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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organizing your Life, 4E

by: Lockwood, Georgene

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organizing your Life, 4E

by: Lockwood, Georgene

ISBN 13:
9781592574131
ISBN 10:
1592574130
Edition: 4th
Format: Paperback
Copyright: 10/04/2005
Publisher: DK Publishing, Inc.
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Summary

You're no idiot, of course. You know how difficult it is to keep your home and work environment organized. The information age has only added to the barrage with an endless stream of electronic clutter that requires as much attention-if not more-than your physical piles.

Part 1: What Do You Mean ``Organized''?

(52)

The Big Picture: Setting Goals

(14)

Growing Up Is Hard to Do

(1)

You Can't Have (or Do) Everything

(2)

Superwoman and Superman Are Myths

(1)

How Organized Are You? A Self-Test

(1)

How Would You Change Your Life?

(1)

Setting Your Personal Organization Goals

(1)

Wish-full Thinking

(3)

Narrowing Your List

(1)

Setting Priorities

(1)

Commit or Fail

(1)

The Master Plan: Keep It Flexible

(1)

You Deserve a Break Today

(1)

Putting the ``Resolve'' in This Year's Resolutions

(1)

It's All About ``Stuff'' and ``Time''

(12)

How Did You Get All This Stuff?

(3)

Why We Buy

(1)

How to Control the ``Gotta Have It'' Habit

(1)

Buy! Buy! Buy!

(1)

Less Stuff, More Time

(1)

The 10 Basic Laws of Stuff

(3)

The 10 Basic Laws of Time

(4)

Excuses! Excuses!

(10)

How Habits Help or Hinder

(1)

Excuses for Stuff

(3)

I Might Need It Someday

(1)

I'm Just Sentimental

(1)

More Is Better

(1)

I'm Saving It for My Kids

(1)

It's Really Old

(1)

It's Still Perfectly Good

(1)

It Was a Bargain

(1)

They Call It a Time-Saver

(1)

The Big Put-Off

(2)

Pulverizing Procrastination

(1)

Making Time

(1)

But I Don't Have the Money to Get Organized!

(1)

So Stop Making Excuses and Go!

(2)

When Stuff Rules Your Life

(14)

Hoarder's Disorder and a Case of the Messies

(1)

Are You a Compulsive Clutterer?

(1)

Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD

(1)

Shopping When You Don't Need More Stuff

(1)

Other Disorders and Conditions

(1)

Never Fear---Help Is on the Way!

(3)

Hoarder's Disorder

(1)

Other Disorders

(2)

Finding a Local Group

(1)

Going Online

(4)

Mailing Lists

(1)

Newsgroups

(1)

Other Online Resources

(3)

Part 2: Stuff Simplified

(38)

Utterly Uncluttered Space

(14)

Getting Started

(1)

Step 1: Empty the Space

(1)

Step 2: Use It or Lose It

(3)

Step 3: Get Rid of It (Now)

(1)

Step 4: Group Like Things Together

(1)

Step 5: Consolidate and Compress

(2)

Step 6: Go for Quality, Not Quantity

(1)

Step 7: Think Multipurpose

(1)

Step 8: Alphabetize

(1)

Step 9: Label It

(1)

Step 10: Put It Away

(3)

And Now What?

(2)

Mastering the Paper Monster

(22)

Idea 1: Stop It!

(3)

Idea 2: Decide Now

(3)

Sorting Into Three Categories

(1)

Don't Open It!

(1)

Move It Along

(1)

Idea 3: Purge, Sort, and Systematize

(5)

Dealing with What Remains

(1)

Personal Action Items

(2)

Reading Material

(2)

Idea 4: Distinguish Between Short and Long Term

(2)

A Three-Category System

(2)

Idea 5: File So You Can Find It

(3)

Don't Forget Computer Records and Documents

(1)

Paper with Deadlines

(1)

Idea 6: Keep It Where You Need It

(1)

Idea 7: Tailor Systems to Special Needs

(1)

Idea 8: Use Computers to Cut Paper, Not Make More

(1)

Idea 9: Put Paper in Its Place

(1)

Idea 10: Create Mobile Paper Systems Where You Need Them

(2)

Part 3: Systems for Getting Stuff Done

(58)

Creating a Command Center

(14)

A Room All Your Own

(1)

Stocking Up: Basic Life Management Supplies

(1)

You've Got Mail (or Other Messages)

(1)

This Is the Captain Speaking!

(1)

Schedules, Lists, and Time-Management Systems

(6)

Planner/Organizer Essentials

(3)

Electronic Planner/Organizers

101

(1)

The Master of All Lists

101

(1)

The Calendar

102

(1)

Backing Up Is Smart to Do!

103

(1)

A User Manual for Your Life

103

(2)

Personal Management for Road Warriors

105

(1)

Make It So!

105

(2)

People Who Need People: Interpersonal Systems

107

(16)

Who's Looking Out for You?

108

(1)

``Unstuff'' Your Relationships

108

(3)

Take a ``People'' Inventory

109

(2)

Creating a Quality Circle

111

(1)

You Remembered!

111

(2)

Letters! We Get Letters!

113

(1)

Escalating E-Mail: How to Keep Up

114

(3)

The Benefits of E-Mail

115

(1)

Things to Watch Out For: ``Netiquette''

115

(2)

Putting People in Their Place

117

(1)

Scrapbooks and Other Memory Devices

117

(2)

Scheduled Spontaneity?

119

(1)

People Time, Alone Time

120

(1)

If You Can't Have Fun, Why Get Organized?

120

(3)

Work Systems: Getting Ahead Without Getting a Headache

123

(26)

Goal Setting Fine-Tuned

124

(2)

Unstuffing: Work Version

126

(2)

Your Files Aren't Another Trash Can!

128

(1)

And Speaking of Paper

129

(4)

Stop It!

129

(2)

Decide Now

131

(1)

File So You Can Find It

132

(1)

Back Up or Else!

133

(1)

Life Management Center: Work Version

133

(2)

Designing Your Work Environment

135

(3)

People Power

138

(2)

Shortcuts

140

(1)

Ring Around the Workplace: Phone Control

141

(1)

Business Correspondence Made Easy

142

(2)

Taking It On the Road

144

(1)

When Home Is Your Office

145

(2)

On the Lookout for Your Next Job

147

(2)

Part 4: Room by Room

149

(90)

Bathroom Organization: Methods for Your Morning Madness

151

(12)

Unstuff the Bathroom!

152

(3)

Out It Goes!

152

(2)

Stow It! Bathroom Storage Solutions

154

(1)

Get a Routine

155

(1)

Morning Makeup

156

(2)

Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Rituals

158

(1)

Give Your Handbag a Hand

159

(1)

Beauty Is Happiness and Good Health

160

(3)

The Kitchen: Systems for Getting Your Daily Bread

163

(22)

You Are What You Eat

164

(2)

Unstuff Your Kitchen

166

(2)

Make Your Kitchen Do the Work

168

(4)

The Preparation Center

168

(1)

The Cooking Center

168

(1)

The Serving Center

169

(1)

The Cleanup Center

169

(1)

Advanced Kitchen Storage

170

(2)

Paper in the Kitchen

172

(1)

The Junk Plop Rock

173

(1)

Shop but Don't Drop

173

(1)

Crafty Cooking Strategies

174

(7)

Cook Once, Eat for a Month

174

(4)

Quick Cooking, Easy Cleanup

178

(1)

Slow Cooking: Ready-and-Waiting Meals

179

(2)

Freezer Science and ``Refrigology''

181

(1)

Food Storage for Emergencies

181

(1)

Handy Recipe Rationale

182

(3)

Recipe Binder

183

(1)

Recipe Box

183

(1)

Recipe File

183

(1)

Recipe Database

183

(1)

Organizing Your Cookbooks

184

(1)

The Bedroom: Making a Haven for Your Spirit and a Home for Your Clothes

185

(20)

Bedroom Savvy for Masters

186

(3)

Back to Basics, Bedroom Style

187

(1)

Adding Furniture

188

(1)

Behind Closed Doors

189

(9)

What's Your Style?

189

(2)

Clothes, Clothes Everywhere and Not a Thing to Wear!

191

(3)

A-Shopping We Will Go

194

(2)

The Great Hang-Up: Closet Design Basics

196

(2)

It All Comes Out in the Wash

198

(4)

Stain-Busters

199

(1)

Ironing, Mending, and Other Unfamiliar Subjects

200

(2)

Dry Cleaning Made Simple

202

(1)

Finishing Touches

202

(3)

Rooms for Living

205

(18)

The ``Living'' Room

206

(2)

Setting Up Zones

206

(1)

Contain and Control: Furniture That Works

207

(1)

A Room of Another Sort

208

(14)

High-Tech Horror Show: Wires and Cords

209

(1)

Composing Your Music and Video Collection

210

(2)

Toys in Tow

212

(1)

Life's a Game and a Puzzle!

213

(1)

Gaming Goes Digital

213

(1)

Computer Time

214

(1)

Dealing with Books

214

(2)

Photo Finish

216

(2)

Crafty Solutions

218

(2)

Collection or Clutter?

220

(1)

Dining in (Organized) Style

221

(1)

Keeping Your Cool

222

(1)

Kids' Stuff: Organizing with Little Ones in Mind

223

(16)

Taking the Time Will Save Everyone Time

224

(1)

Babes in Toyland

225

(2)

Clothes

227

(1)

Little Paper Monsters Soon Become Big Ones!

228

(3)

We Have Liftoff!

231

(1)

Chores and To-Dos

231

(4)

Rewards

235

(1)

Share and Share Dislike!

235

(1)

Child's Play: Planning Great Parties for Kids

236

(3)

Part 5: Money and All That Stuff

239

(32)

Winning the Money Wars: Guerrilla Budgeting

241

(14)

Facing Facts About Finances

242

(3)

Budgeting Baby Steps

242

(2)

Difficult Decisions

244

(1)

Back on Track: Creating a Household Budget

245

(3)

What Are the Details?

245

(1)

What Do the Details Tell You?

246

(2)

Budget Review

248

(1)

Computer Finance Tactics

248

(2)

Don't Let Santa Blow Your Budget!

250

(1)

Credit CPR

251

(1)

How to Avoid Credit Fraud and Identity Theft

252

(2)

Types of Credit Fraud

252

(1)

Avoiding Fraud

253

(1)

Frugal Living Is Fun!

254

(1)

Tax Tactics and Advanced Money Maneuvers

255

(16)

The Tax Man Cometh

256

(3)

The Not-So-Tender Tax Traps

256

(1)

Tax Records Demystified

257

(2)

How Long Is Long Enough?

259

(1)

And While You're at It: More Records to Keep

259

(2)

Get the Most from Your Insurance

261

(2)

Setting Up

261

(1)

Always Read the Fine Print

262

(1)

Stake Your Claim!

262

(1)

Having a Will Gives You a Way

263

(3)

Initial Considerations

264

(1)

Other Issues

265

(1)

Saving for a Rainy Day

266

(1)

Do You Need a Financial Planner?

267

(2)

Do You Need an Accountant?

269

(2)

Part 6: Getting People Involved

271

(24)

Nobody Said This Would Be Easy

273

(10)

If They Don't Know, They Can't Do It

274

(1)

Listen Up!

275

(1)

Work Within Your Sphere

276

(1)

What About the Kids?

276

(1)

Your Spouse Is Not Your Child---Really!

277

(1)

Caution: Work Zone!

278

(1)

Roommates and Other Strangers

279

(1)

Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously

280

(1)

If You Organize It, They Will Come

281

(2)

Calling In the Cavalry: Hiring Others

283

(12)

When Do You Hire a Pro?

284

(3)

How to Hire Happily and Avoid Getting Ripped Off

287

(1)

Don't Clean for the Cleaning Lady

288

(2)

Maybe You Just Need to Move!

290

(1)

You're Hired, Kid

290

(1)

The Benefits of Bartering

291

(1)

When Do You Need a Professional to Organize You?

291

(4)

Part 7: Now That You're Organized, Let's Keep It That Way!

295

(32)

Maintaining and Managing Your Progress

297

(14)

Here's the Bottom Line

298

(1)

Get Regular Tune-Ups for a Smoother Ride

299

(1)

Taking It a Step Further

300

(1)

Lists, Schedules, and Files Revisited

301

(1)

If Things Start Breaking Down

302

(2)

Terminating Time-Wasters, Overcoming Organization Ogres

304

(1)

Can Your Computer Keep You Organized?

305

(1)

Aesthetics Essentials

306

(1)

You Have a Dream!

307

(1)

Let the Seasons Tell the Time

308

(1)

Make Maintenance a Celebration

309

(2)

Organization Styles for Different Lifestyles

311

(16)

All by Yourself

311

(4)

Young and Single

312

(2)

Older and Single

314

(1)

Single-Income, Dual-Parent Families

315

(2)

Dual-Income Couples

317

(1)

Dual-Income Families

317

(1)

Single Parents

318

(2)

The Empty Nest

320

(1)

Caregivers and Extended Families

321

(1)

Blended Families and Dual-Custody Arrangements

322

(1)

The Road Warrior

323

(4)

Part 8: You're Ready for Prime Time

327

(52)

Healing Trends: Organizing for Health and Fitness

329

(14)

A Healthy Dose of Organization

330

(1)

Take Stock of Where You Are

330

(2)

Set Realistic Goals

330

(1)

Decide on Actions to Achieve Your Goals

331

(1)

Divide Major Actions into Manageable Steps

331

(1)

Put These Steps into Your Overall Plan

331

(1)

Evaluate Your Progress

332

(1)

Reward Yourself and Move On

332

(1)

Finding Time to Get Fit

332

(3)

Be a Sport!

335

(1)

Storage Shopping List for the Garage

336

(2)

Grow Smart: Setting Up a Garden Center

338

(1)

Managing the Medical Morass

339

(4)

Gathering Information

340

(2)

Other Considerations

342

(1)

Wrap It Up: Holiday Planning Made Easy

343

(36)

Goal Setting, Holiday Style

344

(1)

Write Yourself a Book: Your Personal Holiday Planner

344

(2)

Making a List and Checking It (at Least) Twice!

346

(1)

Finding Time to Get It All Done

347

(1)

Christmas in July (and Other Time-Savers)

348

(1)

You Shouldn't Have! Giving Great Gifts

348

(3)

Stellar Strategies for Holiday Entertaining

351

(1)

Finessing the Family Tug-of-War

352

(1)

If You Must Travel

353

(1)

Holiday Storage Snags

354

(1)

Finally, It's All Up to You

355

(2)

Appendixes

A. Resource Guide

357

(18)

B. Bibliography

375

(4)

Index

379

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organizing your Life, 4E

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organizing your Life, 4E

9781592574131

1592574130

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Write a Review

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organizing your Life, 4E

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organizing your Life, 4E

9781592574131

1592574130

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Write a Review

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