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Tom's Guide
a day ago
- General
- Tom's Guide
I just discovered the '27 Fling Boogie' technique, and it finally makes decluttering fun
Decluttering is one of those tasks you know you really need to do and the longer you put it off, the worse it gets. And since you have to live amongst the mess, you can't ever really avoid it. But, the process of decluttering can be incredibly hard. It's not just about ridding your home of clutter, it's about letting go of objects you've grown accustomed to having around. Usually that 'just in case' feeling can mean you hold onto things for a lot longer than you really should, because 'just in case' never happens. And this is how I found myself in a clutter rut. The items were building up and the urge to declutter was itself becoming a cluttered space in my mind. And then, I found myself down a cleaning rabbit hole on TikTok and came across this oddly-named trend, the '27 Fling Boogie'. And honestly, it's changed the way I think about decluttering forever. The '27 Fling Boogie' is a trend created by Maria Cilley aka. FlyLady, a "personal online coach" that strives to help you clean. And so, she came up with this unusually named method that tasks you with throwing away 27 items and giving away 27 items. I've tried many a decluttering method, from 'the poop rule' to the KonMari method to Swedish death cleaning. By now, she clearly needs help tidying: "She really needs helping decluttering" and you'd be right. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. So, when I heard that the 27 Fling Boogie wanted me to run through my home gathering up items firstly with the idea of throwing them away and then to giving them away, it felt like a game I could finally get onboard with. My main problem with decluttering is how much of a chore it is and how overwhelming it can be. By gamifying the idea, the 27 Fling Boogie gave me an opportunity to stop thinking about it like a task and, really, stop thinking altogether. I quickly realized by using the 27 Fling Boogie technique, I had to focus myself onto one room or one particularly messy spot, like my wardrobe. And that's when it really started to work. Running around like a headless chicken was fun at first, but then I was struggling to find 27 items just strewn across my home and it was far too easy to ignore populated spots. And focusing my attention was the key. The 27 Fling Boogie gave me a straightforward look at what I had and less about sitting there endlessly staring at each item. It wasn't, "Should I keep it?" It was, "Throw or donate?" And, sure, it definitely did work, but I also came to the realisation that 27 was just a number that gave me a goal. Most of the time, I surpassed 27 in the throwing away pile, but came under the quota in donating – and that was totally fine. At the end of the day, I was focused on doing something with my clutter and slowly, but surely, my house became less messy without me feeling any kind of guilt – especially as I dropped off items to charity to find new homes.
Sinar Daily
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Sinar Daily
Minimalism key to mental well-being
Why less stuff means more happiness in a hectic world 07 Jun 2025 01:03pm Minimalism should be practiced in a moderate and balanced manner as discarding items excessively without considering their value can lead to a loss of identity, especially if those items represent relationships or important parts of one's life. - Photo illustrated by Sinar Daily KUALA LUMPUR - In today's fast-paced and high-pressure world, the minimalist lifestyle is gaining popularity as an effective way to enhance mental well-being. One of the key aspects of this lifestyle is the intentional reduction of personal possessions. But why does owning less have such a profound impact on our ability to find calm and maintain focus? Reducing personal belongings is not merely about discarding unnecessary things but about wisely choosing what holds value and meaning in one's life. - Photo illustrated by Sinar Daily According to Dr Nurul Ain Mohamad Kamal, a consultant psychiatrist in general and psychogeriatric psychiatry at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, reducing personal belongings is not merely about discarding unnecessary things but about wisely choosing what holds value and meaning in one's life. "When the number of possessions decreases, our physical space becomes more organised and free from clutter, thereby reducing visual distractions that can lead to stress and anxiety," she told Bernama. She said owning things in moderate quantities also helps reduce mental burden as one no longer needs to worry about maintenance, storage or making unnecessary purchases. Dr Nurul Ain said a study published in 'ScienceDirect' in 2021 showed that the minimalist lifestyle has a positive impact on emotional well-being. "It helps enhance positive emotions such as a sense of contentment and calm (flourishing) and reduces symptoms of depression. "In another study by the 'International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology' (2020), individuals who practiced minimalism also experienced benefits such as autonomy, self-efficacy, heightened awareness and more stable emotions," she said. Pointing to KonMari, a popular decluttering method introduced by Japanese consultant Marie Kondo to "keep only items that spark joy', Dr Nurul Ain said it is a form of self-reflection that helps people identify the real values in their lives and rebuild healthy relationships with their surroundings and emotions. "When we keep something solely out of guilt or fear of letting it go, it may stem from unresolved unconscious emotions. On the other hand, when an item is truly used and serves a real function, then its presence is justified," she explained. However, she cautioned that minimalism should be practiced in a moderate and balanced manner as discarding items excessively without considering their value can lead to a loss of identity, especially if those items represent relationships or important parts of one's life. Hospital Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, Universiti Putra Malaysia, psychology officer Norezzati Md Hanafiah also agreed that the minimalist lifestyle not only has a positive effect on one's mental health but also contributes to physical and social well-being. According to her, a cluttered environment or one filled with too many things can negatively impact a person's emotions and productivity. It can trigger stress and anxiety due to being overwhelmed by visual clutter, along with the feeling that there are unfinished tasks. "Individuals are also more likely to feel mentally exhausted, have difficulty focusing and experience reduced productivity because a lot of time and energy is spent managing disorganised items," she said. She explained that minimalism can also improve social relationships and overall lifestyle by helping individuals appreciate the belongings they own, focusing on quality rather than quantity. "This lifestyle also encourages more mindful spending and helps avoid impulsive purchases, making one more prudent. It is particularly suitable for urban living today, where residential spaces are increasingly limited and require smart and efficient management of belongings," she added. - BERNAMA More Like This
Tom's Guide
29-05-2025
- General
- Tom's Guide
"The poop rule" is trending — here's why this gross decluttering hack actually works
It's really easy to keep things we've bought. Much easier, in fact, than throwing anything away. Why? Well, because once you own something, it's normal to feel an attachment to it, find reasons it may come in useful later down the line, or you're just used to having it around. And that's okay. But, if you want to declutter, you might feel overwhelmed. Decluttering your home is a strenuous task, not only physically, but mentally too. While I actually love to declutter as it brings me a sense of freedom and cleanliness, it might surprise you to hear that I'm also a big fan of a TikTok trend called "the poop rule". Before you click away in disgust, it's not quite what you think it is. And if trying 5 easy steps to decluttering your home hasn't worked out for you, this might just be the hypothetically "stinky" answer. It appears the poop rule has gone viral across social media recently, but what does it mean? Well, we can thank content creator Amanda Johnson for explaining it, telling The Washington Post: 'The poop rule is simple: while decluttering, ask yourself, 'If something was covered in poop, would I still keep it?' It's a fun, no-nonsense way to decide what really adds value to your life.' And it really is as simple as that. If you take an item in your home, like a piece of clothing, and imagine that it got covered in poop. Would you bother to save it? If the answer is no then it can be assumed that you don't care that much about it. It's a concept that became popularized by TikToker Becka Karle, known as @adhdorganized, who posted about it after her therapist shared the technique with her. And now, it turns out, a lot of people are looking at their belongings and thinking about poop – and it's working. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The poop rule works because it immediately removes the stress away from the process. It turns decluttering into a fun game and with a simple hypothetical question, you can determine if you really want to keep something, or you're doing it 'just in case'. I'm a huge fan of the poop rule – and that's something I never thought I'd say. But when I try to talk to people about it, I need to explain it quickly. Once past the 'oh, that's not actually gross' response, I find it easy to convince my friends and family that it's not dissimilar in style to the KonMari method or Swedish death cleaning, both of which I've tried. Swedish death cleaning, as the best example, is imagining that you've passed away and your loved ones need to clear through your home and belongings. If there's something in your home you wouldn't want to pass on, then don't keep it. Sure, thinking about your own mortality isn't a great way to spend your day, but it certainly helped reframe my mind. And, the poop rule does the same. If for some reason it got covered in poop, maybe it's best just gotten rid of. In action, you don't want to use the poop rule on everything in your home because quite honestly, the idea of cleaning poop off my sofa would be more about not wanting to take on such a big task rather than having anything to do with my actual sofa. If you're just starting out, try it on items in your home that you have a multitude of. If you realize that something as simple as poop would make you throw away half your pens, for example, then you're using it perfectly.
Washington Post
27-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
How to reduce visual clutter for a calmer, more functional home
Much is made of clutter: common sources of clutter, the effects of all that stuff on how we live our lives, the importance of reducing clutter, how to stop clutter before it starts. Then there are the seemingly endless methods, techniques and approaches to dealing with clutter — the KonMaris, the poop rule. (The what? The poop rule, please read about it here!)
Yahoo
29-12-2024
- Health
- Yahoo
My therapist suggested I try decluttering. Focusing on what to keep rather than what to get rid of helped.
When my therapist suggested decluttering might ease my anxiety and OCD symptoms, I was skeptical. I decided to try it and started looking for a method that might help me with the process. It became easier when I focused on what to keep rather than what to get rid of. Anxiety and OCD had been manipulating my life like puppet masters for almost two years when my occupational therapist recommended trying decluttering to help ease my symptoms. At that point, though I'd noticed some improvements from a year in therapy, I'd also been struggling with a few health conditions, including long COVID, and felt like I was trudging along. Over time, I'd become afraid of leaving my own home as I was petrified of getting sick again. My life often felt meaningless and unrecognizable. I couldn't see how getting rid of some belongings could help. Despite my skepticism, I was desperate to feel like myself again. I yearned for my home to no longer resemble an obstacle course. My apartment was already cluttered and stressing me out, and then my mom moved; everything I had stored in her garage was suddenly in my living room. My son and I had to create pathways among the boxes to move from one room to another. "You're repeatedly having to step over your past — you're being reminded of it every day," my occupational therapist said. He had summarized in one sentence exactly why I'd been unable to move forwards. I started decluttering immediately after that appointment. I looked for a system to help me along the way. The KonMari method caught my eye first, but my sentimental nature decided that everything sparked joy — even a bag of rocks. I'd spent decades giving objects the same sentimental value as the memories they represented, and now, it was hard to get rid of them. The four-box method — sorting items into boxes labeled keep, donate/sell, storage, and trash — also didn't work for me. When indecisiveness caused by my anxiety took over, almost everything ended up in the storage box, which I basically saw as a "maybe" box. All I ended up doing was pushing it around the apartment. I worried I might regret getting rid of something, so I decided it was safest to get rid of nothing. However, through working with my occupational therapist, I realized guilt played a part in my holding onto some things — as though getting rid of an item would also mean getting rid of that memory. So, I took a deep breath and prepared to be ruthless. The next method involved deciding what to keep instead of what to get rid of. This mindset shift made the decluttering process more enjoyable; it was easier to focus on items I treasured than those I would get rid of, even if the end goal was the same. Inspired by decluttering blogs, I also considered whether I would buy the item now if I didn't already own it to help me decide how much I wanted anything I wasn't sure about. Whenever I struggled with indecisiveness (which was often), I remembered that my home should — and could — be a place where I relax, rather than a cluster of clutter and unmade decisions. With each carload donated to charity, the stress began to leave my body. The catharsis of releasing my grip on each box as I handed it over gave me the calmness and clarity I craved. I was giving myself permission to move on — permission to stop letting my past rule my present and future. I hadn't been prepared for when OCD tried to control the situation, though. After a few weeks, I began to feel on edge if I didn't declutter a certain amount of items each day. When I realized what was happening, I forced myself not to declutter for a few days, so I could calm the OCD and return with the right mindset. A few months into the process, as I continued to declutter my apartment, my sleep improved, and my energy levels increased. I experienced fewer anxious thoughts, and when they did occur, I had the energy to rationalize most of them. I was untangling myself from the burdens of my past as I removed their physical manifestations from my apartment, freeing up the space in my home so I could finally relax, and giving myself something to focus on other than my spiraling thoughts. Although I don't believe decluttering opened up a magic portal to my recovery, I have no doubt it helped tremendously. I managed to declutter most of my belongings in what felt like an act of liberation. I've only kept things that I either need or treasure. My home isn't picture-perfect, and neither is my mental health. But I'm happy. It took me 21 months to finish decluttering my home — I had to pace myself as I couldn't do it every day, or for hours at a time. I finished completely about nine months ago. And in the time since I first started, I've gone from having severe anxiety and being incapable of leaving my home without prior planning, to living a life I can honestly say I adore. By working with my therapist, reading self-help books, decluttering, going for daily walks, meditating, journaling, and rediscovering the things that bring me joy, the symptoms caused by my anxiety have lessened. I also received support from loved ones, improved my food choices, and developed a morning routine that gives me a feeling of purpose again. Although anxiety and OCD are still unpaying tenants in my mind, they don't have the level of control they did before. By getting rid of the things that brought me anxiety, I've created space for the things that bring me joy. My home and mind are no longer caverns of chaos. Read the original article on Business Insider
