A
activities, adding new, 172–173
appointments, 49, 150, 153, 158–159, 184. See also calendars
B
babies, adding to household, 19, 79, 88, 132, 141, 152. See also children
backsliding, 197–199
Ban Breathnach, Sarah, 35
barns, for storage, 93
bedrooms
master, 79–81, 91–92, 132–134
repurposing, 78–79
spare, 76, 78–79, 131–132
books, 93, 114, 121, 138
as resources, 166
sorting, 38
boxes
for organizing, 42, 96–98, 143
sorting, 38, 40
Bridges, William, 22
Brown, Denslow, 57
budgeting, 186–187
C
cabinets, kitchen, 136–137
calendars, 59–60, 149, 158–159, 195, 199. See also appointments
caregiving, 15, 20, 149. See also parents, elderly
Certified Organizer Coaches, 18–19, 47–48, 65, 69, 76, 125–126, 166
Certified Professional Organizers, 18, 65, 69, 76, 125–126, 199
Certified Professional Organizers in Chronic Disorganization, 125–126
change, 14
vs. transition, 19–27
children, 28, 53, 178. See also babies
childproofing, 53, 141
foster, 132
responsibilities related to, 150–151
children, adult, 147, 178
bedrooms of, 78
items belonging to, 89, 97, 108–109, 131
china. See dishware
cleaning products, storage of, 83
climate issues, 92
closets, 93, 130, 132–134
evaluating, 80–81
linen closets, 141
clothing, 38, 80, 103, 117, 119, 121, 133–134
coat racks, 130
collections, 93, 102, 114, 119
commitments, 149–150, 171–172
computers, 138
consolidating, 117, 119
containers, 43, 121–124, 127, 190. See also boxes
bins, plastic, 95, 143
labels for, 127, 129
countertops, 136
craft space, 78–79, 83, 92, 114, 132, 137–138
craft supplies, 93, 105
crafting, 172
D
deadlines
actual, 147–148
manufactured, 67–68, 92–93, 132
death
of parent, 24–25, 162, 164
of spouse/partner, 28, 38, 77, 79–80, 114
decisions, making, 45, 48, 63, 74–76
about gifts, 103
about inherited items, 104
about mementoes, 38, 81, 89
no-regrets, 42, 99–106
about valuable items, 106
dishware, 83, 93, 103, 135, 137
donations, 96–97, 107–108, 113–115, 191
of clothing, 134
finding place for, 64
drawers, kitchen, 136
E
entertaining, 82–83, 135
errand services, 96, 153
everyday space, 120–121, 124, 132, 136–137
exercise space, 40, 172
F
family, 149–150, 172. See also babies; children; grandchildren
giving items to, 97, 109–110
help from, 44, 112–113
listening to, 92
storing items for, 89, 97, 108–109, 131, 143
financial responsibilities, 180, 184–187. See also tax issues
bills/expenses, 150, 184–185
savings, 186–187
wills, 187
food, organizing, 93, 134, 188
friends
advice from, 148, 167
giving items to, 97, 109–110
help from, 44, 66, 105, 112–113
furniture, 83, 107, 117, 124, 143
armoires, 141–142
bureaus, 80–81
desks, 136, 138, 141–142
hutches, 141–142
wardrobes, 93
G
goals, 32–41, 156, 165–166, 168, 198
grandchildren, 15, 141
babysitting, 23, 28, 53, 65, 178
growth, planning for, 119–120
H
habits, 42, 55–56, 129
hobbies, 65, 119, 137–138, 169, 172
Home is Not Home Without chart, 72, 74–77, 93, 95, 101, 130
household, responsibilities related to
chores, 150, 161, 180, 189–193
commitments, 149–150, 159, 172
maintenance, 150, 180, 189–193
offices, 78, 83, 136
I
I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What it Was, 166
inspiration, finding, 64–65, 95
Institute for Challenging Disorganization, 125
inventory, taking, 107
J
journaling, 34, 65, 156–157, 166, 169
L
life coaches, 34, 156, 166, 168
lighting, improving, 117
M
mail, 136, 150, 193–197. See also paperwork
meal planning, 150–151, 180, 187–188
memory boxes, 104
mind mapping, 174–175
mobility issues, 86–87
motivations
deadlines, 67–68. See also deadlines
donating items, 64. See also donations
free up time and space, 16
inspiration, 64–65, 95
organizing partners, 15, 30, 44, 66–67, 69, 104–105, 199
rewards, 68–69, 126
tied to values, 17. See also values
movies, 93, 142
music, 95, 126, 142, 172
N
notebooks, 72
O
office space. See home offices; household offices
organizing. See also systems
exercise for, 54–56
maintaining, 129, 178–199
partners for,15, 30, 44, 66–67, 69, 104–105, 199
processes for, 50–51, 54–55
products for, 51–53, 56, 95, 122–123. See also containers
reorganizing, 42–43, 116–143
supplies for, 95
Other Side of Organized,
The: Finding Balance Between Chaos and
Perfection, 190
P
pantries, 93, 134
paperwork, 85–86, 93, 136, 150, 180, 193–197. See also financial responsibilities; mail
parents. See also caregiving
aging, 53, 79, 87–88, 132, 149, 178
caring for, 15, 21–22, 26–28, 154–155, 162, 164
Pederson, Rena, 35, 166
pets, 19, 28, 141, 150–151
photographs, 94–95, 102, 107, 142
placeholders, 119–120
priorities, 15, 36, 155–156, 165, 168–169
probation boxes, 98
Processing Modalities, 57
Prochaska Change Model, 25
procrastination, overcoming, 61–64
R
receiving areas, 93, 96
recycling, 98
redecorating, 88
Refuse to Choose!, 169
rooms. See also craft space; everyday space; exercise space; storage areas; study space
activity rooms, 132
attics, 88–89, 142–143
basements, 88–89
bathrooms, 86–88, 140–141
bedrooms, 76, 78–81, 91–92, 131–134
dens, 88, 141–142
dining rooms, 82–84, 134, 137–138
entryways, 76, 130–131
evaluating, 72–76, 116, 130
garages, 90, 142–143
home offices, 40, 48, 53, 64–65, 78–79, 83–85, 131–132, 138–140, 178
kitchens, 81–82, 130–131, 134–137
laundry areas, 82, 133
libraries, 83
living rooms, 88, 141–142
music rooms, 138
sheds, 90, 142–143
storage areas, 132, 134, 142–143
studies, 83
touring, 72, 76–90
routines, 49, 181, 189–190. See also schedules
S
Samuels, Linda, 190
schedules, 59, 149–150, 170–171. See also routines
seasonal items, 89, 135, 137, 192
self-employment, 15. See also rooms, home offices
selling items, 110–113
antique dealers, 110
appraisals, of valuable items, 62, 84, 110–111, 135, 143
auctions, 110
consignments, 96, 107–108, 110–111
Craigslist, 112
eBay resellers, 110–111
estate sales, 110–111
garage sales, 111–112
shelves, 93, 121–124, 127, 141
Sher, Barbara, 166, 159
shredders, 194
Simple Abundance, 35
simplifying, 32, 40, 44–45
sports equipment, 90, 130
storage, 78, 88–89, 93, 138. See also rooms, storage areas
study space, 78, 83, 117, 131–132, 137
systems, for organizing
blitz approach, 60
creating, 48–51
evaluating, 54–56
filing systems, 121, 139–140
implementing, 124–129
like with like, 118
maintenance of, 129, 178–199
monthly themes, 60–61
and people, 47–50, 55–56
room-by-room, 130–143
seasonal approaches,
92
T
tax issues, 107, 185–186
technology, 138
telecommuting, 53, 178
therapists, 34, 156
Three Ps, 46–57, 127
time
“alone”, 157
creating, 58–61
managing, 145–175, 180–184
too much or too little, 63–64
transition, 160
travel time, 159–160
timers, for organizing, 95, 126
tools, 103
toys, 192
transitions, 13–25, 27–29, 32–34, 151–154. See also babies; children; grandchildren
careers, changing, 14–15, 23–25, 28, 39–40
divorce, 14, 23, 28,79, 81, 88, 105, 107, 147–148, 154, 162, 186
downsizing, 28, 66, 135
empty nesting, 15, 28, 78, 88, 149, 162, 179
jobs, losing, 19, 24
life events, 152
marriage, 15, 178
maternity leave, 152
medical issues, 24, 29, 39, 54, 86–87, 140, 147, 151, 162
merging households, 178
moving, 14, 24, 54, 66
new business, starting, 23–24, 186–187
retirement, 15, 163, 187
school, returning to, 15, 24–25, 78, 117, 131, 154, 186
separation, 14, 23, 130
Transitions, 22
travel, 172, 186
travel time, 159–160
U
utensils, 121, 135
V
values, 15–17, 36, 156, 167
vision, creating, 34–37, 72
volunteering, 65, 172
W
Weston, Liz, 186
What’s Next: Women Redefining Their Dreams in the Prime of Life, 35, 166
Y
yard work, 192–193