Preparation for Company, or Gift Idea -- Books on Organization

Preparation for Company, or Gift Idea? You decide!

I’m very familiar with the following three books and wrote about them on another blog. For my Christmas blog, I am proposing that you might consider one of these as either a way to help you prepare for Christmas (just 3 weeks away) or as a gift for a practical friend or family member who has talked about needing help/motivation to get organized. (This would not be the gift to give to someone looking for something romantic under the tree! Also, I don’t advise you to use a tool like one of these books as a hint that someone’s organizational skills don’t meet your expectations. That plan could backfire in a horrible way!)

Organizing from the Heart: Change Your Mindset, Conquer Your Challenges by Baker, Beutler, and Whisnant

Total Home Makeover: Renewing Your Space & Spirit by Renee Metzler

Declutter Now! Uncovering the Hidden Joy and Freedom in Your Life by Lindon and Sherry Gareis 

Each book has a different way of presenting the material, so readers can choose from among them which style best suits them. (If you believe that reading about organization will prevent you from starting, choose a book with worksheets or charts and daily goals. Those might provide the motivation you lack.)

Organizing from the Heart is the shortest book at 119 pages. (It can be purchased for download if you are in a hurry to use it yourself!) It offers a fun organizing personality quiz; short chapters that include a small amount of story in addition to introducing a concept linked to Scripture and a reflection, action, and inspiration; space for journaling, and a leader’s guide in the appendix for use in small groups if desired (with 12 chapters, the book lends itself to use in a quarterly study). The authors suggest that getting organized can be an act of worship—an intriguing idea. If you like variety, you will enjoy this book. You can check it out at their blog: http://www.organizinghope.blogspot.com.

Total Home Makeover is 222 pages long and offers a 20-day planner with a short daily devotional and space for journaling, followed by coaching sessions, to-do’s, anecdotes, worksheets, and ideas for rewarding ourselves each week for following the plan. The purpose of this book is to transform you, your family, and your home. If you like charts and worksheets, this book is for you! You can check it out at http://totalhomemakeover.com.

At 248 pages, Declutter Now! is the longest and perhaps most intensive book. The authors are certified Christian life coaches. Not only do they discuss decluttering your home but also your heart, mind, body, and soul. There are no charts or worksheets; if you prefer to read without the pressure of journaling or filling out worksheets and charts, you’ll want to get this book. You can check it out at http://actionplanministries.com/declutter-now.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am an editor at Ambassador International, the company that published two of these three books. Of those two, I was the editor for one. The third book, I edited freelance. No one asked me to review these books. I only recommend books that I have personally read and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”