Category Archives: Decluttering

Focus

I’ve spent years advising people to declutter their life because it will enhance their ability to focus. Clear away the nonsense and you’re left with what really matters, right? I started out this pandemic with heartbreak about a writing and yoga retreat I’d looked forward to for months. As I realized it would need toContinue reading “Focus”

Radical Decluttering

A funny thing happened as I cleared my house of excess stuff: The invisibility cloak lifted off my furniture. I’d taken it for granted, it was part of the scenery. I hadn’t considered living without my lovely living room wall unit, for example, until there was almost nothing left in it and the starkness ofContinue reading “Radical Decluttering”

The Best Clutter

In the video called My Furniture-Free Minimalist Apartment Tour, I was charmed by Youheum Son, an extreme minimalist. I could listen to her soothing voice for hours, but it was the hope of seeing more of her cat, Boru, that kept me glued to my screen. I scrolled through many of her other videos, wondering,Continue reading “The Best Clutter”

More Motivation for Minimalism

I’m years into my quest for less, and the more radical decluttering I do, the happier I am. There’s an urgency to it now though, that has nothing to do with the delight I find in simplicity. It’s my children. The earth is on fire, and their future is burning along with it. Our homeContinue reading “More Motivation for Minimalism”

No Need to Keep Notes

I’m giving a presentation soon to a new group, who aren’t familiar with my radical decluttering methods, but they are professional organizers, so … I’m tempted to ask them: What will you do with the handout after the session is done? I love Marie Kondo’s approach: “My basic principle for sorting papers is to throwContinue reading “No Need to Keep Notes”

Let’s Get Sentimental

We may not yet have paperless offices, but times have definitely changed when it comes to keeping mementoes. Most of my kids’ schoolwork is done through google classroom, my ticket stubs and boarding passes are QR codes on my phone, and I don’t get many airmail letters with exotic stamps from pen pals anymore. CleaningContinue reading “Let’s Get Sentimental”

Let the Snowflakes Settle

As I got better at noticing my emotions and my internal state in general, I often felt that it wasn’t what it “should” be, and then I’d feel a drive to change it. I had a whole host of techniques to fix my thinking. If I was worrying about something, my strategy was to thinkContinue reading “Let the Snowflakes Settle”

What I’m Reading Now

I’m a big fan of meditation and yoga, and everything I’m learning about buddhism is bringing me more and more wisdom and inner peace. I’m also irreverent and sarcastic, and probably used to make fun of people who talked about ‘inner peace’. Life is messy 🙂  So, while my reading lately has been spiritually enrichingContinue reading “What I’m Reading Now”

Finish Chewing Before Filling Your Fork: a Lesson in Decluttering

It was in an article about the Queen of England that I read about this habit. She takes a small amount of food into her mouth, puts down her fork and chews completely before loading her fork for another bite. As someone who approached every meal as if it were a speed-eating contest … IContinue reading “Finish Chewing Before Filling Your Fork: a Lesson in Decluttering”