Clear out whats taking up space in your homeand your mind.
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Clutter tends to sneak up on you.
One minute, you have a coat closet full (but nottoofull) of coats.
Photo:Pisittar/Getty Images
Finally, it takes more effort tocombat clutterthan to accumulate it.
Do nothing and things just pile up.
And all that stuff can have a huge impact on your life and happiness.
Maybe you have an unruly spice rack, a closet youre scared to open, or too many piles.
Whatever your issue, keep reading.
So identify the reason youre clearing out spaceyou need a spot topractice yoga, for example.
Set a deadline for achieving your aim; that should keep you on task.
Don’t Buy Organizers
Not at first, anyway.
You wont really know what you need until you dwindle down what you have, Tokos says.
Tip: Measure the shelves and drawers in question and bring those numbers with you.
Pick Low-Hanging Fruit
Different items come with different amounts of emotional baggage.
Some other things you’ve got the option to toss right away?
Give Items an Expiration Date
Scared to part with something in case youll need it later?
If you decide to save it, there has to be a purpose for it.
Set a Timer for 15 Minutes
Spend just 900 seconds each day clearing stuff out.
It will give you confidence in your ability to shed and strengthen your decision-making muscles, Caldwell says.
The more often you make the call to toss or donate something, the easier it will get.
At the end of the month, thatll be 150 things!
Tokos suggests something like a kitchen drawer.
You might be inspired by the momentum and move on to tackle a second (and third!)
Put a Number on It
How many is too many pairs of earrings?
Count outyour collectionto gain perspective.
And like all of us, you probably wear your favorites again and again.
So if you donated 10% of your collection, you likely wouldnt even feel it!
Whether its the accountability factor or the energy of another person, it can help, Caldwell says.
It might just be easier than expected to choose the latter.
Think to Yourself: What’s the Cost of Keeping This Item?
That said, holding on to things comes at a price too.
How much do you spend on maintenance?
Does the item take up valuable space in your home?
Tokos reminds us that theres also an emotional weightwe can feel heavier when we have stuff we dont need.
Remember This Phrase
“If everything’s a treasure, nothing’s a treasure.”
Select key pieces and let the rest go, Caldwell says.
Its not an all-or-nothing situation.
Chores are more fun when theyre paired with something less taxing.
Listen to your favorite playlist or pick up your go-to coffee shop drink to sip on while you sort.
You dont have to deal with it right now.
Come back to it in an hour, a month, or when you feel ready.
If you make it a little painful, you wont forget to deal with it, Tokos says.
Hold On to Memories, Not Stuff
you could keep moments alive without stockpiling bulky mementos.
Take a photo of an item or, better yet, a pic of yourself with the item!
And save that (uploaded to your setup or the cloud) instead.
Keep the memory, keep the sentiment, but dont necessarily keep the object, Caldwell says.
Bought a new pair of sneakers you’ve been eyeing?
Time to get rid of another pair of shoes you’ve outgrown, style-wise.
It helps you clear clutterandmakes you a more conscious consumer.
