Contents
Acknowledgments
How to Use This Book
"Where Do I Start?" -- An Organizing Inventory
PART ONE THE PAPER TRAP
1. Conquering Paperwork Gridlock
* The TRAF System: Toss, Refer, Act, and File
* Streamlining and Simplification Tips and Tricks
2. Following Up and Following Through
* Two Easy Follow-up Methods: The Calendar/Holding File and the Tickler File
* Other Ways to Follow Up
3. How to File It -- and Find It Again
* How to Figure Out What to Name a File
* Making Files Easy to Find and Keep under Control
* Addresses and Business Cards
4. Organizing a Home Office
5. Reading Expeditiously -- Zipping through Newspapers, Magazines, and Catalogs
6. The Paperwork of Money: Making Short Work of Bill Paying and Taxes
PART TWO GET TIME ON YOUR SIDE!
7. How to Set Priorities and Get Things Done
* When Two Lists Are Enough: The Master List and Daily List
* Setting Priorities
8. Organizing the Day: Figuring Out What to Do When
* Finding Your Peak Time -- and Taking Advantage of Your Biological Rhythms
* Power-Packing Your Days
* Looking Ahead
9. Coping with Interruption Overload
* Private Time without Guilt
* Making Your Contacts Productive...and Crisp
* Telephone Tactics
10. Combating Procrastination and Perfectionism -- and Finding Your Optimum Workstyle
* Procrastination and Perfectionism
* Finding Your Optimum Workstyle
11. Too Many Things to Do and Not Enough Time to Do Them? -- A Cornucopia of Timesaving Tips
* Power Packs -- Getting the Most Out of Five Minutes
* Up and Out and On Time
* Too Much to Do? Do What You Do Best -- Find Ways to Delegate the Rest
PART THREE CLUTTER AND CLOSETS
12. The Clutter Crisis -- Eliminating Distressing Disarray
* Three Strategies for a (Reasonably) Clutter-free Future
* The Seven-step Deep Clutter De-clutter Plan
* Hanging On to the Little Losables and Other Convenience Tips
13. Storing Stuff
* Closets, Cupboards, and Cabinets
* Outside the Closet -- Finding Storage Opportunities throughout Your Home
* Books, Recordings, Films, and Videos
14. The Organized Clothes Closet
* The Organized Clothes Closet -- How to Make It Happen
* Space-Stretchers
* Planning Your Wardrobe
* Accessories
PART FOUR HOMESTYLES AND LIFESTYLES
15. Recipe for an Organized Kitchen
d
* Making Your Kitchen Space Work
* The Fine Art of Stashing and Storing
* Groceries, Meal Planning and Preparation, Recipes, and Kid-Wise Kitchen Tips
16. Lightening the Load of Household Chores: Cleaning, Laundry, Errands, and More
* Tips for Hassle-Free Housecleaning
* A Few Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Tips
* Living with Linens
* Shopping, Errands, and Chores: A Roundup of Tips
17. Family Organizing -- How to Make It Work
* Getting Everyone Involved
* Your Kids Can Get Organized!
18. Rooms and Other Spaces -- Adding Comfort to Your Home
* The Family Room
* The Bedroom
* The Bathroom
* The Workroom -- Sewing, Knitting, and Crafts
* Some Ingenious Solutions for Small Spaces
* The Organized Auto
Send us your best tips!
Bibliography
Index