How to Get Your Life Together (or at Least Exhale a Little)
A conversation with organizing expert and bestselling author Shira Gill
Happy almost New Year, everybody!
I don’t know about you all, but right now—as in, the few glorious days before New Year’s Eve—are some of my favorite days of the year. Everything seems to slow down. New Year’s resolutions haven’t kicked in yet. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it’s cold and dark (here in Philly, it almost feels like winter!). It seems like a perfect time for some self-reflection before the busy-ness of the New Year sets in.
That’s why I’m so excited to bring you this conversation with Shira Gill. Shira is a world-renowned organizing expert and the bestselling author of three books: Minimalista, Organized Living, and a new book called LifeStyled. She’s been featured by Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, TIME, People, Forbes, goop, Architectural Digest, Oprah Daily, Vogue, and The New York Times, and she also writes the popular Substack newsletter The Life Edit, which has subscribers from all 50 states and 140 countries (hopefully by the end of this conversation, you’ll be a subscriber, too!).
Shira kindly took the time to answer some question for me (and you) about how she puts her philosophy of minimalism into practice in her own life—which I thought might be a nice (and inspiring) Saturday read for you.
So grab a cup of something warm, put on some sweatpants, and get ready for some calming advice.
“Too much-ness”: what it is, and what to do about it
CP: Okay, so you write about something you call "too much-ness," which you say leads to burnout and imposter syndrome. This sounds very familiar. (One might say too familiar.) Can you explain what you mean by too much-ness, why it’s crucial to manage, and how it ties into your definition of minimalism?
SG: "Too much-ness" is the condition of being constantly inundated—physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s the overflowing inbox, the jam-packed calendar, the endless to-do list, and the feeling of never doing—or being—enough.
Our brains weren’t built for this level of nonstop input: notifications, errands, meetings, emails, and, of course, deciding what’s for dinner. It leads to chronic stress, decision fatigue, and full-blown burnout. And it’s not just mental—it takes a toll physically, too, keeping your body locked in fight-or-flight mode. Hello, sleepless nights and mysterious headaches.
"Too much-ness" is the condition of being constantly inundated—physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s the overflowing inbox, the jam-packed calendar, the endless to-do list, and the feeling of never doing—or being—enough.
So why is managing too much-ness non-negotiable? Because if you don’t, your life becomes a never-ending checklist dictated by external demands instead of what truly matters.
That’s where minimalism comes in—not the stark, white-walled, three-pairs-of-shoes kind. Minimalism, as I define it, isn’t about deprivation or owning a specific quantity of items. It’s about being radically intentional—not just with the things you own but with how you spend your time, resources, and energy.
It’s about clarifying what’s important to you and cutting the clutter and distractions that stand in the way. By embracing a minimalist philosophy, you give yourself permission to focus on less so you can experience more: more clarity, more peace, and more time for what lights you up.
It’s a mindset shift, a way of living that prioritizes quality over quantity in every area—from the things you fill your home with to your commitments, relationships, career, finances—even your belief system. It’s about reclaiming your time, energy, and mental bandwidth so you can show up fully for the life you actually want to live.
On how to minimize decision fatigue
CP: I love that—because you’re right: our brains genuinely are unable to process all of the incoming information—and handle all of the responsibilities and tasks—that we subject them to each day. That means that the only solution is to cut back on the sources of our overwhelm by being more intentional about what we let into our minds (and onto our to-do lists) in the first place.
But that, of course, requires making decisions — which brings us to your point about the mental drain of daily decision-making. That really resonated with me because “decision fatigue” is something I personally struggle with. So let’s talk about simplifying decision-making. How does one do this?
SG: Yes, decision fatigue sneaks up on you in the most unassuming ways—not with major life decisions, but with relentless little ones: What’s for dinner? Should I read this newsletter—or the 300 others I optimistically subscribed to? It’s exhausting. Enter my criteria/options/time framework, a no-nonsense method to make decisions clear, confident, and fast.
Here’s the gist:
Define Your Criteria. Start by figuring out what actually matters in the decision you’re making. What are you optimizing for?
Limit Your Options. Constraints are your new best friend. Fewer choices make decisions infinitely easier.
Set a Time Frame. Don’t let decisions linger. Deadlines aren’t just for work projects—they’re lifesavers for your sanity.
Example 1: Streamlining Work Opportunities
You’re fielding a flood of opportunities—some exciting, some not-so-much—and need a way to decide without burning out.
Criteria: “I’ll only take on projects that align with my core values, play to my strengths, and offer fair compensation.”
Options: “I’ll limit myself to accepting no more than two new projects each quarter, focusing on those that meet at least two out of three criteria: aligned with values, growth potential, or great pay.”
Time Frame: “I’ll stick to this plan for six months and reassess based on workload and satisfaction.”
By setting a firm cap and clear filters, you’re making it easier to say no and creating space for what truly matters.
Example 2: Buying a Couch Without Losing Your Mind1
You need a new couch but don’t want to become that person who spends months debating fabric swatches.
Criteria: “Comfortable, blue, under $2,000, ships in three months.”
Options: “I’ll visit three local stores and pick one from there.”
Time Frame: “Decision made by March 1. Done.”
The beauty of this framework is its simplicity. And once you’ve made a decision? Commit and don’t look back.
Here’s an easy decision for you! Subscribe to Shira’s newsletter:
On the importance of household systems (no, not your furnace)
CP: I like that, because it’s a system—and as my husband can attest, I love systems. (It’s gotten to the point where the moment I mention “system,” my husband laughs — but I swear that somewhere out there, there is a system that will save me. Or at least save me from my email inbox.) So, speaking of systems, can you share a system or two that’s been really helpful for your own household?
SG: Yes! I’m with you—systems are the unsung heroes of sanity. Here are two I swear by for a busy family:
Game-Changer #1: The Sunday Reset
This is non-negotiable in my house. Every Sunday, we do a quick family check-in and map out the week ahead.
Logistics are sorted.
Counters are cleared.
Backpacks are checked for rogue snacks.
Meals are loosely planned.
The fridge gets restocked (by me, not magically).
Laundry gets started.
It’s like hitting the refresh button on life. By Monday, you’re not tripping over sneakers or scrambling for dinner ideas—you’re (mostly) ready to roll.
Game-Changer #2: The Inbox
This is our catch-all for incoming chaos: mail, school forms, bills—anything that would otherwise clutter the house. Ours lives in an oversized basket near the front door. Once a week, it gets sorted, processed, and emptied. If it’s not in the basket, it’s not my problem. (Yes, I’m ruthless.)
These systems aren’t flashy, but they really work.
On decluttering your digital life
CP: They also sound very . . . soothing. (I am someone who finds visual clutter physically stressful.) So, speaking of clutter — you know my work revolves around helping people “scroll less and live more,” which often means decluttering their digital lives to make room for real-life fun. What’s your advice for clearing digital clutter so we can actually enjoy our lives? [Note to reader: this is the point in the interview where Shira and I begin to sound like the same person, although one of us seems to have a much tidier desktop than the other.]
SG: Here are my top tips to declutter your digital life and create more space for real-life connection:
1. Clear Your Home Screens
Move all your apps to the second page of your phone and set a calming image as your home screen. This simple shift reduces visual clutter and creates friction which can help prevent the mindless scroll. Bonus: group apps by color or category.
2. Tidy Up Your Desktop
Delete random downloads, old screenshots, and cluttered photos from your computer desktop. For bonus points, organize the documents you want to keep into neat, labeled folders with broad categories like Tax Documents, Work Projects, or School Forms.
3. Streamline Social Media
Here’s how to social media like a minimalist: pick one social media app to invest in and delete the rest (unless they’re required for work). For those you keep, enable an auto-responder that redirects people to email you instead of sending you endless DMs. Something like: “I rarely check messages here—please shoot me an email at ____.”
4. Declutter Your Photos
Digital photos are the new junk drawer. Start by merging duplicates—your phone probably has a feature for this, or you can use an app like Smart Cleaner, Flic, or Cleanup. Transfer photos and videos you want to keep to an external hard drive or cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud) and delete them from your phone. Finally, pick your favorite shots, delete the rest, and don’t look back.
5. Silence Push Notifications
Push notifications are like digital mosquitoes: tiny but endlessly distracting. Turn off all non-essential notifications. Your brain will thank you.
6. Conquer Email Overwhelm
If your inbox is overflowing, don’t try to tackle it all. Archive everything older than your fifty most recent emails to start fresh (you can always search for older ones if needed). Then, focus on replying to, filing, or deleting the most current ones. You’ll go from inbox chaos to clarity in seconds.
Before we go . . .
CP: Can I hire you to handle my life for me? Can you share a few parting tips?
SG: Haha, of course. Here are six quick wins to simplify and streamline your life:
Curate a Daily Uniform: Save time and mental energy by creating a go-to outfit formula that makes getting dressed effortless.
Identify Your Ideal Connection Cadence: Decide how often you want to connect with friends, family, or colleagues—and stick to it.
Define Your Relationship Deal Breakers: Get clear on what’s non-negotiable in your relationships, whether personal or professional.
Redefine "Enough": Take stock of what you truly need, and let go of the rest. Less stuff, more clarity.
Pick One Thing to Lower the Bar On (On Purpose): Choose an area to embrace imperfection, whether it’s skipping homemade lunches or leaving beds unmade.
Follow the Rule of ONE: Invest in ONE nice water bottle, ONE decent umbrella, ONE big goal for the year, hobby for the season, or win for the day.
At the heart of my philosophy is the principle of "less but better." When we choose to prioritize the essentials and let go of the rest, we free ourselves to bring our best energy to the things that count. By embracing “less but better,” we make room for a life that feels meaningful, intentional, and fulfilling. Exhale!
Thank you, Shira!
If you found this interesting and useful, I encourage you to check out Shira’s books, Minimalista, Organized Living, and LifeStyled. You can also explore her website and subscribe to her newsletter, The Life Edit, here on Substack.
As for me, I’ll be back in a few days with a post about a suggested New Year’s resolution for you that has hugely improved my my own mental state over the past few months.
Till then, here’s to scrolling less and living more (even if you’re still in your pajamas),
PS: Shira also gave me a bonus tip — that we take some of this pajama time to do what she calls a “Life Audit.” Here’s how she describes the exercise. (Feeling inspired? I created a custom worksheet for paid subscribers that you can download and fill out.)
Do a “life audit”
CP: Wait, sorry—I have one more question for you! You recommend that we take the time to do something you call a “life audit.” What exactly is that, and why should we all be doing one? (And can I do it from my couch?)
SG: A life audit is like spring cleaning for your entire existence. It’s your chance to hit pause and figure out what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change.
Start by asking yourself: