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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

does this bring me joy?

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For Christmas this year, I got a great book i didn't even know I wanted: 


Life-changing is, in fact, a great way to describe this process.

This book is really telling us that we have too much stuff, which makes our homes cluttered and untidy. Do you have clothes that don't fit in your drawers or closet? Do you have scarves and mittens that don't fit where they go? Are your bookcases overflowing with books? Is your desk or kitchen table or counter full of mail and catalogs and bills and papers you're not sure where to put? If any rings true, this book is for you.

We have too much stuff. Way too much. My closet was full to the max, where when I'd take out one shirt, the two on either side of it would pop out with it. I knew it was time to declutter, and so I followed the steps in the book and got rid of 10 bags of stuff: mostly clothes, but shoes, purses and bags, and cups and mugs:



The hangers below, they were all in my closet with clothes before this tidying-up:



And now, instead, I have space and all of the clothes that bring me joy. That's how you decide what to keep. You start with clothes, and even more specifically, tops. Go get all your tops that are hanging, your T-shirts, tank tops. Take them all to the same place and then one-by-one, pick each up and ask yourself, "Does this bring me joy?" If not, its as simple as this: discard.

Now, my tank tops and T-Shirts, which used to take up two drawers, fit in one, with space to spare:



And I feel so happy. I have space in my apartment. It feels big enough, and I have room to grow.

I still haven't gotten to my office supplies, books, and mementos like pictures and cards. I love my books and notebooks, and I love office supplies, too, so it's going to prove a little more challenging, but I'm excited to do it.



Best of all with this book, it's going to change the way I buy things, too, because with every purchase, I'm going to be asking, "Does this bring me joy?" If not, it's staying on the racks.

Have you read this book?
Have you decluttered and tidied?
Please share your experiences!

14 comments:

  1. Ah! What a great feeling to declutter and reassess all the stuff we have. I have been going through papers and closets. I'm wondering if I might like the book as well!

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  2. Wow! You should be proud of yourself! I bought the book last summer and I'm trying to do this, but I'm horrible at it! I keep telling myself it will feel so good when (if?) I am ever done…

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  3. I've read the book and it seemed a bit too drastic for me. But I did find myself asking the question, "Does this bring me joy?" as I hauled out my boxes of Christmas decorations. Here's to lots of joy as you continue your decluttering journey.

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  4. I started in my closet today. It needs to happen throughout my house. I might need to check out that book. Thanks for sharing and enjoy the rest of your break!

    Amanda
    A Very Curious Class

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  5. I could use some tidying up, but my books are off limits! I love the quote at the end because it is so true!

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  6. Your post today kind of is a "response" to mine -- which is about how full-to-overflowing I feel everything has been lately. I'm going to check out this book. If you are really into minimizing and simplifying a great blog I've found is http://nosidebar.com/. You might want to check it out!

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  7. I am going to run out later and get this book....I need it! Thanks for the recommendation. Happy new year!!

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  8. I saw that book at Barnes and Noble and considered it. Thanks for the reminder to let go of clutter. I may just have to purge tomorrow.

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  9. I saw that book at Barnes and Noble and considered it. Thanks for the reminder to let go of clutter. I may just have to purge tomorrow.

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  10. This book is on my list... Wonder what it may do in my classroom, so many things in there that do not bring me joy. My friend (who lives next to me) has the book, I'm going to ask to borrow it. Thanks for the inspiration!
    Alyce

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