Pastor SJ

Need motivation for decluttering?

Here are my favorite books from the last couple years to help you!

Many are free on your local library’s audiobook app. I use Hoopla and Libby! But I’ll also put Amazon links for you as well. Thank you for supporting my work by using these affiliate links.

10. Let It Go by Peter Walsh

Let it Go by Peter Walsh digs into why we hold onto clutter and what to do about it.

It comes from the paradigm of downsizing but it’s helpful for any stage of life.

This book also had the most relational insights about dealing with family.

9. Clutter Free With Kids by Joshua Becker

I’m so glad I read Clutter Free With Kids by Joshua Becker before I had kids. It set us up to have appropriate boundaries with toys.

Because of it, we emphasize experience gifts (like giving the gift of learning how to cook here!) and we’re quick to purge what our family doesn’t play with.

8. Less Is More by Joshua Becker

Less Is More by Joshua Becker has the best philosophy and motivation to declutter.

It was one of the first books that helped me understand why I was hoarding items I didn’t needs and how I could let them go.

It empowered me to do by first big pass at my belongings. I also appreciate that he comes from a Christian perspective. He doesn’t overspiritualize things, but looks at our possessions in light of our greater purpose.

7. When Organizing Isn’t Enough: SHED by Julie Morgenstern

When Organizing Isn’t Enough: SHED by Julie Morgenstern was the most detailed inspiration on what I still needed to get rid of.

No nook or cranny was left cluttered after I got through this.

I wouldn’t recommend it for a first decluttering pass, but for someone who is looking to level up after already doing some decluttering.

6. Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K White 

Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K White is a methodical way to declutter without making a mess.

I appreciate her humor a lot. But seriously, her no mess approach made decluttering less overwhelming for me.

One her best tips that has helped me follow through on decluttering has been to use a donatable box for donations. This makes it easier to drop off. I don’t have to worry about my husband giving something away I want to keep!

I recommend reading this one before you read the next book by her.

5. Organizing For The Rest Of Us by Dana K White 

Organizing For The Rest Of Us by Dana K White shares the systems you can experiment with to keep your house in order.

I love utilitarian she is with her organizing. She’s so practical.

This book also has many decluttering pearls along the way.

4. The Clutter Connection by Cas Aarssen 

The ideas in The Clutter Connection by Cas Aarssen helped me realize I had been trying to use an organizing style that wasn’t for me.

I had clutter building up because I was setting unrealistic expectations on myself. In other words, instead of doing things good enough, I would not do anything at all.

Cas helped me move past the ways I was freezing up with clutter and address it in the way that was best for me.

She does an even deeper dive into her organizing in her next book.

3. Real Life Organizing by Cas Aarssen

Real Life Organizing by Cas Aarssen helped me further see how to organize for how I am uniquely wired.

I had been pressuring myself to micro organize and never got very far. It wasn’t until I macro organized everything to be good enough that then I was able to micro organized the few areas I preferred.

In fact, I wrote a blog about Macro Organizing you can read here.

It also had good ideas on systems and routines to keep your house in order.

2: The Hoarder In You by Robin Zazio

In The Hoarder In You by Robin Zazio, I loved learning about the psychology behind what I was subconsciously telling myself about the clutter I was holding on to.

I realized the roots of where my emotional attachments to items had been coming from, and more importantly, what I could do about it.

The stories of her clients were also fascinating and inspiring.

1. One Year To An Organized Life by Regina Leeds

One Year To An Organized Life by Regina Leeds helped me both declutter and organize well.

This was a very detailed way to go through all of your belongings. She breaks things down into really small steps.

I went through it in about 4 months instead of a year. (Likely because I had already done a lot of decluttering before moving states.)

The book also offers many systems to try to keep your house working well for you.

Have you read any of these books? Which decluttering book will you try next?