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Totally Organized: Easy-to-Use Techniques for Getting Control of Your Time and Your Home
Getting organized is one of the biggest challenges in any home today. Pressed for time and bogged down by papers, receipts, household items, and an endless stream of junk mail, Americans need expert ways to get an stay on top of it all. Expert organizer Bonnie McCullough has the answers. In this clear, practical guide, she explains how
--Take control of household tasks by using a planner, making lists, and setting priorities.
--Gain more free time by establishing routines and planning ahead.
--Create more space in the kitchen, closets, and elsewhere.
--Setup a simple, easy-to-use home-filing system.
--Get kids, spouses, and roommates motivated to help keep the household organized.
--Establish and stick to a household budget.
--Simplify holidays and gift giving.
--Work smarter, not harder--when tackling housework, paperwork, and all the little things that drain time and energy from our lives.
--Take control of household tasks by using a planner, making lists, and setting priorities.
--Gain more free time by establishing routines and planning ahead.
--Create more space in the kitchen, closets, and elsewhere.
--Setup a simple, easy-to-use home-filing system.
--Get kids, spouses, and roommates motivated to help keep the household organized.
--Establish and stick to a household budget.
--Simplify holidays and gift giving.
--Work smarter, not harder--when tackling housework, paperwork, and all the little things that drain time and energy from our lives.
- GenresNonfictionSelf HelpAdult
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 1986
8 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 18, 2017
I read this as a tween when I was going through a phase of being fascinated by household hints. Weirdly, I never even cleaned my room, let alone the rest of the household, but I liked reading about it. I remember I skipped the chapters about getting kids to help out because they didn't interest me then.
This was originally published on 1980, so reading it as an adult I see some of her advice is now a bit dated. (Dealing with a landline phone is not an issue for most of anymore, nor do we have tons of papers to file and keep on hand.) But the basic principles of organization are sound, and reading the advice about kids for the first time, I found it to be wonderfully practical and helpful. And her chapter about keeping a "planning notebook" is basically a precursor to bullet journaling.
My favorite quote comes at the very end of the book, when she is explaining that despite being an organizational guru (her newspaper columns ran for years before she published this book) if you walked into her home it would look like most people's. "Organization is not about being meticulous. To be organized means you do things for a good reason at the best time and in the easiest way." Doesn't that sound like a good goal? I'm sure I'll return to this book in the future.
This was originally published on 1980, so reading it as an adult I see some of her advice is now a bit dated. (Dealing with a landline phone is not an issue for most of anymore, nor do we have tons of papers to file and keep on hand.) But the basic principles of organization are sound, and reading the advice about kids for the first time, I found it to be wonderfully practical and helpful. And her chapter about keeping a "planning notebook" is basically a precursor to bullet journaling.
My favorite quote comes at the very end of the book, when she is explaining that despite being an organizational guru (her newspaper columns ran for years before she published this book) if you walked into her home it would look like most people's. "Organization is not about being meticulous. To be organized means you do things for a good reason at the best time and in the easiest way." Doesn't that sound like a good goal? I'm sure I'll return to this book in the future.
April 17, 2017
I didn't find this book to give me any great new ideas, but it did remind me of tried and true common sense, which, although boring, I didn't mind the reminders. But this book was more like reading a magazine than a book. I liked Bonnie. I found her very honest. I especially liked the last chapter in which she owns how short she falls in the face of her own ideals.
The few things I underlined:
The best way to save money? Don't go to the store.
"Curiously, the USDA now recommends less meat and more grains in the typical American diet." (This book was from the 80's)
"Fifty years ago, a typical American breakfast consisted of cooked grain cereal and milk. ... A hundred pound sack of wheat, corn, rice, or oatmeal costs between $20 and $30. One hundred pounds of flaked cereal (in a box) costs well over $275."
"If your house is in order, it says, "You are successful. You are making progress." If you come back to dirty dishes, unemptied ashtrays, and last night's newspapers, your house says to you, "You're a failure. You'll never catch up."
"Motivation doesn't come first. Action does! You have to prime the pump. They you will begin to get motivated, and the fluids will flow spontaneously." (David Burns)
The few things I underlined:
The best way to save money? Don't go to the store.
"Curiously, the USDA now recommends less meat and more grains in the typical American diet." (This book was from the 80's)
"Fifty years ago, a typical American breakfast consisted of cooked grain cereal and milk. ... A hundred pound sack of wheat, corn, rice, or oatmeal costs between $20 and $30. One hundred pounds of flaked cereal (in a box) costs well over $275."
"If your house is in order, it says, "You are successful. You are making progress." If you come back to dirty dishes, unemptied ashtrays, and last night's newspapers, your house says to you, "You're a failure. You'll never catch up."
"Motivation doesn't come first. Action does! You have to prime the pump. They you will begin to get motivated, and the fluids will flow spontaneously." (David Burns)
September 8, 2023
I personally really enjoyed this book. Though some of the information is slightly outdated, it’s refreshing to see how life can be managed and organized without the use of modern day technologies. Some of the information was repetitive, however I think the biggest takeaway from this book, was that it’s easier to maintain your mess daily a little bit at a time, rather than try to catch up with it all once in awhile. I am working towards putting aside 5 minutes per room every day for a tidy session before I get started with my days and I truly believe this would make a huge difference. I’ve also started a notebook of lists and master to-do, projects, wants, needs, desires and gift lists for everyone in my family which I think will come in handy. This author made it easy to read through a book with a typically mundane/boring topic, and make it semi enjoyable. After reading this book, I definitely feel like cleaning and purging through everything in my house.
May 12, 2017
A great book that teaches us how to get our feet back under us when we hit those bumps in the road. I love her story of how she was so tired after having a baby, & on her way to her bedroom she put one cup in the sink & thought how she had at least done one thing. The next day she bumped it up to 2 things, & the day after that, 3 things. She slowly built on what she "could" accomplish until she was able to get her feet back under her again: her meaning of organized is not being perfect at all times; just knowing how to get your feet back under you when they get knocked out. :) A great inspiration on how to get going!
February 22, 2008
I think this is one of the most practical organizing books out there especially for larger families. I give it 5 stars for a home management book. This is the one book I go back to time and again to get more ideas.
January 27, 2022
Living an organized life is normal for a few lucky people who are born with the proclivity to be neat. The truth is, however, that most people need to learn how to be organized. But where to begin with organizing our homes, our time, and everything in between? Bonnie McCullough presents answers in this book, properly titled ‘Totally Organized.’
McCullough’s first advice is for how to get out of the building clutter and mess that many people naturally experience with a tip called Minimal Maintenance. From that brilliant starting point, she offers suggestions and tried-and-true methods to organize each room of your house, as well as your own time and even your budget.
With relatable examples and a friendly style, McCullough proves that organization is not impossible. Though some of the material is out of date, such as the masses of paper that used to be commonplace but is now cut down dramatically with digital records, bills, and receipts, many of the organizational tips are useful even today. If you want to begin to tackle the clutter and disorder in your home but are unsure of where to begin, I would recommend this useful book.
McCullough’s first advice is for how to get out of the building clutter and mess that many people naturally experience with a tip called Minimal Maintenance. From that brilliant starting point, she offers suggestions and tried-and-true methods to organize each room of your house, as well as your own time and even your budget.
With relatable examples and a friendly style, McCullough proves that organization is not impossible. Though some of the material is out of date, such as the masses of paper that used to be commonplace but is now cut down dramatically with digital records, bills, and receipts, many of the organizational tips are useful even today. If you want to begin to tackle the clutter and disorder in your home but are unsure of where to begin, I would recommend this useful book.
September 11, 2022
I liked it and found it sort of useful, though a bit outdated. I wish it were less geared toward women and homemaking.
July 21, 2010
Okay, so I didn't actually finish the book yet. The library demanded it back after I kept rechecking it. I really need to learn to read through nonfiction as easily as I devour fantasy/YA literature.
I need to buy this. It would really help me out if I followed the advice in this book. My house would be more organized.
I need to buy this. It would really help me out if I followed the advice in this book. My house would be more organized.
February 17, 2008
This book has lots of good info to help you figure out how to get your house clean and organize all the stuff in it. Now I just have to implement the ideas! :)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews