THERE’S A REASON you are holding this book in your hands. Perhaps you’re feeling that there’s too much clutter and chaos in your home. Or maybe you’d just like to see your daily life run a bit more smoothly. This book is here to help you get a handle on all of it—to get organized and stay that way. By using the three-part approach laid out in these pages—month by month, room by room, and routine by routine—you’ll gain a broad grasp of what you need to do, as well as step-by-step how-tos to help you get it all done.
Big-picture advice is complemented by “projects” that solve common organizing conundrums (such as making a command center, page 90), annotated images to demonstrate by example (page 102, for instance), convenient charts and checklists for managing recurring chores (such as purging the pantry, page 110), and of course “Martha Musts,” offering personal best tips on particularly helpful topics.
Start with the monthly calendars in Part One: There you’ll find entries for each day. These calendars follow Martha’s planner regarding what to do when. Adapt them to your own schedule and lifestyle. They are meant not to overwhelm but to reinforce the idea that doing a little bit at a time can keep you from having to do a whole lot at once—and also to remind you to schedule in the leisure time that helps keep life balanced.
A handful of each month’s entries are bolded in the calendar and described in detail on the pages that immediately follow; they fall into color-coded categories (see key, below), which correlate to routines that will be discussed in more depth in Part Three. Seasonal tasks, especially those pertaining to the garden, will depend on where you reside, so adjust those dates and duties accordingly.
Category Key
CLEAN
LAUNDER
GARDEN
HOME
COOK
ENTERTAIN
CELEBRATE
KIDS
PETS
WELLNESS
Part Two is all about organizing each area of the home. This is where you really take control of your stuff, as well as of the tasks associated with keeping each space in order, using a two-step system: First size up each space to discern its particular needs, and then strategize the storage. Practical, hands-on tips will help you with challenging spots—sinks and counters in the kitchen, shelves and bookcases in the living room, and closets in bedrooms and the entryway.
Finally, Part Three sets forth the supplies, strategies, and schedules for everyday routines (see the color-coded key above), guided by a less-is-best ideology: the fewer the supplies, the less need for storage; fewer steps means organizing gets done faster and stays that way, so you have more time for all the things you’d rather be doing.
There’s no right or wrong way to organize your life and home—that’s why this book is designed to give you options. For example, when updating your own daily/weekly planner at the start of each month (or the beginning of each year), you can turn to the calendars in Part One for reminders and inspiration. When a particular space (such as the pantry or refrigerator) is in need of a refresh, you can go right to the appropriate guide in Part Two. And if it’s time to revamp your cleaning routine or get the kids’ schedules back on track, you can flip to those sections in Part Three. Any way you go about it, clear instruction and easy-to-implement expertise are there to help.