Resources: Books Regarding the Emotional and Psychological Aspects of Organizing

A large part of getting & staying organized has to do with changing non-functioning habits into functioning ones. While this may include appropriate containers, better systems, etc., it also includes a change of mindset. These are a few of the books that can help with "mind" changes necessary for organization with lasting results™.

If you feel Buried in Treasures, the book by the same title by David F. Tolin, Randy O. Frost, and Gail Steketee might prove useful. Subtitled as Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding, this book provides information, quizzes, and exercises to assist those who struggle with stuff accumulation. The authors address why people acquire and how to curb the tendency rather than simply methods for “getting rid of things”. Fact Files for Family and Friends are inserted throughout the text to help those in close contact with the “saver".
Making Peace with the Things in Your Life by Cindy Glovinsky addresses Why Your Papers, Books, Clothes, and Other Possession Keep Overwhelming You – and What to Do About It . People who desire information beyond basic organizing will appreciate Glovinsky's insights into Things. Topics such as Thing acquisition practices, the emotionality attached to Things, Thing disposal habits, and freedom from being stuck with Things are addressed in detail in this book. Glovinsky's inventories placed throughout the book will enable readers to apply the knowledge they are gaining to their Thing situations.
Do you want to Unclutter Your Life? Katherine Gibson can help you. In this book she discusses Transforming Your Physical, Mental, and Emotional Space. Her practical advice helps readers separate what they really need from what they think they need in each of these three areas. Whether the reader is seeking assistance with office and paper clutter, work and TV clutter, or guilt and money clutter, Gibson’s words of wisdom provide matter-of-fact guidance in decluttering to bring about life change.
If you want to learn about some of the psychological and emotions reasons behind clutter as well as some practical methods for reducing clutter, Let Go of Clutter by Harriet Schechter is a book for you. Practical step-by-step methods for organizing are mixed with the “why” of how the clutter got there in the first place.