I’m thrilled to announce that The Joy of Less Journal: Clear Your Inner Clutter is being released today—and I’m giving away 3 copies to celebrate!
Decluttering often makes you ask questions that go beyond possessions—you have to confront your past, let go of emotions or expectations, and decide what you want for your future. That’s why it feels so liberating: decluttering frees you of psychological baggage as well as physical baggage.
Sure, clearing out the inner clutter can be a little more challenging: we can’t just put our guilt or anxieties or fears out on the curb. However, we can give these little buggers the same inquisition we did our stuff, and decide once and for all to let them go.
In this journal, I help you do three things: Reduce Stress, Release Worries, and Restore Clarity. As I explain in the Introduction:
Over the course of this journal, we’ll ponder various ways to Reduce Stress. Commitments, expectations, and responsibilities pile up over the months and years, and rarely do we take the time (we don’t have any!) to purge them. The result: lots of less meaningful activities crowd out the more meaningful ones, leaving us weary and unfulfilled. Worse yet, our busyness can take a toll on our mental health, making us feel frustrated, helpless, and overwhelmed by our daily lives. As we write, we’ll strive to identify and eliminate our excess stressors and the pressures that go along with them. In so doing, we’ll regain a sense of empowerment and control over our lives, making for more-rewarding days and more-restful nights.
We’ll also write to Release Worries. (You may be surprised how powerful and life-changing this can be!) When we squirrel away negative feelings the way we do our stuff, they weigh on us and steal our joy. But now their days are numbered: one by one, we’re going to shake them out, see them for what they are, and send them on their way. When we do a clean sweep of our hearts, that old grudge, nagging guilt, or buried anger will no longer have a place to hide. Writing helps us identify our emotions in a detached, objective way—Hello, anxiety. What are you doing here?—and say good-bye to those that aren’t serving us well.
As we clear out the mental clutter, we Restore Clarity. This is the ultimate goal of our minimalist journey: to eliminate the extraneous, so as to focus on what’s truly special to us. We’ll explore various techniques to calm our muddy waters, filter out the detritus, and see what emerges from the clear and sparkling depths. We’ll contemplate what nourishes our souls and gives us a higher sense of purpose—whether it’s pursuing a passion, contributing to our community, or spending more time with our kids—and commit our time, attention, and resources to that end. The point of emptying our cups is that they stand ready to be filled with our hopes, dreams, and joy.
I’ve filled this journal with prompts and inspirational quotes designed to make your inner decluttering as effective and enjoyable as possible:
That quote in the middle (by Nathaniel Hawthorne) is one of my favorites:
She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom!
I invite you to come along this new journey with me—let’s get rid of those hangups that make us feel heavy, and bring a new lightness into our souls.
I’m giving away 3 copies of the journal to get us started. (Even if you’ve never journaled before, I encourage you to try it; I personally was amazed how transformative it can be!)
To enter the giveaway, simply leave a Comment below. If you’d like, let us know what inner clutter you’d like to get rid of.
I’ll keep the giveaway open until the end of Friday, October 28 and use the number generator at Random.org to choose the winners. Please be sure to use a legitimate email address, so that I can contact you to obtain your mailing information.
{The journal is available for purchase through Amazon, Powell’s, Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart, Book Depository, Amazon UK, Waterstones, Readings, and QBD.}
Worth a shot. I am early retired at 48 but still can’t bring myself to jettison 20 plus work shirts due to the (sunk) cost of over £500, despite being a t-shirt only fellow now.
I would love to have one of these journals. At my age (54) there sure is some weight I still have not shed. Both literally and mentally ?.
By the way: your blog put me on the road of decluttering, and boy, has it made a change in our lifes!
Regards from a Dutch girt.
Awesome. I would love to see it!
Brilliant, this is just what I need to help me start working on my mental clutter.
Sounds like a great tool for creating calmness and clarity from confusion and chaos. Thanks for making this resource available.
wow. try to improve my life in minimalism lifestyle. trying my luck in hoping that it would help. :
I’m sure it’s just as good as the first book and I love to read it.
I would love this journal to make a start at clearing some of the clutter in my head!
Yes please! This looks great.
I’d love to release all of my excess worrying which stresses me out…I know that it’s scientifically proven that some of us are worrywarts and others carefree, but still it would be great to learn! And good for my health as well, since I’ve been having stomach problems due to stress.
Sounds like a great book/concept. I have rarely been able to stick with any journaling attempt throughout my life but I like the idea of journaling on this topic. I’ve been on a decluttering and minimalism journey for many many years now and it’s definitely a journey. But with every removal I feel more light and free of the burdens that weigh me down… physically and emotionally. And I’ve most importantly changed my habits on new stuff coming in.., but still have decades worth of stuff to continue to let go of… and 3 young kids to teach this way of life to. Thanks so much and I love your blog!
I really need to work on my stress, and writing about it always helps :)
I’ve been on a journey to simplify my family’s life for a couple of years. We’ve thrown away many unused or unwanted possessions, though I must admit, I still have some work to do. Right now, we’re approaching a season of change and it’s scary. My husband and I both feel the weight of the emotional and mental clutter that brings.
That sounds great, I have never journalled before as I have no idea where to start. The end of the year is a great time to look at what expectations are placed upon us and where we want to go for the new year.
I’d love to lift away my emotional stress, and decluttering physically would go a long way towards achieving that goal. This journal could jumpstart that process.
I would love to declutter my thoughts and beliefs that i’m not good enough because I’m about to become a mother at the age of 42.
Being a mother at anytime is amazing! How wonderful for you and congratulations! ;)
Dear Francine,
At those times when life is playing havoc the only linning has been to know how I want to live the rest of my live, or how I don’s want to keep living.. you blog has been very useful but the idea of journaling to help me in my “travel” sounds just perfect..
In my country, Spain its quite difficult to find your books, I have mine , in English from a friend in UK.
I do really need to reset my life.. so every help will be more than wellcome.
Thanks and regards from Spain
Congratulations on the release of the book! Inner clutter that I’d like to get rid of are those (now thankfully quite rare) thoughts of comparing myself to other people.
Ive never tried journaling regularly, but it actually makes sense. Sounds exciting to do that with a reference to guide you :)
Out of the 3 Id say Worries are my biggest problem.
i want to let go of my past so I can make way for a new and exciting present and future life.
I would love to start journaling, esp with a guide, written or human! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of your journal and learn to write for clarity. Inspired!
The inner clutter I’d like to let go of is my need to always do it all. I feel like I should be Superwoman and have everything perfect. And I know that is now true. But it’s so hard to fight.
Recently heard about minimalism. Reading as many articles as possible.
Always trying to declutter my thoughts, sometimes I win…
It is hard but I’m working on it!
I’ve been waiting for this day! Literally counting down the days. Congrats on your journal release!
Love this idea of journaling. Stress, worry, and random mental clutter are the hardest to learn how to let go. For me it’s ruminating. I need to work on mindfulness, and staying in the present moment.
Looks like your journal would be very helpful. Loved the book!
The amount of things going on in my life right now has got my brain spinning…I would love to figure out how to declutter it! I love journaling, and I think this would help!
Congratulations – I would love to see this book.
Over sensitivity clutters up my mental state. Have recently been thinking about starting to write a journal to help clear my thoughts.This is very timely!
I’d love to use this journal!
Would love to try journaling to help clear my inner clutter!
I do well with eliminating the physical excess, but I could use some help with the internal clutter. I’ve been procrastinating on journaling, and the Joy of Less journal sounds like a great way to get started. Thanks Francine for your ideas and inspiration!
I’d love a copy. My husband and I recently went on a 4-month work assignment, living in a small condo. We took only what we needed and wondered if we’d go crazy in such a small place. Quite the opposite! We just returned home to all our “stuff” and it feels weighty and depressing. I’m committed to getting rid of the unnecessary and finding the release and joy that I found in my 4 months away.
I can use all the help I can get!
Thank you for this giveaway! This journal definitely sounds like it would help declutter the stress zone in my brain. I recently downsized to a smaller living space and got rid of SO MUCH JUNK, yet still don’t have enough space to organize what’s left. I’m determined, though. I don’t want to leave this legacy behind for my children to deal with.
I would love this! I have been looking for a journal that would guide me as well as allow me to share my thoughts. I need to declutter my mind and my house, my car, my desk at work. I try, but I think if my mind was done first, everything else would fall into place.
The book looks great. A cluttered mind leaves me feeling tired and stressed. Space and peace are what I strive for.
Good luck with the launch.
Good Morning ~ I would use this stellar item to plan out what I would like to accomplish in this next year…maybe IF I were to see it in front of me…I would accomplish more of what makes me happy!! Many thanks for this opportunity! Cheers ~ Valerie :)
Would love to win one of your new journals. I’l take all the help I can get clearing mental clutter that is causing knee pain. Thanks—
I’d love a copy! I definitely hold onto negative emotions which has been a major contributing factor to my Adrenal Fatigue.
I’d love to be able to get rid of trying to please everyone and comparing myself to others. Thanks for the giveaway!!
I would love to get rid of some of the worry that always pops up at the worst times. Sometimes it’s a scary jungle in my mind!
My inner clutter has to do with my outer clutter! I need to let go of paper stuff, clothing stuff and all sorts of other stuff! I’m in the process of doing so now, but can’t wait until the stuff is gone! Hopefully I’ll then be able to relax and get back to my creative self, making things – knitting, beading, etc. : ) It’s been interesting… All the stuff I’ve accumulated has been easy to throw out or donate. I don’t even miss it when I let it go!
I have read the Joy of less several times now and very helpful as I get past the clutter. The Joy of Less Journal is just what I am looking for as I transition into retirement.
I’d love a copy. having recently turned 53 I’m embarking on a year of taking stock.
The last 18 months or so have been about getting fit again (rediscovering my love of the gym an being fit and flexible enough to take on two allotment plots and grow my own veg). The quite dark winter months are for planning the layouts of my veg and fruit gardens and clearing the physical clutter.
But one of the things I also want to do as the nights draw in is to be spend some time challenging myself about what comes next? The last year year has been a bit full on – now job and a bit of a career shift – and now I’m settled into that I need a period of refection to think about where I want to be and what I want do do and achieve in the short to medium term!
I’d love a copy – I’m working on letting go of mementos from my grown children’s growing up years. I’ve pared it down, but really want to get it to the “just enough” level.
I definitely need this journal. Thanks for offering the giveaway.
Moving to a 740 sq. Ft. Condo. I need to go smaller fast!!
I’m a little bit lost and searching for my aim in life. I hope that journaling will help me to get clarity in the mist of options.