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

Nothing is more exhausting than the task that’s never started.

One of the biggest wastes of time is doing something well that didn’t need to be done at all.

Outer order isn’t a matter of having less or having more; it’s a matter of wanting what we have.

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

When deciding what to buy, remember that some things are easy to buy—but then we have to use them. If they're not used, they don't enhance our lives; they just contribute to guilt and clutter.

Something that can be done at any time is often done at no time. Do it now, or decide when you'll do it.

Rather than striving for a particular level of possessions—minimal or otherwise—it’s helpful to think about getting rid of what’s superfluous. Even people who prefer to own many possessions enjoy their surroundings more when they’ve purged everything that’s not needed, used, or loved.

Actually spending ten minutes clearing off one shelf is better than fantasizing about spending a weekend cleaning out the basement.

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.

Getting in control of our possessions makes us feel more in control of our fates. If this is an illusion, it's a helpful illusion--and it's a more pleasant way to live.

What we do every day matters more than what we do once in a while..

It’s easier to keep up than to catch up...

There's no "right" or "best" way to create a better life. Nevertheless, while each of us may define and achieve outer order in different ways, it's clear that for most people, outer order does indeed contribute to inner calm.

If you need to buy things to store things, perhaps you have too many things.

now is always the best time to begin.

When I clean up that mess, I’m always surprised by the disproportionate energy and cheer I gain, plus I’m able to find my keys.

Once I’ve cleared away the things I don’t need, use, or love, my surroundings reveal to me, and to others, the things that matter most to me. Careful curation means that my space and my possessions reflect my truest identity.

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. And that’s true for most people.

Creating order—even with things as mundane as socks or supplies—gives a disproportionate boost of energy and cheer. There’s so much we can’t control, but we can control our stuff. Create order.

What we assume will be temporary often becomes permanent; what we assume is permanent often proves temporary.

Instead of being sources of stress, my home and my office are places of comfort and energy.

Remember, the reason to clear clutter is because, somehow, that clutter is diminishing your happiness. If you don’t care, don’t bother.

It’s easy to assume that we “should” undertake a particular clutter-clearing task. 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.