Reviews

One Year to an Organized Life: From Your Closets to Your Finances, the Week-by-Week Guide to Getting Completely Organized for Good by Regina Leeds

lovelyfrances237's review

2.0

There is a trend among books like this and, I'm not knocking it I just wish they were more upfront about it.

This book has some good advice but, even though it pretends otherwise, it is written for Gen X/Baby Boomer middle Americans with maybe 2 kids, a very traditional family set up and a 3 bedroom detached house with a garage. I'm sure there are people who fit that description for whom it really works but I wish it had mentioned it more in the description so I could have skipped a whole lot of stuff that it's useful to me at all.

Instead I waded through chapters on sorting out a garage that doesn't exist, preparing the kids I don't have for school and throwing the Thanksgiving party I'll never have because I'm English.

If those are things you need advice on then Regina is an endearing person who's very direct, open and honest. And if someone could direct me to 'Getting it together for twenty-something millennials who may live outside the US' that would be great.

silvernfire's review against another edition

4.0

I like the author's overall plan. Instead of becoming an Organized Person in one fell swoop (and burning out in the process), Leeds has you tackle one area per month and breaks each month down into a week-by-week plan. Sometimes this is an area of your house, such as tackling the kitchen in January or the bathroom in April. Other times, you reorganize an area of activity: in August, learn to plan a move; in November, plan Thanksgiving dinner (and how to throw parties in general).

Unfortunately, I found Leeds' writing style annoying and "precious" (she's fond of visualizations; they don't call to me). Plus, I'm drowning in books and yarn; Leeds barely touched on organizing books and the only craft she really talks about is scrapbooking, so her suggestions weren't much help to me. But her overall plan of attack is good.

avidreader999's review

2.0

I really wanted to like this - on the surface it seemed like it had a lot of promise - organise your life in 52 weeks with a focus by area for each month. What’s not to like?

Unfortunately, this book really missed the mark for me - I’m clearly not the target audience as I don’t have a bathroom filled with favours from first class flights, nor a second house in the Hamptons

samizimecki's review

2.0

Are you an adult with kids who is barely coping with being a grown up? Then this is the book for you!

If you are even remotely functional, don't waste your time. Leeds breaks up this book by months and assigns a different topic for every month, intending for the user to get a grasp on a certain part of their life each month. But half of the stuff isn't relevant to most people (like how one of the summer months is completely dedicated to moving; or how there is a whole month to prepping your kids for school) and the other half seems like advertisement for the Container Store.

I'm not sure when this book originally came out, but it feels seriously dated. I don't really think I gained anything from this book and would instead recommend "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" or almost any other organizational book to someone who was looking to add some structure to their lives.

rosepetals1984's review

3.0

Not very much to say about this guide in that it's a standard organizational book that tackles rooms in the home one at a time, with a proposal of getting organized completely within a year's time and having fun in the process of keeping to those habits. I listened to the audiobook version of the book and actually rather liked it, but found that it didn't apply to me but in spurts. This is definitely a guide for those who want to manage their time and organization - and have families and their own homes (so for those who are single or live in apartments, condos, or smaller spaces, it's not as helpful as it could be). I'll admit also that the book was a bit long winded in establishing certain points - it could've been streamlined a little better to address certain aspects of the home, though I did like the incorporation of the journaling ideas, the time estimation for each project, and some of the tips it gives from everything in terms of organizing one's bedroom, to the kitchen, to shared common spaces. It's certainly a helpful book, though I think I didn't get as much out of it as I would've liked.

Overall score: 3/5

allisonwonderland27's review against another edition

4.0

I've recently been through quite a few books on organization/clutter control and this one was a standout.

msccrawford's review

1.0

You never realize how on track with life you are until you read a self help book and basically use it as a check list of things you already do.

zahrowl's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

This is an organising book that breaks down categories in your home into smaller categories to focus on within each month. Suggested tasks are given out per week to carry out. It is a very comprehensive organising book that encourages reflection and journaling of how your past influences your current organising habits (or lack thereof) and planning for the future that you want. The author provides a lot of questions for the reader to mull over on their own, and she offers a lot of ideas and suggestions for different spaces.

I will say that this book is very American-Christian/Catholic based. The author provides a lot of resources throughout the book that are also compiled entirely in a resources section at the end for easy reference. Most of these resources are based in America though. Other things like contacting ones house of worship before moving, school starting in August, basements and the focus on Thanksgiving and Christmas in the last two months make the book more tailored specifically to this group of people. Also, the tips are largely for adults, the language is a little more focused towards mothers. So, if you don't live in America, are not Christian, and/or are not an adult yet, you probably would have to change or skip through some sections.

Ultimately I think this is a pretty solid organising book that gives you the prompts to reflect and come up with your own plans for organising your life. I would recommend reading it as a physical book if you are buying it so that you can more easily flip through to the page that you need.

kkaste's review

3.0

There was nothing earth shattering in this book. What I did like was the sorting of organization into months and breaking that down by weeks. I get too overwhelmed by my organization problems to finish. She picks a different thing to focus on and fix each month. That is a great tip. Hopefully next year I can take in some of the rooms that I know I ha e a problem with and organize them and fix some of those problems.

craftyhilary's review against another edition

2.0

Are you completely disorganized? Are you utterly unable to find anything in any room in your house? Is your filing system defined exclusively by a pile of ratty paperwork on the floor of your office? Do you frequently forget your own child's birthday?

Then this book is for you. Really, it will indeed whip you into shape.

Those of you who have a clue about being organized, skip it.

Those of you who just want to have a more pleasant and organized living space, read Apartment Therapy instead.