GETTING ORGANIZED

It may be heartening to learn that we all have a powerful ""innate capacity to organize,"" but with list after list of suggested paraphernalia and steps to follow for organizing money, paperwork, closets, kitchens, etc.--well, the remedy looks more intimidating than the disease. Winston's purpose is twofold--to clarify the origins of compulsive chaos (principally rebellion against parental control), and in so doing to instill a new concept of time and physical environment; and second, to offer a ""how to"" reference tool for those who are concerned with a specific practical problem. She offers the ""organizing principle""--""any intellectual or practical system always contains a central Pole, an essential priority, around which all the other components group themselves""--and aids in determining hidden priorities. When setting up a home office, for example, do you need to be near windows? Is complete isolation desirable, or do you work better near people? Whatever your requirements, Winston suggests quantifying their importance to you (a top priority is #l) and dealing with top priorities first. Hints for carrying notebooks and appointment calendars, techniques for combating procrastination, ways to use otherwise wasted space--invaluable at New Year's resolution time, but exhausting to contemplate year-round.