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Outer order, inner calm : declutter & organize to make more room for happiness
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2019
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Summary
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * In this lovely, easy-to-use illustrated guide to decluttering, the beloved author of The Happiness Project shows us how to take control of our stuff --and, by extension, our lives.

Gretchen Rubin knows firsthand that creating order can make our lives happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative. But for most of us, a rigid, one-size-fits-all solution doesn't work. When we tailor our approach to suit our own particular challenges and habits, we can find inner calm.

With a sense of fun, and a clear idea of what's realistic for most people, Rubin suggests dozens of manageable tips and tricks for creating a more serene, orderly environment, including:

* Never label anything "miscellaneous."
* Ask yourself, "Do I need more than one ?"
* Don't aim for minimalism.
* Remember: If you can't retrieve it, you won't use it.
* Stay current with a child's interests.
* Beware the urge to "procrasticlear."

By getting rid of things we don't use, don't need, or don't love, we free our minds (and our shelves) for what we truly value.
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Booklist Review
Clutter is a serious word these days, what with many baby boomers trying to downsize and the ever-encroaching no-space dilemma. Author-thinker Rubin (The Happiness Project, 2010; Happier at Home, 2012) prompts readers to quickly consider the five steps to an organized home: make choices, create order, know yourself and others, cultivate helpful habits, and add beauty. Almost every one of her recommendations is a gem, from using photographs to evaluate clutter and remembering that soap and water remove most stains to reconsidering gift giving and keeping no more than five extra hangers in any closet. Even better, her explanations (and rationales, if necessary) are short, personal, humorous, and occasionally pointed. Here's just one example: ask yourself, If I ran into my ex on the street, would I be happy if I were wearing this? Why this instead of what's become the iconic decluttering tome, Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (2014)? There's no guilt attached. And if minimalism isn't a goal, that's fine, too. Appended with the top 10 tips for creating outer order and suggestions for further reading.--Barbara Jacobs Copyright 2010 Booklist
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