The Dubious Joys of Decluttering
Yes, decluttering is GOOD. And we probably all feel better once it's done, right? Except for some of us, it's hard, okay? YES, I need all of these things. And I need them right here where I can see them so I know where they are.
DON’T MESS WITH MY CHAOS
I THRIVE ON CHAOS. I EAT CHAOS FOR BREAKFAST. IT'S ORGANIZED CHAOS, ALL RIGHT?
Except. It’s true that chaos gets in the way of creativity and productivity and nags at me. Organized or not.
Also, clutter—whether it's electronic or physical or mind or emotional—comes with a bunch of sticky energy. All of those bits of flotsam and jetsam are tied to bits of us.
And maybe that's why decluttering feels like work. It is hard for me.
I recently tried a decluttering challenge where you're meant to give away/throw away 27 items for nine days in a row. As is usual for me, I started off with great gusto, and then got bored and distracted and missed a day.
The rules of this challenge are that if you miss a day, you have to freaking START OVER. Rebel that I am, I didn't. Now I feel vaguely guilty for failing the challenge, a little piece of emotional clutter that I didn't really need, thank you very much.
NOTES TO SELF: Start small, continue small. Let it be easy. Any small step is good, so release the guilt already! And maybe, you know, take the box that I filled with items for the Goodwill 3 weeks ago TO the Goodwill…
Inbox Zero(ish): Decluttering your way to more joy
On our newest episode of the One Happy Thing Podcast, which we called Inbox Zero(ish): Decluttering Your Way to More Joy, Maddie Dawson bravely shares her recent experience clearing out thousands (yes, many, many thousands!) of unread emails from her inbox. From ancient newsletters to expired coupons and requests for political donations, she takes us through the emotional rollercoaster of hitting “delete”—and the surprising joy that followed.
We talk about:
Why clutter (even digital clutter!) carries emotional weight
How unfinished or ignored things quietly drain your energy
Why we are thinking of founding Email Inbox Anonymous 😂
And how letting go—even of unread messages—can create space for new inspiration
✨ One Happy Takeaway: Decluttering doesn't have to be a massive life overhaul. It can start with one folder, one drawer, one inbox. The energy you free up can make room for creativity, calm, and clarity.
Here are some places you can listen (but you'll probably find One Happy Thing on your favorite podcasting app.)
I'd love to hear from YOU. Is there one small thing you've cleared recently that brought a surprising sense of peace?