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

Regina Leeds, a professional organizer and founder of Get Organized! by Regina, is the author of several books, including The Zen of Organizing. She lives outside of Los Angeles.

The organized way to get organized: a week-by-week plan to forever streamline all aspects of your life

Deborah Bigelow - Library Journal

From professional organizer and author Leeds (The Zen of Organizing) comes the perfect book for anyone wanting to find important papers instantly or have a navigable closet. The author divides getting organized into 12 monthly sections with four weekly tasks. The first week of every month is devoted to journaling and understanding the psychology of disorganization. The remaining three weeks of every month are for tasks like creating a bedroom sanctuary, packing wisely for trips, and creating a festive holiday atmosphere. Full of useful information for everyone, from the person who needs simply to clean a messy desk to the person requiring a whole new approach to life; highly recommended for all libraries.

Introduction     11
January
Understanding Time Management Working on the Kitchen     41
Why Am I Like This? Time Questions     46
Creating Schedules and Routines     61
Kitchen Questions     73
Whip Your Kitchen into Shape     85
February
Creating a Bedroom Sanctuary     109
Bedroom Questions     113
Get to the Bottom of Your Closet     123
Take Time for Your Space     132
Create a Bedroom You Love     144
March
Organizing the Business of Life     159
Home Office Questions     167
Save Time     177
Make a Plan     191
Say Goodbye to Piles!     207
April
Bathrooms: Chasing Your Cares Away!     233
Sing a New Song     236
Goo and Gunk Be Gone!     241
Reinvent the Space     251
Watch Your Personal Spa Appear     258
May
Tackling the Hidden Areas: Attic, Basement, Garage, Laundry Room, and Guest Room     265
What's Hiding in Your Space?     270
Help Is at Hand: Resources!     293
The Projects Begin     303
Call More Areas to Order     315
June
TravelingLight     330
Travel Questions     334
The Travel Checklist     348
Before You Leave the House     362
Pack and Bon Voyage!     374
July
Fun in the Sun: Scrapbooks, Memorabilia, Greeting Card Collections, and Your Address Book     390
Who Are All These People?     392
Stroll Down Memory Lane     400
Treasured Images     416
Create Albums     423
August
Surviving Your Move     436
Moving Questions     440
Pack Up     453
Deal with the Movers     459
Moving Day     468
September
Back-to-School Busy Season     479
School Year Questions     482
Kids' Rooms     491
Get Your Kids to Stay Organized     506
Handle Obligations     513
October
Relaxing in the Common Rooms     522
Home Questions     526
Has Anyone Seen the Dining Room Table?     530
Put Some Life in Your Living Room     538
The Family Room     544
November
Entertaining with Joy!     561
Holiday Stress Questions     563
Make a Clean Sweep     569
Plan the Menu     577
Countdown to T-Day     588
December
Creating a Festive Atmosphere     597
Time to Make a Holiday Plan: Cards, Gifts, and More     600
Get Your Home Holiday-Ready     618
Volunteer with Good Cheer     625
Here's to a Happy New Year!     629
Epilogue     641
Acknowledgments     645
Resources     649
Index     663