Not all clutter needs to go. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Not all clutter needs to go.

Today’s short essay explores a distinction that changed the way I deal with clutter in my own home.

Then, on the podcast: I had a personal emergency last week, so T.K. interviewed Zach Bush, MD, without me. Rabeka, a Patreon member, commented, “This is one of the most powerful episodes I’ve ever listened to.” I agree. I’m glad I missed this one—because I got to experience their remarkable conversation the same way you will.

Speaking of Patreon, our All Access tier increases to $25 for new members next month. But anyone who joins by the end of September can keep the current $10 price for as long as they remain a member.

Now let's put your clutter in context...

Contextual Clutter

Joshua Fields Millburn

Clutter is anything that gets in the way.

But did you know there are actually two kinds of clutter?

Absolute clutter is anything that no longer adds value to your life: a dried-out pen, a single glove whose partner disappeared, a board game missing half its pieces, a stack of business cards from people you don’t remember, a bottle of sunscreen from a vacation six summers ago.

Contextual clutter, on the other hand, consists of things that still add value but are currently out of place: A blender in my bed renders both the blender and the bed useless. A suitcase blocking the hallway three weeks after a trip becomes an obstacle. A stack of mail on the passenger seat makes it difficult for someone to sit there.

The problem isn’t always the thing itself. Sometimes the problem is simply where it is.

Absolute clutter needs to go.

Contextual clutter just needs a home.

—JFM

P.S. If you’d like 12 rules to help contextualize your clutter, my new book, Very, Very Simple, is now in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.

THE MINIMALISTS PODCAST

"Gosh, this episode was just incredible. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time." —Lauren on Patreon

EP. 557 | THE CONTEXT

This week, T.K. Coleman speaks with Zach Bush, MD, about why context matters more than content, why relationships are more important than possessions, how we learn to be dissatisfied, and more.

Listen to the Minimal episode free on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube. The nearly three-hour Maximal episode is exclusively on Patreon.