You’re in control

One effective way to stay organized is to remove (or reduce) anything in our homes that we can’t keep under control. Items that fall into this category are usually things we have in large quantities or excess. Some examples are an excessive amount of clothes, books, toys, shoes, paperwork, or collections. Think of an amount that is manageable and work towards achieving that amount.

Everything has potential

Potential usefulness is not the same as actual usefulness. It’s easy to hold on to things because they have potential, but it’s important to be honest with yourself about their true value. Ask yourself:

  • How realistic is the potential of this item?
  • What condition is it in?
  • What is the likelihood that I’ll actually use it?
  • Will I use it within the next 6 months?
  • If it were damaged, would I replace it?
  • Would someone else get more value from it than I do?

The world is full of items with potential, but if you’re not using or appreciating them, consider letting them go to someone who will.

Use it or loose it

Use what you have or let it go. Using things up leads to less clutter. Do you have a bottle of something that was half used and then forgotten? What about something you tried several times but didn’t like, but also didn’t get rid of? Are there items you had to buy in bulk, but only needed one? Let these things go and free up space in your cupboards, cabinets, and drawers.

Resources for getting rid of these things:

Compare instead of decide

When deciding what to keep and what not to keep, compare two items at a time. Do you like this item more than that item? Which one do I use more? Wear more? Feel better about?

Other helpful tips:

Keep only your favorites

Identify your favorite things and make space to enjoy those things. This will probably require the removal of unused, outdated, and unwanted stuff. By reducing those possessions, your favorite things have breathing room, and you have less to organize and maintain.

Here are a few suggestions: