How to De-clutter Your Space

Sure, I can find a million reasons for keeping all the great stuff that I have, but when you get right down to it, things hold us down. They hold us back and they clutter up our minds and our lives. Getting rid of the unnecessary baggage in our lives..those cluttered attics, hallways and spaces that we've come to fear the most, is truly one of the best things we can ever do for ourselves.

Things You’ll Need:

The ability to leave memories and sentiment at the door
Some large garbage bags
A list of charity shops you'd like to help
A willingness to change
Cleaning supplies
A big friend

Step 1 Take a deep breath. Are you well rested? Your energy levels need to be pretty high before we begin. Okay, now that you're ready, let's start. I think that in any organization, de-cluttering scheme we must first pick a room. Sure you could take on the whole house, but this is liable to be daunting and overwhelming, so for the first choose a room. If you only have the one room then this step shouldn't be too difficult.

Step 2 Set aside a full day. If it's a very large job then you may want to set aside one day a week to work on this. You must commit yourself to this time. This is the only way you will be free. So give yourself a day a week, or in my case a day a week a season, to get the job done.

Step 3 Set yourself amidst the mess with a huge garbage bag and go through the items that surround you. Ask yourself, "do I really need this?" Throw out things like old bills, garbage, food. Anything that you haven't worn in three years should be put in a bag for clothing to be donated into one of those bins. They also take old shoes. Any old appliances, walkmans, televisions, adding machines, etcetera. Lose them! I don't care if Alan bought you that old microwave..into the trash. You may even be able to take them to some kind of recycling place that will melt it down and reuse it. Don't cry, it's only an appliance. Things aren't like people. We need to PURGE PURGE PURGE!

Step 4 Give yourself a reward. Say that if you get rid of the old smelly sofa you can replace it with something new and sleek from Ikea or Target. Remember out with the old and in with the new! And as for old greeting cards, letters, etcetera...if you find you're holding it in your hands for more than a minute and can't remember who or what sent it to you -toss it. After awhile you'll get the hand of it. Tossing can be fun!

Step 5 Old posters, etc from your college dorm, high school..trash it. If you really find you're having trouble parting with some of the junk and gunk give it to a friend or have a yard sale..but don't be suprized when the only person who values your stuffed snuffaluffagus is you! Three categories: Keep (and be careful what you keep!), Donate, and Throw away.

Step 6 It might seem like a hard thing, but getting rid of all the cutter and junk in your life is actually healthy for you. Old things not only carry old thoughts which keep us buried in the past, but they also carry germs and dirt and filth. A clean home is also a healthy home. Don't hang on to any bills older than 3 years unless there's some kind of lifetime warranty, but if you don't remember where you left the warranty chances are the receipt won't do you any good without it, and if it's for that old toaster oven you used sophomore year, baby lose it.

Step 7 When you are done and the room is clean, give yourself a treat, like a day jogging in the park, or having a nice sundae. You deserve it. Every time you throw something away, visualize some clutter in your mind or life as going away as well. Believe me, when the work is done you are going to feel a whole lot better and it might just shake you from any kind of rut and getting you moving into a whole new wonderful direction. If you don't use it - Lose it!