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Unf*ck Your Habitat: You're Better Than Your Mess
Finally, a housekeeping and organizational system developed for those of us who'd describe our current living situation as a “f*cking mess” that we're desperate to fix. Unf*ck Your Habitat is for anyone who has been left behind by traditional aspirational systems: The ones that ignore single people with full-time jobs; people without kids but living with roommates; and people with mental illnesses or physical limitations, and many others. Most organizational books are aimed at traditional homemakers, DIYers, and people who seem to have unimaginable amounts of free time. They assume we all iron our sheets, have linen napkins to match our table runners, and can keep plants alive for longer than a week. Basically, they ignore most of us living here in the real world.
Interspersed with lists and challenges, this practical, no-nonsense advice relies on a 20/10 system (20 minutes of cleaning followed by a 10-minute break; no marathon cleaning allowed) to help you develop lifelong habits. It motivates you to embrace a new lifestyle in manageable sections so you can actually start applying the tactics as you progress. For everyone stuck between The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Adulting, this philosophy is decidedly more realistic than aspirational, but the goal is the same: not everyone will have a showcase of a home, but whatever your habitat, you deserve one that brings you happiness, not stress.
Interspersed with lists and challenges, this practical, no-nonsense advice relies on a 20/10 system (20 minutes of cleaning followed by a 10-minute break; no marathon cleaning allowed) to help you develop lifelong habits. It motivates you to embrace a new lifestyle in manageable sections so you can actually start applying the tactics as you progress. For everyone stuck between The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Adulting, this philosophy is decidedly more realistic than aspirational, but the goal is the same: not everyone will have a showcase of a home, but whatever your habitat, you deserve one that brings you happiness, not stress.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 3, 2017
1349 people are currently reading
7211 people want to read
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November 11, 2020
3 "helpful but potty-mouthed" stars !!!
A friend of mine asked me to read this and let me know if I thought it was suitable for her 21 year old daughter who is highly creative, highly accomplished but who keeps her home in my friend's words, like a "pig sty". I should mention this young woman struggles with significant ADD and OCD.
I, myself, thrive on a clean fresh home but I do not mind a bit of clutter and in fact if the clutter is organized and aesthetically pleasing I feel most comfortable. My partner is a symmetrical minimalist and actually enjoys purging and frequent cleaning. We have decided that the bedroom, family room and basement are my domain to decorate and upkeep and his are the living room, dining room, home office and kitchen. We each have a separate bathroom. This works really well for us as initially when we moved in together there was a fair bit of conversation as I did not want to do chores daily the way he does but I prefer to do a few hours on the weekend with minimal upkeep during the week. We found something that has worked beautifully although many of my friends struggle with their spouses, partners and children due to different standards and preferences.
Back to the book: The book takes a very compassionate but firm approach to cleaning and tidying and address to a superficial degree people with chronic pain, depression and perfectionism as well as people that are on the lazy or entitled side. The strategies were logical, helpful but definitely not brand new, innovative or rocket science. I did not find that it dealt enough with people with OCD or attentional issues so I would not recommend to my friend's daughter.
There are also helpful sections on dealing with passive-aggressive housemates as well as assertive communication strategies to assist those wanting and needing help from friends and family.
My one pet peeve about this book is that the author had a potty mouth and this was a big turn off. The occasional expletive for fun, emphasis or expression of emotion is fine but swearing on every other page is a big turn off. She may keep a clean house but her mouth and keyboard need to be washed out with soap....just sayin'
Overall, I think this would be most helpful to young adults with mild to moderate challenges with cleaning, tidying and/or mild hoarding as well as a fair degree of motivation for change. For those that have more significant challenges professional help as well as implementation of cleaning services would be much more helpful !!
A friend of mine asked me to read this and let me know if I thought it was suitable for her 21 year old daughter who is highly creative, highly accomplished but who keeps her home in my friend's words, like a "pig sty". I should mention this young woman struggles with significant ADD and OCD.
I, myself, thrive on a clean fresh home but I do not mind a bit of clutter and in fact if the clutter is organized and aesthetically pleasing I feel most comfortable. My partner is a symmetrical minimalist and actually enjoys purging and frequent cleaning. We have decided that the bedroom, family room and basement are my domain to decorate and upkeep and his are the living room, dining room, home office and kitchen. We each have a separate bathroom. This works really well for us as initially when we moved in together there was a fair bit of conversation as I did not want to do chores daily the way he does but I prefer to do a few hours on the weekend with minimal upkeep during the week. We found something that has worked beautifully although many of my friends struggle with their spouses, partners and children due to different standards and preferences.
Back to the book: The book takes a very compassionate but firm approach to cleaning and tidying and address to a superficial degree people with chronic pain, depression and perfectionism as well as people that are on the lazy or entitled side. The strategies were logical, helpful but definitely not brand new, innovative or rocket science. I did not find that it dealt enough with people with OCD or attentional issues so I would not recommend to my friend's daughter.
There are also helpful sections on dealing with passive-aggressive housemates as well as assertive communication strategies to assist those wanting and needing help from friends and family.
My one pet peeve about this book is that the author had a potty mouth and this was a big turn off. The occasional expletive for fun, emphasis or expression of emotion is fine but swearing on every other page is a big turn off. She may keep a clean house but her mouth and keyboard need to be washed out with soap....just sayin'
Overall, I think this would be most helpful to young adults with mild to moderate challenges with cleaning, tidying and/or mild hoarding as well as a fair degree of motivation for change. For those that have more significant challenges professional help as well as implementation of cleaning services would be much more helpful !!
April 25, 2017
I requested this book for review from Pan MacMillan - thanks to Jean for sending it to me!
This is an absolutely fabulous little resource for anyone that wants to essentially get their shit together when it comes to their home. Simple, to the point, but incredibly inclusive and with a lot of practical tips, this is really what I wanted that wasn't delivered by The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. It's all about the realness, yo.
What I liked about this particular book was that Hoffman includes tips for everyone - parents, people with chronic illness, lazy people, those battling mental illness... everyone. I don't think I've ever seen one of these kinds of tidying manuals that actually recognises that some people have real problems/issues in their life that might prevent them from making their home into a Pinterest-perfect oasis.
Hoffman not only introduces her 20:10 rule, which I have already started implementing here and there (and love - I mean who doesn't like to take enforced breaks when cleaning?), but she also gives you practical tips on how to clean (because some of us just aren't in the know), checklists for daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal tasks you can do, and little quick tips here and there for random quick fixes. The emphasis is on not getting it perfect, and not doing everything at once in a marathon cleaning session, but just doing something. Anything really. And I love that approach.
I did feel like Hoffman went a little off topic towards the last section of the book - there was a section on being organised with your schoolwork/work-work, and that to me didn't need to be there. It's a book about cleaning, not other kinds of work. What I was hoping for in that section was suggestions on how to make time for cleaning/tidying when you have a hectic work or school schedule, but it didn't exactly pan out like that. But to be honest, it's a small gripe, and overall I thought the book was an excellent resource to return to time and time again. I know if I ever move home in the future (which I most likely will at some point), this book with its moving tips section is going to really come in handy.
This is an absolutely fabulous little resource for anyone that wants to essentially get their shit together when it comes to their home. Simple, to the point, but incredibly inclusive and with a lot of practical tips, this is really what I wanted that wasn't delivered by The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. It's all about the realness, yo.
What I liked about this particular book was that Hoffman includes tips for everyone - parents, people with chronic illness, lazy people, those battling mental illness... everyone. I don't think I've ever seen one of these kinds of tidying manuals that actually recognises that some people have real problems/issues in their life that might prevent them from making their home into a Pinterest-perfect oasis.
Hoffman not only introduces her 20:10 rule, which I have already started implementing here and there (and love - I mean who doesn't like to take enforced breaks when cleaning?), but she also gives you practical tips on how to clean (because some of us just aren't in the know), checklists for daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal tasks you can do, and little quick tips here and there for random quick fixes. The emphasis is on not getting it perfect, and not doing everything at once in a marathon cleaning session, but just doing something. Anything really. And I love that approach.
I did feel like Hoffman went a little off topic towards the last section of the book - there was a section on being organised with your schoolwork/work-work, and that to me didn't need to be there. It's a book about cleaning, not other kinds of work. What I was hoping for in that section was suggestions on how to make time for cleaning/tidying when you have a hectic work or school schedule, but it didn't exactly pan out like that. But to be honest, it's a small gripe, and overall I thought the book was an excellent resource to return to time and time again. I know if I ever move home in the future (which I most likely will at some point), this book with its moving tips section is going to really come in handy.
January 3, 2017
I received an advance copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm an American woman in the 21st century, so I've spent my time ogling the sunny spreads in Real Simple, I've tried to Kondo my closet, and I've been immersed in a society that tells me that I am the one who is better at cleaning and men are simply lovable, hapless dolts who might choke on the toilet brush if I ask them to clean something.
Let's be real, that's all garbage. And UfYH knows it and calls it out. My home isn't perfect and neither is my life, but I know that a small cleaning effort repeated over and over again can make a difference. UfYH calls out excuses vs reasons, the garbage that is gender roles in cleaning, and the simple fact that cleaning sucks. It's a circular task, it's never done. But if you do it and do it again, you'll make progress, because "you're better than your mess". I don't highlight when I read on a Kindle, but I think I highlighted over 20 passages in this that stood out to me. UfYH tackles situations that aren't addressed by Kondo or Real Simple, like dealing with mental or physical illness and how it affects cleaning, or the art of dealing with roommates or dorm rooms or living in your parents' house and how power dynamics can mess with it. There's discussion of hoarding and its affects on the children of hoarders. There's swearing and acknowledgement of the emotional effect of messes on our lives. I loved this enough that I'll end up buying a hardcover copy for myself and I'll be recommending it to my patrons when it's available.
(Note: I've used the UfYH website and app for years, but this is all of that condensed into an easy to read, no bullshit book.)
I'm an American woman in the 21st century, so I've spent my time ogling the sunny spreads in Real Simple, I've tried to Kondo my closet, and I've been immersed in a society that tells me that I am the one who is better at cleaning and men are simply lovable, hapless dolts who might choke on the toilet brush if I ask them to clean something.
Let's be real, that's all garbage. And UfYH knows it and calls it out. My home isn't perfect and neither is my life, but I know that a small cleaning effort repeated over and over again can make a difference. UfYH calls out excuses vs reasons, the garbage that is gender roles in cleaning, and the simple fact that cleaning sucks. It's a circular task, it's never done. But if you do it and do it again, you'll make progress, because "you're better than your mess". I don't highlight when I read on a Kindle, but I think I highlighted over 20 passages in this that stood out to me. UfYH tackles situations that aren't addressed by Kondo or Real Simple, like dealing with mental or physical illness and how it affects cleaning, or the art of dealing with roommates or dorm rooms or living in your parents' house and how power dynamics can mess with it. There's discussion of hoarding and its affects on the children of hoarders. There's swearing and acknowledgement of the emotional effect of messes on our lives. I loved this enough that I'll end up buying a hardcover copy for myself and I'll be recommending it to my patrons when it's available.
(Note: I've used the UfYH website and app for years, but this is all of that condensed into an easy to read, no bullshit book.)
March 23, 2017
One can always tell when a blogger gets a book deal. They usually have just a few points to make and become long-winded to stretch their points into a book. That being said, this is cool information that will be especially helpful to people with disabilities (it had never dawned on me how difficult house cleaning might be for those who are ill or disabled, and this is a lighthearted way to address the situation), but this could have been condensed to a pamphlet, or stayed a blog.
January 25, 2019
This lady had about 3 points to make. It should have been a 5 page book. Instead it's a 225 page book that you can just read by looking for what is written in bold print. Basically this - tidy as you go. Clean for 20 mins and take a 10 min break. There - I just saved you $15 on the book.
February 6, 2020
I've been meaning to read this for ages, and since I bought the new Cleaning Sucks journal earlier this month, it felt like time to finally pick this up! I had read snippets on the UfYH website before (enough to know I liked Hoffman's style), but hadn't really sat down to tackle this one cover to cover, and I'm glad I did. While the online resources do offer a lot of great material (for free!), if you can swing a copy of the full text, I recommend pairing them together.
Hoffman has a way of putting things that really makes sense, all while reminding us to be kind to ourselves, to respect the difference between "excuses" and "reasons" (excuses are why you don't want to do something, reasons are why you genuinely can't), and to focus on any level of progress, not just perfectionism. I've never read a self-help book about cleaning and organization that so thoroughly considers the limitations people might have, from physical ailments to mental illnesses to childhood traumas and more. As someone who has ADHD, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain all jumbled together, I can't count how many self-help books have made me feel totally judged or overlooked, and that's not the case here.
She also caters her insights to people who live with others, whether it's a spouse or child, parents, roommates, etc. — thankfully that's not something I have to deal with since my spouse is just as interested in getting our home in order as I am, but I know a lot of people will benefit from these sections!
I think Unfuck Your Habitat is altogether a really solid read for anyone who needs a little help and motivation in getting their surroundings in order, especially if you're feeling overwhelmed or fearing the risk of failure. I highlighted so much in this book and could easily see myself rereading it whenever I need a little kick in the butt or to be reminded that I'm not alone and I can do this.
Hoffman has a way of putting things that really makes sense, all while reminding us to be kind to ourselves, to respect the difference between "excuses" and "reasons" (excuses are why you don't want to do something, reasons are why you genuinely can't), and to focus on any level of progress, not just perfectionism. I've never read a self-help book about cleaning and organization that so thoroughly considers the limitations people might have, from physical ailments to mental illnesses to childhood traumas and more. As someone who has ADHD, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain all jumbled together, I can't count how many self-help books have made me feel totally judged or overlooked, and that's not the case here.
She also caters her insights to people who live with others, whether it's a spouse or child, parents, roommates, etc. — thankfully that's not something I have to deal with since my spouse is just as interested in getting our home in order as I am, but I know a lot of people will benefit from these sections!
I think Unfuck Your Habitat is altogether a really solid read for anyone who needs a little help and motivation in getting their surroundings in order, especially if you're feeling overwhelmed or fearing the risk of failure. I highlighted so much in this book and could easily see myself rereading it whenever I need a little kick in the butt or to be reminded that I'm not alone and I can do this.
August 14, 2018
A seriously great read that I will refer back to constantly. Great tools for cleaning different rooms in your house, as well as daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal checklists to use. It’s formatted really well so that you can easily skip to those areas that are the most pertinent to you. For example, I don’t live in a dorm or with roommates so I was able to skip the sections about living in small spaces and how to co-exist with roommates or parents. Must read for anyone that is looking for something different to help them get organized and get their house clean in a realistic fashion. Puts the kibosh on things like perfectionism and marathon cleaning. I felt like these sections were speaking to me directly. This is the book that all real people need. It’s not for people that think the glossy pictures in the magazines are how real people live; it’s for those of us that can’t seem to ever keep our kitchen table cleared off, furniture dusted, or the floors vacuumed. It’s for every person that has had to hastily throw stuff into a closet or a closed room when you find out guests are coming over. This book helped me feel like less of a failure, or more like every other human in the world who has more to do than just clean their house.
I’d recommend this book to absolutely everyone. Whether you rent, live in your parents basement, live with roommates, or only have your spouse to help out; this is the book for you.
I won this book on a GR giveaway and have provided a review of my own accord.
I’d recommend this book to absolutely everyone. Whether you rent, live in your parents basement, live with roommates, or only have your spouse to help out; this is the book for you.
I won this book on a GR giveaway and have provided a review of my own accord.
August 22, 2016
This little charmer is the perfect book for young adults who have no idea how to clean anything! The author also deals with people who aren't lazy about cleaning, but have real issues with it. Anyone with physical or mental disabilities will appreciate the respect this author grants them with honest and sincere suggestions. I first thought this was too light-weight to be of any help and most of the topics had been dealt with a million times. The practical advice and the humorous style will help anyone clean for twenty minutes. The tips at the end of the book are priceless. Add this one to your list!
Thank you once again, Netgalley.
I was arguing with myself whether to rate this a 3 or 4. The author's practicality and humor won me over so I'm going with 4 bright, shinny, clean stars!
Thank you once again, Netgalley.
I was arguing with myself whether to rate this a 3 or 4. The author's practicality and humor won me over so I'm going with 4 bright, shinny, clean stars!
December 22, 2016
Copy received through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review
Confession time: My room is a mess. It's not something I'm proud of, but it's the truth.
I needed this book in my life, and I am positively surprised by it. I loved the tone Mrs. Hoffman uses, so relaxed and warm. The tips she offers are great, and her understanding of how different groups of people look at cleaning amazed me (as a person who has mental illness, I was happy to see that the issue I have with this chore isn't abnormal).
I think that all people who have trouble cleaning and organizing need this book. It can help anyone.
Confession time: My room is a mess. It's not something I'm proud of, but it's the truth.
I needed this book in my life, and I am positively surprised by it. I loved the tone Mrs. Hoffman uses, so relaxed and warm. The tips she offers are great, and her understanding of how different groups of people look at cleaning amazed me (as a person who has mental illness, I was happy to see that the issue I have with this chore isn't abnormal).
I think that all people who have trouble cleaning and organizing need this book. It can help anyone.
February 6, 2017
I've been a fan of this organizational system for years; the Tumblr changed the entire way I deal with mess. I'm still not perfect - I struggle with making my bed every day. But through my depression and stress and dislike of cleaning, my house is always a few 20/10s away from being presentable. The idea of breaking things down to manageable tasks is so simple, but it works. I like that the book addresses gender issues, problems with living with other people, and disabilities. A short, but useful book, for sure.
March 21, 2019
Wasn't expecting it to be this good, usually books like this tend to have only 1 idea that's repeated over the whole book with filler paragraphs like anecdotes and people's experience with it, and a lot of repetitive exercises which are very boring.. this book was different, it's very informative, and it did motivate me to clean up my room (or as mom calls it: pigsty 🌚) it did change my approach to cleaning, and it had lots of helpful tips.
Also the way it's written is really enjoyable, it was fun listening to. I'm planning to listen to other books from the unfuck series
Also the way it's written is really enjoyable, it was fun listening to. I'm planning to listen to other books from the unfuck series
September 7, 2016
(I got a copy through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)
Not exactly what I expected, but a definitely interesting book full of advice about how to keep your place clean (or how to take it from a "very messy" level to a "manageable" one).
I definitely appreciated the author's light tone, and the fact that she acknowledges how different we all are, and therefore how different our circumstances as well. Looking at some "household" blogs and magazines, it's so true that we're shown perfect homes, without any clutter... yet when you have a full-time job, and children to boot... or when you're disabled and cannot move like you'd like to... all these "perfect places" are more guilt-inducing than anything else. And there are so many other reasons why house chores aren't or can't be a priority for so many people. It's difficult to care about your place all day long when you have to study for your exams, or are suffering from chronic pain—but this doesn't make you less of a person.
This book helps by listing various tips and tricks, along with advice for basically everybody involved, whether that person is the one in need of decluttering their place, or the one who's been asked for help. It tells you how it's totally OK not to go on cleaning marathons, which are exhausting and can even leave you kind of disgusted (and not feeling like doing anything for some time, leading to more mess and to another marathon later). Besides, it also provides examples of what you can use to clean, ideas to start organising short cleaning sessions (start from the top, wash the floor last...)... Basically, if you don't know where to start, it takes you by the hand.
As far as I'm concerned, though, I feel that the book may be more helpful to someone who really has to deal with a lot of mess, and not so helpful to someone who's on the fence, a bit like me: I dislike housework, I'm lazy as hell, but my laziness also makes me instinctively clean after myself in order to avoid generating a lot of mess... so basically I was already applying a lot of the principles here, which fall into the realm of "common sense" for me. Well, I guess it's still good to feel validated, so it's not such a downside! Possibly I was just expecting something else, something that'd be more directly useful to me specifically?
Conclusion: Depending on how badly you're struggling with keeping your place OK, this book can provide a pretty good starting point. Perfect homes are overrated anyway. 3.5 stars.
Not exactly what I expected, but a definitely interesting book full of advice about how to keep your place clean (or how to take it from a "very messy" level to a "manageable" one).
I definitely appreciated the author's light tone, and the fact that she acknowledges how different we all are, and therefore how different our circumstances as well. Looking at some "household" blogs and magazines, it's so true that we're shown perfect homes, without any clutter... yet when you have a full-time job, and children to boot... or when you're disabled and cannot move like you'd like to... all these "perfect places" are more guilt-inducing than anything else. And there are so many other reasons why house chores aren't or can't be a priority for so many people. It's difficult to care about your place all day long when you have to study for your exams, or are suffering from chronic pain—but this doesn't make you less of a person.
This book helps by listing various tips and tricks, along with advice for basically everybody involved, whether that person is the one in need of decluttering their place, or the one who's been asked for help. It tells you how it's totally OK not to go on cleaning marathons, which are exhausting and can even leave you kind of disgusted (and not feeling like doing anything for some time, leading to more mess and to another marathon later). Besides, it also provides examples of what you can use to clean, ideas to start organising short cleaning sessions (start from the top, wash the floor last...)... Basically, if you don't know where to start, it takes you by the hand.
As far as I'm concerned, though, I feel that the book may be more helpful to someone who really has to deal with a lot of mess, and not so helpful to someone who's on the fence, a bit like me: I dislike housework, I'm lazy as hell, but my laziness also makes me instinctively clean after myself in order to avoid generating a lot of mess... so basically I was already applying a lot of the principles here, which fall into the realm of "common sense" for me. Well, I guess it's still good to feel validated, so it's not such a downside! Possibly I was just expecting something else, something that'd be more directly useful to me specifically?
Conclusion: Depending on how badly you're struggling with keeping your place OK, this book can provide a pretty good starting point. Perfect homes are overrated anyway. 3.5 stars.
June 6, 2018
Bon. Ik las dus een boek over opruimen en huishouden. Volgens mij gaan er maar weinig mensen, laat staan boeken er in slagen om mij enthousiast te krijgen over die twee zaken. Maar kijk. Het kan. Dit is een heerlijk boek waarin lekker gevloekt wordt en mensen als mensen gezien worden, niet als robots die een planning maken en zich er aan houden. Er wordt rekening gehouden met de mentale staat van de mensch, dat die niet altijd honderd procent in orde en dat je daardoor soms niet de energie hebt om op te ruimen of je huis een beetje te onderhouden. Dat was een verademing, vond ik.
Er wordt niet verwacht dat je je huishouden perfect runt, maar er worden concrete tips gegevens waardoor je het beter kan doen. Tips die zo logisch klinken als het maar kan zijn, maar die toch van pas komen.
Soit. Ik heb zin gekregen om beter mijn best te doen om mijn huishouden en rommel een beetje te onderhouden. Nooit gedacht dat het zover zou komen.
Er wordt niet verwacht dat je je huishouden perfect runt, maar er worden concrete tips gegevens waardoor je het beter kan doen. Tips die zo logisch klinken als het maar kan zijn, maar die toch van pas komen.
Soit. Ik heb zin gekregen om beter mijn best te doen om mijn huishouden en rommel een beetje te onderhouden. Nooit gedacht dat het zover zou komen.
October 13, 2019
while tending toward repetitiveness in some areas, this book was overall a practical and affirmative beginner's guide to keeping whatever space you inhabit workably clean and tidy. none of it is especially novel (the 20/10s are very reminiscent of study habits like the pomodoro method) except for the author's heartfelt acknowledgment that most common advice for housekeeping is biased heavily toward neurotypical, middle class, able-bodied people. not everyone has the income, time, or ability to clean as "common sense" advice would have it.
as an aside, i tried reading 'the life-changing magic of tidying up' by marie kondo a few months back and just...couldn't do it. i don't have it in me to do a massive decluttering all at once (and this is coming from someone who has moved enough times in the past few years that their collection of stuff is pared down pretty heavily). this book is much more practical for me considering mental illness and my lack of expansive income which would allow for bourgeois minimalism.
3.5 stars rounded up.
as an aside, i tried reading 'the life-changing magic of tidying up' by marie kondo a few months back and just...couldn't do it. i don't have it in me to do a massive decluttering all at once (and this is coming from someone who has moved enough times in the past few years that their collection of stuff is pared down pretty heavily). this book is much more practical for me considering mental illness and my lack of expansive income which would allow for bourgeois minimalism.
3.5 stars rounded up.
February 9, 2017
If you are looking for motivation to get up and get cleaning and organizing your environment, then this book might provide you with the encouragement that you are looking for. While, there are some great suggestions and a good foundation with the 20/10 system that Rachel Hoffman has developed, this book seems to spend more time talking than actual doing. I was hoping that there would be more concrete ideas and actual time saving techniques to improve upon my own housekeeping endeavours and I just came away from this one wondering what I had achieved in reading it.
As you can gather from the Goodreads synopsis, this book is not a traditional approach to housekeeping. There are ideas for everyone including students and those with disabilities. I applaud Hoffman for such an inclusive book and if you are struggling with ideas on how to get up and get motivated, then I suggest that you do give this book a try. Most of the suggestions contained in this one are motivational and may assist those who are living in a situation that is highly disorganized and not cleanly.
While there are attempts to help push those who need to clean their environments to get up and start cleaning, I found that there were very few ideas on how to actually clean and organize in this book. The method of cleaning and taking small breaks (20/10 system) is one that is useful, but I would have preferred a focus on what to actually do in those 20 minutes. Yes, there are a couple of ideas, such as decluttering a work surface, but the book just seemed to go around in circles telling readers to get up and get cleaning.
Admittedly, towards the end of this book there are a couple of lists to use while cleaning and a few ideas on how to generally clean if you have never done so before. However, there is not one image or much else beyond this. So, if you are after a book that tells you how to clean, this one is not for you. The author does mention that those glossy home organization books and magazines provide stress to those of us who cannot live up to these standards, but in my opinion, I think a picture sometimes speaks louder than words in a book that contains techniques and ideas.
Unf*ck Your Habitat is book that is a very motivational read for anyone struggling to live in a clean environment. If you already have the desire and are looking for concrete examples of how and what to do to clean your space, this book may provide you with a couple of ideas, but I would not say it is a comprehensive book on how to clean.
As you can gather from the Goodreads synopsis, this book is not a traditional approach to housekeeping. There are ideas for everyone including students and those with disabilities. I applaud Hoffman for such an inclusive book and if you are struggling with ideas on how to get up and get motivated, then I suggest that you do give this book a try. Most of the suggestions contained in this one are motivational and may assist those who are living in a situation that is highly disorganized and not cleanly.
While there are attempts to help push those who need to clean their environments to get up and start cleaning, I found that there were very few ideas on how to actually clean and organize in this book. The method of cleaning and taking small breaks (20/10 system) is one that is useful, but I would have preferred a focus on what to actually do in those 20 minutes. Yes, there are a couple of ideas, such as decluttering a work surface, but the book just seemed to go around in circles telling readers to get up and get cleaning.
Admittedly, towards the end of this book there are a couple of lists to use while cleaning and a few ideas on how to generally clean if you have never done so before. However, there is not one image or much else beyond this. So, if you are after a book that tells you how to clean, this one is not for you. The author does mention that those glossy home organization books and magazines provide stress to those of us who cannot live up to these standards, but in my opinion, I think a picture sometimes speaks louder than words in a book that contains techniques and ideas.
Unf*ck Your Habitat is book that is a very motivational read for anyone struggling to live in a clean environment. If you already have the desire and are looking for concrete examples of how and what to do to clean your space, this book may provide you with a couple of ideas, but I would not say it is a comprehensive book on how to clean.
June 22, 2018
This is by far the best of the self-help clean-your-house books I’ve read. I cried, y’all.
While the author’s solution to keeping house it primarily to break things down into manageable tasks (20 minutes cleaning, 10 minutes resting), it is the mental resets that I value so much from this book.
She says: DON’T MARATHON CLEAN!! While it produces results, you feel like shit while you do it and that’s bad. It makes you feel negatively about something that’s already not fun. Also, it doesn’t fix the way you clean so you marathon clean every few weeks and your house is messy in-between. I always marathon clean and can attest that this is true. I feel awful afterwards because I’ve yelled at my kids and my husband and I cry and I’m so frustrated.
She says: CHANGE YOUR OUTLOOK!! It’s not about cleaning your house and then your house is clean. Cleaning is forever. You never stop. There’s no finish line. The trick is to stay one step ahead of the mess. Then your house looks presentable. You guys. You guys. This helped me so much. She encourages present-you to clean as you go for a less stressed future-you and it’s so obvious but at the same time so helpful.
She says: YOU CAN’T CHANGE OTHER PEOPLE This is the part that made me cry. You can’t force other people to be on board with cleaning. You have to focus on you and do what you can. Yelling, getting frustrated, and being passive aggressive doesn’t get anyone on board with you. In fact, it does the opposite. They see how crazy you are getting and they want to flee to Grandma’s house and let you meltdown in peace. Your kids see cleaning as a scary negative un-fun thing and of course they don’t want to clean.
So after I read this book, I’ve managed to make my bed every morning. The living room is neater and I’ve been better about doing the dishes. In fact, the other day when I was doing dishes, I heard something behind me and my cleaning-phobic husband was sweeping the floor. You guys. Seriously. I love this book.
While the author’s solution to keeping house it primarily to break things down into manageable tasks (20 minutes cleaning, 10 minutes resting), it is the mental resets that I value so much from this book.
She says: DON’T MARATHON CLEAN!! While it produces results, you feel like shit while you do it and that’s bad. It makes you feel negatively about something that’s already not fun. Also, it doesn’t fix the way you clean so you marathon clean every few weeks and your house is messy in-between. I always marathon clean and can attest that this is true. I feel awful afterwards because I’ve yelled at my kids and my husband and I cry and I’m so frustrated.
She says: CHANGE YOUR OUTLOOK!! It’s not about cleaning your house and then your house is clean. Cleaning is forever. You never stop. There’s no finish line. The trick is to stay one step ahead of the mess. Then your house looks presentable. You guys. You guys. This helped me so much. She encourages present-you to clean as you go for a less stressed future-you and it’s so obvious but at the same time so helpful.
She says: YOU CAN’T CHANGE OTHER PEOPLE This is the part that made me cry. You can’t force other people to be on board with cleaning. You have to focus on you and do what you can. Yelling, getting frustrated, and being passive aggressive doesn’t get anyone on board with you. In fact, it does the opposite. They see how crazy you are getting and they want to flee to Grandma’s house and let you meltdown in peace. Your kids see cleaning as a scary negative un-fun thing and of course they don’t want to clean.
So after I read this book, I’ve managed to make my bed every morning. The living room is neater and I’ve been better about doing the dishes. In fact, the other day when I was doing dishes, I heard something behind me and my cleaning-phobic husband was sweeping the floor. You guys. Seriously. I love this book.
March 22, 2017
Rachel Hoffman comes across quite peppy throughout the book, the writing and overall ‘atmosphere’ is relaxed in her writing. There is loads of great cleaning advice and how to go about getting help or devise a strategy when it comes to tackling the task for different groups of people.
There is also a lot of reassurance that, no, your home doesn’t have to look like something we come across in magazines and not to feel guilty when you just can’t/don’t want to clean. We’re all human, after all! There is a step by step guidance for people who have never had to clean in their lives before- how to start, top to bottom, what to use, etc etc… so essentially, it is a helpful book, no doubt about that.
There is also a lot of reassurance that, no, your home doesn’t have to look like something we come across in magazines and not to feel guilty when you just can’t/don’t want to clean. We’re all human, after all! There is a step by step guidance for people who have never had to clean in their lives before- how to start, top to bottom, what to use, etc etc… so essentially, it is a helpful book, no doubt about that.
February 6, 2017
If you're familiar with Hoffman's blog and other writing, there won't be anything terribly new here, but it's very handy to have it all in one place. Hoffman is pretty much the only writer on cleaning/decluttering who I can stand to read, and the only one whose techniques have been even halfway effective for me. There were times when I wished this book was a little longer; it would be great to have something about how to apply UFYH principles to something like cleaning out a spare room that's been a dumping ground for too long, or a chapter on unfucking your lawn and outdoor areas. But I still highly recommend this.
December 19, 2016
Review originally posted on my blog: https://rathertoofondofbooks.com/2016...
I simply had to request this book when I saw the title as this is exactly what I needed to know in that moment – how to unf*ck my habitat! I am a fan of decluttering books – I can’t resist them (which I do realise is some kind of irony that I’m collecting books about how to stop cluttering up my house)!
My mum wasn’t a hoarder but she did find it difficult to part with things that had any kind of sentimental value and as a result I grew up with the same mindset. The amount of times I’ve not being able to get rid of something I really don’t like purely because I love the person who gave it to me is ridiculous. I need to streamline my house though – I’m now permanently disabled and housework is physically difficult for me without adding in a load of ornaments and trinkets etc.
This book is one of the best decluttering books I’ve read because it’s the only one I’ve read that acknowledges that life is busy and we don’t all have the time or energy to declutter our houses in one go. Rachel Hoffman advocates a 20/10 approach – do twenty minutes of decluttering and then have a sit down for ten minutes to take stock of things. You can do as many of these as you want in a day but she stresses that the sit down is as important as the decluttering. I had a go at this as I was reading the book and it’s a revelation how much you can get done in twenty minutes when you’re forced to focus! I’ve now adapted this into daily life and I do all the chores, as well as the decluttering, in twenty minute bursts followed by a rest.
Hoffman also includes sections for if you are ill/disabled, if you have a very busy life, if you live with someone who has a different attitude to tidying up to you, or if you live in a very small space (including if you live in one room of your parents’ home). There are short tasks given throughout the book along with longer chapters on exploring why you have clutter and how to work through having a more streamlined home.
This is a quick read but the lessons in it have been invaluable to me and genuinely have led me to re-evaluate my approach to keeping my home clutter-free. I’d recommend it to anyone who is struggling with clutter because I’m sure that everyone will find something in this book that helps them make a start.
I received a copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.
Unf*ck Your Habitat is due to be published on 29th December in the UK and can be pre-ordered now.
I simply had to request this book when I saw the title as this is exactly what I needed to know in that moment – how to unf*ck my habitat! I am a fan of decluttering books – I can’t resist them (which I do realise is some kind of irony that I’m collecting books about how to stop cluttering up my house)!
My mum wasn’t a hoarder but she did find it difficult to part with things that had any kind of sentimental value and as a result I grew up with the same mindset. The amount of times I’ve not being able to get rid of something I really don’t like purely because I love the person who gave it to me is ridiculous. I need to streamline my house though – I’m now permanently disabled and housework is physically difficult for me without adding in a load of ornaments and trinkets etc.
This book is one of the best decluttering books I’ve read because it’s the only one I’ve read that acknowledges that life is busy and we don’t all have the time or energy to declutter our houses in one go. Rachel Hoffman advocates a 20/10 approach – do twenty minutes of decluttering and then have a sit down for ten minutes to take stock of things. You can do as many of these as you want in a day but she stresses that the sit down is as important as the decluttering. I had a go at this as I was reading the book and it’s a revelation how much you can get done in twenty minutes when you’re forced to focus! I’ve now adapted this into daily life and I do all the chores, as well as the decluttering, in twenty minute bursts followed by a rest.
Hoffman also includes sections for if you are ill/disabled, if you have a very busy life, if you live with someone who has a different attitude to tidying up to you, or if you live in a very small space (including if you live in one room of your parents’ home). There are short tasks given throughout the book along with longer chapters on exploring why you have clutter and how to work through having a more streamlined home.
This is a quick read but the lessons in it have been invaluable to me and genuinely have led me to re-evaluate my approach to keeping my home clutter-free. I’d recommend it to anyone who is struggling with clutter because I’m sure that everyone will find something in this book that helps them make a start.
I received a copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.
Unf*ck Your Habitat is due to be published on 29th December in the UK and can be pre-ordered now.
February 4, 2017
Unf*ck Your Habitat is a self-help book for cleaning - it's probably primarily aimed at young adults and those leaving home for the first time. Surprisingly, for a book about cleaning, I actually quite enjoyed reading Unf*ck Your Habitat and couldn't put it down!
Personally, I think Unf*ck Your Habitat is the perfect book for those learning to keep a house. It's full of so many tips to help clean and I particularly liked the 20:10 idea, as well as the tips for moving house. I also thought the checklists at the back were very handy and they mean that nothing is overlooked.
I loved that Unf*ck Your Habitat acknowledges that your home will never be a pristine 24/7 and that we don't live in show homes. I mean I think I'm fairly tidy, but life happens and things come up so you can't be chained to the kitchen sink. I also loved that Unf*ck Your Habitat discusses specific issues, such as physical and mental health and even hoarding. These can most definitely hinder someone's ability to clean.
I found Unf*ck Your Habitat to be such a unique self-help book for cleaning (not that I've read many books about cleaning). But the humorous and colloquial language used by Hoffman makes it entertaining and I for one wanted to get up and start cleaning. It's such an easy to relate to book and, dare-I-say-it, it makes the idea of cleaning fun.
I do, however, wish there were slightly more detailed and specific tips throughout Unf*ck Your Habitat. I found that the book spoke in length about a handful of tips really - particularly reiterating the 20:10 idea a lot. I also think the book could have included a few photos or diagrams as examples to reiterate a few points, particularly during the discussions about the benefits of taking before and after pictures.
Unf*ck Your Habitat is a very good read, full of get-up-and-go. I would recommend Unf*ck Your Habitat to young adults and those moving away from home. I think even busy professionals may pick up a few tips too. It's a great starter for cleaning anyway, and I think a lot of people may benefit from this book.
I received a copy of Unf*ck Your Habitat via Netgalley.
This review and many more can be found at My Expanding Bookshelf.
Personally, I think Unf*ck Your Habitat is the perfect book for those learning to keep a house. It's full of so many tips to help clean and I particularly liked the 20:10 idea, as well as the tips for moving house. I also thought the checklists at the back were very handy and they mean that nothing is overlooked.
I loved that Unf*ck Your Habitat acknowledges that your home will never be a pristine 24/7 and that we don't live in show homes. I mean I think I'm fairly tidy, but life happens and things come up so you can't be chained to the kitchen sink. I also loved that Unf*ck Your Habitat discusses specific issues, such as physical and mental health and even hoarding. These can most definitely hinder someone's ability to clean.
I found Unf*ck Your Habitat to be such a unique self-help book for cleaning (not that I've read many books about cleaning). But the humorous and colloquial language used by Hoffman makes it entertaining and I for one wanted to get up and start cleaning. It's such an easy to relate to book and, dare-I-say-it, it makes the idea of cleaning fun.
I do, however, wish there were slightly more detailed and specific tips throughout Unf*ck Your Habitat. I found that the book spoke in length about a handful of tips really - particularly reiterating the 20:10 idea a lot. I also think the book could have included a few photos or diagrams as examples to reiterate a few points, particularly during the discussions about the benefits of taking before and after pictures.
Unf*ck Your Habitat is a very good read, full of get-up-and-go. I would recommend Unf*ck Your Habitat to young adults and those moving away from home. I think even busy professionals may pick up a few tips too. It's a great starter for cleaning anyway, and I think a lot of people may benefit from this book.
I received a copy of Unf*ck Your Habitat via Netgalley.
This review and many more can be found at My Expanding Bookshelf.
February 5, 2017
I have always seen myself as a messy person. I have a lot of shame tangled up in that, thanks to living most of my adult life in small spaces (dorm rooms, single room in someone else's home, etc) with depression and a physical disability that went undiagnosed for years. There are days when I can barely get out of bed, let alone do a full sink of dishes, and I have spent a lot of time internalizing the feeling that I am lazy or doing things wrong. Shame is a paralyzing creature when it comes to our living spaces and the judgment that pervades them.
This book not only acknowledges physical/mental illness and the shame most of us feel about our mess, but also provides solutions and encouragement. I tried The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and found it almost completely inaccessible; also read Martha Stewart's Housekeeping Handbook, which has some great cleaning/organizational basics, but assumes that everyone reading it is a spry housewife with an enormous home that they own and every hour of the day to spare. I'm a disabled 20-something with limited energy and limited space--I rent a 700 sqft apartment in Los Angeles, and previously had all of my belongings in one small bedroom in a condo that belonged to someone else (so the common areas were shared space of a sort, but it wasn't my home, so my stuff couldn't really live in them). Trying to tackle organization and cleaning when you have your entire life crammed into a shoebox and can't handle day-long marathon sessions (or even hour-long sessions, most days) is virtually impossible.
I went into this book expecting to be left out of the conversation again, so I was pleasantly surprised and relieved to find that that was not the case. While I wish there were more solutions for disabled folks, that topic could probably take up a whole other book; I did appreciate that asking for help is addressed, as well as the difficulty most of us have with doing just that. I feel seen and heard and invigorated to tackle small things when I can and to make slow changes and progress. Will absolutely recommend this to anyone, especially my fellow spoonies.
This book not only acknowledges physical/mental illness and the shame most of us feel about our mess, but also provides solutions and encouragement. I tried The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and found it almost completely inaccessible; also read Martha Stewart's Housekeeping Handbook, which has some great cleaning/organizational basics, but assumes that everyone reading it is a spry housewife with an enormous home that they own and every hour of the day to spare. I'm a disabled 20-something with limited energy and limited space--I rent a 700 sqft apartment in Los Angeles, and previously had all of my belongings in one small bedroom in a condo that belonged to someone else (so the common areas were shared space of a sort, but it wasn't my home, so my stuff couldn't really live in them). Trying to tackle organization and cleaning when you have your entire life crammed into a shoebox and can't handle day-long marathon sessions (or even hour-long sessions, most days) is virtually impossible.
I went into this book expecting to be left out of the conversation again, so I was pleasantly surprised and relieved to find that that was not the case. While I wish there were more solutions for disabled folks, that topic could probably take up a whole other book; I did appreciate that asking for help is addressed, as well as the difficulty most of us have with doing just that. I feel seen and heard and invigorated to tackle small things when I can and to make slow changes and progress. Will absolutely recommend this to anyone, especially my fellow spoonies.
May 9, 2017
Rachel Hoffman seems to know, throughout this book, that she neither has new information or advice to add to the existing army of clean-up advice books nor enough material (or interest) to fill her own book. The motives are therefore plainly to meet a market demand generated by her to-do list app/blog with a twist. The twist being the use of humorously frank language.
I'm a sometime reader on the subject, though, and a reader of habit-formation material as well. With a field of works to compare it with, Unfuck Your Habitat feels like what I was afraid it could be: mediocre offering with some fucks thrown in.
I'm a sometime reader on the subject, though, and a reader of habit-formation material as well. With a field of works to compare it with, Unfuck Your Habitat feels like what I was afraid it could be: mediocre offering with some fucks thrown in.
October 20, 2017
I'm a bit disappointed with this; I wasn't really expecting any new ideas, but it all feels a bit simplified and dumbed-down and cheerleader-y. Probably a good read for those who are living away from their parents' home for the first time, or those who are just clueless about sorting/tidying/organisation, but I was hoping...well, I'm not sure what I was hoping for - maybe a magic wand! - but I didn't find it. So 2* for me, with an extra star because I can see how it would be useful for those who fall more firmly within its target audience.
June 24, 2020
I figured that this would be similar to other organizational books that I seem to read every couple months. I maintain this somewhat regular diet of such books in the hopes that 1) I get some new ideas, 2) I get some reminders of what I already know, and 3) I get some motivation to clean and organize and reduce my clutter. This was different in that instead of focusing on organizing clutter, it was more focused on relationships and the impact of others on where and how one lives. There are also some other sections about habit forming, cleaning, and digital life, really a hit or miss mix of topics. I wasn’t expecting the focus on relationships, and I didn’t get much out of this topic. The other topics were covered in short chapters, and I didn’t get much out of these either. There were some specific recommendations here, for instance how to organize papers in your desk, there were lots missing. This tended to the higher level, and much more aimed to the mental aspects. While not finding any useful new ideas, I did appreciate the different topics discussed in relation to “rules for living”, and I’m feeling a bit of motivation – so for that aspect it worked.
This is another of the many recent books that contain 4-letter words in the title, and that are written with a regular sprinkling of cussing throughout. While cussing in print was novel and lent an edgy feel a few years back, this practice seems very tired now. In particular, this book felt like the author had to exert effort to find places to put cussing into the text, and it results in feeling like a book by a marketer (or even a committee of marketers) meant to manipulate the reader into feeling that this was current and young. Instead it feels more shallow, and given that this is a short book to start with, that’s a very bad thing. (I’m sounding like my parents now.) At least they didn’t try to add Zombies.
I listened to the audio version of this book. This was fine for my purposes of hoping to glean some new ideas and to build some motivation. But as I check the "Look Inside" at Amazon for this book, it seems like there are more details than I remembered from listening. It looks like you may get a different take on the book if reading it given the topics seem to be better organized in print. (In other words, there are lists and subheaders and checklists that don't work as well in audio.)
This is another of the many recent books that contain 4-letter words in the title, and that are written with a regular sprinkling of cussing throughout. While cussing in print was novel and lent an edgy feel a few years back, this practice seems very tired now. In particular, this book felt like the author had to exert effort to find places to put cussing into the text, and it results in feeling like a book by a marketer (or even a committee of marketers) meant to manipulate the reader into feeling that this was current and young. Instead it feels more shallow, and given that this is a short book to start with, that’s a very bad thing. (I’m sounding like my parents now.) At least they didn’t try to add Zombies.
I listened to the audio version of this book. This was fine for my purposes of hoping to glean some new ideas and to build some motivation. But as I check the "Look Inside" at Amazon for this book, it seems like there are more details than I remembered from listening. It looks like you may get a different take on the book if reading it given the topics seem to be better organized in print. (In other words, there are lists and subheaders and checklists that don't work as well in audio.)
August 17, 2023
Things I liked:
- I love how this book touches on the dark side of minimalism. I like my stuff, and things can get expensive. I'm not just going to get rid of the stuff I use because some famous person says so.
- Super inspiring and helpful.
- This book is perfect for all the people who can't use traditional cleaning advice.
Things that are useful:
- We need to let go of our perfectionism. It's okay to be okay with "just good" or "average". Cleaning a little bit everyday is better than nothing.
- Multitask when you are doing something low impact, such as watching netflix.
- PUT THINGS AWAY RATHER THAN JUST PUTTING THEM DOWN. This is such a HUGE problem I have. I just set them down on my desk, or on top of other clothes in the hopes that I will clean when I have time. Which is never. Which invariably leads to a gigantic pile of CRAP everywhere that gets very overwhelming.
- "The continued use of an item doesn't mean you never have to clean or maintain it."
- Keeping your flat surfaces clear- super important. I can't tell you how many times I look at my nightstand/desk/dresser and cringe.
- Get ready the night before. What a concept! I always ignore this, and am always running late and forgetting things. For me, this includes getting my clothes together, prepping lunch, having my purse and workbag in the same location, get vitamins out, charge the phone, set the alarm, and go to bed at a decent time (which I struggle with).
- Laundry and dishes are not done until you WASH, DRY, AND PUT THEM AWAY!
- Do the thing you dread the most first. Then you will feel so much more accomplished. Plus, you don't have to stress out about the thing.
- I love how this book touches on the dark side of minimalism. I like my stuff, and things can get expensive. I'm not just going to get rid of the stuff I use because some famous person says so.
- Super inspiring and helpful.
- This book is perfect for all the people who can't use traditional cleaning advice.
Things that are useful:
- We need to let go of our perfectionism. It's okay to be okay with "just good" or "average". Cleaning a little bit everyday is better than nothing.
- Multitask when you are doing something low impact, such as watching netflix.
- PUT THINGS AWAY RATHER THAN JUST PUTTING THEM DOWN. This is such a HUGE problem I have. I just set them down on my desk, or on top of other clothes in the hopes that I will clean when I have time. Which is never. Which invariably leads to a gigantic pile of CRAP everywhere that gets very overwhelming.
- "The continued use of an item doesn't mean you never have to clean or maintain it."
- Keeping your flat surfaces clear- super important. I can't tell you how many times I look at my nightstand/desk/dresser and cringe.
- Get ready the night before. What a concept! I always ignore this, and am always running late and forgetting things. For me, this includes getting my clothes together, prepping lunch, having my purse and workbag in the same location, get vitamins out, charge the phone, set the alarm, and go to bed at a decent time (which I struggle with).
- Laundry and dishes are not done until you WASH, DRY, AND PUT THEM AWAY!
- Do the thing you dread the most first. Then you will feel so much more accomplished. Plus, you don't have to stress out about the thing.
June 6, 2017
Short to the point and useful. It's refreshing to reading a book of this nature that acknowledges and calls out gendered expectations associated with household work/cleaning. It's also accounts for how various disabilities factor into what we can and can't do physical or mentally when it comes to dealing with our space.
The 20-10 method fits what I'm kind of already doing, but it was nice to have something more structured to try and to get validation that doing things in short bursts still equals progress. I think more people need to hear that.
The strategies are great and there are some "basic" tips for cleaning that a lot of folks (neurodivergent and/or children of hoarders) may not have learned. Their presented in a non-judgmental way.
Overall, while the book tonally seems like the standard "get off your lazy ass you pathetic slob" type of self help book, it's not. I found the blunt tone to be a relief, no hippy dippy philosophy just straight forward tips, steadies, and realistic measurements to guide you through the process. But there is empathy and understanding in this book, especially when it comes to those of use with mental health issues and other disabilities that hinder us in ways others might not even consider when writing a book of this nature.
I highly recommend this book, regardless of age, gender, or ability.
The 20-10 method fits what I'm kind of already doing, but it was nice to have something more structured to try and to get validation that doing things in short bursts still equals progress. I think more people need to hear that.
The strategies are great and there are some "basic" tips for cleaning that a lot of folks (neurodivergent and/or children of hoarders) may not have learned. Their presented in a non-judgmental way.
Overall, while the book tonally seems like the standard "get off your lazy ass you pathetic slob" type of self help book, it's not. I found the blunt tone to be a relief, no hippy dippy philosophy just straight forward tips, steadies, and realistic measurements to guide you through the process. But there is empathy and understanding in this book, especially when it comes to those of use with mental health issues and other disabilities that hinder us in ways others might not even consider when writing a book of this nature.
I highly recommend this book, regardless of age, gender, or ability.
January 3, 2017
I pre-ordered this book back in July when I first heard about it and had been eagerly looking forward to reading it. I dove into it as soon as it arrived and could not have picked a better way to start the new year. After a busy holiday season all of a sudden it's back to reality and a house full of new stuff. It can be overwhelming trying to deal with everything while trying to get back to routine and meet those New Year's resolutions. Rachel Hoffman's lively writing style will motivate you to get going, and the UfYH system is practical enough that the habits you'll build will actually be sustainable. As I read through the book I felt like I couldn't wait to start the mini-challenges interspersed throughout, and while it took me a bit longer to finish reading the book because of it, the end result was well worth it as I ended up with a much cleaner house without feeling like I'd done any work. No matter what your personal cleanliness level is there is much to be gained from this book - from how to navigate challenging conversations with partners, children, or roommates, to making sure you can keep up a positive living space even when you're in poor health, to emergency cleaning when you've got a last minute visitor. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
March 11, 2017
Ok, so aside from the concept of a cleaning(or working) Tabata (20/10 work rest ratio - repeat as necessary) what I was looking for is in the back of the book: checklists, how to clean particular things and how often and other resources. The rest of the book is great if things like sexist gender cleaning roles are getting you down or you have particular limitations to when and how much you can do things. (This felt very much like some of the better fitness books I've read actually)
Do as much as you can in 5 mins, take before and after photos so you can *see* progress or your blind spots, how to talk to house mates who are not supportive of the clean habitat mission, do a little bit everyday (or multiple times a day) and avoid marathoning. Put your damn weights away when you are done - uh or your laundry/dishes/coat/wtv.
Do as much as you can in 5 mins, take before and after photos so you can *see* progress or your blind spots, how to talk to house mates who are not supportive of the clean habitat mission, do a little bit everyday (or multiple times a day) and avoid marathoning. Put your damn weights away when you are done - uh or your laundry/dishes/coat/wtv.
April 18, 2017
A really helpful guide to keeping your home clean and organised with least effort. Rachel Hoffman's approach is much more realistic than most. She has some great ideas that are easy, practical and achievable. Her guide is for ordinary people without spare cash for expensive storage. She suggests how you can learn new helpful habits but doesn't preach those rigid rules like folding your clothes in a certain way. I like the author's kind and friendly writing style. She understands that many people are overwhelmed by organising their home due to mental health issues – 1 in 4 of us are coping with anxiety, depression, OCD etc. People living in shared homes and tiny spaces are also included and there's even a section on moving. Don't be deterred – there's far less swearing than the title might suggest. This is an outstandingly good book.
April 3, 2018
Life is too short for me to finish this book. I’d say that it was written for maybe 18-22 year olds and I’m a good bit older and not amused by the prose. I feel like the entire book (that I’ve read so far, which was 2/3 of it) can be summarized by saying...
...Spoiler alert...
“Clean in 20 minute increments and give yourself a break. Do this at least once daily and repeat as necessary and possible.” There are cute jokes and cursing to make the subject seem less demanding or oppressive. The tone almost sounds like a good friend or older sibling telling you like it is... except that I’m not in my early 20’s and this ain’t my first rodeo. It’s a good and non-confrontational read for the youngins but I’m moving on. Shelving in “Abandoned Books”. Next!
...Spoiler alert...
“Clean in 20 minute increments and give yourself a break. Do this at least once daily and repeat as necessary and possible.” There are cute jokes and cursing to make the subject seem less demanding or oppressive. The tone almost sounds like a good friend or older sibling telling you like it is... except that I’m not in my early 20’s and this ain’t my first rodeo. It’s a good and non-confrontational read for the youngins but I’m moving on. Shelving in “Abandoned Books”. Next!
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