Organizing Magic: 40 Days to a Well-Ordered Home and Life

by Sandra Felton

Somehow, no matter how hard some people try to change their messy habits, they just can't seem to keep their homes in any kind of order. Magazines and books and television shows offer all kinds of advice and tactics for keeping a house organized and neat and livable. But what some people need is not more advice but a change in their mindsets. Organizing for Life helps readers understand why they seem to be inherently messy people, exposing the lies they tell themselves and introducing the truth about how they really can have a clean, inviting home. Felton helps readers focus on overcoming the roadblocks that keep them in a permanently messy state in order to change their habits for good.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2006

Reviews

[Sally Kilpatrick]

I gleaned some useful information from this book, but she kinda lost me with the chapter that SAID it wasn't making moral judgments but, yeah, it was making moral judgments. Nothing doing but to keep taking those baby steps. I will say that this author at least acknowledges that asking for housekeeping help isn't a sin. I just feel as though books like these assume a certain level of cleanliness/organization already present. About that . . . . no.

I may, however, check out her books about getting the kids to do their part. I'm obviously struggling with that. Also, I don't think I've fully recovered from the move into the house back in 2000 much less the 8 years I was teaching full time. Eh, it is what is.

Several great hints, but quite a few I'd heard before. Reading the book doesn't give me the time to empty each room, drawer, and closet, now does it?

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some useful tips and revelations, and I liked the nonjudgmental tone. Unfortunately it goes a little overboard on religious references and motivational happytalk. The author also encourages buying specialty products and hiring help, which is impractical for a lot of us.

The references to technology are dated and seem geared towards some specific types of professionals, even back when it was published (in 2006) I wouldn't have been dealing with junk faxes.

[Lauren Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may start a shrine to Sandra Felton, a pioneer in the Organizing world.

She's written TWENTY, 20, XX, 普通话, २०

books, founded Messies Anonymous, has been intimately involved in the National Study Group for Chronic Disorganization which became the Institute for Challenging Disorganization, and the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals.

I'd seen her name during my studies and researches, finally found one of her books, Organizing Magic: 40 days to a well-ordered home and life, at a library and took it out. The first word that came to my mind as I finished this book was "comforting." Ms. Felton approaches the effort with an "insider's" perspective. She is a self-professed Messie, and built her systems around her own struggles. She takes a gentle Christian approach to her work, which graces Marla Cilley (The Fly Lady) and Kathi Lipp with an inspiring foremother! In fact, in my exploration of Ms. Felton and her far-flung influence, I discovered Faithful Organizers, a network of Christian Professional Organizers. I am not a faithful person: I adhere to absolutely no organized religion whatsoever. So I am inspired by my clients who have the additional dimension of belief supporting their endeavors. I watch it allow them to forgive themselves for being human and trust that they can accomplish their goals. Here's the equivalent, Jewish Life...Organized, to help someone find a Professional Organizer who is familiar with Jewish practices. I hope to someday find the equivalent for other major religions as well.

[Shirley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was really about organizing your life with very little about the home so it could have used a better title. I also don't know why it's organized like a 40 day plan. There is no way you could implement or even do these things in consecutive days. I was really confused when on day 3, it tells you to have a party without doing any cleaning/organizing first. Not happening! lol.. It's a conceptual book, not a practical book so it's just really not what it is marketed as. She doesn't even get to organizing rooms until day 36, when you're supposed to do two rooms at once with the whole house organized by Day 38. If it was that easy, people wouldn't get organizing books. She apparently has other books that might be better, but this one was a fail.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like books on organizing and decluttering as a mental break between heavier books, but I also enjoy getting new ideas to incorporate at home. There's nothing ground breaking in this book but there are useful tips although vague. I've read enough of these kinds of books to understand the concepts but if someone was looking for concrete how-to steps, this isn't for them.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful advise and great checklist at the end.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learned

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I was cruising the new nonfiction section at the library and, well ... my house is a hideous mess. I'm not much for motivational books in general, but this one's not bad - fairly intelligent, not condescending, and the basic message of, "If the mess in your house makes you unhappy, why put up with it?!" makes sense. I could live without the pink color scheme, and I'm not used to casual Biblical references (though there are also copious quotations from Twain, Thoreau, anonymous and tons of other people), but it's a pretty good book at heart. Felton is quite correct that changing one's attitude is extremely important in this home cleanup process, I'm sure.

[April Queen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not what I anticipated it would be. It's more motivational where I was hoping for some practical tips (like the ones she mentions at the very end of the book). If one were to take this book literally and do the tasks each day for 40 days, I imagine they'd find the first few weeks redundant and the last few days overwhelming. (Like day 38 - "revamp your kids' rooms, garage, attic, basement, and home office") I doubt anyone reading a book on organization would have those rooms in well enough condition to tackle them all in one day ... especially if they have kids.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Least favorite Felton of the 3 I have read. Some great ideas at the end for specific rooms, but a lot more in the "motivational" area than I wanted at this point. Now that I'm motivated, I want physical steps, not "wake up to an alarm clock and jump out of bed". So, maybe get it from the library to scan for additional ideas, but nothing earthshattering.

[Desiree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad; some good thoughts on why neat people are neat and what habits you can cultivate to stop being a "messy." However, too many scripture quotes (hello, not all of us are Christian!), and seems a bit like a big ad for her website and other books.
Incredible marketing, though-- what a gorgeous-looking, appealing book for a girly-girl like me :P

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a helpful book if you've had problems with being organized or don't know where to start. Many of the suggestions are things I've always done. I think it would have been better with some pictures or diagrams interspersed with the text. If you already have a grasp of basic organizing techniques this book won't offer anything new. Very beginner info.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again--her books are fabulous. This helps you put organizing steps into action. If you have even the slightest problem keeping your house in order, you must read one of her books! Even though the books are good, I am still behind in trying to apply the advice...:)

[Kristin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book seemed like it would be a great book, but when I read it, it was very dull and didn't seem to help me much. I think it really pertains to someone who is extemely disorganized and not someone who just wants some simple organized tips.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could be a very good book on organizing for someone who hasn't watched any of the TV programs devoted to reducing clutter and organizeing better.
It's thorough and yes, very well organized, but pretty much what you get from most books and how-to shows.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't really magical, as it claims to be (dang it!), but was rather 40 tips for living a more organized life. I think what we'd all rather see is something that would be more of a wave of the wand. Am I right, or am I right?

[Katie Gamble · Rating 3 out of 5]

While full of helpful advice, nothing too earth shattering and most suggestions I found would be most useful to me cost too much to put into practice. However, easy to read and the one to two tips might be enough to make it worthwhile!

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this in conjunction with LIVING ORGANIZED. It helps me want to change and is constructive and realistic. So far it has been helpful.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some helpful tips but mostly things I already do.

[AuntKathy]

Getting some motivation, some ideas, but not into the meat of action yet.

[ROSALIE · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just started chapter 3. Already I have taken two quotes for my mantras. This book gets personal, but in a very sweet and understanding way and it is loaded with wisdom.

[Dena Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

useful!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

got me slowly getting things in order.

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven't gotten very far into this book and already have to return it to the library! Frustrating.

[Deana Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

GREAT book for Organizing Tips for disorganized people.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book to read, so visually appealing and the content's great too

[Gabriella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually it has many great Ideas, and great quotes as well.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good start, though I'm not in the right place to enact all of her strategies.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had some good information that would help get a person organized without it being too preachy.