Hans Hofmann

So it makes sense to carefully consider what we keep in our homes.

Most of us own lots of things that make us feel bad (unused gifts, clothes we don't like or that don't fit, books we’ll never read, etc). And if it’s normal to have hundreds or thousands of possessions, then we are each, at all times, bearing the weight of hundreds or thousands of these relationships. 

Getting rid of stuff can be quite liberating. Much of this process is about deciding who you are and who you’re not going to be. 

You can’t move forward when you’re trying to keep a foot in every door.

1. Keep an ongoing donation box easily accessible:.
2. Instead of keeping things you don’t use or love, get rid of them as soon as you find them.
3. Try decluttering as quickly and efficiently as you can for just 10 minutes a day.
4. Schedule regular times to declutter and stick to them.
5. Use the “one in, one out” rule: Whenever you buy or bring something new into your home, find one thing to get rid of in its place.
6. Make sure you have a place to keep everything you’re choosing to keep.
7. Get things out of your house as soon as possible.
8. Track results. Take before and after pictures.
9. Don’t organize until after you declutter.
10. Use a “maybe box” for items you’re struggling to let go of.
11. Use the 20/20 rule for items you’re keeping “just in case”: It eans if you can replace the item for less than $20 and in less than 20 minutes, don’t keep it “just in case”.

• When you don’t have financial papers organized, bills can get lost, causing you to accrue fees for being late with the payments.
• Replacing lost items and buying duplicates of those we didn’t realize we already had can carry a cost that adds up quickly.

Examples of stress clutter can cause:

• Having guests over becomes an embarrassment or an event that takes all-day preparation.
• Each room carries visual reminders of all the work that needs to be done in the way of cleaning.
• According to the principles of feng shui, clutter drains you of your positive energy.