The Circulation Solution: The Ultimate Organizing Approach For Lasting Clutter Relief

by Matt Baier

If you’ve read a lot of organizing books and you still find it hard to stay organized, it may be because they are missing vital component. You’ve decluttered an unbelievable amount of your stuff, but you still feel overwhelmed with what’s left and you hesitate to invite friends over. You’ve created a home for your mail and organized your files alphabetically, but you still have piles of paper and you pay late fees on bills that go missing. You’ve bought organizing bins that fit neatly in cubby holes, but you still can’t find what you want, when you want it. You make multiple purchase on items you already have. Matt Baier’s best selling book The Circulation Solution: The Ultimate Organizing Approach For Lasting Clutter Relief provides easy, realistic solutions to these organizing challenges and so many more. Matt had an unusual background, before his15 years as Owner of Matt Baier Organizing, LLC. He was the department head of Design Services at the Jim Henson Company. As an illustrator, he brings an insightful approach to organizing for his more creative clients. His company features “team clutter relief” and serves Connecticut and New York. Matt has appeared regularly on TV and is a national speaker. He is the President of NAPO-CT (National Association of Productivity and Organizing professionals Connecticut.) The key to The Circulation Solution is a very simple philosophy: circulation prevents accumulation. It is an approach that is natural and easy as breathing. Sustainable organizing depends on a plan for movement in a series of manageable, reliable stages, starting with this book. It’s just 110 pages and illustrated. Organizing can be fluid and easy. The Circulation Solution will show you how.

Paperback

Published October 29, 2019

Reviews

[Linda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful short book on how to get and continue to be organized, which is something you don’t often come across. I began reading it on my computer and before I knew it, I was on the last page. Matt Baier’s “The Circulation Solution”, proposes a unique perspective on organizing that I for one had not considered. His take on organizing is that it is not so much about your stuff, but rather about your priorities. He states that the reason to get and be organized is to take the less important stuff out of the way so that you can get to the most important stuff. This can be applied to objects, tasks, and basically your life. The old adage that being organized simply means that everything is in its place is outdated according to the author. Instead, everything is in movement and circulation. He uses examples easily understandable to explain this concept of organization, such as dishes, which start in the cabinet where we can reliably find them, are used, cleaned, and put back into the cabinet where we can again reliably find them. They have a place, but more importantly, they circulate. If anywhere in this circular pattern stops then back up and build up occurs. Circulation prevents accumulation. Everything therefore must continue to move forward in its circulation.
He also adheres to the definition of clutter as defined by Barbara Hemphill, a pioneer in organizing, as being a result of postponed decisions. And I have to agree. As a librarian, I see postponed decisions manifesting themselves in the back offices of every single library I’ve ever worked as piles of paper waiting to go somewhere, stacked books toppling over desks, office supplies half unpacked, and spilling out of closets. So many things are constantly being put aside to be dealt with later that the back office often looks like its been ransacked.
This little book packs a good punch in that its concepts are eye opening yet easily understood. Illustrations are used to help underscore key concepts. The author offers actual methods, tips, and solutions to organizing issues including time management without getting bogged down into minute details. He is also generous in attributing organizing ideas to others in the field and has referenced his research.
If you have been thinking of tackling your particular organizing problem but don’t know where to begin, begin with this book. I know I will, especially in the back office at work.

[Crotty Family · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and presented

A great book with many insightful approaches to getting yourself organized. The author certainly knows what he's talking about and is clearly organized himself. The illustrations are excellent.