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t’s Tuesday as I write this. Maisie is out with dog sitter because I was supposed to go to yoga today. But because I had a car accident a few weeks ago, my car is in the shop. I have a rental car which I don’t want to drive because the contract says no pets. I have my daughter’s car which I’m using to get around the neighborhood but I don’t feel secure enough to drive it up to San Rafael for the class.
So for the past two hours I have been bustling around the house doing odds and ends and spending an inordinate amount of time — which I find I’m wont to do lately — on my phone, scrolling through news, social media, gmail. I could be spending this time productivelyt, tacklkng my closets but I don’t have boxes or bags to put my Goodwill offerings in. My hair is wet so I’m not heading out ;to Target for supplies. But underneath it all is this resistance to tackling the job.
According to AI: “Letting go of clutter involves psychological hurdles like emotional attachment, fear of scarcity, guilt, identity tied to possessions, and a false sense of control, but it offers significant benefits such as reduced stress, increased focus, greater well-being, and more emotional space. The process helps declutter your mind as much as your home, turning chaos into calm by addressing underlying emotions and creating space for what truly matters, often requiring a shift in perspective to see it as regaining control and generosity.”
Psychology Today tells us that decluttering our house can change our lives, that it is accompanied by an emotional cleansing which is quite beneficial.
- Owning less leads to a happier and more meaningful life.
- Letting go of unnecessary things clears your physical and mental space.
- You should prioritize experiences over possessions.
In a 2021 empirical literature review of 23 studies that involved more than 10,000 participants, researchers found a positive relationship between “voluntary simplicity” (often used interchangeably with minimalism) and well-being.
Defined as “a lifestyle limiting possessions and clutter to live deliberately according to one’s purpose,” the term was first coined by social philosopher Richard Gregg, who wrote a popular 1936 book titled The Value of Voluntary Simplicity.
Among the tips this article offers are to reevaluate what you’re holding on to, take pictures of mementos, reinvest in relationships, and resist buying more things.
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Fri. 1/9 COTD 10 of wands. It's easy to put on a few pounds, collect too many things, and overload our schedule.
Time to lighten the load, clear the clutter, and cleanse our minds. Focus on restoring balance where it's needed.
Let's pick the top 3 things we want to accomplish and let the rest go.
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— The Way of Positive Change (@waypositivechange.bsky.social) January 9, 2026 at 3:08 AM
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A couple of table shots from the weekends Chain of Command2 game set in France, 1940. German second wave attempt the flank attack scenario against from motorised infantry. A great game and the first outing for a pile of table clutter like cows, greenhouse, conservatory and shed all adding value.
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— Steve E (@broadsword252.bsky.social) January 12, 2026 at 5:18 AM
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#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
#musicchallenge
#musicsky
Day 24, a song about self discovery
'No, I won't do it some more
Doesn't take any sense
If it can't be like it was, I've got to let it rest
I don't want what I did, I had a change of tense
But maybe someday...'
open.spotify.com/track/6x2f8j...
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— EnglishRoses🕷 (@englishroses.bsky.social) January 13, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Kitchen Table Kibitzing is a community series for those who wish to share a virtual kitchen table with other readers of Daily Kos who aren’t throwing pies at one another. Drop by to talk about music, your weather, your garden, or what you cooked for supper…. Newcomers may notice that many who post in this series already know one another to some degree, but we welcome guests at our kitchen table and hope to make some new friends as well.
