One of the laws of physics I learned in high school was the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

Officially, it says, “The level of disorder in the universe is steadily increasing. Systems tend to move from ordered behavior to more random behavior.“

In simpler terms, it says this: Left on their own, systems tend toward disorder.

That’s why a cup of coffee left on the counter cools over time, not the other way around. It’s why sandcastles crumble, buildings decay, and 52 playing cards thrown on the floor don’t become a stacked deck on their own. Everything, in the absence of outside energy, moves from order to chaos.

This law is always at work—in nature, in science—and in our homes and lives.

I was thinking about this fact recently as I finished writing the manuscript of my next book. The words were typed on my computer, of course. But over the months of researching and writing, I collected a large number of notes and pieces of paper—loose sheets of handwritten outlines, printed pages to edit, notecards, lists, folders of relevant projects, even a stack of books I referenced often. Over time, I placed more and more of them on a shelf near my desk.

As the writing continued, the pile slowly grew. One stack turned into two, and two stacks turned into three. Piles of notecards got higher and higher. Papers intermingled. Things got buried. The mess expanded, more and more, until eventually the entire shelf was overtaken with notes for the book.

The mess didn’t improve with time—it only worsened. The system tended toward disorder, not order. And it stayed that way, until just last week, when the book was completed and I finally took the time and effort to clean it up fully.

Because here’s the thing about messes: They don’t clean themselves. They require attention.

When my kids were younger, Kim and I had a mantra that we would use often. Especially after meals or light snacks in the evening, if someone left their plate on the counter near the sink, I’d say, “You know that plate’s not going to clean itself. Somebody in this family is going to have to do it. It might as well be you since you’re the one who dirtied it.”

I wish I could say the mantra was 100% effective—but we all know better than that.

Regardless, there is an important truth hidden in that reality that we would be wise to remind ourselves of—even beyond our teenage years.

Messes don’t clean themselves. The universe moves naturally toward disorder, not order.

This is important to see and apply accordingly in our homes. Messes only grow as clutter attracts more and more clutter.

• The mail you left on the counter will only pile up higher—until you make the effort to sort it.
• The dishes in your sink will remain dirty—until you make the effort to clean them.
• The clothes in your closet will take up more and more space—until you make the effort to discard some.
• The boxes of stuff in your basement will remain there—until you take the time to sort them.
• The garage will remain too full to park in—until you get out there and declutter the stuff.

And maybe, some of us need to stop reading right here, and go make the change to bring about the order in our home that we’ve been wanting.

But this principle doesn’t stop at our possessions. Messes don’t clean themselves. The universe only moves toward order when energy is applied:

If we’re living paycheck to paycheck, avoiding the numbers won’t change the math. Our attention and energy is required to fix it.

If our lifestyle is unhealthy, doing the same thing over and over won’t bring change. Our attention and energy is required to change it.

If we don’t like the direction of our life, attention and energy will be required to start moving in a different direction.

If there is a strained relationship in our life, ignoring the hard work won’t solve it. Attention, energy—and probably humility—will be required.

We can spend a lot of time waiting for the right moment, the perfect motivation, or the ideal set of circumstances. But messes rarely resolve themselves as we wait. They grow. And the longer we delay, the more energy it takes to clean them up.

So maybe today is a good day to ask: What mess in my life is waiting for my attention?

And what small step can I take before the sun sets to begin cleaning it up?

Operation: A Place for Everything (and Everything in Its Place)

My organizing mission continues! This closet makeover is still in progress so no pretty pictures, but I thought I’d show you what I’ve been working on behind the scenes.

The Closet That Drove Me Nuts

(can you blame me?)

This closet in the Snug was one of those closets.

The “we just moved in” (…almost four years ago ) so let’s just stuff it in here for now kind of closet.

It became the delayed decision zone—overflowing with the things I wasn’t quite sure what to do with. Family photos, mementos, files, extra pillow covers… all important, all without a clear home.

At one point it was filled with fluffy pillows, and they would all come tumbling out when I opened the door. I don’t think I took a photo of that.

Why We Chose a Compact Home

We live in what I call a compact home, by choice. It has smaller rooms, a smaller lot, a one car garage, no storage shed, no basement and smallish closets. After years of having more space—extra garages, basements, closets, outbuildings—I realized “extra storage space” just made it too easy to collect too much stuff.

And for someone like me (a person who likes to decorate, can be sentimental, and a recovering procrastinator ), fewer storage options actually “forces me” to stay on top of things. Otherwise clutter is multiplying “out of sight, out of mind” (or taunting me every time I open the door).

That said, even after years of decluttering and downsizing, I’m still learning important truths, such as:

Small spaces obviously need fewer things—but they also need better systems.

When we had a 5,000 square foot house, we didn’t actually need many systems. People always say a bigger house is harder to keep clean, but it is far easier to stash stuff where no one has to see it.

We had a lot of storage in that house so you could toss in just about anything to “deal with later” and forget you even owned it. Until it was time for us to move. Same situation happened at the next house. It was a smaller home but 1,000 square feet of storage under the house. I had no idea we still had canoes under the house until the day we were trying to load the Uhaul.

By the way, you can read more of my misadventures and solutions found through all of my homes in my books Love the Home You Have and Make Room for What You Love — maybe you’ll relate or just get a good laugh at my struggles ha!

On a related note, I have no idea why I still have this album. I mean, I did like Donny and Marie and had a lot of their albums, but this would not be the one I would choose to keep. Yet here it is.

And why have I moved about 13 times with this album? I have a lot of questions. Ha! Happily, these random finds are becoming more rare. I still have too much stuff, but I’m making steady progress. Let me show you what I’ve been working on!

The Closet Problem (and My Simple Solution)

This closet in the snug, under the eaves, is actually one of the biggest we have, so I knew it had potential. But without stackable bins or a usable structure, it wasn’t going to work for what I needed.

We didn’t need to keep everything, so I started—as a necessity—with a ruthless edit. I’ve come a long way when it comes to letting go, and having limited space definitely helps me be more decisive.

Once the clutter was pared down, I got to the fun part: organizing.

What I Used:

• White photo boxes (similar): These hold all our loose photos until we can scan, frame, or sort them.
• Blue stackable bins: These are soft-sided but sturdy with handles and spots for labels. Some are file boxes, some are just open bins. I’m not sure how these ended up being two shades of blue (I ordered one set a bit later) but that’s okay. It doesn’t have to be perfect to feel organized.
• Navy linen file boxes: These are really sturdy, well-built, and a great size. They come with metal rails to hold files!
• Blue magazine holders
• Wall-mounted essential oil organizer: I added two of these wall shelves months ago and love how they maximize vertical space without cluttering the closet. I definitely need to pare down my oils, but I love all of them. Ha! I still need to tidy those shelves up, though. Baby steps! Side note, this closet smells LIKE A DREAM! I get my oils here.

Everything I needed now stacks neatly into the closet, and there’s still enough floor space to walk in and out comfortably. YAY!

It’s just what I wanted. An easy fix. No need to install shelves or find furniture. No permanent installations. Just a fast and functional solution that works for us now, and is flexible for the future, too.

And most importantly? I can open the door without anxiety. I keep opening the door just to remind myself of how far I’ve come!

• Buy bins in larger sets if you know you’ll use them—it’s more affordable.
• Look for bins with handles and label slots for easy future organizing.
• Don’t buy containers for clutter. Declutter before you organize.
• Simple solutions can make a big impact—especially in small spaces.

Voila! This little system saved the day…and my sanity.

One more thing….

Stay tuned for my next installment of A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place—you won’t even believe this one! I came up with a clever idea for the closet door that solved a whole different organizing dilemma. It was a tricky one! I can’t wait to show you.

See more of my recent organizing projects here!

My Phrase Of The Year: A Place for Everything

10 Organizers We Use in Our Home

My Quick & Easy Organized Gift Wrapping Closet

My Coffee Cabinet Makeover (Removable Wallpaper, Berkey Water Filter Storage and Organization)

A Pretty Solution for Hiding Power Strips and Cords

How to Organize Under the Sink in the Kitchen (6 tips to create a place for everything!)

My Coffee Cabinet Makeover (Removable Wallpaper, Berkey Water Filter Storage and Organization)

Baskets in the Dining Room (a place for everything!)

Decorating & Organizing with Baskets (A Place for Everything!)

See a whole gallery full of organization inspiration posts on the blog here!

Fall is often packed with activities, including back-to-school, holiday preparations, and celebrations, and sports games. To start the season off right, freshen up your entryway with a decluttering exercise so you can leave and enter your home on the right note. 

“Mudrooms and entryways are one of the most important areas to organize before a busy season like the fall,” says Ashley La Fond, founder of Of Space and Mind. “Not only do you need good systems for storage, you also need to establish consistent habits to help maintain the space through such a busy time of year.”

We asked La Fond and other organizing experts about the most important things to remove from the entryway before fall, and their answers surprised us. Read on to learn more. 

Rugs

While a rug looks good near an entryway, La Fond recommends removing it in preparation for fall weather.

“Fall means lots of rain and muddy boots, which will destroy carpets,” she says. “Preserve your rugs by temporarily removing them during wetter months.” 

If you prefer to protect your floors from becoming messy, try swapping a rug for a rubber shoe mat that can hold up against wet and muddy shoes. 

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Outdoor Gear 

Emily Maiocco, owner of Next Level Organizing, recommends removing outdoor, gardening, or sports gear that’s stored in the entryway with the change of the seasons.

Put summer-specific items away in storage, and consider keeping in-season bulky items in a room with more space, such as a garage.

Old and Unused Items

Anytime you undergo a decluttering project, it’s a good idea to remove all items that aren’t frequently used, have another home, or can be thrown away, such as old mail, expired coupons, or the forgotten pair of shoes in the corner. 

Once your initial decluttering is complete, Maiocco suggests doing a quick assessment of unused items frequently to prevent the entryway from becoming too full and cluttered.

“Taking a few minutes in the evening or in the morning to put things back where they belong adds an immediate sense of relief to this hard-working space,” she says.

Beach Items

As summer comes to an end, it’s time to put away beach bags, flip flops, sunscreen, and other beach or pool items that no longer belong in the entryway. Removing these items will make space for fall items, such as backpacks, homework, boots, and jackets. 

Wicker Baskets

La Fond says to skip wicker baskets for your entryway’s organizational needs since they tend to shed and don’t hold up well in high-traffic areas. Instead, opt for more heavy-duty organizers, such as plastic bins or cubbies.  

Seasonal Decor and Clothing 

Experts recommend removing all seasonal decor and clothing from the entryway as summer comes to an end.

“At the start of any new season, I always recommend assessing and potentially decluttering each family member’s shoes, accessories, outerwear…,” Maiocco says.

Move summer clothing and shoes to storage to make room for fall items. 

Additional Decluttering Tips

• Designate a space for each family member. Having a designated space for each family gives everything its own space and makes finding what you need much easier.
• Use vertical storage. “Utilizing the inside of closet doors for over-the-door organizers that hold small accessories helps to maximize space and keep surfaces clear,” Maiocco says.
• Remove any unnecessary items from the entry. If it’s not something you use frequently, chances are you won’t need to grab it on the way out.
• Avoid storing bulky items. “Don’t store bulky sports gear, equipment, and one-off items that don’t really need to be inside,” La Fond says. 

The Minimalists talk about the root cause of identity clutter, the best ways to celebrate while letting go, how to minimize the things you rarely use, some of our favorite memories from the last 500 episodes, and much more.

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Discussed in This Episode

Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

• Your identity is constructed with memories, opinions, and desires.
• Every label that is clung to becomes a false identity.
• Scrolling is the new smoking.
• A tool is only as useful as its user.
• A pound of experiences is worth more than a pound of stuff.
• Clinging leaves clawmarks on your heart.
• Your things don’t complete you—they incomplete you.
• The inability to hold on is just as dangerous and the inability to let go.
• It is impossible to win a game without rules.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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It’s common to have a junk drawer since it’s easy to throw anything (or everything) in there when you’re trying to quickly declutter your space. However, over time, a junk drawer can easily get messy if the items are just accumulating and not being reorganized.

This is why I decided to refresh my junk drawer, so I can get rid of some items that I no longer need. Below, I share the five items that I immediately tossed.

Broken or Old Stationery

When I opened my junk drawer the first time, I was shocked at how many pens, pencils, and other old stationery were scattered throughout. I took a piece of paper and used it to test all the pens to see which ones were dried up so they could be tossed.

The ones that still worked and I liked, I put them back on my table so I could actually use them daily.

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Electronic Cords

I had a bunch of tangled electronic cords and chargers, and as I was going through them, I realized how many were so outdated and didn’t even fit my current electronics. I wrapped them with a zip tie and tossed them out, so I would no longer confuse them with the ones that still worked for me.

Plastic Bags and Bins

To better group my items, I had stored them by category in plastic bags and bins. However, there were also empty ones just lying around, so I went through them to see if any had noticeable cracks or tears and threw them out if they did.

The ones still in pristine condition were reused to store the items that I wanted to keep, so they wouldn’t go to waste.

Packaging Boxes

It’s natural to want to keep packaging boxes of newly bought items, whether it be phone cases, jewelry, or more. However, it’s better to toss them right away if you know you’re never going to be using them again, since they could be taking up valuable space for other items.

Paper Clutter

Besides meaningful cards and important documents, you’d be surprised at how much paper clutter you actually have. I found old brochures, pamphlets, and old sheets that I unintentionally held onto and threw into my drawer since I had no other place to keep them.

I’d recommend getting file folders and labeling them, so you know exactly where everything is when the time comes.

Imagine saving hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars each year—just by owning less. These 20 stats show how.

Most people I know want more time and money. In most cases, I can see why.

We’re stretched thin—trying to meet deadlines, pay bills, care for our families, and still find space for rest, joy, purpose, and meaning. The days feel short. The expenses pile up. And it’s easy to believe that the only solution is to work harder, earn more, or somehow fit more into an already full life.

But maybe there’s a better answer. What if the solution isn’t found in earning more, but in owning less?

Every item we buy has a cost—and not just in dollars. Our possessions cost us time to earn, time to maintain, and time to manage. And the quickest way to get more time and money back into our lives is to pursue minimalism.

And it turns out, the numbers back this up. Here are 20 statistics that show just how much minimalism can change our everyday by giving us more time and more money.

Money

1. Americans waste $18,000 on “non-essential” expenses each year (source)

2. Despite owning enough clothing to form an average of 135 outfits, Americans spend an average of $1,445 yearly on clothes and shoes. (source)

3. On average, people spend $360 each year on jewelry, whether for gifting others or buying for themselves—despite already owning 34 pieces of jewelry. Men, on average, spend more on themselves than women do. (source)

4. Families spent $24 billion on toys annually. Parents spend an average of $240 on toys and games every year while grandparents spend $500. All while it’s estimated that 20-30% of toys are never played with. (source)

5. Americans spend $14.6 billion every year on home organization. (source)

6. In the United States, people throw away over $473 billion worth of food annually—38% of all the food in America. (source)

7. Nearly $10 billion in electronic devices—comprising computer equipment and devices, screens, and small electronic appliances—is thrown away every year in the US alone. (source)

8. On average, Americans spend approximately $1,100 per year on coffee from coffee shops. (source)

9. Nearly 25% of grocery shopping dollars are spent on processed foods and sweets—that amounts to $125/month for the average American household. (source)

10. In the US, consumers spend an average of $150 per month on impulse purchases. (source)

11. The average American spends over $1,000 a year on subscriptions—$200 of it on unnecessary or unused subscriptions. (source)

Time

12. On average we spend two hours per day buying things and taking care of the things we already own. (source)

13. Americans spend nearly two hours a day shopping online at work. (source)

14. The average woman makes 301 trips to the store annually, spending close to 400 hours a year shopping. This amounts to 8.5 years spent shopping during a typical lifespan. (source)

15. The median size of a new American home has grown to 2,338 square feet from 983 square feet in 1950, driven partly by the need to store excess possessions, increasing housing costs. (source)

16. 54% of Americans feel overwhelmed by clutter, with managing possessions elevating stress hormone levels, particularly for mothers, costing mental health and time. (source)

17. Americans spend more than two full days online shopping per year. (source)

18. The average American now spends 2.5 days per year (60 hours) looking for lost items, costing households $2.7 billion annually to replace misplaced possessions. (source)

More

19. 81% of shoppers are willing to increase their online spending purchase just to meet a retailer’s free shipping threshold. (source)

20. The national average credit card debt among cardholders with unpaid balances in 2025 averaged $7,321 (with much of it tied to unnecessary purchases), which results in an extra $120 billion in credit card interest and fees every year. (source)

The data doesn’t lie: when we own less, we can save more—both time and money. And with that, we gain something even more valuable—margin to live a better, more intentional life.

Letting go does not require a trip to Goodwill
or a purchase from The Container Store.

Because…

Letting go is not something you do.
It is something you stop doing.

You stop pretending every thing is precious or sentimental.
You stop holding on to unworn clothes and jewelry and makeup.
You stop sheltering crusty camping gear and worn-out workout equipment.
You stop cherishing musty stacks of unread books and magazines.
You stop storing dusty home decorations in clutter coffins.
You stop buying new things that will soon turn into old clutter.
You stop fantasizing that more square footage will lead to more fulfillment.
You stop tethering your identity to your car and house and bank balance.

Like carrying an oversized suitcase for a great distance,
you would benefit greatly by setting down
any possession that weighs you down.

However…

Letting go extends beyond your material clutter.
If you truly want to let go…

You stop binding yourself to toxic relationships.
You stop acting like busyness is a good thing.
You stop trying to “fix” every imaginary problem.
You stop turning to breaking news for information.
You stop mistaking information for wisdom.
You stop posturing as if achievements make you, you.
You stop assuming that success equals satisfaction.
You stop chasing happiness because you finally realize that externalities will never satiate your insatiable desire for more.

You see, letting go is not something you do.
It happens naturally when you stop clinging.

Like clutching a hot coal in your hand,
you must stop holding on
to stop the pain.

No matter the fixation—
be it possessions or people or prosperity—
clinging always leads to suffering.

Always.

Yet when you let go of the clinging,
you pick up freedom, peace, equanimity.

But if you hold on,
you will get dragged.

For years, I couldn’t figure out why my home didn’t feel like the peaceful retreat I craved.

I was constantly tidying, decluttering, cleaning—always trying to keep up.

I’d reset one room… while another unraveled.

Declutter. Organize. Clean. Repeat.

And even when things felt calm for a day or two, the chaos always crept back in.

I started to grow tired of trying so hard to keep up!

So I started to wonder:

Maybe I’m just not good at this.

Maybe I was failing at this whole “home” thing.

For a long time, I believed peace would only come with MORE—more time, more money, more effort.

I thought a sense of calm could only arrive once everything was FINISHED.

But the truth?

Peace didn’t come from doing it all. Or from getting it all right.

It came from doing what mattered—on purpose, in rhythm.

My home became a sanctuary not because I did more or got it all done, but because I embraced small, soulful rhythms.

Tiny acts of care brought peace to our space—and to me, too.

If your home ever feels more like a source of overwhelm than peace—you’re not alone.

You’re a HomeBody.
You crave a home that nurtures you.
A space that reflects you.
A rhythm that inspires you. 

HomeBodies love HomeBody Gathering Place because we do things differently.

We create a sanctuary–The HomeBody Way.

In peaceful rhythms, tiny acts of care, joy and beauty that motivate and inspire us to love our home and our life, too.

The HomeBody Way is sustainable. Refreshing. Attainable. Life changing.

This summer, we’re learning the value in Tiny Transformations –and embracing a life-changing home rhythm of small and slow.

Let’s turn your home into the sanctuary you crave–

*one small rhythm
*one tiny act of joy and care
*one peaceful transformation at a time.

Join us in HomeBody Gathering Place this week and get instant access to our first Home Therapy session of the summer—Why We Embrace Small and Slow in Summer—plus a library full of delightful resources created just for HomeBodies.

Inside, you’ll enjoy:

– Weekly Home Therapy — soul-soothing pep talks that will transform both you and your home
– The Room Recipe Method — six step-by-step ingredient guides to help your home feel the way you want it to feel
– The Joy List — a weekly practice to notice the simple things that bring happiness at home
– Tiny Transformations + the Summer Home Love Bucket List — small, satisfying refreshes that add up to big impact
– The HomeBody Notebook — reflect, plan, and reconnect with your home and what matters most

We’re open the rest of this week only so HomeBodies can start summer session together! Let’s make home more peaceful.

Join us here.

See you in the HGP!

There is an important truth about life that is helpful to understand: sometimes, the things we think will make us happy actually keep us from it.

For most of my life, I believed the ‘American Dream’ was the path to a better life—a bigger house, a fuller closet, the latest gadgets, and all the things everyone else seemed to be chasing. So I chased and accumulated those things with determination, convinced they would improve my life. But looking back, I see how many of my years were spent chasing the wrong things.

It’s not easy to admit, but much of my life was wasted pursuing possessions that didn’t matter. By the time I was 33, our home was filled with stuff—furniture, clothes, toys, gadgets, and countless items we thought we needed. Each new possession came with a hidden cost: time spent cleaning, organizing, repairing, and maintaining. Our lives were quietly being consumed by the very things we thought would bring us freedom.

Then, everything changed.

We began removing the excess—over 60% of our possessions—and in doing so, discovered a life filled with greater joy, purpose, and freedom. We found more time for faith, family, friends, and making a positive impact in the world. We uncovered passions we didn’t know we had. And we realized that the pursuit of possessions had been stealing our best years.

If I could go back, I would start living simply much earlier—in my teens, in my twenties, or as a young family. Because the earlier we embrace simplicity, the sooner we experience its life-giving benefits: less debt, less clutter, more money, more intentionality, more time and presence with the people who matter most.

The truth is, the path to simplicity looks different for everyone. Some get to learn it as a child from their parents. For others, it comes later—perhaps in a season of financial strain, a move to a smaller home, or a moment of clarity about what truly matters. Some discover simplicity as they raise young children, others discover it when they downsize after their kids have moved out. Some find minimalism through a book, a blog, a documentary, a conversation with their neighbor, or a life-changing event. Others stumble into it gradually, one small step at a time.

But no matter how or when we find it, the best time to start living simply is always now.

Here’s why starting early matters:

1. Simplicity Builds Better Habits

When we start living with less early in life, we develop habits that can shape more of our future. We learn to value experiences over things, relationships over status, and purpose over possessions. These habits can become the foundation for a life of ever-increasing intentionality and fulfillment.

2. It Frees Up Resources for What Matters

The earlier we simplify, the more time, money, and energy we have to invest in what truly matters. Imagine the impact of saving more, giving more, and pursuing passions sooner rather than later.

3. It Helps Us Avoid Regret

One of my greatest regrets is not starting sooner—wasting years and money chasing things that didn’t truly matter. I wasted too much of life chasing things that didn’t matter, only to realize later that they were distractions from what did. Starting early helps us avoid that regret and live a life aligned with our values from the beginning.

4. It Prepares Us for the Unexpected

Life is unpredictable. Simplicity equips us to handle change with grace. Whether it’s a career shift, a move, an unexpected diagnosis, or even a global health crisis, living with less means we’ve found freedom to help us be better prepared to adapt and thrive.

5. It Sets an Example for Others

When we choose simplicity, we inspire those around us—our children, friends, and community. We show them that a meaningful life isn’t found in what we own but in how we live. And the earlier we can start showing that truth to our kids, the more likely they are to believe it.

The beauty of simplicity is that it’s never too late to start—no matter where you are in life. Whether you’re 20, 40, 60, or 80, the benefits are waiting for you and able to be enjoyed just as soon as you want. But the earlier we begin, the sooner we experience them and the more time we have to enjoy them.

So, where do we start?

Begin small. Declutter a drawer. Cancel a subscription. Say no to something that doesn’t align with your values. Each small step builds momentum and brings clarity.

The best time to start living simply is now. Don’t wait for the ‘right’ moment or perfect circumstances. Start today, and create a life you’ll never regret.