The Five Best Decluttering Books: Why Reading Them Will Motivate You
The Best Decluttering Books
We’ve all been there at least once. Decluttering is hard. It can be difficult, anxiety producing, and emotionally draining. It can elicit feelings of guilt and attachment that make it hard to let go.
For instance, your elderly grandma who passed away years ago may have given you an ugly painting. For as long as you can remember, it was prominently displayed on her living room wall. You want to get rid of it, but your memories of her and feelings of guilt keep getting in the way.
First of all, do you even know for sure that she loved this object? Maybe it was gifted to her, and the same feelings of guilt compelled her to use it for so many years. She might have gifted you with this artwork so that she didn’t have to spend her last days looking at it. If you can think of decluttering this way, it will be easier to part with certain items.
A Self Storage Unit Can Help
Another tactic to help get you moving and motivated is renting a self storage unit. Trusted Self Storage has a variety of types and sizes of self storage units to suit your needs and your budget. A clean, secure storage unit will give you a place to keep those items that you’re not quite ready to discard. You can take all the time you need to decide how to handle these items.
In the meantime, here are a few of the top decluttering books to get you started on your journey to a tidy living space. They’re written from different perspectives for different types of people.
There’s sure to be something that speaks to your personality.
The Best Decluttering Books to Get You Moving and Motivated
Decluttering isn’t like building a house. You don’t need to be precise, but you need a plan and you need some motivation. Let’s get started.
- Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K. White
If you have time constraints that make it difficult to block out huge chunks of time for decluttering, this book is for you. It provides a blueprint for tackling one area at a time so that your home remains relatively undisturbed. It’s really about taking that first step so that the rest of your housekeeping falls into place.
The process outlined in this book makes perfect sense. You start with the most visible spaces in your home, like your kitchen countertop. Then, you work your way into the hidden/inaccessible areas; think closets, attics, and your teenager’s bedroom. When you see a clean space in one area, you’re motivated to continue organizing your home.
2. The Clutter Connection by Cassandra Aarsen
HGTV personality Cas Aarsen wrote The Clutter Connection. HGTV can, at times, be unrealistic.
This book, nevertheless, is spot on. It speaks to the idea that being self-aware can help you be better at organization. Just as everyone’s brain works differently during learning, it works differently when you’re organizing.
Whether you’re a micro thinker who likes to focus on the small stuff, a macro thinker who sees the big picture, a visual organizer, or a person who likes to keep things out of sight, this book will work for you.
3. Declutter Like a Mother: A Guilt-Free, No-Stress Way to Transform Your Home and Your Life by Allie Casazza
Allie Casazza has been called the “in-your-face Marie Kondo for millennial moms.” Her lighthearted book motivates moms to start taking action. Her advice is actionable and has been described as “life-changing.”
Her mission is to empower overwhelmed moms to make lasting changes in their lives. Her concept of discarding anything that doesn’t serve a purpose is similar to Marie Kondo’s method. The difference is that Allie’s book shows moms that they don’t need a perfect home. They need a home with enough space for the things that matter most.
4. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson
This is not the most popular book in this collection, but it resonates with many people. Swedish death cleaning is focused on the reality that decluttering the home is a kindness to those left behind. It relieves the burden of sorting through the disorder.
Mangusson’s message is that this form of cleaning is meant to help the next generation manage their grieving process. It’s unfair for families to have to deal with clutter when they’re trying to deal with their grief.
If you’ve ever tried to tidy a home that’s been occupied for 60 years, you’ll love this book.
5. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
No list of decluttering books would be complete without this one. To be brutally honest, while reading Ms. Kondo’s best-selling book, I admit that I giggled on occasion. Marie Kondo suggests that before getting rid of items, you thank them for serving their purpose.
For instance, she texted her old cell phone from her new cell phone to thank it for “all it has done.” I wonder if the old cell phone and the new one are still having conversations.
In all fairness, Marie Kondo has made quite a good living as an organization consultant and author. There is something to be said about her method. I commend her for mentioning self storage as a solution for those who have trouble letting go. I’m still on the fence, however, about having a heart-to-heart with my broken dishwasher.
Takeaway
No one said that getting rid of your belongings is easy, but a clutter-free home is good for your mental health. If the books contained in this article don’t get you motivated, there are many more to choose from on Amazon.
And remember, Trusted Self Storage has daily access hours. You can visit your items and chat whenever you like.