If You Want to Reduce Clutter, Keep It Away From Home for Starters.
It’s nice to get rid of the junk . You feel productive. You feel free. However, if you really want to be clutter-free, here’s the best solution: don’t bring it into your home in the first place.
Personal finance writer Carl Richards points out a silly paradox: we buy things to feel good, and then we feel good throwing them away later. Sometimes feeling productive isn’t the same as being productive , and it’s kind of the same idea: if you keep buying more crap and throwing it away, you’re stuck in a cycle of consuming and cleaning, and it’s a waste of time. money and time.
Instead, Richards proposes to sort out the root of the problem with a “seven-day quarantine.” He explains:
I recommend a seven-day quarantine, especially if we’re talking about something worth over $ 50. Anything you think about should stay in your head for at least a week, and you should check it out with your fellow customer service colleagues … I fell in love with lululemon’s ABC men’s pants . I bought a pair, and now I really want them to be in a different color … And I chased away my wife’s idea.
“Are you kidding me?” she said. “Are you going to buy pants that you wear two or three times and then just hang in the closet?” She takes her viewing responsibilities seriously.
It’s hard to admit that there is little chance she’s right. But in fact, it probably is. So the camouflage pants will go to the quarantine box – for now.
Look, I know buying things is good. It’s the same with throwing away things you don’t use. But wouldn’t it be better to spend that time and money on something that you will actually use or enjoy ?
Of course, thinking about shopping isn’t a new concept, but I love his idea that spending and cleaning gives you the same rush. Living in a more inventive environment isn’t so much about getting rid of the clutter as about giving up buying the shit you’re going to throw out in the first place. For more details, skip to his full post below.
New rule: all purchases are subject to 7-day quarantine | New York Times