How to Keep House While Drowning

An organizing book for everyone by KC Davis. I recommend reading or listening to it, and watching her Ted Talk (link is below)

(In a hurry? You can order the book here. I'll get a small commission - thank you!)

I have to start by saying...

THANK YOU KC DAVIS! This book is amazing!

Listening to this book was a fantastic, mind-altering distraction as I prepped my cabinets for my kitchen remodel (and also reignited my tennis elbow).

I feel like I've been waiting for her words my whole life. I loved it so much that as soon as it ended I listened to it again, and since then I've recommended it to all my clients.

This is the therapy version of Marie Kondo's Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

KC Davis's name came up multiple times over the course of a few weeks, which reminded me of when The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo came out.

I ended up loving Marie Kondo's philosophy so much I flew to New York by myself and trained with her!

HOWEVER...

Just before taking the final step to become an official KonMari Consultant (by paying a large annual fee) I decided not to. The main reason: I feel the KonMari method is missing major mental, emotional and habit components.

This is why I'm now an organizing AND mindset/life coach.

Helping people make their spaces look nice without addressing the emotional / habit / mindset pieces feels like giving someone the answers to a very important test - they can pass the test, but they won't have the knowledge to do it again.

They can have someone over for dinner right after I leave, but when it gets messy again, they won't have the skills to declutter again...

And far too often this causes more shame, which is the last thing I want to do when I help someone declutter and get organized!

How to Keep House While Drowning has the mental health and mindset components the KonMari craze was missing.

Ms. Davis, a Mom and therapist with ADHD, put into words so many things I've thought and seen over my years as a professional organizer. And it's a super easy read/listen!

I love my KonMari'd house. The process helped change my life and I'm a happier person because of it. I love the philosophy of surrounding ourselves with things that bring us joy and are useful...

But I've also done a LOT of mindset work to get to a place of loving my home. To get there, I've learned to love my Self and be less of a perfectionist.

I'm not happier in my home because my socks are folded perfectly, I'm happier because I've decided:

1. Being messy doesn't mean I'm "bad" or "lazy"

2. Clearing and organizing are important forms of self care that are worth my time

3. It takes practice to be kind to myself

Most importantly, I've learned:

I don't need my house to look like a magazine, I need it to function and support my life and goals

I could gush all day about this book, but I'll let it speak for itself...

You can order the book here (I will get a small commission and I thank you!)

Here are some quotes I love from the book:

“You do not have to earn the right to rest, connect, or recreate. Unlearn the idea that care tasks must be totally complete before you can sit down. Care tasks are a never-ending list, and if you wait until everything is done to rest, you will never rest.”

“No one ever shamed themselves into better mental health.”

“There are actually only 5 things in any room: (1) trash; (2) dishes; (3) laundry; (4) things that have a place and are not in their place; and (5) things that do not have a place.”

“It’s stressful to try to summon up 100% motivation sitting on the couch. Let yourself use 5% motivation to do 5% of the task. Maybe you keep going. Maybe you don’t. That’s ok. Anything worth doing is worth doing partially.”

“You do not have to earn the right to rest, connect, or recreate. Unlearn the idea that care tasks must be totally complete before you can sit down. Care tasks are a never-ending list, and if you wait until everything is done to rest, you will never rest.”

“If you go through your whole life thinking that every time you clean the fridge it has to be perfect, every time you take a shower it has to be perfect, every time you do a work project it has to be perfect, you will burn out and hate your life.”

“Forget about creating a routine. You have to focus on finding your rhythm.” With routines you are either on track or not. With rhythm you can skip a beat and still get back in the groove.”

“You deserve kindness and love regardless of how good you are at care tasks.”

You can order the book here

(I will get a small commission and I thank you!)

And here's a link to her Ted Talk:

How to do laundry when you're depressed

If you've read the book and/or watched the video - what do you think? Did they impact your thinking and/or life?

Also, please know I'm here to help if you feel overwhelmed by clutter, anxiety, depression, life - please don't hesitate to reach out.

I've been deep in the struggle myself, you're not alone.

Share with me or reach out in a comment here, in an email or in a personal message on Facebook or Instagram

XO,

Spring

Are you ready to find more happiness and freedom in your home, office, art space, life and mind?

Please remember that I'm here for you! Reach out if you have questions and/or you feel stuck.

There's no need to struggle with clutter anymore - you're not alone and I can help you feel better right away.

Text me at 360-265-2477, send me a personal message on Facebook or schedule a free coaching call with me here ($125 value)

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