Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff

You've decided to declutter!  Spring is springing, and your house is feeling crowded, dark, and grubby.  Things are coming alive outside, so why not add some life and energy inside? I'm glad you're here.  Decluttering is one door to a life of freedom, purpose, and contentment.  It's totally worth the time and effort, which can be considerable.  But it's an investment in your happier future, with less stress, more time, and more focus.  Yay for all of that! But I think I should warn you about some of the not-so-great aspects that you're going to discover as you follow this path.  Believe me, the end is worth it, but along the way you're going to be faced with some awful truths. 5 truths you don't want to hear but need to know 1.  Decluttering alone won't automatically change your life. I promise a lot when I talk about decluttering.  And everything I say is true – but it's possible to do a gigantic purge and not get the life change you're loo...

Who says winter is the only time to hygge?  Hygge elements enhance life every day, no matter the time of year. Hygge (originally a Norwegian word pronounced "hoo-gah") can be loosely translated as "well-being."  The Danes adopted the word and turned it into a lifestyle.  They're always at or near the top of the list on international happiness surveys, and hygge is a big part of the reason for that. Why should you care about hygge? Maybe you're not Danish (I'm not either), and you're wondering what this fascination with hygge is all about.  You're already super-busy, and you don't need to add one more "must do" item to your schedule. Being too buy, fixating on achievement, and always looking for more and better are habits that add to our stress and dissatisfaction.  How can we possibly find contentment when we're always chasing the next big thing?  That's a foolproof recipe for unhappiness. Usually, it's not money, posses...

I recently replaced my 9-year-old refurbished iPhone (which I owned for almost 5 years) with a 3-year-old refurbished iPhone.  The only reason I did this is because my old iPhone was no longer supported by updates, which made it more vulnerable to the scammers and hackers out there.  Otherwise, it still worked just fine.  I do appreciate the greatly increased battery capacity of my new phone, and the camera quality is slightly better.  And I really appreciate my son, who located a suitable phone and helped set it up. I've never been an early tech adopter, but a 9-year-old device seems prehistoric to many.  Why do I resist the constant push to upgrade?  Because I'm an underconsumer, and proud of it. The latest trend? There are many "cores" out there.  Cottagecore, Grandmacore, Gothcore, you name it.  Fads have always come and gone, and I've participated in my share of them.  (Yes, I owned a few Gunne Sax dresses back in the 70s and early 80s!)...

Sometimes you know you're moving to a smaller space in several months, or even next year, and you can plan for that date and take more time on each of these steps. But life isn't always ideal, and we don't always have a choice.  So if you've only got a few weeks to decide what you want and need so you can move on (or even if you simply want a fresh start in your current home), here's your cheat sheet. The 7 steps 1.  Assess. Professional organizer Katherine Lawrence suggests you begin this process by analyzing your space and gathering your resources.  After a complete walk-through, including basements, attics, sheds, and the garage, ask yourself the following questions: Are there large collections or antiques that need special handling? Are there cabinets, drawers, or boxes filled with papers and photos that will be tedious to sort? What are the categories (such as kitchen items, linens, and clothing) that will be easy to donate? You will need trash bags, moving bo...