My Review of "Pretty Neat: The Buttoned Up Way to Get Organized and Let Go of Perfection"

When I was asked to review the book Pretty Neat: The Buttoned Up Way to Get Organized and Let Go of Perfection, I didn't hesitate.  Receive an organizational book for free and get to tell everyone what I think about it?  Absolutely!!!  I rarely turn down an opportunity to broadcast my opinion...

The book primarily focuses on the mindset of being "imperfectly organized," where the goal is to "have enough structure in place to avoid missing the important things, yet remain limber enough to handle the inevitable curve-balls that get thrown your way."

How do you define what matters to you?  What does it look like to "have it all together"?  Your idea of being organized and my idea of being organized and Martha Stewart's idea of being organized will be completely different. Your way needs to work for you and my way needs to work for me.  Period.

One of the things that had me blushing throughout the book was the authors' use of the phrase, "Org Porn."  Until reading their description of Org Porn, I had no idea that I was an addict.  I {admittedly} get a high from looking at pictures of perfectly ordered closets with evenly spaced wooden hangers, beautifully labeled pantry baskets, color coordinated bookshelves and meticulously organized mud rooms. 

But the book points out that when we set the bar as high as the Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel catalog pictures, we set ourselves up for failure every time.  That's not reality any more than the perky, perfectly toned, cellulite-free, airbrushed, 36-24-36 nakedness that many men drool over in their girlie magazines.

We need a new standard for "acceptable" when it comes to organization.

Organizing is like cleaning.  You don't clean your house one Saturday, then leave dishes to pile in the sink or let dried chicken juice accumulate on your kitchen counters weeks on end!  There is upkeep that needs to happen between cleanings, right? 

Those were are considered "organized" are those that understand this concept.  Toys won't put themselves away.  Bills won't file themselves.  Dirty socks won't walk to the hamper.  You figure out a system that works for you, then you need to get in the habit of working that system. 

If you find yourself putting off organization for fear that it won't be "perfect" or if you are the type the organizes and reorganizes a hundred times in a hundred different ways, this book is for you.  Even if you're not what others would label a "perfectionist" - this book addresses many of the reasons and excuses we chant to ourselves of why we can't get organized right now. 

What's keeping you from getting organized?