One thing that I’ve thought a lot about, but still find a bit puzzling, is why I get so much energy and cheer from clutter-clearing. In fact, sometimes, when I feel blue, I clear some clutter to give myself a boost.            

Why, I wonder, do I find such satisfaction in clearing clutter? After all, in the context of a happy life, having a clean desk, a tidy coat closet, or a neat sock drawer isn’t very important. 

I realized that for me—and I think it’s true for most people—outer order contributes to inner calm. I feel more in control of the big things in my life when I feel in control of the small things. Like knowing where to find my sunglasses. And I get a real sense of accomplishment when I get rid of things that don’t fit, don’t work, are never used, or are jammed into cupboards.

To help me stay on top of clutter, I’ve developed a few rules. I observe the “evening tidy-up”; each night, before bed, I take ten minutes to tidy up. No heavy cleaning—I just shut closet doors, hang up coats, put books on shelves, put newspapers in the recycling, etc. When I take care of those little tasks the night before, my morning feels much calmer.

I also follow the “one-minute rule.” Throughout the day, if I face a task that can be done in less than a minute, I don’t allow myself to procrastinate. If I can scan and toss a letter, if I can put the toothpaste back in the cabinet and close the door, if I can file a reminder in the right place, if I can R.S.V.P. to a party—I do it right away. Following the one-minute rule seems like a trivial effort, but it makes a surprisingly big difference in my life. All those little tasks, accomplished so easily in just one minute, can pile up to feel overwhelming and never-ending. 

Together, these two rules allow me to take care of small tasks in manageable doses, and in that way, keep myself feeling freer. Tackling minor, annoying chores is energizing—and sweeping small stuff out of the way makes it easier to tackle bigger challenges. 

Also, something that I do that’s less practical, but extremely satisfying, is that somewhere in my apartment, I keep an empty shelf. It’s not a big shelf, but it’s empty. An empty shelf means possibility; space to expand; a luxurious waste of something useful.

And just as I love my empty shelf, I also love my junk drawer. I want my apartment to include a bit of chaos, with some things that don’t really belong anywhere but that I want to keep, a place where I can discover something unexpected. 

I want my home to feel orderly and uncluttered, and I also I want it to include some playful elements that don’t have to be useful. 

It’s a Secret of Adulthood: The opposite of a profound truth is also true. Someplace, keep an empty shelf, and someplace, keep a junk drawer. 

If you want to read my book about clutter-clearing—why it can be so energizing and how to get it done more easily—check out my book Outer Order, Inner Calm.