I picked up my first Emilie Barnes book at a garage sale. I fell in love. Her story was/is great.

 
While many organizing book authors will tell you how they came up with their system after falling deeply into a chaotic lifestyle and home Emilie’s story is a bit different. Already of an organized mindset she set up her systems to help her mother keep house while she ran the family home business. She impressed her husband with her skills and used them to help keep her brother’s broken family together. You know she knows her stuff and in 1982 she shared it with the world.

More Hours in My Day is one of Emilie Barnes’ first books. A complete home and family organizing solutions book. From managing your personal self to reigning in and organizing your children you will find steps and tools to keeping and organized home life.

Besides organizing yourself the main base of Mrs. Barnes home organizing plan is the From Mess to Total Rest Solution. Listing out the equipment (such as Perfect Boxes ) needed and a method for dealing with each item in your home you will declutter, clean and organize your home into a welcoming oasis.

In my 1994 edition there are 5 sections, and 41 chapters of organizing information.

The 5 Sections of organizing are...

• You which includes scheduling, and goals
• Your Home which includes cleaning and room organization
• Finances
• Family and Friends (such as celebrations)
• Children chores and the such

Some tips to help you navigate the book.

1. Many times we like to open a book and jump right to the middle. Especially if it’s not a novel.
2. Don’t do that with More Hours in My Day . Start at the beginning. The beginning is all about organizing your personal self so you CAN find the time in your day to tackle your home.
3. If you’re completely disorganized don’t be intimidated by Emilie Barnes. She has helped thousands and thousands of women get it together.
4. Emilie Barnes is a Christian and so the book is from a Christian standpoint with scripture and personal devotion tips.
5. Don’t try and apply all of the tips in one weekend. Mess didn’t happen in a day and it will take a lot longer to get it together.
6. This is a lifestyle change. Not just rearranging your belongings. Keep that in mind.

I do highly recommend this book. Even in my, what some people think of as, ultra organized state I have moments where I need some motivation to get it together. That’s when I pick up More Hours in My Day . It never fails to get me back on track.