Decluttering

For me, the key to productive, contented living is decluttering.

Life seems to default to an excess of possessions, activities and pursuits. It takes intention and effort to organize a distracted state of living into one that is simple and peaceful. Decluttering involves making do with the minimum required to achieve your goals, and systematically winnowing out what isn't earning its keep.

I apply decluttering to every aspect of my life. Working at two clinics had introduced unnecessary complexity to my week, so this summer I resigned at the HIV clinic to exclusively practice refugee medicine. I focus on three hobbies: gardening in summer, knitting in winter and photography year-round. No one looks inside my closet without remarking that it's the most pared down collection of clothes they've ever seen . . .

Continued at Mothers in Medicine, where the topic of the day is time management.

Comments

[Lynn]

I LOVE this post. After a summer of decluttering, I am very hesitant to buy storage because of tendency to 'default'. Big Brothers is still a regular visitor to my home.

What is your advice and thoughts about books? I have +++++books. I have put my medical textbooks away to send to the Third World where UptoDate isn't readily accessible. I'm considering downsizing the rest of my collection to fit in one bookcase, but am extremely hesitant.

[celeste allyn]

My very favorite "decluttering" idea you have is with the childrens toys. I think that your scheme is absolutely brilliant.
Now if I could just do the same for Neil's electronic parts.......

[Martina]

Lynn - Good question re: textbooks. I think I'll do a separate post on that. I'm curious what everyone else does, too.