Clear the Space... Feel the Rush: Declutter Body, Mind, and Stuff, and the Real You Shines Through

This book was a delight to read. A great mixture of pathos and logos to help get your decluttering engine running. Ellefson's style is a lot more like a friend in the room, helping you clear out a junk drawer/closet/long lost plastic tub that might have initially held holiday decorations but now...who knows? If you want a book with a step by step guide to live a completely minimalist life, this is not that. But if you would like to live more minimally and maybe start to tackle the other parts of your life that could ultimately help you declutter that basement, or finally clear out the old trunk you still have from college....this is it. Filled with helpful tips and tricks. I highly suggest, as does the author, that you try some stuff show more out, see what works, and don't worry about the rest. You really could just flip this open to a page (or a random sub-section at the very least) and find something that could help you live with a little less clutter, be it mind, body, or soul. Hey, and if as the author says, you find you have an extra hour or 6 a week, then it was probably worth the read. show less

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book on how to de-clutter body, mind, and stuff, by Connie Lockhart Ellefson!! Her voice is playful, encouraging, and backed with several research articles, for those who would like to review it, or find more information themselves!
I was especially struck by her wording - and humor- about the belongings we don’t even care about that still impact us. “They’re hanging around in our subconscious saying, “Hi, remember me? The un-made decision, cluttering up your life! Draining away your calm and resolve!“
I have a stack of saved papers, receipts, and donation requests that have taken up residence on a corner of my desk, for the past 10 months. I see them every time I walk into the room, but show more immediately look away, and think of anything, Anything else I can do, except decide what to do about them. I have finally scheduled 20 minutes each day for the next few days to attack, release, or file, that moldering mountain of papers!!
There are so many practical, try-it-today suggestions packed into this book, it’s really a gift you can feel great about giving yourself, or friends who are interested in fresh ways to consider “de-cluttering”, and how to start with “baby-steps”. I Highly Recommend It!!! show less

Great to see the focus on decluttering and organizing on one's own terms without following specific rules. Also great to see the stated motivation to be to not only simplify routines but to add time to life by making room and time for what's really important. The book breaks down clutter in a unique way that may be helpful to readers: "possessional clutter (your things), physical body clutter, and mental/emotional clutter." Having read so many books on organizing, I admit that my initial response was to think that this was too big for most readers, i.e., introducing dietary change, meditation, and other mental/emotional/physical was too much to bring up for people who need help with how to handle kid's art, photos, the mail and more show more (there's helpful info on all of these). But, the author addresses that the book is designed to be flexible for readers, and really many of these changes do come as a person handles physical clutter, of the type many people think of, and is part of feeling "the rush" that is central to this book. So, I think it's an approach worth trying, but I wonder about overwhelm with this one for some readers. Though with small sections, the information is easy to digest and return to as needed, or skip entirely without negatively impacting the overall readability. Section headings such as "SMART Goals Can Be Stupid" and "The Case for Little Pieces of Paper" are examples of the author not dogmatically sticking to a common organizing ethos, which I appreciated. Decluttering and organizing books seem to either work for someone or they don't. This one might work for you, especially if more rigid frameworks didn't. show less

I was a bit disappointed with this book. I'm not sure what I was looking to find, but there were things I both liked and disliked about it.

I found it a bit too chatty and too "new agey" especially with its emphasis on essential oils and its constant pushing of yoga. There were statements with which I didn't agree, and that annoyed me. For example, in the chapter where the author advises readers not to judge others, I would add a caveat. Yes, some people act badly to others because they have experienced some past difficulties, but others do so because they are plainly immoral or mean. Reacting negatively to them also has a negative impact on us, but I am not going to cut people who are innately nasty and disrespectful any slack. The show more only thing I will do with them is to limit my exposure to them.

I appreciated how the author emphasized that "clutter" is not only about physical objects, but also about our bodies and our emotional states. I liked how she introduced new ideas like the tapping therapy which I will investigate further, although a "new-agey" friend of mine would only be too happy to fill me in on this! I appreciate that the author addressed the issue of hoarding, noted its differences from clutter, and dealt with this issue compassionately though briefly. I liked that this book was less instructional in the “how to” of decluttering and more into the psychology of it and a guide for how to work it into one’s life in a meaningful, yet not overwhelming way.

Ironically, I learned from this book that decluttering decreases anxiety. However, and I mean this seriously, I found that focusing on my *need* to declutter has increased my anxiety so I’m not sure that this book has had a particularly helpful effect on me!

My overall impression of this book was that it was a good guide, but it didn’t really inspire me to do anything differently in my life. Much of the information presented was what I already knew, I already practiced, or just seemed logical. show less

Love this book. The author not only gives pointers on clearing out the physical clutter in your home, but also shows you how to clear out the clutter in your mind, your body and even your spirit, as all those are intertwined.
I especially enjoyed the easy and down to earth way the author writes - as if she were talking personally to the reader.
There are a lot of good suggestions and new ideas to be found in this volume and I hope to use it to make more space in my life and my surroundings.

Connie Lockhart Ellefson has written an intriguing guide for people needing to clear clutter. The book is different from many such processes, as it deals not only with material clutter but also with body clutter. Funny how the two issues go hand in hand.

I found that the writing style was quite engaging, as if she were there working with you individually. Tackling the emotional concerns can be tricky, and she presents quite a few techniques that can work for the emotional issues, as well as the practical. The chapters are very thought-provoking, and encourage some deep exploration.

Decluttering can be a very difficult process, but Ellefson has provided many helpful tips for the process. The positive approach is refreshing, and hopefully show more this book will help many people to declutter effectively and happily. show less

Connie Lockhart Ellefson has written an intriguing guide for people needing to clear clutter. The book is different from many such processes, as it deals not only with material clutter but also with body clutter. Funny how the two issues go hand in hand.

I found that the writing style was quite engaging, as if she were there working with you individually. Tackling the emotional concerns can be tricky, and she presents quite a few techniques that can work for the emotional issues, as well as the practical. The chapters are very thought-provoking, and encourage some deep exploration.

Decluttering can be a very difficult process, but Ellefson has provided many helpful tips for the process. The positive approach is refreshing, and hopefully show more this book will help many people to declutter effectively and happily. show less