Julie Morgenstern - SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life: A Four-Step Guide to Getting Unstuck

Praise for Julie Morgensterns SHED program

Lays out a plan for clearing out both physical and sentimental clutter... a handy little guide to Dumpstering your way into a state of Zen.

Time

Morgenstern is the queen of helping people put their lives in order.

USA Today

If you want to, need to, or are being forced to make a big life change, its probably a good time to check out [this book].

Detroit Free Press

[Julie Morgenstern] is gifted at explaining organizing techniques and systems and isnt afraid to speak from personal experience.... The goal of her system is impressive. Who among us wouldnt want to have more energy, insight, and clarity? Sign me up for a hefty dose of those three things!

Realsimple.com

Picks up where other de-cluttering books fall short. Morgenstern doesnt pass judgment or implore readers to live with lessrather, she uses the process of letting go as a catalyst for finding your unique voice and creating a meaningful, fully engaged life.

Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective
People and The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness

No matter what your age or life stage, Julie Morgenstern shows how the power of SHED can bring more happiness into your life.

Marci Shimoff, #1 New York Times bestselling author of
Happy for No Reason, coauthor of Chicken Soup for the
Womans Soul, and featured teacher in The Secret

Goes right to the heart of why its hard to let go of physical and emotional clutter, offering inspired solutions that really work.

Barbara Sher, author of I Could Do
Anything If I Only Knew What It Was

SHED shows you what is underneath all the reasons why people do what they do, and helps people get to the heart of their issues.

Jean Chatzky, author of Make Money, Not Excuses

The simple SHED model teaches a tactical, practical approach to getting ones arms around the psychological, behavioral and physical aspects of change so that it can finally happen.

Julie Jansen, author of I Dont Know What I Want,
but I Know Its Not This

A clear guide to uncovering your innermost desires by examining your stuff, this book is full of wisdom, insight, and practical advice. The stories and Julies own confessions draw you in and keep you there to work through your own clutter.

Laura Berman Fortgang, author of Now What? 90 Days
to a New Life Direction and Take Yourself to the Top

Perfect for anyone whose current life isnt working anymore but who doesnt know which way to head next.

Margaret Lobenstine, author of The Renaissance Soul:
Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One

Heres a practical guide on how to take control of your stuff and set yourself free!

Barbara Corcoran

Julies wise words and sage advice lead you to surprise yourself... about yourself.

Nate Berkus, author of Home Rules

ALSO BY JULIE MORGENSTERN

Never Check E-Mail in the Morning
(previously published as Making Work Work)

Organizing from the Inside Out

Time Management from the Inside Out

Organizing from the Inside Out for Teens

Fireside

A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com

Copyright 2008 by Julie Morgenstern

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Fireside Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Fireside trade paperback edition March 2009

FIRESIDE and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-800-456-6798 or business@simonandschuster.com.

Designed by Jan Pisciotta

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows:

Morgenstern, Julie.

When organizing isnt enough : SHED your stuff, change your life / Julie Morgenstern.

p. m.

A Fireside book.

1. House cleaning. 2. Orderliness. I. Title.

TX324 .M66 2008

648dc22 2008299736

ISBN-13: 978-0-7432-5089-4

ISBN-10: 0-7432-5089-3

ISBN-13: 978-0-7432-5090-0 (pbk)

ISBN-10: 0-7432-5090-7 (pbk)
eISBN-13: 9-781-45163-966-7

Originally published as When Organizing Isnt Enough in 2008 by Fireside

To Dad and Pepper

for their loving and remarkable
help with this book

PREPARATION

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

Goethe

Ever felt stuck?

Like theres something more, but you dont know what it is?

You know:

Eager to make a change, shake things up, try something different, or get back to normal, find your passion, be happy.

But youre not sure how.

Or youre not sure whatever youve dreamed up is worthy of pursuit, or even possible to pull off.

Or maybe youve already experienced that big change (marriage, divorce, empty nest, retirement, new career, new house), but are having a difficult time adjusting.

I dont believe that any book (including this one) is a fix-all, magic pill. I wont promise this book will solve your problems, help you find peace or reveal the secret of life. It wont. What I will promise, however, is that reading this book will dislodge you from your current state of paralysis and help you move forward with optimism and confidence.

The theory behind SHED (the process you will learn about in this book) is that by releasing your attachment to obsolete, tangible items in your space and schedule, you will gain the energy, insight, and clarity to make decisions about the big stuff. SHEDing creates the space to think; it fortifies your identity and eliminates old, unhealthy belief systems.

I developed the SHED process over several years of working with clients who needed something more than the organizing and time management services I usually provided. I also have personal experience with SHED. It helped me navigate a difficult transition from the life of a day-to-day parent to life as an empty nester (in a brand-new home), and from the solitary existence and singular focus of a business owner and single mom to building a vibrant social life and engaging more fully in expanded business and personal relationships.

In my experience, there are three common characteristics that define people who are ready to SHED. See if you recognize yourself in the descriptions below:

There is a specter of a better future in your mind. You are gripped by the feeling that theres something more, but you dont know what it is. Youre not sure exactly what you want, but there is a glimmer of a future in your mind that is pulling you forward. It may be hard to articulate, but its a deep-seated wish, a hope, a dream thats been rattling around inside.