declutter — Blog — Start3Things

“From the moment you start tidying, you will be compelled to reset your life. As a result, your life will start to change. That’s why the task of putting your house in order should be done quickly.” – Marie Kondo

This week, I have spent 15 minutes each day creating order in one place/space. Under the sink. Paperwork piles filing. And after looking for the sock match one too many times, the sock drawer. Clutter and disorder enter over time, take root and expand both externally and internally. External decluttering is the path to internal decluttering too.

“When your room is clean and uncluttered, you have no choice but to examine your inner state.” — Marie Kondo

When we sort, clear the nonessential, discard and organize, we create space for clarity and discernment to put our attention, energy and focus on what’s truly essential.

“Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done. It doesn’t mean just doing less for the sake of less either. It is about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential.”― Greg McKeown, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Each day over the next week, work on decluttering one external space and reflect on what needs to be put in order inside too. A minimum of 15 minutes for each activity. 30 minutes per day for 7 days is a minimal investment to impact your outlook and gain new insight into what you want to be essential for you this year.

3 Things List:

Clear clutter
Create order
Spark joy

Start today and keep chipping away. One sock at a time.

“The best way to choose what to keep and what to throw away is to take each item in one’s hand and ask: ‘Does this spark joy?’ If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it. This is not only the simplest but also the most accurate yardstick by which to judge.”— Marie Kondo

“Anxiety arises from not being able to see the whole picture. If you feel anxious, but are not sure why, try putting your things in order.” – Marie Kondo

Best-selling author of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy Marie Kondo offers much more than a space organization method. She makes the connection between decluttering external spaces and the outcome it has on decluttering our internal space and reframing our perspective. Less is more, a place for everything, choosing joy.

“The best way to choose what to keep and what to throw away is to take each item in one's hand and ask: “Does this spark joy?” If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it. This is not only the simplest but also the most accurate yardstick by which to judge.” – Marie Kondo

During the pandemic lock-down of 2020, many people decluttered and organized their spaces since they couldn’t leave them. In spring, I decided to replace old linoleum, carpet and laminate flooring with vinyl plank flooring throughout my first floor. To prepare for the project, I had to move everything from the first floor into the garage. That required clearing space in the garage first. While I was at it, I decided to also repaint the walls as well. It took a month to get ready for the floor installation including a lot of trips to donate and discard items. Unknowingly, we collect a lot through the years, inside and out. We don’t realize how much until we have to create space for new things.