Last month on the blog, we featured professional organizer extraordinaire, Jill Viglione. Jill’s recommendation to reduce belongings before a move, and her motto of “space is money,” got me thinking about the importance of ‘editing’ our belongings, and I threw myself into research!  

Below is my shortlist of books, websites, tools, and ways to shift your mindset to support you on your journey—from inspiration to action (and maybe even joy. Wouldn’t that be grand?)

Books to Get You Started

1. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Marie Kondo became a sensation after the 2014 publication of this title. Her “KonMari” method teaches you to keep only what “sparks joy.” She also has had a couple of reality shows on Netflix.

2. Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K. White

No-nonsense and realistic. Dana White’s strategies are especially helpful if you feel overwhelmed or deal with executive dysfunction. She also has a website called A Slob Comes Clean.

3. Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff by Matt Paxton

Host of PBS’s “Legacy List,” Paxton blends storytelling with hands-on decluttering advice for seniors and their families. Letting people tell their stories about their stuff and deeply listening to them is therapeutic and helpful to the process of letting go.

Shift Your Mindset

1. Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki

Fumio Sasaki lived in his apartment for ten years, and felt he was drowning in clutter. The opening of the book features photographs which show his embrace of minimalism and the turning of mess into gorgeous spaces.

2. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson

Although the title can be off-putting, Magnusson’s short book refocuses on what legacy you want to leave your children after your death.

3. Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life by The Minimalists

Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, best friends who walked away from their six-figure corporate careers, started focusing on what was truly important in their lives: health, relationships, passion, growth, and contribution.

Helpful Websites & Digital Resources

Decluttering isn’t one-size-fits-all. These blogs and sites offer diverse perspectives and techniques:

Becoming Minimalist – Practical advice and motivational articles from Joshua Becker, a former pastor turned author. Joshua believes that minimalism isn’t just about decluttering; it’s about creating space for what matters most: relationships, purpose, and peace.

Home Made Lovely – A one-stop shop for ideas on cleaning, decluttering, organizing, and DIY decorating. Shannon Acheson and her husband Dean, have a beautiful website with many articles on how to “fall in love with your home.”

Clutterbug – Cass Aarssen’s website helps you find your decluttering style and has a lot of printables to help you organize. 

Apps & Tools to Stay on Track

Decluttering isn’t just physical. It’s also mental. The following tools help you break big projects into manageable tasks. (Full disclosure: I haven’t used any of the following apps, as I feel I am on screens too much of the time. But for those of you who are more digitally inclined, they may be just the ticket to up your cleaning and/or note-taking game.)

• Trello – Create room-by-room checklists and track progress visually.
• Tody (App) – Gamifies cleaning tasks and helps build sustainable routines. The basic app is free, but you can purchase the premium for $9.95 a year
• Google Keep or Evernote – Useful for quick to-do lists, donation center info, or organizing digital clutter.

Where to Take the Stuff

Decluttering doesn’t mean dumping. Back in March, I wrote a blog post titled Where to Donate, Recycle, or Resell in Portland, Oregon. If you are deep into your decluttering and organizing, this is a great resource to be aware of continually.

Final Thoughts

There are many resources to help in your decluttering journey. Whether you’re drawn to books (from the library, of course!) or to more digital tools, I hope the resources in this post will be of help. So take a breath. Pick a corner. Choose a book or resource that speaks to you. And begin the process: slowly, mindfully, and fruitfully.