Member-only story
Becoming Minimalist
It’s not working for me
As I write this, I’m in my bedroom surrounded by an unmade bed, a pile of laundry waiting to be put away, and remnants of my daughter’s preparations for her little brother’s seventh birthday — wrapping paper and sweet wrappers scattered across the floor.
Essentially, it’s chaos.
I like to start my Monday mornings with a clean room — no stray clothes, a dust-free desk and everything in order so I can begin the week calm and in style. This happens about 30% of the time because, despite my best efforts, I am incapable of being tidy. I know I’m not alone and many people are struggling with clutter as they age and don’t know how to tackle it.
The Origins of My Cluttered Life
Let’s go back to my childhood.
I was constantly told I was lazy, bone idle, never did my homework, and never tidied my side of the bedroom. Meanwhile, my older sister was the tidy, studious one. This was partly true — but also not entirely fair.
For one, I had too much stuff.
Even in the ’80s, I accumulated an alarming amount of stationery, notebooks, Barbies — you name it. My parents never really taught me how to tidy, and I’ve since realized that organization is a skill you have to learn.
