Jeff Campbell, Author of Clutter Control asks the question: Do you own your stuff or does it own you? You see, every single item we say yes to, owns a little piece of us.
It needs a home. It may need some kind of maintenance. And if we do not manage the rate at which we accumulate items relative to the volume we purge, then our space fills up.
I like stuff as much as the next person, but I like people more. So I have had to come to terms with three things:
1. The size of our space impacts how much we say yes.
2. We need to purge our belongings regularly, if not constantly.
3. People are more important than belongings. We must leave room for them.
Recommendations to help you win the war against clutter:
1. Say yes to less. Every day resist the temptation to add more than you take away.
2. Dedicate a place for discards. Collect items that don’t fit the current plan or that you simply don’t love any more. Basement, laundry area, mudroom, garage, the closer to the door, the better. Pick a spot and let everyone in your household know what it’s for. Then make those items go away at least monthly.
3. Show your love. Leave room for people to live, work, and play in your space. Remember how it feels to have clean counter tops, clear desktops, a garage you can park your car in, open space on the walls and on the floor. Leave room for your peeps and everyone will be more content, relaxed, and happy.
Designate a place to collect donations.
What’s your plan for keeping things going out? Do you have a dedicated collection spot for donations? Do tell. We would love to know!
