It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff | Peter Walsh

It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff | Peter Walsh | Stop hoarding and Start Living!

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It's All Too Much:...

	It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff Peter Walsh Free Press, 2006 - 240 pages average customer review:based on 112 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

When you think of what it will take to clean your house, are you so overwhelmed you throw up your hands and cry, "It's all too much"? Do you dream of having a closet where your clothes aren't crammed in so tightly that you can actually get to them? Is your basement filled with boxes of precious family mementos you haven't opened in ten years but are too afraid to toss? Are your kitchen counters overrun with appliances you've never used? Do your kids play in the living room because there's no room left in their playroom? If somewhere along the way you've simply lost the ability to keep your home organized and clutter-free, then It's All Too Much has the solution you've been searching for.

Peter Walsh, the organizational guru from TLC's hit show Clean Sweep, understands how easy it is for clutter to creep into your life and how hard it is to get rid of it. In It's All Too Much, he shares his proven system for letting go of your emotional and physical clutter so that you can create a happier, more stress-free home and life. At last, here is a system for managing your clutter, regaining control, and living the life you imagine for yourself.

Peter has helped clients from every walk of life. With his trademark humor and insight, Peter guides you step-by-step through the very charged process of decluttering your home, organizing your possessions, and reclaiming your life. Going way beyond color-coded boxes and storage bin solutions, It's All Too Much shows you how to reexamine your priorities and let go of the things that are weighing you down. Clearly and simply, Peter gives you the courage you need to go through your home, room by room -- even possession by possession -- and honestly assess what adds to your quality of life and what's keeping you from living the life of your dreams.

Filled with real-life examples and advice for homes of all sizes and personalities, It's All Too Much will set you free from the emotional baggage that goes along with clutter and help you lead a fuller, richer life with less stuff.

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A life-changing book!

Peter Walsh, the professional organizer from TLC's reality show "Clean Sweep" holds forth on how and why we are overwhelmed with "junk" and what we can do about it. Instead of offering simple "how to clean" advice he tackles the psychology of why people have trouble letting go of things.

Basically, there are two reasons people have trouble thinning down.
1) They have an irrational sentimental attachment to an item. This explains why people keep broken, unusable goods, or family heirlooms which are more of a burden than a blessing.
2) They feel they might need the item "one day". This usually boils down to a fear of scarcity. In our decadent Western society, how likely is it that we won't be able to run to any number of big box stores down the street and pick up whatever we need, at the time that we need it? Do yourself a favor, he argues, and get rid of the stuff that's weighing you down.

I did find a few of his edicts a tad draconian. For example, no bronzed baby shoe mementos, and never ever more than 3 magazines in the home at a time? Really?
However! You must keep in mind, that this is coming from a man who has personally witnessed a lot of the worst cases in the country. I think I can speak for the majority of Americans when I say that my house certainly doesn't look as bad as some of the "before's" on his show. Unfortunately, my home doesn't look as beautiful as the "after's" either. For most of us, whose homes are somewhere in-between, this book is the perfect kick in the pants to get a bit of clearing, organizing and beautifying accomplished.

Walsh patiently, reasonably and logically lays out some of the common thoughts and fears that prevent us from getting rid the clutter and living in the best space possible. I felt inspired to clean up my act and while my home still isn't "perfect" it's now looking a darn sight better than it has in years. It's a difference that you can see! For this reason alone, I give this book 5 stars. Highly, highly, highly recommend.

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Stop hoarding and Start Living!

The really pleasant thing is that Peter Walsh makes you laugh at yourself for the ridiculous clutter you have clung to. And he has some great little nuggets to remember: "If the family heirloom is gathering dust in the basement, don't tell me it is something important or has personal value."

And concerning that over run basement: "It's not like you come downstairs one day and make a decision that you'd rather fill the basement with old lawn furniture and off-season clothes than have a place where the family can gather for movie night."

He lists every excuse you can make:
1-I might need it one day
2-It's too important to let go
3-I can't get rid of it, it's worth a lot of money
4-My house is too small (You should either move to a larger house now (and I mean NOW) or get rid of some of your stuff.
5-I don't have the time
6-I don't know how it got like this.
7-It isn't mine.
8-It's too overwhelming.
9-It's not a problem my husband/wife etc. just thinks it is.

Walsh takes you through each room in the house and then helps you determine the purpose of that room and if the current things in that room fulfill that purpose with specifics like, don't save catalogs, reduce books to shelf capacity.

He encourages you to let go of things that you don't love anymore. Don't keep them hoping that they will appreciate in value.

The kitchen clean up covers cleaning out and organizing work zones. "And NO. Junk. Drawer. Do I make myself clear?"

The book is packed full of a monthly maintenance calendar once you've cleared the clutter, room by room help, daily chore list, etc.

I really recommend this book if you need to stop hoarding and start living.

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Help for all the clutter excuses

Peter Walsh, star of TLC's Clean Sweep, is part organizational pro and part psychologist. I have been a fan of Clean Sweep for a long time and enjoy the way Peter works with people to help them clean out the clutter. I have to admit that I have long used the "excuse" of "It's Too Important To Let Go" in my life in order to hold on to things that I believe have sentimental value. In my efforts to control the clutter I have piled up, I fell into the trap of thinking that if I could buy one more storage system, get a bigger house or purchase one more organizational book that I would be able to get it all under control. Peter points out that container companies and storage facilities are doing a booming business because they don't do anything to truly get to the root of our problem with clutter, they just give us another place to put it and soon we need another organizational system or another mini storage unit. This is where I was when I started reading this book. Now, let me be the first to say that I will most likely never get rid of some of my sentimental clutter. However, as Peter points out, if it is that important to you it should not be sitting somewhere stored and covered in dust. If you believe it has sentimental value then display it proudly. If you find you cannot do this then it probably is not all that important to you and it can go. You will learn about other excuses people use to hang on to clutter, discover how bad your clutter problem is by taking a simple quiz and discover strategies for cleaning the clutter from every room of your home. I believe that this book was a true turning point for me in my ongoing battle with clutter. I am slowly going through our house and cleaning out things that are not used, wanted or needed. Since we are in the process of adopting our third child and the room that will be his bedroom at one time looked like a prime candidate for "Clean Sweep" and now is well on its way to being organized I count my journey to de-clutter to be a success so far.

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If you think it's hard to quit smoking;try getting rid of clutter.

I managed to quit smoking about 20 years ago, when I was smoking over 2 packs a day.It was something I had tried to do many times but without success. I tried every trick in the book,but before long I was back smoking as much as ever.Why couldn't I quit? No reason at all,I certainly enjoyed it and the enjoyment obviously exceeded my will power.As a matter of fact,I have not even become an anti-smoker and still enjoy the aroma of smokers;but have decided to let them do it.
However getting rid of stuff,junk,clutter,or whatever you choose to call it has been a whole different matter--at least for me.
The reason clutter collects is different for different people.However; the reason always boils down to one thing,at least for most people.Some people border on being compulsive or have a mental issue;but that is the exception.If you really want to see how bad that can be I suggest you read "Cadillac Jack" by Larry McMurtry;where you will find a guy who completely filled his house with bird nests.However; there are those who just don't want to throw anything away,keep it because it might come in handy,it's still good,someone might want it,etc.
In my case ,I feel it is different.Don't we all.I have always been engrossed in hobbies and interests and along with these interests have come the "stuff".And why do I have it? Sure,I've spent money and time on it over the years;but I like it, and it has been a lot of fun collecting it.To each his own,I suppose.If you have time and money,you might as well enjoy it. Travel,Drinking,Sports,Gardening,Photography,Music,Reading,Shopping,Dining, or whatever you choose to do is fine;but in many cases, a natural result is the accumulation of stuff.
It would be nice to be able to collect anything you wanted and have someplace to put it. Some wealthy people have had the luxury to do this ,but in the end they have to pass on and leave it all behind.And that has given the world its collections and museums.
So,what about this book and the stuff it talks about getting rid of?
Well,even if you are like me,with my personal library of over 7,000 books (and still growing),my collection of music,collection of rocks,minerals and fossils,collection of puzzles,collection of YO-YO's, ;You are going to be like me.We need all the help we can get and this book is filled with the help we need.
By the way,I have been working at this,as much by necessity as desire.I have a few books similar to this one. See my reviews for "Clutter's Last Stand" by Don Aslett on December 29,2005 and "Clutter Control" by by the Editors of FC&A Publishing on February 15,2008;they are both excellent.
So even for collectors,there is a lot of useful help in these books and we need to keep using the ideas ,if for no other reason than to help us keep it under control or to make room for something "new"

I can still remember the wise words of my dear old Grandmother who once said;

"Remember,everything you get,takes looking after"

I guess it's OK if you enjoy your "stuff",but if you don't;

GET RID OF IT!!!!

This book will definitely help you get started.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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