It is true that we feel calmer in an organized home, but I could never put words on WHY IS THAT? What triggers that? But then I read a book called “Goodbye Things” by Fumio Saaki. He introduced a concept called “Silent To-Do List”.
The idea of this concept is that each item in our home is constantly sending us messages:
- Clothes on the floor saying: “Wash me”
- Dishes on the counter saying: “Put me in the dishwasher”
- Clothes in the closet saying: “Why don’t you use me”
It’s what he calls the “Silent To-Do List”. It causes us to see work to be done everywhere we look.
Before I read this book, I could only say that our home feels much more peaceful since we simplified, decluttered and organized our home. But I couldn’t explain further why it felt like that.
After reading the book I realized that my “Silent To-Do List” is so much shorter now that it is easy to get everything in order and be able to relax and enjoy the home instead of seeing work to be done everywhere I looked. That is why we feel so relaxed when we go to a vacation home or hotel. There is no clutter, the things there are not ours and there is someone who does the chores.
Before you start to think “Let’s organize the house”, I would strongly recommend to declutter your home first. Start with decluttering. Then move to “De-Owning”. That’s when you stop owning that full category or item as you realize it serves no function anymore to you. Then move to Organizing. This is a process you will repeat periodically as it takes time to let go. The goal is to be able to remove some items (or some boxes filled with stuff 😊) every time.
The less we own, the smaller our Silent To-Do List is.
Here are some articles with practical tips to support you in this journey:
- EASY DECLUTTERING TIPS THAT ACTUALLY WORK
- 1-MINUTE ORGANIZING RULE
- HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOME CALMING, FUNCTIONAL AND BEAUTIFUL
Following Fumio Saaki’s concept that all items in our home send us messages, it does not mean it is always negative messages. I love having fresh flowers by my bedroom window. Every time I have look out the window and see the vase with fresh flowers, it gives me a positive feeling. It reminds me that there is beauty in small things and it makes me happy. Lighting a candle in the living room gives me a feeling of coziness (hygge) and reminds me to enjoy the moment.
Marie Kondo asks her clients “Does this spark joy?” when going through the decluttering process. I feel that is a bit too subjective to me. I feel Fumio Saaki’s approach is a bit more tangible to the day-to-day life but the concept is very similar.
Now you know why we feel calmer in an organized home. You have the tools to declutter, de-own and organize your home. What are you waiting for?
