Q&A for How to Declutter

1. Establish your goals both big and small. 2. Assess what’s working and not working about your space? 3. Choose which criteria you will use to decide what you will keep and what you will discard throughout the entire process. Choose criteria that are in alignment with your goals. 4. Sort all items of a given category (e.g. clothes, electronics, cosmetics, etc.) by creating sub-categories (e.g. tops, cables, eyeshadow). 5. Once you understand your inventory, choose which items to keep. Tip: Pass on sentimental items, and revisit them once you have organized everything else you own.

Break your home up into categories. Do one category at a time. Start by sorting items of a given category into groups of like items, then decide what you will keep. Move on to assigning each item a home and placing your items in a container that suits the size and shape of your items.

You should not decide what to get rid of—you should decide what to keep. You should not make decisions about which items to keep until you understand your inventory. You should not attempt to make decisions about sentimental items until you have successfully organized everything else you own first.

Think about it. It can be hard to know for sure, but you can make a reasonable guess based on whether you've used the item recently or it's just been sitting there, and whether you have any specific plans for the future that could involve this item. If an item is really meaningful or beautiful to you, you should probably keep it. If it's not, and there's no foreseeable use for it, it may be better to get rid of it.

Place your greeting cards in a special folder and put the folder away in a drawer.

Keep only the clothes that fit now and that you enjoy wearing. If you lose weight, you might prefer new beautiful clothes.

Start giving things away. They probably won't even notice if they haven't played with the things in years, and ultimately it's your decision. You probably paid for those toys and it's your house.

Sort your items into thing you definitely want to keep, and things you don't mind getting rid of. Out of the things you are willing to part with, donate them to a second-hand shop, or give them to someone who you think would like it. Instead of selecting the things you wish to donate, select the things you wish to keep. Go through each item individually and ask yourself if you really need or want it. Don't feel obligated to get rid of items with sentimental value, but don't be afraid to donate any items that you don't ever use. You might have developed an emotional attachment to an item that doesn't hold any use or sentimental value. If that is the case, you might want to get rid of it.