I work out of an office. Most days, it’s just me. However, from time to time, I host a few others.
For that reason, I keep a set of four coffee mugs around. I drink coffee most of the day when I’m alone. And if there’s a meeting happening, I’m certainly brewing a fresh pot for anyone who wants it.
Yesterday, I noticed something out of the ordinary, despite working alone all week, all four of the coffee mugs were out of the cabinet.
One was next to me with fresh coffee, two were dirty in the sink, and the fourth was sitting on the counter, next to the sink.
It has been a couple busy days—the first week of the Uncluttered Course always requires a significant amount of my energy. And we just started up this Tuesday. Because my days have been full, I’ve fallen into a common trap:
I didn’t need to wash my coffee mug because there was a clean one still in the cabinet, so I just left it out dirty.
We do this all the time.
When life is not busy, or my attention is not divided, it only takes a few short seconds to hand wash my coffee mug and put it away before I leave the office. So I often do.
But during this busy week, when my attention was divided, and there were other things on my agenda, it became too easy to leave the cleaning task undone—even though it would have only taken a few seconds.
This is how our excess possessions lead to a messy home. When we have more than we need, there is less incentive to clean up along the way. And when our attention is pulled from one thing to another, this excess gets left out all too often.
Much of the mess in our home is a result of having too much stuff.
Just think of the different ways this plays out in our homes:
• We leave dirty dishes in our sink because we can grab a new one from the cabinet.
• We don’t clean our pots and pans or spatulas because it’s easy to grab a different one.
• We leave out the blanket in the living room because there’s another one in the bedroom.
• Our dirty clothes piles grow taller and taller as long as there’s something clean to wear in the closet.
• Our kids leave their toys out, all over the house, because there’s always another one they haven’t played with yet.
• Rubber bands and pens and paper clips collect in our junk drawer—way more than we’ll ever use.
• Coats gather by the backdoor because everyone in the house is wearing a different one today.
• Books and magazines and newspapers pile up on our counter because there’s always a new one to read.
• Phone charger cords can be seen in every room of the house because there’s always another one in the room we are heading to.
• Our linen closet shelves fill up with towels and sheets because there are so many that rarely get used.
• And the list goes on and on: tools, board games, yarn, shoes, sporting equipment, DVDs, video game supplies, purses…
For me, in this specific scenario, it didn’t take long to wash and dry my coffee mugs and put them back where they belong—eliminating the small mess.
But in our homes, it’s a different story.
The average American home has over 300,000 items inside of it. That’s a whole lot of excess… and a lot of mess because of it.
If your house is messy all the time, maybe you’ve got too much stuff inside it. Owning less will help you keep it clean, among other benefits.
melissa says
I like the gentle reminder and was wondering why things where getting messy again. I have began to get busy weeks again with things picking up like crazy in work, looks like 2020 needs to be zoned again.
Angela says
Great post as usual Joshua.
Most of my mugs have been gifted to me over the years.
I did donate several some time ago. The cupboard had too many.
One thing I don’t do though, is wash mugs or anything else individually. It seems wasteful to me. Got rid of my dishwasher many years ago, I prefer to hand wash dishes, I know, odd woman!
Valerie Rogers says
When it was two of us, only four plates. That way, no more can be dirty, right. Seen these homes with stacked dirty dishes. Don’t have so many.
Now, just me, I only own two plates ?
Abby says
Nicely put. Recently I started rinsing my coffee cup out and just using it for water during the rest of the day.
Martha says
Thank you Joshua for your posts, and now the free book you emailed. I will read and get going. I have trouble with the start, and then consistent follow through. I am excited about the end game and appreciate your posts as they refocus me.
Thank you!
Faye says
This was good food for thought (as usual). I can read this article get motivated and all is good. My problem is consistency. I practice minimizing things at home. Well, I work on it. :) I think I need to practice minimizing at my work office. My office has too much STUFF. Thanks for posting some of the most thought provoking and helpful articles I’ve read. These articles keep me focused on making the changes that I know will help me in the long run.
Bano Younus says
I drink tea and have a favourite mug which gets washed for my two cups of tea a day so that part is handled!
Just got to work on the other clutter items to decide not to have more than what I need or use or love.
nicoleandmaggie says
We had a year when we were living away from home and were living pretty minimalist for that reason. Let me tell you, when you need a clean pot/dish/mug when you’re busy and you have to wash it before you can use it, that is a huge hassle. Much more so than being able to run the dishwasher once a day or not having to move things from a pot into another vessel to store in the refrigerator. It made me really appreciate having duplicates.
Peggy says
Compared to most, my home is stark. It does not look stark because I have some very large house plants. There is no junk, no laundry, no Knick knacks or paddy whacks on level surfaces. One thing I do have is a box in my closet. It is the box for items to go to the thrift store. I do not have to do a purge because things are removed on an ongoing basis. My family know I do not want gifts so they give me consumables that I enjoy. Others have yard sales where tables are piled high with stuff. I have never had a yard sale because I never have enough items at one time to fill even one table. It just goes to the thrift store.
Faye says
Peggy,
I aspire to become dedicated like you. I need to work harder at it. Thanks
Vanessa says
Must be nice lol
Debbie says
I cannot agree more. My daughter and I just split households as I moved into a 1 bedroom apartment. I took her surplus dishes, etc, and chose to wait before buying more. My newly developed minimalist muscles said it would be enough. And it was! Why do I need a whole set of forks and spoons? I worried about silly things like not having a trash can in every room, only to realize that the apartment is only 20 paces long. And I can use the exercise. LOL. Thanks for keeping this in our minds. It is important to realize “I have everything I need.”
Kathy Quinn says
My favorite part of the Uncluttered course was the Kitchen. I did what you said and cleared my counters. I was dubious. I have come to love it. When I have all that clear space, I luxuriate in it! I don’t mind putting my appliances away either. Now I just need to continue to reduce my other 300,000 things!
Sunshine says
Isn’t it wonderful having clear counters? I still have a microwave and coffee pot on the counter, and the coffee pot might be going. The only other thing is a drying mat beside the sink. It’s so much easier to clean.
Amy Slenker Smith says
I couldn’t agree more with this post. I make this same case for eliminating duplicates all the time. I have one pair of sunglasses. They’ve lasted several years without damage or loss. I always know where they are. And as the person with the smallest wardrobe in our home, I have the least laundry and it’s easier for me to put away. Such a good read!
Helene Stanley says
I love these posts. I am now struggling with toys again, this time as a grandmother. I am thinking of only keeping bigger items like the play kitchen and tool station. Help! I can use ideas. As I read this, I am wondering when I will use my 10 plus casserole dishes at one time!