The Get Organized Answer Book: Practical Solutions for 275 Questions on Conquering Clutter, Sorting Stuff, and Finding More Time and Energy

272 Pages·2009·4.1 MB·English

by  Jamie Novak

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can I get to all the “fix-it” projects I keep putting off? What’s the secret to O
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It is estimated that 80 percent of the clutter in your home or office is
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finding and fixing the problem, most people have no idea where to
The Get Organized Answer Book
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where to start, with simple systems and strategies to cut through the
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for clothes, bills, photos,
is your guide to winning the battle with clutter—for good.
and more
Jamie Novak
is an expert Home Reference/Self-Help  What to keep and what to
professional organizer and
$14.99 U.S./$15.99 CAN/£7.99 UK throw away
clutter coach. A featured ISBN-13: 978-1-4022-1683-1
ISBN-10: 1-4022-1683-1
organizer on HGTV’s
 How to stop the junk mail
Mission Organization, she is
N and end the paper piles
also ivillage.com’s Resident EA
Organizer, and frequently
Novak  Inexpensive storage
appears on QVC. Novak also
writes for Organize magazine, and is a spokesperson solutions for every space
for companies such as Proctor and Gamble. www.sourcebooks.com
JAMIE NOVAK Susan Ashley, PhD
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Copyright © 2009 by Jamie Novak
Cover and internal design © 2009 by Sourcebooks, Inc.
Cover photo © Getty Images
Author photo © Soomaya
Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by
any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval
systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or
reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information
in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that
the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other profes-
sional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services
of a competent professional person should be sought.—From a Declaration of
Principles Jointly Adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a
Committee of Publishers and Associations
All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, regis-
tered trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders. Sourcebooks, Inc.,
is not associated with any product or vendor in this book.
Published by Sourcebooks, Inc.
P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410
[phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.sourcebooks.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Novak, Jamie.
The get organized answer book : practical solutions for 275 questions on
conquering clutter, sorting stuff, and finding more time and energy / by Jamie
Novak.
p. cm.
Includes index.
1. Storage in the home. 2. Orderliness. 3. Time management. I. Title.
TX309.N685 2009
648’.8—dc22
2008038832
Printed and bound in the United States of America.
CHG 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Dedication
This book is dedicated to all of us who strive to live a life we love,
because we know this is not a dress rehearsal. It may not be easy, but we
strive to get organized and save time so we can reach for our dreams and
enjoy the important things in life. Sure, some days we’re more successful
than others. Yet we get up each day with a renewed sense of hope that
we can overcome the overwhelming and live a life we love by tackling
each day in bite-size pieces.
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CCoonntteennttss
Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
Chapter 1: Behind the Scenes Q&A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Chapter 2: Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Chapter 3: Organizing 101. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Chapter 4: Everyday Stuff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Chapter 5: Paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
Chapter 6: Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Chapter 7: Kitchen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Chapter 8: Kids. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
Chapter 9: Out-of-the-Ordinary Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155
Chapter 10: Work and Home Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
Chapter 11: Getting It All Done . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .201
Chapter 12: Simply Green Organizing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .219
Chapter 13: Real Moments—Specific
Organizing Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231
A Note from the Author. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .241
Book Group Action Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .243
Bite-Size Organizing Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .245
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .247
About the Author. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .257
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Acknowledgments
First and foremost I want to express my appreciation to all of the
not-so-organized people who have shared their challenges about
getting and staying organized. Without your honesty this book would
not be possible. I’m grateful to be a part of your quest to create a life
you love by getting organized and saving time.
To my literary agent, Jessica Faust, I am honored to be working
with you. Your guidance and advice continue to prove invaluable.
Many thanks to the entire team at Sourcebooks, including my
fantastic editor Shana Drehs, my hardworking publicists Heather
Moore and Emily Mullen, and the gifted editor of this book,
Sara Appino.
I extend my thanks to my family, and most especially Erik,
Kiara, and William, who not only bring laughter and joy to my
life but also provide me with ample writing material. Lastly to my
good friends, most notably, Tom and Lee Aljian and John and Lee
Coffey. Your ideas inspire me and your support means the world
to me.
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