Book Review: Decluttering at the Speed of Life

2025 was going to be the year of the big purge. I set a goal: daily tackle small amounts of clutter. "Daily" proved too difficult. Still, I did well in January and February. Then came March. My momentum sputtered. Too many days, I noted in my log as "no purging." Ugh! What I needed was another jump-start. What I needed was Dana K. White's book, Decluttering at the Speed of Life.

Dana articulated the very thing that keeps me from working on de-cluttering or organizing. It is all too overwhelming. The task makes me feel like I'm about to climb a mountain. So many profiles painted in this book are relatable. I am a "wanna-be-repurposer." I keep countless jars and plastic containers because they're too cute to throw away or could be useful in the future. My bedroom has a chair that magnetically attracts piles of clothes. Indeed, I could relate to the "vicious cycle of excess." My closets are full of too many clothes. My craft supplies abound, yet I seldom do crafts of any kind. I am always thinking about tomorrow, but it puts a great stress on today because of the overabundance of stuff I maintain. Much of it is unnecessary.

Here are some of Dana's tips: 

• The only way to deal with the overwhelm is to start.
• Start with what is most visible. This way, you see results right away and you build momentum.
• Purge the straightforward stuff first (not the sentimental piles) as this builds momentum, too.
• Only fill the space you have (or the "container"), so start with favorites, and donate whatever doesn't fit the space.
• Physically touch things to determine if they are necessary.
• Look! Don't assume you know what's in that box.

I will have to remember her advice when we move. She suggested searching "moving supply calculator," to tell how much stuff your new home can hold. "Use the recommended number and size of boxes for the space you're moving into as your reality check." It is easier to pare down when you acknowledge you can only bring a few boxes with you into your smaller space (since we will downsize in the coming years). Maybe after reading this book, I can regain my purging momentum.