Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter and Organize to Make More Room for Happiness

by Gretchen Rubin

By getting rid of the things I don’t use, don’t need, or don’t love, as well as the things that don’t work, don’t fit, or don’t suit, I free my mind—and my shelves—for what I truly value.

But if you don’t need it, love it, or use it, you should probably get rid of it. For any possession that passes this test, ask one additional question: Where does it belong?

In general, it’s more useful to think about accessibility than to think about storage.

Creating order is easier when we take the time to set up properly.

When we’re very clear about why we’re doing it, it’s easier to use our time and energy productively—and also to recognize success.

Just because we’re busy doesn’t mean we’re being productive. Working is one of the most dangerous forms of procrastination.

Or as writer Flannery O’Connor put it, “Accepting oneself does not preclude an attempt to become better.”

IT’S EASIER TO KEEP UP THAN CATCH UP.

Have a purpose for your possessions. Don’t get into the habit of keeping things for which you have no use.

Having less often leads us to use our things more often and with more enjoyment, because we’re not fighting our way through a welter of unwanted stuff.

Sometimes our stuff drives us a little crazy, so it’s helpful to stay grateful to our possessions: for having served us well, for embodying someone else’s affection for us in the form of a gift, or for giving us a thrill upon purchase. And most important, we should be grateful that we’re lucky enough to have these things in our lives. An attitude of gratitude, even for inanimate objects, makes us happier.