Would you like to learn the successful way to declutter your life? I’m not only talking about the things in your house and storage areas, but about your mind and soul, too.
Summary of Unstuffed
In Ruth Soukup’s Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind, and Soul, the blogger helps you with these three areas of your life. The book is divided into three parts, and each of those three parts is broken down into three chapters.
Ruth helps us set limits on what we bring into our lives, such as things we buy. She helps us deal with the abundance of kids’ stuff.
She teaches us how to conquer the piles of paperwork and how to combat the busyness of our lives. She helps us find the balance in our spiritual lives and let go of unhealthy habits.
Declutter your life
Unstuffed is a great book that helps you declutter your life in more way than the physical things. When I first started reading this book, I was ready to start decluttering my house and garage as well as myself.
At the end of Chapter Two, Ruth provides a Weekend Challenge to declutter your house. I was ready to put down the book and do it right then.
But I didn’t because my weekends were full already. I will get a free weekend soon or figure out a way to divide up the tasks, though.
One of the biggest things I learned is to get rid of the items I haven’t used in a year to 18 months, especially if it isn’t bringing me joy or isn’t something I love.
When I look around my house, I see many things that do this — clothes, shoes, books, movies. Some of those things I wasn’t sure I could ever get rid of, but after reading this book, I ask myself, “Why am I keeping it?”
Working two part-time jobs outside of the home takes away time from my three home-based businesses. Many times after subbing and working my steady part-time job, I’m too tired to do much of anything at home.
But I push myself anyway.
I know if I don’t it won’t get done or my businesses won’t grow so I can fulfill my dream of working from home. If I push myself too hard, though, I get physically exhausted and sometimes sick if I’m not careful.
Ruth says resting is important for your mind and body. She offers some suggestions, like being outside or unplugging from electronics as ways to rest. I’ve had what I call lazy days when all I do is watch Netflix or curl up with a book or nap.
The third part of Unstuffed is the part that means the most to me. Over the years, I haven’t had many real relationships, as Ruth calls them, but it seems like I’ve had quite a few toxic ones.
I can see how the toxic relationships have had effects on my health. I’ve been told I’m too nice and let people take advantage of me. I probably am too nice, but when I’ve had enough, then I put my foot down. I realize now that only have a couple of good friends is okay, according to Ruth, as long as I cultivate them.
My favorite chapter is on Wellness (Chapter 8). I didn’t realize how stressed I was until I looked over the stress scale Ruth provides. Some of the physical symptoms are ones I’ve dealt with here lately.
Of course, my lack of sleep sometimes doesn’t help.
Ruth gives some great tips on how to get the 7 to 8 hours of sleep a women like me needs per night, such as drinking no caffeine after lunch, avoiding electronics before bed, and creating a bedtime ritual. Getting more sleep is the one change Ruth recommends if I do nothing else after reading this book.
Overall, reading Unstuffed has taught me decluttering my life is a good thing to do. It gives me an opportunity to have a clean slate and get rid of not only the physical things, but clear my mind and soul as well.
I know I have things in my life I need to work on, and with this book’s help, I will be able to do that.