Donate often: Keep a bag in every closet or every room to put things in it that you may no longer need but would benefit someone else. Once the bag is full, take it to a local thrift store or charity organization. Someone’s junk is someone else’s treasure!
Go paperless: The less paper you create or come in contact with every day, the less clutter you’ll have and the more trees you will save. Try to avoid paper. Once you’re through using them, promptly recycle the newspapers, mail, advertisements, and all of those flyers and paper sent home from your children’s school.
Sell it! Take the things you don’t need and sell them at a local pawn shop or a used bookstore, on ebay, at neighborhood garage sales or via a classified in your local paper. It feels good to get rid of things that someone else wants or needs. The extra cash in your pocket helps as well.
If you’re sentimental and hate to get rid of cards, drawings, photos, and gifts given to you by someone, Cherry suggests to put them in a marked box and revisit it in six months. You’ll see what you’re ready to let go of. Whenever you let something out of your life that might be old or stagnant, you just might attract something fresh and new that reflects who you are today.
Get inspired: This article is a start, but there are dozens of books on clearing clutter, getting organized, and living simpler as well as (paperless) websites on recycling and re-using.
Positive self-talk: As Cherry said, “Attitude is everything, be kind to yourself.” No one can decide for you. No one but you knows what an item means to you. As you move forward, be gentle with yourself. “Remember,” said Cherry, “whenever you let go of an item you are flexing and strengthening your de-clutter muscle! Give away, toss, sell, donate, repair and recycle.”
