lifechangingbookI’m not sure what has happened to me but lately, as in the last 6 months, I have felt this incessant need to unclutter my life.  I day dream about getting rid of stuff and clearing out space.  {this coming from the gal who loves stuff}

I had this epiphany…I have a lot of stuff that not only doesn’t matter to me but that we also don’t ever use.  Why am I holding on to this stuff?

Fortunately for me and my family, I’m not a hoarder nor do I have a lot of tchotchkes around the house.  However, my closet is over flowing with clothes I never wear, there are cabinets with stuff in them that we never use and my desk is always cluttered with office supplies {#papernerd}.  I want to donate all of this stuff and get it out of my life, pronto!

What’s interesting is that I am not alone in this new found quest…several of my friends are going through this as well and there are articles and books written on this subject.  I came across one such book that I am currently reading–The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo.

I can already tell you that this book is going to change my life! I’ve just started the book but she warns not to get started tidying until you’ve read the whole book…ugh, that’s going to be tough for me. I better read fast.

In the book, Kondo talks about how better her clients feel once she teaches them to “tidy up” their lives. There are stories of clients who didn’t want to go to work because their office was a mess, or they couldn’t sleep well because their bedroom was so cluttered with stuff.  She writes that tidying up is freeing and allows energy and light to flow into your life. Kondo is adamant that this is a process and she teaches you how to tidy up so that it’s not a constant struggle.

Here’s what Amazon says:

Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you’ll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo’s clients have lapsed (and she still has a three-month waiting list). 

With detailed guidance for determining which items in your house “spark joy” (and which don’t), this international bestseller featuring Tokyo’s newest lifestyle phenomenon will help you clear your clutter and enjoy the unique magic of a tidy home—and the calm, motivated mindset it can inspire.

“Spark Joy” I love this! If there’s something in my house that doesn’t bring me joy, why do I have it in my house?

Tell me…have you been thinking about the clutter in your life?