In the five years that I've been working with people who want to be clutter-free, I have noticed that most of them start out believing that it's really hard to decide what to keep and what to get rid of.
Well here's the good news: it's easier than you think! When you try the following three approaches, you'll be amazed at how quickly you can make decisions about even the most "important" items you've been hanging onto.
The 60/40 Game.
Did you know that 83% of the stuff we own, we actually only use once or twice a year? That means we've got a lot of stuff hanging around that we really don't need at all.
What if you made a rule that when you're de-cluttering, you will get rid of at least 60% of the items that you touch? Or if you really want to go for the gusto, get rid of 80%! How much space would that free up for you? The Brand New Home Game.
Try this visualization exercise: Close your eyes and imagine you've just finished building your dream house.
You haven't moved in yet, and you are now taking the opportunity to wander through the place, room by room.
You can see your beautiful new furniture, stunning art on the walls, and feel the spongy brand new carpet beneath your feet.
Every detail is perfect...
now, as you begin de-cluttering, with each object you touch, ask yourself whether you would want it in that brand new, sparkling clean home.
If the answer is no, you know what to do! The Feeling Game.
One of my favorite quotes is "They won't remember what you say.
They won't remember what you do.
What they will remember is how you made them feel.
" Sure makes a strong case for paying attention to your feelings, doesn't it? To play this game, ask yourself how each object makes you feel when you hold it.
If you don't feel great -- or terrific, or wonderful, or happy, or content - it's time to get rid of that object.
No matter how important you believe an object to be, chances are good that it doesn't hold as much meaning as you might think.
The good news: you can stop worrying about how you'll make those tough decisions and let it be a fun and inspiring exercise instead.
Well here's the good news: it's easier than you think! When you try the following three approaches, you'll be amazed at how quickly you can make decisions about even the most "important" items you've been hanging onto.
The 60/40 Game.
Did you know that 83% of the stuff we own, we actually only use once or twice a year? That means we've got a lot of stuff hanging around that we really don't need at all.
What if you made a rule that when you're de-cluttering, you will get rid of at least 60% of the items that you touch? Or if you really want to go for the gusto, get rid of 80%! How much space would that free up for you? The Brand New Home Game.
Try this visualization exercise: Close your eyes and imagine you've just finished building your dream house.
You haven't moved in yet, and you are now taking the opportunity to wander through the place, room by room.
You can see your beautiful new furniture, stunning art on the walls, and feel the spongy brand new carpet beneath your feet.
Every detail is perfect...
now, as you begin de-cluttering, with each object you touch, ask yourself whether you would want it in that brand new, sparkling clean home.
If the answer is no, you know what to do! The Feeling Game.
One of my favorite quotes is "They won't remember what you say.
They won't remember what you do.
What they will remember is how you made them feel.
" Sure makes a strong case for paying attention to your feelings, doesn't it? To play this game, ask yourself how each object makes you feel when you hold it.
If you don't feel great -- or terrific, or wonderful, or happy, or content - it's time to get rid of that object.
No matter how important you believe an object to be, chances are good that it doesn't hold as much meaning as you might think.
The good news: you can stop worrying about how you'll make those tough decisions and let it be a fun and inspiring exercise instead.
SHARE
