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| Making Space, Clutter Free |
I had previously read the author's other book, Make Space for Happiness, and wrote briefly about it, last November. That book identified seven "emotional clutter magnets" - purpose, love, connection, wisdom, confidence, self-respect, and ease. The author's premise is that these emotional clutter magnets lead to the acquisition of stuff that end up cluttering our homes, even after we've decluttered, earlier.
#1 My Stuff Keeps Me in the Past
#2 My Stuff Tells Me Who I Am
#3 The Stuff I am Avoiding
#4 My Fantasy Stuff for My Fantasy Life
#5 I'm Not Worth My Good Stuff
#6 Trapped with Other People's Stuff
#7 The Stuff I Keep Paying For
She goes on to explain what each clutter block means, what the clues are, and how to get over the block; I am afraid that I could identify with most, if not all, of these clutter blocks! Yikes!
The book also includes a "Clutter Freedom Quiz", which I found very helpful. She lists nine rooms (although the book says there are ten rooms; earlier in the chapter, she mentions a couple of other rooms including a TV room and an office, which were left off the quiz) with five yes/no questions each:
Garage
Entryway
Living Room
Dining Room
Kitchen
Kids' Rooms
Master Bedroom
Clothes Closets and Dressers
Bathroom
Each "Yes" answer is worth 10 points; you add up all the Yes points, divide by the number of rooms (this is where the book said there were 10 rooms, but, I counted only nine).
1-15 : You've got a good handle on your possessions, but the trick to staying ahead of it is tune ups. Devote a few minutes each day to putting away, not putting down, and you'll stay clutter free
16-30 : You have stepped into the danger zone. If you don't get a handle on your clutter soon, you will no longer own your stuff - your stuff will own you
31-50 : Don't panic ... drill down to see what's under the clutter. Why can't you let go of stuff and why do you keep bringing in more stuff into your home?
I adapted the rooms listed to the rooms in my house. I don't have an entry way because my front door opens directly to the living room, but, I applied the entry way questions to the living room and considered the family room (which is not listed) as the living room. I also applied the questions for the kids' rooms to my spare bedroom, which is my home office/crafts room/guest room and which has become a bit of a dump!
Most of my Yes answers pertained to the kitchen and my spare bedroom a.k.a The Dump!
The book goes on with decluttering steps for each room and closet/cabinets, etc., and how to plan for life altering events such as downsizing. The author's methods involve taking everything out of cabinets and closets and sorting through them all, putting back only what you want to keep. I tend to find that to be overwhelming - I'd rather declutter a shelf at a time.
But, I could identify more with this book than with the author's other book, "Make Space for Happiness", which I read, last year. I have identified the areas I need to work on and I will do that, next.
Have you read this book? If so, what are your opinions on it? If not, is it something you might consider reading?
I am very interested in this. I checked the Libby app and the book is not in the collection, but I tagged it to be notified if the online library gets a copy. In the meantime, when I return from my trip, I can see if our local library has the book.
ReplyDeleteI need to declutter and am tracking my, so far, small accomplishment. Fifteen things out the door. For every item I have let go, I have touched, pondered and put back probably five things.
I feel disloyal donating items that I received as gifts or that came from family. I feel wasteful getting rid of clothes, even those I haven’t worn in years. Nobody wants them but I still envision them as valuable career-wear.
I am hoping for a breakthrough in 2024. I don’t want to think about burdening anyone if I leave behind a houseful of stuff.
I hope you are able to get a copy of the book, Taconix. Sometimes, it is helpful to understand why we hold onto our stuff. I have been decluttering for a long time. I got rid of most of the "easy" stuff and now, I'm trying to declutter the stuff that made it through previous decluttering efforts. I, too, struggle with giving away certain things I've received as gifts, etc.
DeleteSee if you can donate your old career-wear clothes to a women's shelter. Sometimes, they ask for office wear type clothes for women who might be going for a job interview, etc.
I've done the thing where you empty an entire wardrobe/cabinet/cupboard and sort what you want to keep and what you don't. I almost always run out of time and end up putting things back unsorted. One drawer or one shelf is much more manageable
ReplyDeleteI, too, have done that in the past, Angela, but, these days, I find it easier to tackle smaller projects.
DeleteI have not read this book, but I would consider it. I know some people who I wish would read it because their stuff is really holding them back.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was an interesting book and found I could relate to the emotional clutter blocks. I hold on to a lot of stuff for sentimental reasons or because they are souvenirs; in a way my stuff fairly screams who I am! LOL.
DeleteI read this book late last year, and I recall that I found it interesting. Yet I could barely remember what the author actually said! Your review was an excellent summary and refreshed my memory. I found her other book not very useful to me. My clutter has built up over decades and inherited. I rarely shop for stuff anymore. I need to work on many areas! It's good you've identified those you need to work on. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI, too, couldn't relate to the other book as I have stopped buying a lot of things I used to buy. I found this book to be more useful and part of the reason for the detailed summary is to enable me to remember!
DeleteIt's good that you found the book useful. It's clothes for me and I have far too many but letting go is difficult. I couldn't empty a wardrobe as I know I would be putting them back with the same mindset that they might fit or I might wear them one day. The only area in that list would be wardrobes and drawers for me. So I would definitely say my stuff owns me.
ReplyDeleteI, too, find it hard to declutter clothes. I don't buy a lot of clothes, but, my cousins give me the clothes they declutter and I have a hard time deciding to keep only a few items and pass on the rest! I turned all the hangers around the other way, earlier this month. As I wear the items, wash, and return them to the closet, I will turn the hangers around the normal way. Then, I will be able to see what I've worn and what I haven't. Hopefully, that will make it easier for me to declutter them!
DeleteIf wardrobes and drawers are the only problem areas for you, then, I think you are doing really well! :)
Bless thanks for the book review. I'm glad that you have found a book that speaks to you. As for the first book, the only piece that was an "ah, oh" moment for me, was about the emotional why I have a stash of crafting supplies. I want to read her first book (this book you review) to understand my decluttering blocks, but alas my library does not have. I do follow Tracy on Instagram, when she imparts a lot of what you have recapped in this post. I cannot handle pulling everything out & sorting. I'm a one shelf, one spot at a time kind of declutter sorter. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Mary-Lou. Yes, I remember you saying that you realized why you kept buying craft supplies. I found this book to be more helpful than the other book; I hope you will be able to find a copy of this book or, perhaps, submit a recommendation to the library to buy this book?
DeleteThat sounds like a really interesting book. I suppose if you get to the bottom of why you keep the stuff it might help you get rid of it. I am in the mood to declutter - surprisingly - but I'm not home to do it!
ReplyDeleteI found it quite interesting, Sharon. Sometimes it helps to understand why we keep certain things; that can then, help us to figure out how to overcome that block. Hopefully, you'll still be in the mood to declutter once you return home. :)
DeleteThat is a good review, now we don't have to read the book! I think of all topics to read and write about, decluttering is the most popular one today. We all just struggle with our stuff! If (or perhaps when) we have to move to somewhere smaller, it will be the moment of truth if we don't get rid of some more stuff soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bushlady. Yes, decluttering is a very popular subject, these days! I'm not quite sure how and when it started, but, we all seem to have accumulated a lot of possessions!
DeleteI have not read it but should as I am decluttering every single day
ReplyDeleteWell done on the daily decluttering! :)
DeleteThis is all very interesting.
ReplyDeleteWith the emotional clutter blocks and then the clutter freedom quiz.
I never mentioned this when it was going on but back in the fall we almost bought a new house. Which, of course, would involve selling our current house.
My realtor wanted to be ready with a website for the sale of our house the instant that our offer was accepted - should that happen.
So within a day or so of seeing the potential house, I had to have our house ready to be professionally photographed.
Was I stressed? You betcha. But I cannot imagine how impossible that situation would've been had I not been constantly decluttering over the last 5? 7? years? I don't even know how long it's been but that's probably a good guess.
The move did not come to be but my having gotten rid of unused stuff served me well in the moment.
Wow, Debra! I can't even imagine! What a good thing you have been consistently decluttering! Are you still thinking of buying a new house?
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