Organization Guru Author Comes To Mission Viejo

MISSION VIEJO, CA — If you regularly clear clutter, or just need help doing so, come see Gretchen Rubin speak on the process in Mission Viejo.

In her decade-long investigation into happiness and human nature, author Gretchen Rubin has made a key realization about happiness: for most of us, outer order contributes to inner calm. Rubin’s bestselling books about human nature, happiness, and good habits have sold more three and a half million copies worldwide, and her award-winning podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin boasts more than 66 million downloads.

Now, with clarity and humor, she turns to the challenge of creating outer order. Think of the countless TV shows, hacks, Pinterest boards, and stores dedicated to helping us get our “stuff” under control. While a messy desk or overcrowded closet can seem like a trivial problem, for many of us clearing the clutter and organizing our possessions helps us feel both calmer and more energetic in all aspects of our lives. In her new book, OUTER ORDER, INNER CALM: Declutter and Organize to Make More Room for Happiness(Harmony, March 5, 2019) Rubin helps us create the peaceful, orderly environment that we yearn for.

With more than 120 short and concrete tips and insights, OUTER ORDER, INNER CALM helps readers tackle the key challenges of creating outer order, by explaining how to “Make Choices,” “Create Order,” “Know Yourself-and Others,” “Cultivate Helpful Habits,” and, of course, “Add Beauty.” Some of the tips and strategies in the book include:

• Beware of storage containers: in many cases storing a possession is just a way to delay deciding what to do with it.
• Don’t get organized: your first instinct should be to get rid of stuff. If you don’t own it, you don’t have to organize it!
• Beware of the “someday, someone” rationale: sometimes we hang on to our stuff because we think someday someone will want or need it, but more often than not it won’t be used.
• Practice the three strikes rule: people are often reluctant to relinquish their items. If you’ve wondered more than 3 times if you should keep an item, it’s time to ditch it!
• Beware of clutter magnets: in almost everyone’s house or office, certain areas become magnets for cutter. Clutter tends to attract clutter so make a habit of cleaning these areas regularly!
• Practice mise-en-place: take time to set-up properly. Establish a place where you can find your stamps, envelopes, checkbook, etc.
• Beware of “fake work” and “make work”: creating outer order is a worthy aim, but make sure you aren’t creating unnecessary work for yourself.
• Beware the urge to “procrasticlear”: there is a difference between helpful preparation and unhelpful procrastination, so before you take on a task make sure you ask yourself if once the task is completed would you still feel the need to create outer order. If not, you’re just procrasticlearing!

In her study, Rubin found that no magic, one-size-fits-all approach exists, so OUTER ORDER, INNER CALM offers a multitude of ideas to allow readers to choose the suggestions that resonate most. With a personalized approach, we are far more likely to succeed. At home, at work and in life, by getting rid of things we don’t use, don’t need, or don’t love, as well as things that don’t work, don’t fit, or don’t suit, we free our mind (and our shelves) for what we truly value.

See her in Mission Viejo on March 18 at the Norman Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way

When: Monday, March 18th at 7 p.m.

https://rubinmissionviejo.brownpapertickets.com/