.

She is very supportive of women who suffer and does focus on the self-esteem issues and the fraught-with-trial-and-failure cycle, so I am pleased that I picked it up.
But definitely dated - can't really hold that against it too much - and I couldn't use the "starts with God" parts. Fine if that works for you, but that's not my happy place.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book because I'm a "pack rat" and it made claims to help with that sort of thing. Though this book did a great job of explaining why a pack rat is a pack rat, it never really said what to do about it. Why, you say? Because you apparently need to get all the other books that go with it....Meditations for Messies, Messies Manual, Messies 2, Messies Superguide and Messies Calendar, etc., eyc.... Now, I bought this book for $1 at a resale book store (where I get most of my books), and maybe if I came across any of the others for $1, I might get them, otherwise, no thanks! What a racket!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This may actually be a very helpful book for me; I will know for sure in a year or two. Sandra Felton writes about how we need to change our thinking and our priorities and then our house will naturally be organized and beautiful. The biggest change for me will be prioritizing beauty over functionality. I will see how it goes.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are several useful techniques in this book as well as a few of the tried and true. This book would work well with those who appreciate a 12 - Step, Christian approach to overcoming chronic and other forms of disorganization.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I'm reading an older version, but will hopefully get the main ideas.

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok, ok. I'm a messie. you all knew this. Well, it's about to change!

[Daniela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Y ahora a ser mas ordenada!...... hahahahaha si claro xD
Pd: madre mía otro de tus intentos. FAIL!!

[Mystie Winckler · Rating 2 out of 5]

MCL. Skimmed; decent message buried in too much pop-psych feel-good.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful for those wanting to figure out why they're so messy when all they want is order.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt like this woman knew me intimately. She doesn't just give you tips and pile on the shame when you fall short. She starts with the psychology of a messie, and helps you understand your whys and why nots. Then she helps you alter your thinking so that you can successfully achieve what you've failed to before. It was well-written and an encouragement to read, which I think is saying a lot for a book about putting a messie lifestyle behind you.