By Alison Marks

Is your clutter special? Do you need to hang on to all that stuff because you might need it someday? Because you grandma gave it to you? Because you paid good money for it? Because collecting stamps or elephants or glass balls is what you’ve always done? 

I’ve got news for you. Your clutter is really not that special. Everyone has clutter in their lives, and the reasons are usually the same. What’s really unusual is to find someone who has learned to critically examine their stuff and honestly assess their needs, who lives a life mostly clear of clutter. These people are in charge of the things in their homes and work spaces, rather than feeling controlled by them.

Believe it or not, living in a decluttered space – one that runs smoothly and is full of things that make you feel good – is a possibility for you.  Get out a notepad and pen! Here are six steps you can take to get control of the clutter in your life.

1. Inquire and Inspire: Write out the answer to this question: How would my life be different if there was no clutter in it? Be specific in your answer. How would you feel in your home? How would you spend your time differently? Look at all the different areas of  your life – your family, your social life, your financial life, etc. When you get clear about what’s possible, you can do the work that needs to be done from a perspective of inspiration rather than guilt.

2. Scan: What clutter, exactly, do you need to clear?

Let’s break this down:

FIRST, write down all those things you that have been bugging you, the ones that make you cringe when you read the word “declutter.”  You know the ones!  Your list may be short or long. It could include things like: magazines and newspapers, other paper clutter, old files, books, music, junk drawers, tchothkes and collections, things you haven’t used in the last year, clothing, jewelry, bathroom drawers and cabinets, unwanted gifts, desk, computer files, email in-box, your purse, briefcase, wallet, photos, old letters and mementos, closets, storage areas, your car, fridge/freezer and pantry, etc.

NEXT, walk through your home or work space and add to the list any other areas of clutter.  This may include:

                     - any piles or places where disorganization accumulates

- unfinished projects

- too much stuff in too small a space

- things you’re holding onto that bring your energy down in any way.  Be honest here… if you don’t use it or really love it, or if you feel obligated to hold onto it, it is not doing you any good at all. In fact, it's harming you by polluting your space so there’s not room for the things you really would love.

3. Organize: Now take five pages in your notebook and write one of the following on the top of each page:
   1. under 10 minutes
   2. 10 minutes – 1 hour
   3. 1 – 3 hours
   4. half to full day
   5. large project

Decide how much time each item on your list will take and write each one on the appropriate page.

4. Plan: Block out time on your calendar to do it.  Break down the larger projects into chunks that are do-able in a day or less. If possible, enlist some help.  If you live alone, suggest to a friend that you trade time to do this.                                                                                                .                                                                                  
5. Prepare: Before you go into a decluttering project, set yourself up with boxes or bags for different purposes (garbage, recycle, thrift store, give/return to people, and a transit box for things that go to other rooms when you’re done), as well as a notebook where you can jot down the things that require follow-up.

6. Do it! There is no right or wrong way, but there are some things to keep in mind that will make it easier for you.

-    Start wherever you want.  If you have energy for it, it will be easy for you… even fun! Once you get started, the next item on the list will be easier.

-    Do one thing at a time!  We have all become experts at multi-tasking.  DO NOT DO THIS WHILE YOU DECLUTTER.  You will only create more unfinished projects.  Just stick with what you’re doing until you’re done with that one, then move on to the next. 

-   Use this mantra to question each item: “BEAUTIFUL? USEFUL? LOVED?”  If it’s not one of these three things, there’s no good reason to keep it.  Challenge yourself about your definitions of these three qualities – if you’ve had something for 5 years and never used it, but you might use it someday, does it really count as useful?  As you get a sense of the freedom that comes from clearing out things that don’t really serve you, it will become easier to tighten up your definitions of “beautiful, useful and loved.”

-   Make the decision NOW.  Keep the pile of “I don’t know’s” to a minimum. If you must, have one box of "undecided's" and give yourself a deadline to decide on everything in it.  There are two useful approaches: one, to decide within a week -- you're forced to take the time to check things out quickly to see if you really do want to keep them; or two, to create a "treasure box" in which to stow away those things you just can't decide on. If you haven't needed or missed any of those items in six months (date the box and mark it in your calendar), you can be pretty sure that they're safe to clear out.

-    Focus on your dreams, what you’re creating space for, rather than what you are giving up.

-    Make a game of it. Challenge yourself to see how much you can get rid of.

-    Have fun!

We are all really just passing through this world, and eventually we will leave it -- and leave all our clutter behind.  With this in mind, the idea that we need to hold onto things is really pretty silly.  What makes more sense is to open to the flow in and out of our lives of things that make it easier or more beautiful, and to take good care of those things for whatever time they are in our care. I hope you take advantage of the opportunity to declutter -- to be thoughtful about the things that surround you, so that they can support you in living the best life you can.

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