--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you've had something for more than six…" description: "\"If you've had something for more than six months, and it's still not repaired, it's clutter.\" — Gretchen Rubin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29b/gretchen-rubin-867_clutter_if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-si_108855.png" --- # If you've had something for more than six months, and it's… ![“If you've had something for more than six months, and it's still not repaired, it's clutter.” quote by Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29b/gretchen-rubin-867_clutter_if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-si_108855.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29b/gretchen-rubin-867_clutter_if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-si_108855.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29b/gretchen-rubin-867_clutter_if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-si_108855.png) > “If you've had something for more than six months, and it's still not repaired, it's clutter.” [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Items that persist unrepaired for months become functional clutter, consuming space and mental bandwidth without providing value. **In simple terms:** Unfixed things become clutter. Key Takeaway Neglected repairs create clutter. Themes minimalism organization maintenance Mood practical direct Type advice observational When to use this quote - home repair backlog - office equipment maintenance - digital file upkeep Key Concepts decision fatigue Practical Applications - set repair deadlines - regularly audit belongings Questions to Reflect On - When does an unrepaired item become worth keeping? - How can we balance repair effort with clutter reduction? A Different Perspective Some items may be intentionally left unrepaired for aesthetic or sentimental reasons. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clutter/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Months](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/months/) [Months Repaired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/months-repaired-1298077/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Repaired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repaired/) [Repaired Clutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repaired-clutter-1298076/) [Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six/) [Six months](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six-months/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Ve Months](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-months-1298078/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [It is a wrench when you have to go back to work after maternity leave, whether you've had two months or over a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/it-is-a-wrench-when-you-have-to-go-back-to-work-after-maternity-leave/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I've been out for four months and when you have been out that long you start to miss the game and when you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-winks/i-ve-been-out-for-four-months-and-when-you-have-been-out-that-long/) [Harry Winks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-winks/) > [The more I examine the issue of clutter, the more effort I put into combating it, because it really does act as a weight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/the-more-i-examine-the-issue-of-clutter-the-more-effort-i-put-into/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Some kind of clutter is difficult - letting go of things with sentimental value, sifting through papers - but some clutter I find very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/some-kind-of-clutter-is-difficult-letting-go-of-things-with/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [In the scope of a happy life, a messy desk or an overstuffed coat closet is a trivial thing, yet I find - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/in-the-scope-of-a-happy-life-a-messy-desk-or-an-overstuffed-coat/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [It's easier to get rid of things when you're giving them to someone who can use them, but don't let this kind intention become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/it-s-easier-to-get-rid-of-things-when-you-re-giving-them-to-someone/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Covid did affect me for quite some time but my body healed. I repaired it and rebuild it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-garbrandt/covid-did-affect-me-for-quite-some-time-but-my-body-healed-i-repaired/) [Cody Garbrandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-garbrandt/) > [“What cannot be repaired is not to be regretted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/what-cannot-be-repaired-is-not-to-be-regretted/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“She was broken. And i know,her heart can be repaired again. not by the "roses" and "chocolates" But by the "truths" and "loyalty”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seerat-ahuja/she-was-broken-and-i-know-her-heart-can-be-repaired-again-not-by-the/) [seerat ahuja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seerat-ahuja/) > [“Never be too angry beyond repairs. Anger is nothing good to be part of your tributes. Are you angry with someone? The sun is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/never-be-too-angry-beyond-repairs-anger-is-nothing-good-to-be-part-of/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [You're never too broken that you can't be fixed, but you can't be fixed unless you're ready to be repaired!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-never-too-broken-that-you-can-t-be-fixed-but-you-can-t-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sorry my heart is closed for Renovation please be back After the damage has been repaired..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keren-zhims/sorry-my-heart-is-closed-for-renovation-please-be-back-after-the/) [Keren Zhims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keren-zhims/) > [It was an unspoken pleasure, that having come together so many years, ruined so much and repaired a little, we had endured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/it-was-an-unspoken-pleasure-that-having-come-together-so-many-years/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [Nothing can be repaired or advanced but only accepted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/nothing-can-be-repaired-or-advanced-but-only-accepted/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amazon/repaired-or-replaced-if-the-goods-fail-to-be-of-acceptable/) [Amazon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amazon/) ## More by Gretchen Rubin > [“Second Splendid Truth One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/second-splendid-truth-one-of-the-best-ways-to-make-yourself-happy-is/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Knowing what you admire in others is a wonderful mirror into your deepest, as yet unborn, self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/knowing-what-you-admire-in-others-is-a-wonderful-mirror-into-your/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Being taken for granted is an unpleasant but sincere form of praise. Ironically, the more reliable you are and the less you complain, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/being-taken-for-granted-is-an-unpleasant-but-sincere-form-of-praise/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“one Secret of Adulthood is “Never start a sentence with the words ‘No offense’”? “And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-secret-of-adulthood-is-never-start-a-sentence-with-the-words-no/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [One of the findings that really interests me is that, although we think we ACT because of the way we FEEL, we often FEEL…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-of-the-findings-that-really-interests-me-is-that-although-we/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [We all want to get along well with other people, and one way to do this is to help people feel good about themselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/we-all-want-to-get-along-well-with-other-people-and-one-way-to-do/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [During my study of happiness, I noticed something that surprised me: I often learn more from one person's highly idiosyncratic experiences than I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/during-my-study-of-happiness-i-noticed-something-that-surprised-me-i/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [There is a preppy wabi-sabi to soft, faded khakis and cotton shirts, but it's not nice to be surrounded by things that are worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/there-is-a-preppy-wabi-sabi-to-soft-faded-khakis-and-cotton-shirts/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“There are times in the lives of most of us,” observed William Edward Hartpole Lecky, “when we would have given all the world to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/there-are-times-in-the-lives-of-most-of-us-observed-william-edward/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“I started thinking more about music. I thought I'd accepted the fact that, as part of "Being Gretchen," I didn't really like music, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-started-thinking-more-about-music-i-thought-i-d-accepted-the-fact/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“The pleasure of doing the same thing, in the same way, every day, shouldn't be overlooked. The things I do every day take on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/the-pleasure-of-doing-the-same-thing-in-the-same-way-every-day/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Although we often assume that feelings inspire actions, in fact, actions also inspire feelings. By pushing myself to act happier, I make myself feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/although-we-often-assume-that-feelings-inspire-actions-in-fact/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [I love finding - or inventing - ways to categorize people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-love-finding-or-inventing-ways-to-categorize-people/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“After someone's death, how strange to see the value drain away from his or her possessions; useful objects such as clothes, or dish towels,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/after-someone-s-death-how-strange-to-see-the-value-drain-away-from/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [One of my Secrets of Adulthood is: Most decisions don't require extensive research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-of-my-secrets-of-adulthood-is-most-decisions-don-t-require/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) [Explore all 346 Gretchen Rubin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) ## More Clutter quotes > [It's always something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/it-s-always-something/) [Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/) > [I hate clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-barrie/i-hate-clutter/) [Barbara Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-barrie/) > [If one's mind is so full of clutter, so is one's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnreyes/if-one-s-mind-is-so-full-of-clutter-so-is-one-s-life/) [JOHNREYES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnreyes/) > [“Only when we acknowledge ourselves as we really are can we begin to take inventory of the physical, mental, and emotional clutter that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiqua-hamdan/only-when-we-acknowledge-ourselves-as-we-really-are-can-we-begin-to/) [Sadiqua Hamdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiqua-hamdan/) > [I think we all have a little voice inside us that will guide us. It may be God, I don't know. But I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/i-think-we-all-have-a-little-voice-inside-us-that-will-guide-us-it/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The leader is one who, out of the clutter, brings simplicity... out of discord, harmony... and out of difficulty, opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-leader-is-one-who-out-of-the-clutter-brings-simplicity-out-of/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Simple messages travel faster, simpler designs reach the market faster and the elimination of clutter allows faster decision making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/simple-messages-travel-faster-simpler-designs-reach-the-market-faster/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Clutter is the official language used by corporations to hide their mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/clutter-is-the-official-language-used-by-corporations-to-hide-their/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [Here's the general theory: To clarify, add detail. Imagine that. To clarify, add detail. And clutter and overload are not an attribute of information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/here-s-the-general-theory-to-clarify-add-detail-imagine-that-to/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [The absence of clutter is just a clutter-free product. That's not simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/the-absence-of-clutter-is-just-a-clutter-free-product-that-s-not/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [Out of clutter, find simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/out-of-clutter-find-simplicity/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Never underestimate the effect of clutter on your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingston/never-underestimate-the-effect-of-clutter-on-your-life/) [Karen Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingston/) > [Clutter is the disease of American writing,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/clutter-is-the-disease-of-american-writing/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [On the whole, I think women wear too much and are to fussy. You can't see the person for all the clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/on-the-whole-i-think-women-wear-too-much-and-are-to-fussy-you-can-t/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [“Out of clutter, find simplicity. —ALBERT EINSTEIN After”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/out-of-clutter-find-simplicity-albert-einstein-after/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) [Browse all 347 Clutter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clutter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you've had something for more than six months, and it's still not repaired, it's clutter.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gretchen Rubin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-six-months-and-it-s-still-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clutter" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-six-months-and-it-s-still-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29b/gretchen-rubin-867_clutter_if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-si_108855.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29b/gretchen-rubin-867_clutter_if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-si_108855.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29b/gretchen-rubin-867_clutter_if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-si_108855.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you've had something for more than six months, and it's still not repaired, it's clutter.” — Gretchen Rubin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gretchen Rubin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you've had something for more...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-six-months-and-it-s-still-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-six-months-and-it-s-still-not/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```