“We must all face clutter in the way that’s right for us. … There’s no one “right” or “best” way to create a better life.”
Clutter clearing is a trending topic of conversation today. With Marie Kondo’s TheMagical Art of Tidying Up book turned into a Netflix TV show, many people are looking at how to rid themselves of the stuff that is everywhere in their houses, offices and cars. While some people can follow a one-size-fits-all approach, there are other approaches as well. Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin follows a mantra of letting each person find their own way out of their clutter and offers some solid tips in the book to help people find their own right way.
I have read most of Gretchen Rubin’s book and am a great fan of her writing and podcast, Happier. Her book, The Four Tendencies, was really eye-opening on how people work differently to reach goals. The Happiness Project was an interesting exploration on how changing small things can increase happiness. I went to see Gretchen Rubin speak about this newest book, Outer Order, Inner Calm, in Cleveland in March. My copy of the book is autographed – “Onward!”
Outer Order, Inner Calm is a great book on getting your life cleared of clutter. I have implemented some of the tips, including the “One-Minute Rule,” where if something can be done in one minute, do it now. I also try to tidy up each morning after the kids leave for school and right before bed. I also make my bed every morning. The book is divided into five sections – making choices, creating order, knowing yourself, cultivating habits and adding beauty. I really like the last chapter and am trying to add some more things into the spaces that have been cleared to make areas more pleasing to the eye and soul.
If you are ready to get your life organized, read this book now! If you are just thinking about wanting clear clutter, read this book now! It’s a book you’ll want to buy and be able to refer back to over and over again to implement different tips at different stages.
Here are Rubin’s top 10 tips for creating outer order:
