Got Too Much Stuff? These Simple Decluttering Tips Will Set You Free

If you're like many homes post-holiday season, you're probably noticing a lot more stuff inundating your house's crawl spaces, closets, rooms, garages, and hallways. A significant part of western living is the freedom to buy more. Run out of room, just buy more storage... 

There is a movement toward decluttering that holds out a glimmer of hope for our button-popping homes. It's likely that if you were to walk through your home with an eye for what you actually use and what you've merely stored for a later time, you'd realize you could probably get rid of, in one way or another, at least 50% of your stuff. 

Intrigued? Here are some tips:

1. Go in spurts: You've seen that show hoarders, in which the declutter brigade rushes through the house and dumps boxes and garbage bag out top-floor windows into awaiting empty steel bins? Well, that's probably not the way you want to go. In fact, it's easy to burn yourself out trying to get it all done in a day. Best to go slowly in spurts. Spend five minutes a day sorting through stuff and throwing what you don't need away.

2. Compartmentalize "throw away": You don't need to throw your stuff in the garbage--unless it's literal junk. There are many charities and non-profits out there that benefit from selling people's old stuff. Ever been to ValueVillage or Salvation Army? These are great places to take clothes you don't wear, dishes you no longer use, old thriller novels you won't read again, etc. The other compartment is 'Returns', i.e., taking stuff back to those you've borrowed it from. 

3. Fill a garbage bag: Here's a quick tip from becomingminimalist.com: Take a garbage bag and see how quickly you can fill it. Again, this may be a garbage bag full of stuff for Goodwill, or for the curb. Either way, you'll feel good.

4. The Oprah closet trick: Did you know the 80/20 rule applies to the clothes you wear? Apparently, people typically wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time. To figure this out for yourself, hang all your clothes in reverse direction--back to front. When you've worn something and return it to your hanger, do so front to back. Do this for six months and see how many articles of clothing you've actually worn, and ask yourself if you really need the rest of them. If not, grab a garbage bag and fill it!

5. Give away and item per day: Many of us in North America have so much--compared to global standards of living, we are rich beyond measure. In many spiritual teachings, there's a correlation between owning many things and suffering. However, there's a sociological fact that acts of generosity and kindness actually lead to higher levels of well-being. Imagine that! It's the generosity paradox: typically we think we are happiest when we take stuff and unhappy when we give things away; but it's actually the other way around. Try it: give away an item per day and see how you feel. 

There are myriad more ways to declutter your home. In our society of high levels of consumption, it's good to revaluate how we live and consume stuff. Taking time to declutter our homes may actually bring more happiness, in addition to more usable square-footage.