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This Mess is Making Me Stress!

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Is your home driving you crazy with all the piles and papers? Is it impossible to find anything, let alone peace? Despite following Marie Kondo, does absolutely nothing spark joy?

If you are tired of feeling anxious, depressed, and embarrassed by how your home looks and functions, this book is for you.

This Mess Is Making Me Stress the link between clutter, stress, and mental healthIdentify the wrong stuff hiding in your cabinets and closetsTrain your decision-making muscles so you can declutter confidentlyShow you how to create rooms that work and maximize storageGive you practical step-by-step advice for maintaining “crap equilibrium”Professional organizer Donna Barwald helps you work through negative emotions that derail you before you begin, and guides you through the levels of the organizing process so you can get started and keep going.

By creating a healthy habit of organizing, you and your home will be transformed. You will feel calmer and better about yourself and be proud to invite people over. Your home will feel peaceful, and you will have room to breathe.

151 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 9, 2023

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About the author

Donna Barwald

2 books4 followers

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5 stars
22 (64%)
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5 (14%)
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6 (17%)
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1 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Profile Image for Angela.
1,894 reviews
May 1, 2023
Very engagingly written with lots of great ideas and hacks. I felt energized to begin tackling things after getting a real plan of attack. The resources section with ways to sell, donate, or recycle things was worth the price of the book alone. Understanding and caring approach for the messy, disorganized, or overwhelmed.
Profile Image for Amanda.
1 review
May 11, 2023
The most helpful book I've read on organizing, ever.

This was, without a doubt, the most helpful book I've ever read on organizing. I did such a poor job last time I moved, and when my lease is up this summer I plan on using the tips and tools from this book to do a better job this time around. I'm so glad I found this!!
Profile Image for DALYN MILLER.
322 reviews17 followers
March 11, 2026
This Mess is Making Me Stress!: How to Organize Your Home and Find Peace by Donna Barwald is a practical and compassionate guide for anyone feeling overwhelmed by clutter and disorganization at home. Drawing from her experience as a professional organizer, Barwald goes beyond simple tidying techniques and addresses the emotional barriers that often prevent people from taking the first step toward creating a more organized space.

The book acknowledges that clutter is rarely just about physical objects it is often connected to stress, anxiety, and feelings of embarrassment or frustration. Barwald helps readers confront these emotions while offering realistic strategies to move forward without feeling overwhelmed.

One of the strengths of the book is its step-by-step approach to the organizing process. Rather than presenting unrealistic expectations, the author guides readers through manageable stages that build momentum and help establish sustainable habits. This method allows readers to gradually transform their living spaces while also improving their sense of well being.

By encouraging readers to develop healthy organizing routines, This Mess is Making Me Stress! shows how a well structured home environment can lead to greater clarity, calm, and confidence. The result is not just a cleaner home, but a more peaceful and supportive space for everyday living.

Ultimately, Barwald’s work serves as both a practical resource and a motivational guide for anyone ready to reclaim their home and create an environment that promotes balance, comfort, and peace of mind.
7 reviews1 follower
April 13, 2023
incredibly helpful! there is light at the end of my closet!

This book is so well written and easy to follow!!! I made excellent headway in becoming more organized as I followed the chapters and will not stop until the mess that had been making me stress stays gone for good!!
12 reviews
April 16, 2023
Doable advice for getting organized

I love this book. Thank you Donna Barwald! This book covers everything you need to know to get organized, minimize stress and take control of your stuff.
Profile Image for Bridget.
995 reviews5 followers
April 15, 2023
This is a well organized and encouraging plan for lightening clutter.
Profile Image for Cindi Franer.
4 reviews2 followers
April 13, 2023
Practical and doable advice

Honestly, I have read other organizing books in the past and thought I had a grip on the process. But this author has simplified the process into one that is practical and doable. Easy to read and filled with great tips and humor, this book has put me on the path to finally getting organized with the "right" stuff in my home. She starts with the psychology of why we are disorganized in the first place (loved this section!), and moved on to the reasons why we can't seem to get traction. I felt like she was reading my mind with the "10 things." The author's writing style was simple and easy to read, but packed with great information. I felt like she was by my side, encouraging and supporting me with care and understanding.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews