
Asked to write about "about an area in [my] life that has been a source of organizational stress," I looked around me and had no idea where to start! Household clutter? Check. Overflowing email inbox? Oh, yeah. Too many things to do and not enough time? Definitely. I need this book!
All of these areas are sources of stress for me. At the root of it all, though, is my tendency toward perfectionism. If I can't do it perfectly, why even start? The very first chapter contains two concepts that changed the way I looked at my lack of organization:
Why on earth, we asked ourselves, did ... women feel their "imperfect" ways left them short of the mark organizationally? Perhaps it's because perfection has been held up as the gold standard when it comes to organization. We think it's high time for a new standard of organization: an imperfect one.Bingo.
and
We often struggle with accepting an imperfect mind-set because we are afraid of what others will think of us. They may think we are not good mothers, wives, or women if we suddenly stop striving for perfection.
We'd be here all day if I told you about all of my organizational challenges, so let's focus on the email overload. I have eight email addresses, five of which I check at least twice every day. I just added up the unread messages in just the three most-cluttered accounts: 9316. (However, only 2562 are in the inboxes.)
I've been mass-deleting the advertisements, newsletters, etc., as they arrive. Now I'm taking a tip from Pretty Neat: When I get those messages, instead of deleting them immediately, I'll open the messages and click the unsubscribe links. My goal is to unsubscribe from at least ten email lists a day. Once the incoming mail is tamed, I'll work on the old messages. (I don't think I'll need that free-shipping code from June 2006.)
The Bottom Line: Not every chapter in Pretty Neat applies to me: our family schedules are well-coordinated and I don't have a work environment to keep neat. Some of the tips were not new to me, but many were. Still, the concept of defining what "imperfect organization" looks like to me and setting that as a standard is more than enough to recommend this book to anyone with similar struggles.
Links for more information:
- Buttoned Up: the authors' website, which contains purchasing info and many resources
- Read a book excerpt
- Buttoned Up on Facebook
- Buttoned Up on YouTube
- Buttoned Up on Twitter
This giveaway is closed.
How to enter: Leave a comment and tell me the area of your home or life that has become the biggest source of organizational stress. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. Limit 1 entry by this method. This must be done in order to qualify for extra entries.
Here's how you can earn additional entries (please leave one comment per entry):
- Sign up for the Buttoned Up email list. (1 entry)
- Check out the free downloadable forms and tell me which is most useful to you. (1 entry)
- 'Like' Buttoned Up on Facebook. Leave a comment here with your Facebook name. (1 entry)
- Follow Buttoned Up on Twitter. Leave a comment here with your Twitter ID. (1 entry)
- Comment on a non-giveaway post on my blog. (1 entry per post, limit 3 entries total)
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book, at no cost to me, for review purposes. All opinions in this post are my own. By participating in this campaign I will be entered for a chance to win a gift card (same as cash) plus a selection of Buttoned Up products (ARV: $50). I learned about this opportunity through my membership in Global Influence Network.
My pantry, Master bedroom, and garage are all in great need! laughwithusblog at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteThis is kinda strange because I have actually been going through and unsubscribing to lists that I never read. I feel kinda bad but it has made my email inbox a little neater. I don't have a lot of different email accounts but the ones I do have are becoming more manageable.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest source of organizational stress is paperwork--I am drowning in it.
ReplyDeleteslrdowney at hotmail dot com
I like the Up & Out Labels for girls and boys downloadable forms.
ReplyDeleteslrdowney at hotmail dot com
My biggest organizational stress is my email--It fills up as fast as I can deal with it!
ReplyDeleteI love the downloadable forms--The Birthday party checklist is great!
ReplyDeleteI signed up for the newsletter.
ReplyDeleteI commented on your roller coaster post.
ReplyDeleteI commented on your Sign of the Covenant post.
ReplyDeleteThe area that gives me most stress: my desk and coupons.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
I signed up for Buttoned Up e-mails.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Their form that would help me the most: Master Goals.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Actually, my books are in need of organizing.
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
My kitchen counter is a disaster.
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
I hate my garage right now.
ReplyDeleteAnd my storage room. I would LOVE for them to be organized.
taffy.lovell@gmail.com
for me it's pictures..i have some developed, some in the camera and very few in albums
ReplyDeletenannypanpan at sbcglobal.net
My bedroom is probably the worst-organized place for me. I just don't have room for everything, and I often just throw it anywhere rather than dealing with the clutter.
ReplyDeleteruthaw_1974@yahoo.com
like buttoned up on facebook
ReplyDeleteruthhill74
The kid's password form would help me.
ReplyDeleteruthaw_1974@yahoo.com
mail piles up for me! thank you!
ReplyDeleteinthehammockblog at gmail dot com
following get buttoned up on twitter
ReplyDeleteinthehammockblog at gmail dot com
Receipts need organization!
ReplyDeletedelilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com
Twitter follower of buttonedup, same name!
ReplyDeletedelilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com
Holiday gift ideas form would be very useful!
ReplyDeletedelilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com