Tag Archives: "clutter"

Further Secrets of Adulthood:   This is one of those little actions that, for me at least, ends up making a surprisingly big difference in the quality of my daily life. I really, really, really dislike hunting for things like my keys, wallet, phone, or sunglasses. Do you have any similar Secrets of Adulthood — something as basic as this?

One of the things that surprises me most about happiness is the degree to which, for most people, outer order contributes to inner calm. More, really, than it should. In the context of life of a happy life, something like a crowded coat closet or an overflowing in-box seems trivial—and it is trivial—and yet I find that I get a … →

Every Wednesday is Tip Day, or Quiz Day, or List Day. This Wednesday: Eleven myths of de-cluttering. One of my Secrets of Adulthood (and a point oddly under-emphasized by positive psychologists) is: Outer order contributes to inner calm. More, really, than it should. Why does making your bed make such a difference? But as much as most of us want … →

One of my favorite Secrets of Adulthood: Outer order contributes to inner calm. Clutter seems like a trivial matter, but I always find that I feel more serene and cheerful if my apartment and office aren’t too messy. Along those lines, I’ve learned from my happiness project to be wary whenever I have the urge to “treat” myself, because often … →

Each week, I post a video about some Pigeon of Discontent raised by a reader. Because, as much as we try to find the Bluebird of Happiness, we’re also plagued by those small but pesky Pigeons of Discontent. This week’s Pigeon of Discontent, suggested by a reader, is: “Everything gets piled up on the table.”   If you want to … →