Last year I read several of Sandra Felton's books including Smart Organization and The Messies Manual. I loved the way Sandra described working "smarter" and not necessarily "harder" at house cleaning. Maybe it is obvious, but I'm learning that a neat home is mostly realized by having good routines and habits.
If I did everything I read, I would never need to read another organizing book but I'm not naturally a neat person and I need a regular "shot in the arm"!
The first book I read this year was From Clutter to Clarity by Nancy Twigg. This book was unlike many of the other organization books I've read. While it had chapters on home clutter, the bulk of the book focused on internal clutter.
Nancy's definition of clutter is "anything that complicates your life and prevents you from living in peace as you live out your purpose". Clutter can be the junk mail on the counter or wrong attitudes. I really enjoyed the reminder that there are things much more dangerous to a life then a dirty bathroom. A junky drawer may lower your efficiency as you hunt for an item but worry, bitterness, and pride are debilitating to a home. Nancy takes each area through the principles found in Hebrews 12:1-2 which are: throw off what hinders you, persevere through difficulties and focus on Jesus.
A few quotes from Clutter to Clarity.
"Even noble pursuits become clutter when they endanger our sanity and leave us with no time to connect with God."
"Being content clarifies life by keeping us focused on reality, not on the inevitable what-ifs and if-onlys."
"Clutter is too much of things that contribute too little."
"Satan's goal is to keep us looking to anything and anyone but God for help."
"As long as we look to money to solve our problems, we promote it to the status of deliverer - a distinction God alone deserves."
The second book I read Confessions of an Organized Housewife by Deniece Schofield. I was thrilled to find this book at a yard sale last summer. I remember my mom reading this book and beginning a filing system that she is still using twenty years later!Confessions of an Organized Housewife has two sections. The first describes the basic principles of organization such as "think before you act". The second section takes each area of our home and gives practical ideas on how to implement the organizational principles. While not all of her ideas would work for everyone, they may lead to ideas that will work for you.
Do you have any favorite organizing/homemaking books?
I also read the From Clutter to Clarity. I had read an article MANY years ago, that said if we have a cluttered house it is because we have a cluttered spiritual house. I don't know if that is true for everyone, but I was a terrible housekeeper when I married, but the more my spiritual life got in order, the more my outward life did too.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the book, "Sink Reflections" by the Marla Cilley. As with all books, I recomend reading it through and then using her advice. So many people just jump into her suggestions without understanding the background.
ReplyDeleteGina, I can relate...in many ways I'm not naturally organized either, but being married to someone that is has been good for me! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the book suggestions. I've been wanting to read more on the subject and you gave me some great reading ideas.
I read one of those "Confessions" books and can't remember which one. I want to read the other one, though. so if yours is the one I haven't read, can I borrow it??? :)
ReplyDeleteI'll second the recommendation of "Sink Reflections". I've been adding some old routines back into our daily lives over the past few months and am excited to add more old routines. But that won't happen until the baby is older. We're baby-stepping. :)
Sidetracked Home Executives is an excellent book for someone like me.. totally and utterly disorganized and a pig! It worked for me many years ago, I need to read again, and start again.. to make my home the home God intended me to have and keep. Please pray!
ReplyDeleteHelen