It's All Too Much

An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff

If you are a fan of TLC's Clean Sweep, you may be familiar with Peter Walsh, who authors this book on decluttering. I have read innumerable books on decluttering, and this one includes the time-honored strategies for getting rid of the excess. But there is an important variation here. Walsh requires you to Imagine the Life you want to Live, and then tailor your living space to make that possible. There is, for example, no point in keeping rooms full of needlepoint supplies if needlepoint has no place in the life you want to live.

Having just endured a forced implementation of the principles (six weeks ago we moved into a smaller place), I can vouch for the soundness of Walsh's advice. If you need an impetus to start a necessary decluttering, this could be it. Dig in.