Review: Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K. White

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Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K. White

Format: Audiobook

Rating: 5 stars

I didn't think I needed this book. I listen to Dana's podcast, A Slob Comes Clean, and every time she mentioned preordering it I resisted the temptation.  I already have all that information, I told myself. I know the two decluttering questions. I know about the container concept. I already have the tools to declutter. What could I possibly get out of Decluttering at the Speed of life? 

The answer: A lot.

I did have the information already but I wasn't using it to its full decluttering potential. I wasn't combining the rules, and the questions, and the concepts in a way that they could be effective and make a difference in my home and as a result I was still stuck way above my clutter threshold. I'm still above my clutter threshold, but now I'm working on fixing that.

I don't usually listen to audiobooks but when I decided to go ahead and get this book I decided that audiobook should be the format. I listen to Dana's podcast while I'm cleaning, it gives me motivation and keeps me going but at the same time I'd like talking to a friend. That's just Dana's style and I love it, and since I've read her previous book, How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind, I figured her writing style would be much the same. When I saw that Dana was narrating the audiobook herself I knew the deal was sealed. Listening to this book is great decluttering motivation, which is why I've listened too it twice already and plan to listen again and bookmark the parts that really speak to me so I can go back to them quickly. Since reading this book I've fecluttered things that I didn't even know were clutter. Like stick lighters. I had four of them. All in one drawer. I had no idea I had so many and because I just assumed that everything in my (horribly disorganized) utensil drawer was useful and valuable I had no idea that there was clutter in the drawer.

And the visibility rule! Now that's a game changer when it's used right. I have a half wall right by my front door and there used to be a planter full of plastic plants and real dirt. We pitched the planter when we first moved in but there is still a giant hole where it used to be and the hole had filled up with tools and garbage and mail and basically anything that could fit. But since I wasn't using the visibility rule while cleaning or decluttering the hole stayed full of crap. Now it's empty and that half wall stays cleaned off. That's just one example. This book has totally changed the way I clean an declutter. It's changed the way I see my house and the stuff in it. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have a more manageable place to live and give it 5 stars.

Pick up the audiobook here. Read Dana's blog and listen to the podcast here.