When Organizing Isn't Enough. SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life

Customer Reviews

Helped me out of my rut!

2008-10-01
I can't say enough about how great this book is! I had been in a rut for quite some time, and I didn't really know what to do next. Then I saw this book, and being a fan of Organizing from the Inside Out, I decided to give it a try, though I was kicking myself the whole way home from the bookstore because I bought "yet another" self-help book and I already had a ton of them. Thankfully I didn't listen to my reservations this time, because this is one of the best self-help books I have ever read.

I forced myself to work slowly through the process, reading one part, answering the questions and taking actions, then reading more. And now I stand back, looking at my clean house and schedule, and I have so much energy. Furthermore, I have tons of ideas for moving my life forward in new, exciting directions, things that never would have occurred to me with all of the obsolete clutter in my life.

As I mentioned, I had a bunch of self-help and organizational books (SHEDed those!!) and I felt this one helped me more for several key reasons:
*Picking a "theme" for the next phase of my life. I had spent months agonizing over which career I wanted to do, to no avail, so picking a general theme and not having to make any specific decisions immediately helped me enormously.
*Differentiating between "junk" and "obsolete stuff." My house was pretty much junk-free, but I had a lot of obsolete stuff. For example, I had a huge book "collection" (over 350 books), most brand new, that were still perfectly good, that I would never, even in two lifetimes, have enough time to read. SHEDing these books (keeping only the treasures) lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. Morgenstern also guides readers to reflect on why they have acquired the clutter they have, which was very helpful to me. When I reflected on why I had acquired so many books it was easier to get rid of them, and I don't think they will build up like that again.
*Providing exercises after the fact. Most organizing books stop with a clean, organized house, but Morgenstern doesn't let readers off the hook that easy. She provides very helpful exercises for moving toward the life you imagined before and during SHEDing.

After reading this book and working though the process (which has taken me months) I actually feel "unstuck" and I have plenty of ideas for bringing my theme to life. I can't recommend this book highly enough; it's more than just a de-cluttering book, it's a life-changing book, giving you tips and techniques for getting out of the rut and propelling your life forward. Well done Julie!!

FYI: SHED Profile

2008-09-14
You need to join the online community in order to take the SHED Profile. (There is no visible way to get there from the SHED homepage...) It's then under "SHED Tools".

SHED your stuff

2008-09-06
When Organizing Isn't Enough: SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life I never thought that organizing and getting rid of collected junk and treasures had some much to do with other matters. Once I read this book I was able to get right to work and finally had a clear understanding what needed to be kept and what didn't.

When Organizing Isn't Enough SHED

2008-08-20
Julie Morgenstern has hit another ball out of the park! This book revealed why certain areas of my life functioned well while others struggled. If there are parts of your life that you want to move forward but haven't been successful, you will find this book incredibly useful. Julie is very intuitive when it comes to helping the reader understand the emotional attachments we put on our "stuff." For me, her chapters on shedding bad habits gave me the tools to finally heave both emotional and physical clutter -- I finally understood how the old habits had value and how to change my behavior to be happier and more fulfilled. This is an excellent guide to making key transitions in life both personally and professionally.

Shedding Stuff and Getting a Life

2008-08-15
Not one to like self-help books, I was VERY skeptical and am here to say this is a fantastic book. Getting ready for a move, I have been trying to clear out junk and it wasn't until I read this book that I could really begin to clean out the house. Morgenstern point is not to have a sterile, barren home or life but rather to free up your life by getting rid of the irrelevant with some pointed questions:

"How much space or time would you free up if you were to release the obsolete items?"
"How difficult would it be to let go of the obsolete items?"
"Is it invigorating to my life right now?"
"What practical value does this item provide?"

Morgenstern contends that we can't move productively into the future unless we SHED the stuff that is weighing us down and keeping us from making changes.
And this really cut to the core: "A perfectly arranged dresser drawer filled with clothes you haven't worn in years is still clutter."

Once Morgenstern finally convinces you, yes, even you, that you have a problem with junk in your life; she takes you step by step through her process of cleaning it out and letting it go. And she stresses this isn't about a one time clean up, it is about changing your thinking and thereby changing your life.
Reading this book can change your life!

The only book you need to get a peace of mind

2008-07-19
Are you eager to make a change but unsure what's next?

Organizing works when you know where you're going but don't know how to get there. But sometimes organizing isn't enough. When you're eager to make a change in your life, but you are unsure of your new destination, you need to SHED.

Expert organizer and New York Times bestselling author Julie Morgenstern has developed the four-step SHED plan to help you get unstuck from the defunct, obsolete objects and obligations preventing you from living a richer, more meaningful life. SHED picks up where other organizing processes leave off -- helping you purge the physical and behavioral clutter holding you back so you can finally create real change in your life.

But it's not just about throwing things away! The SHED process is more about what comes before and after you heave the clutter, so that the changes you make really stick in the long term. Learn how to:

Separate the treasures -- What is truly worth hanging on to?

Heave the trash -- What's weighing you down?

Embrace your identity -- Who are you without all your stuff?

Drive yourself forward -- Which direction connects to your genuine self?

Whether you're facing a move, a promotion, an empty nest, a marriage, divorce or retirement, When Organizing Isn't Enough provides a practical, transformative plan for positively managing change in every aspect of your life.

Tons of practical advice 2008-07-11
I read a lot of personal development books. There is more practical and useful advice in this book than in almost any book I have read. One area of advice I liked a lot is the Perfectionism Habit Breakers, a few of which are (1) Devise three approaches, minimim, moderate, & maximum, before jumping into anything, and opt for minimim or moderate whenever possible. This helps you to recognize there are more than two outcomes (disaster and perfection) (2) Rephrase the question "how much can I do?" to "how little can I do?" You are not cheating, you are preserving yourself for other tasks, likely ones which are more important and/or more enriching. (3) Stop doing other people's jobs. You can better use the time, and it develops them rather than sending the wrong signal. And, you can always provide coaching feedback later.

Very, very good book

Positively THE BEST BOOK out there to help you personally and professionally 2008-07-08
Julie Morgenstern's new book When Organizing Is Not Enough is a page turner! You do not feel like you are reeding yet just another self-help book - this book is as inspirational and moving as it is practical and philosophical. I strongly recommend - it is a great investment to help you with your every day life and chores and to give you piece of mind.

Time and Stuff Organizational Guide 2008-06-27
When Organizing Isn't Enough: SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life, by Julie Morgenstern is a about getting rid of the physical stuff and the tasks in our schedules that keep us stuck. Julie Morgenstern is an organizational and time management coach and puts her talents into this ingenious book.

Morgenstern believes that organizing is what gets us unstuck. In the introduction, she promises that: "reading this book will dislodge you from your current state of paralysis and help you figure out what's next."

She introduces her theory, SHED--which means letting go of attachments of old and useless stuff to allow you to gain "energy, insight and the clarity to male decisions."

SHED is letting go of stuff in your past to allow you to move forward. Morgenstern believes we should study the reason we feel attached to certain objects and advises:

* Separate treasures
^ Remove trash
* Embrace your identity
* Drive yourself forward

She suggests we apply the same process of getting rid of stuff to removing tasks in our schedules that are simply habits and that do not support our current lifestyle.

Throughout the book, Morgenstern presents case studies of her clients to illuminate her theories.

I discovered the importance of letting go of stuff to allow my life to move forward in the book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet. I think Morgenstern is spot-on with her SHED system.

Top-notch info 2008-06-26
Finally, the help I need to clear the clutter from my life! I feel so inspired.