If I've been a little quiet of late, it's because I've been
somewhat distracted by my sock drawer.
No, really.
I read this book. I read it because I thought it was time I
read some non-fiction again, of the self-help variety, as I hadn't reviewed
anything like that for a while. I didn't know this little gem would take my
chaotic life of good intentions and shake and twist and blast it into a more
coherent form. It's not a perfect re-make but it's a feel-good, de-stressing
step in the good intentioned right direction.
Confused? Here's a review of the
book which is setting me on the straight and orderly narrow. And I'm enjoying
the ride. How about you? Have you had any similarly unexpected revelations?
Start With Your Sock
Drawer by Vicky Silverthorn
 |
| Published by Sphere. Paperback and eBook |
I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions. I like wholesale
life changes as much as the next person, but September is my time for this.
Mid-winter, I prefer to enjoy the hibernation.
That isn't to say that I don't like a good tidy up post
January 6th: throwing away the stress of a busy few months with the detritus
of this well-wrapped Christmas. And with the New Year also comes the perennial inclination
to conquer the to-do list. For this year (and every year) my work load will be
better managed, my to-do list more realistic, my working day, my evenings, my
weekend less manic.
I know that sorting through the evidence of years now past
will also help clear some clutter from my mind, not to mention free up some
time no longer spent rummaging for essential items but lacking the time to
finish the job, makes me uninclined to start.
If this is a scenario you recognise, let me introduce, 'Start
With Your Sock Drawer'. It's a guide to de-cluttering our homes and our minds,
one sock at a time.
Author, Vicky Silverthorn, has had an interesting life.
Starting out as a nanny, she quickly learnt the virtues of orderly systems.
Next, she became PA to professional golfers and then to footballers, travelling
with them to exotic places, to manage their array of effects and engagements
with immaculate organisation. Latterly, she found herself PA to Lily Allen and
toured the world with her, priding herself on knowing where to find items as
small as a hair pin at a moment's notice.
Now, in her capacity as 'professional organiser' she sees
her job as helping ordinary people to take back control of their lives and
headspace – and that is where this book comes in. Sprinkled with quotes such
as, '…The clutter around my flat was stopping me from being able to wind down
after a day at work…' Silverthorn explains first why a de-cluttered lifestyle
is beneficial and then how everyone, even the most time-poor, even those living
in the smallest space, can do it.
Depositing the entire contents of your wardrobe into a Mount
Vesuvius on the floor to be sorted tomorrow, however, is not what she advises.
It may feel like a step in the right direction but as soon as you've allocated
something 'more important' to the time-slot and thus pushed the clothes into
the corner of the room, you've simply added further clutter to a cluttered
life. It's another stress, even though we might not realise it at the time. I
know, because before I read this book, I'd done it.
Silverthorn's mantra is not to take the clothes out of the
wardrobe, (the toys out of the cupboard the books from the shelves…) until you have
the time to sort through, keep only the items you are honestly ever going to
wear again and replace the remainder in a much more ordered, appealing, accessible
space.
I like order. I think it saves time and time-saving measures
are next to godliness in my mind. So I appreciate the sentiment of arranging
our socks, crockery and toys like a well-kept library. Jade jumper for work? In
the non-black work section. Favourite pink socks for the gym? Right there at
the front of the drawer (Silverthorn will tell you that most oft used goes at
the front) in between the red and white. Before Start With Your Sock Drawer,
however, achieving this Utopia of order was the stuff of dreams. How could I
possibly prioritise my socks over my filing, my tax return, and the day job?
Start with your sock drawer, Silverthorn says. And once
you've thrown away all the odd socks which will never be reunited with their
partner, have holes which won't be darned or orange splashes which you really
can't abide, move on to your handbag, your jewellery, your ornaments and so it
goes on.
Because it does.
Once you start, even for this sentimental hoarder, it's
infectious. Removing the mess in our environment, really does de-clutter our
brains. When our house becomes less of a walking to-do list, when we can find
what we need with minimal effort, we're less stressed. We have more time and
we're nicer to be around.
I didn't agree with every suggestion. We should throw away
all our unused chargers and pc connectors, for example, because the chances
are, they won't ever be needed again. And that's true. They take up space and
add clutter to our lives. Agreed. And if the worst case scenario happens and we
need a lead, well we can always pop out and buy a new one for a few pounds, which
is well worth it for a de-cluttered mind.
No!
If I'd thrown away something I later needed and not only
that, had to spend the time I'd saved through living in a less cluttered world,
trawling the internet or driving to a shop (I live in a little village, no
shops selling chargers anywhere near me) to spend precious time and money on
something I'd thrown away, it would take me days to get over the regret. But I did find the general ethos and many of the initiatives
utterly inspiring.
The chapters on 'letting go' were particularly interesting.
Why do we hold on to the bequeathed beige corduroy sofa with its threadbare
cushions and sunken seats which has never fitted in size or period on that far
wall in our mauve painted living room? Do we really need all those chipped mugs,
just in case the entire street descends on the house, all demanding tea in the
exact same moment? And then there's the pristine exercise bike which embodies
all our good intentions, right there, guiltily occupying the corner of the
kitchen - when really, the only function it's ever going to perform is to
provide something else to wipe down and walk around. Better to give it away to
someone who will use it and you feel the rush of endorphins that way, instead.
And if you're panicking that the pursuit of perfection will
simply add stress rather than take it away, don't. The emphasis in this book is
in removing clutter and mess to achieve a more useable and accessible life
style. It's about achieving a beneficial order we can maintain, rather than
show home status. Phew. As Silverthorn says, it isn't rocket science. But
sometimes we all need somebody to tell us that something is a really good idea.
So, have I de-cluttered my to-do list, freed up some time
with more orderly spaces? Do you know, after years of trying, I think I have. Would
I recommend, Start With Your Sock Drawer? Absolutely. But once you've finished
with the book, you have to give it away, that's the deal.
Meanwhile, I'm back on the Glass Houses trail and have a
couple of events coming up. I'd love you to join me if you can.
I'm over at Chat About Books today, chatting with the lovely Kerry Parsons about books and stuff: character names, new endings
and why I'll be inviting Kizzy from The Diddakoi for a coffee some time soon…Please pop over and say hello!
Exactly five years ago, at the beginning of January 2012, I
submitted my first book reviews to Chase Magazine. I'd toiled for ridiculously
many hours over them, I always over-prep when I'm nervous, my way of coping. Thankfully,
the reviews were accepted and three editors and 30 bi-monthly issues later, my
final two page spread has just been published. I've only glanced at it. I don’t
want to wallow but feel quite sad about the situation - a bit like your child
leaving home, I imagine, you know it's going to happen, you're excited for them
but still your heart breaks a little. 
Simply, life got too busy and something had to give. That's a good
thing, I know. I'd hate to be bored. Besides, it's somebody else's turn now.
Someone who'll read different books to me and see different things in them. 
Chase introduced me to books I'd never have entertained,
particularly biographies and other non-fiction, and gave me the excuse to
continue reading 'unputdownable' books whilst stirring a sauce, ironing (you
need a recipe book stand for this – or a Kindle), on the exercise bike, walking
home, when-I-should-have-been-doing-proper-work. I have yet to try reading a
book whilst running - those of you who know my accident prone self, will be relieved
to hear this - but I have discovered Audible books for the gym. 
I'm certainly not planning on doing any less reading, but I admit
to relishing the chance to choose titles forced to be neglected at the bottom
of my To Be Read pile because they were too similar in genre to a book I'd
recently reviewed. 
Meanwhile, to mark the end of this era, I thought I'd look back
through every book review spread and come up with my Top Ten of Chase reads
over the past five years. How hard could it be? 
I've reviewed 81 books and the best I can manage is a top 18. And that
took me two days of soul searching. I feel that if I gave it any more thought
I'd change my mind again and for that reason, I'm also going to post the
remaining titles in their own, 'Highly Recommended List'. I only ever review
books I love and thus it seems wrong to leave any out.
I'm keen to know how many of these you've read and what would be
on your own top ten of the last five years. Please do share with us!
