Embrace the Clutter-Free Life

(gentle music) Headspace Studios. (gentle music) Hi friends, it's Rosie here. Welcome to Radio Headspace and to Wednesday. Have you ever noticed how those cluttered tabs on your computer can give you a touch of anxiety? Well you're not alone. Something about spring urges us to fling our windows open wide, embrace the fresh air, and embark on a decluttering adventure. Or maybe that's just me. A few years ago I was introduced to the work of Marie Kondo. She's an amazing Japanese organizing consultant who's all about sparking joy through decluttering and tidying up. Her approach isn't just about cleaning, it's about finding harmony in your space by keeping only what truly brings you happiness. You begin by sorting basically everything in your house and asking yourself if it's something that sparks joy, something you want to donate, or a bin item. What I found when I applied this technique was that this process can pretty much be done with anything in your life. The papers piled up on your desk, the random pieces of paper in your car, or the tabs on your computer for example. No judgment. Sometimes all we need during this time of year is a shift in our immediate surroundings to bring about the change we seek. Last year, Tori and I moved into our new house. We've moved together six times in our 20 year relationship. One would think that we have this moving system on point, but we don't. I mean, who does? After every move, there are always those boxes that end up in the corner of a room somewhere or in a closet that just get moved from place to place on a little road trip with every move. I've seen the same three boxes and three moves for the last 10 years. The boxes were labeled random and were a touchy source of contention. When are you gonna go through those boxes, he would ask, which was anxiety producing, because I couldn't give an explanation as to why I wouldn't go through them. I just didn't feel like it. With every move, it was always the same question. Where do you want your random boxes to go this time? Honestly, I didn't even remember what was inside them, and that in and of itself was anxiety inducing, which I think is probably something a lot of people have experienced. It's the fear of the unknown. What would I find in these boxes? Many of us struggle with getting organized because we don't know where to start or we get distracted. Last spring, I wanted to finally settle in and get organized. with organizing as my intention, I set some time aside, and pried open the boxes that were already falling apart. I was a bit scared and I knew it had been well over a decade and a half since I'd seen the contents. Inside I found a couple of sweaters, old books from when I was in college, two...