There’s a movement underway. People are cleaning out closets and drawers, garages and attics in an effort to live with less stuff.
Some people have taken the 100 Things Challenge and are attempting to pare down their belongings to a mere 100 items. Others have committed to 365 Days of Decluttering – a movement in which they donate, sell or toss one item each day for a year. There’s also a challenge called Get Rid of 100 Things this Weekend. Think that’s impossible? Start counting the old magazines on your coffee table or the dead batteries in your junk drawer and you’ll see that jettisoning 100 items isn’t that difficult after all.
So how do you go about cleaning out the clutter? Start by asking yourself these questions:
Do I need it?
To find out if you really need all the items in your drawers, cupboards and closets, start by putting the contents into a box. Then as you use an item, return it to its place. Anything still left in the box after a month goes.
Do I wear it?
Here’s a trick to determine what you really wear. Turn all your hangers backward. Then as you wear an item, turn the hanger the right way. Anything left on a backward hanger at the end of a year gets donated.
Do I love it?
If items cluttering your home don’t make you truly happy, get rid of them. Donating and re-gifting are two good options. Or host a “free garage sale” and invite family and friends to take what they want. Chances are if you don’t love it, someone else will.
Once you’ve got the clutter under control, you’ll want to keep it that way. So when you’re tempted to by new stuff, make it a practice to get rid of one item for each new one you bring home. Click here for other great decluttering tips.