The Minimalist’s Guide to Fighting (and Beating) Clutter Entropy

Putta Says:

January 10th, 2008, 22:23 pm

Hi Leo:

Another great piece of suggestions. I would add one that is important to me: negotiate an accord with those you have to spend time and space with… Although decluttering, first and foremost, comes from one own personal endeavor, to make it totally work (again, in my case, when and where you live with others) needs all individuals to set sail together.

Last week, I threw away two big boxes: one went directly to garbage and the other to a children’s charity event at a local school library. Although it is still a long way to go for my goal, I feel wonderful that I was able to break away from my old habits and did manage to declutter. I am trying to “declutter” more, to a greater extent, whatever applies first…
‘
Again, thanks for sharing your great thoughts with us, day in day out. I wouldn’t have done a lot without your advice.

Sean Kelly Says:

January 10th, 2008, 22:29 pm

This is exactly what I’ve been doing for quite a while…ever since I started to read this (amazing) blog. Now its almost like an OCD habit and I was proud of myself when my friends would comment on all the flat surfaces. I go nuts if there is crap on my lovely wooden desk or dresser or any other flat surface for that matter.
Lovely article :)
~SK

Warren Says:

January 10th, 2008, 22:55 pm

My problem in my home space is becoming my collections of stuff instead of all the random things. I have cleared out the random stuff but have found now I just have too many books, movies, c.d.’s, and clothes. I am still working out how to solve this dilemma.

Leo Says:

January 10th, 2008, 23:09 pm

@Warren: That’s ultimately your decision, but my suggestion is to slim down your collections. I know it’s difficult to get rid of books and CDs and DVDs, but it can be done. I regularly go through my collections — I tell myself that these things are not trophies to be proudly displayed. If I’m not going to read books or watch DVDs very often, I can get rid of them. I can always check them out at the library or rent them from the DVD store if I ever feel like reading/watching them a year or two from now — it might cost a couple dollars, but to me that’s worth not having to store them in my house.

Jeff Pickett Says:

January 10th, 2008, 23:13 pm

Leo:
Another great post. I wonder how many readers transfer your clutter ideas to their cars? I have the advantage of having 2 cars in the household and the kids are normally transported in my wife’s van. That leaves my Xterra in pretty good order. I hardly ever eat in it and I’m always ensuring any trash is out of the seats, etc. So, like a house, the cleaner you keep it, the easier it is to make it look as though it did the day you bought it.

Bakelite Says:

January 10th, 2008, 23:53 pm

I like #1 because the more you get the more you get rid of. This could be challenging. Removing storage (#2) is my goal for this year, gotta stop renting that garage! And #7 sounds like procrastination, something I do very well. :) Excellent post.

metroknow Says:

January 11th, 2008, 0:17 am

HA - my RSS feed said, “The Minimalist’s Guide to Fighting (and Beating…” — and after having read your article on Tim Ferriss’s site (nice work, btw), who is obviously in the fighting realm in a big way, I thought, “WOW! Leo is REALLY covering every aspect of simplicity - even bar fights!!”

Miss Gisele from myBeautyMatch.com Says:

January 11th, 2008, 0:23 am

Leo,

De-cluttering not only cleanses the home but it also cleanses the mind and the soul.

I also think that before the whole de-cluttering thing…we should think twice at what we buy and really make sure we actually need it.

As for collections (as brought up by Warren), I agree there are certain things we like to collect…but I think it should be kept to one or two collections (max) not 10.

I know some readers won’t agree with me, but the truth is that collections are a very expensive way of cluttering your home. Don’t get me wrong…I love books + CDs. When it comes to books, I made the decision 4 years ago to stop buying business and reference books and use the librairy to consult them.

I only buy leisure books in paperback (they are smaller than hardcovers).

Gisele

Krizia

Ivan Says:

January 11th, 2008, 1:02 am

Cool tips, Leo! I like #1 but it’s difficult especially with books, CDs or DVDs. For CDs I found a solution for me: I only buy CDs at iTunes. So they don’t declutter my home. OK, it’s only a half-solution: They declutter my computer. :-) But it’s much easier (for me) to organize my harddisk than my rooms. :)

Ivan
http://www.blatternet.ch

mercurial scribe Says:

January 11th, 2008, 1:12 am

EXCELLENT post. It really gets down to the basic, nitty-gritty of decluttering one’s life on a practical level. Thanks for the tips!

MissKoolAid Says:

January 11th, 2008, 1:15 am

I used to be a pack-rat. I’m doing everything I can to change that. Books I know I will never read again are being set free via Bookcrossing.com , CDs are being transferred to MP3 files on my computer so I can let go of the actual CDs themselves… As for my art, I’m learning to physically let go of it: giving it away or eventually selling it. I can only have so many canvases on my small apartment’s walls!

Ali Says:

January 11th, 2008, 1:21 am

I need to keep reading this over + over Leo (and thanks for the comment the other day). Your tips are making an impact on how I am looking at my home + I am really thankful.

phraedus Says:

January 11th, 2008, 1:37 am

It would be good to consider the reasons behind why people actually are gathering up the clutter, if you know that, and realise those reasons aren’t as important, I think it will eventually help ease the need to buy more clutter.

Some might argue that it is emotional, such as shopping therapy. But do those magazines actually make you feel better about yourself?

Or do they increase your sense of what you think you ’should’ be doing, as oppose to appreciating what you already have.

The second thing to consider is ‘why’ your hanging onto old things. Is it actual sentimentality, or just the feeling of your comfort because there is no change? You will be surprised how much better you feel when you actually throw things out.

I think this is a great practical post Leo, well done.

Ruth Says:

January 11th, 2008, 1:43 am

On number 4 (”Designate a home for everything, and be fanatic.”): If something has a home, and you find that you just can’t put it away in its place, you might consider changing its home. Just because something has always been in one place doesn’t mean that’s the best place to keep it!

Leo Says:

January 11th, 2008, 2:31 am

@Ali: Thanks for commenting! It’s an honor to have you here … you’re a hero of mine. I look at your creations with lust, and wish I had half your creativity. I would attempt similar things, but I think my scrapbooks and such would have one image or word in the center of a page, and the rest blank. ;)

@metroknow: lol! I’m actually a non-violent person, which is what the “minimalist’s guide to fighting” would be: no punches thrown. :)

Great input, everyone!

Charles Says:

January 11th, 2008, 3:03 am

Love the minimalism posts. Someone keeps mentioning the books, cds, and dvds. For books, I’d say unless it is reference, you should probably just go to the library, or do an ebook thing.

As for cd’s and dvd’s, I’m working on ripping my collection. The dvd’s are still the ones taking the longest, but seeing as itunes sells movies, it might be worth it to just do that.

Marley Says:

January 11th, 2008, 3:07 am

Hey Leo

Loved the 30 day book and thanks for the link to Ali’s creations - a different kind of inspiration for me!

Marley

Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah) Says:

January 11th, 2008, 3:08 am

One of my goals in life is to own as little as possible. For the most part, all you want is to use stuff and not necessarily to own it. That’s why it makes sense for most people to use the library instead of buying books, etc. Great post, as usual!

Eve Isk Says:

January 11th, 2008, 5:20 am

Excellent post!

Next week I’m going to stop speaking to people for 3 days, and instead communicate in as minimal way as possible. Shall keep these things in mind and see if they have any indirect application.

Jaybirdladybug Says:

January 11th, 2008, 6:17 am

Again, a great post. I have tried to live uncluttered for the past few years. After growing up in a house that can only be discribed as full, I vowed that I would not life my adult life in the same manner. Now if I could only get the husband to get rid of all that “one day I will need that” stuff, I would be happy, but I fear there are some things that are just impossible.

But please keep spreading the word!

M. Says:

January 11th, 2008, 7:43 am

I really like your tipps for decluttering and somehow also the idea of a minimalist home as I sense this would make decluttering, cleaning and having a chaos-free mind way easier! However, I’m such a lover of the illustrious european fin de siècle homes with lots of stuff and wonderful fabrics.. Even as a kid I fell immediately in love with Gabriele D’Annunzio’s “Il Vittoriale” (http://www.vittoriale.it/), but it’s maybe de major example for opulence and decadence.. So this liking totally opposed to any minimalistic aims. A compromise seems unsatisfactory as it’s then neither fish nor fowl. Any tipps or help with the two souls wrestling in my chest?

Leo Says:

January 11th, 2008, 8:18 am

@M.: I hear you, but I don’t have a good solution. You’ll just have to let the two souls battle it out. Let me know who wins. :)

Daan Says:

January 11th, 2008, 9:04 am

@M.: I don’t think your two ’souls’ necessarily have to be opposites. As long as the stuff and everything is simply there as decoration, or because you designate that stuff to have that place, you can be okay with it. It may not classify as a minimalistic way of managing your house, but you can still be clutter-free, because all the ’stuff’ is not clutter, but purposely placed decoration. And if all this decoration is still preventing you from having a chaos-free mind, perhaps you can mix: have one room minimalist, clean, where you can work or get some rest, and one room full of decorations and everything where you can enjoy the richness of it. That only leaves the cleaning problem… :-)

On another note, I think there is a converse to tip number 2: don’t have too little storage space. At the moment, the closet where I store my clothes is just a bit too small. This creates a barrier that prevents me from immediately putting away clothes, because I know that I have to make some effort before they fit in the closet. The result: shirts and pants on my chair, my couch, my bed, etc.

Michelle Dawn Says:

January 11th, 2008, 9:18 am

I’ve been practicing the “one in, two out” rule for a while now (actually it is more like, “one in, one out”) and it really makes me stop and think about what I am willing to give. Usually I won’t bother making the purchase.

I started a new blog today! Please, come visit: http://www.frugal-parents.blogspot.com

jerry Says:

January 11th, 2008, 9:29 am

For inspiration to consume less and thus not clutter your life read this:
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/31049

Jim Says:

January 11th, 2008, 10:08 am

Great ideas. I wanted to do the one in, two out to help declutter. But to gradually implement this I went to a one in, one out approach. This assures me I do not add to the problem and gives me time to get used to doing this.

Don’t forget to eBay, Craigslist and freecycle things that are still good. Or give them to a charity!

Here is a tip from a post on my blog, Getting Ahead In Life. http://gettingaheadinlife.blogspot.com/2008/01/spend-less-keep-your-money-get-it-back.html

8. Ask yourself, “Do I really want / need this?” For everything you pick up in a store, ask yourself, “Do I really want/need this?” Not sure put it in the child seat area of your cart (only if a child is not there). When you are about to check out, look at the items that you were unsure about and ask yourself again. Still unsure, leave it at the store.

Joe Says:

January 11th, 2008, 10:12 am

I hate clutter!

And I love these recommendations!

Also love any time anyone quotes Lao Tzu (because he is THE MAN!!!).

Mark Says:

January 11th, 2008, 10:12 am

Very timely post!

My wife and I have decided to reduce the “stuff” in our lives and simplify. We have decluttered several times in the past but the stuff seems to creep back. The eight steps in this post make it easy to focus on what needs to be done.

I am going to start with my office this weekend. And if I get really brave I will venture into the basement. Wish me luck!

P.G. Smith Says:

January 11th, 2008, 11:33 am

My 10-year-old daughter has taken to this de-cluttering like a fish to water. Every month or so we go through her room and create a “keep” pile and a “get rid of” pile. Over the past year she has given away, recycled or thrown out about five boxes of stuff. She loves the fact that it hardly takes any time to clean her room now. She actually has a couple of empty drawers! Now, I just have to get my husband to try the same thing with his office…

Dawn Says:

January 11th, 2008, 12:45 pm

My biggest problem is procrastination. I have to stop thinking “I’ll put this away later”, because later never happens. But I’ve been on a big de-cluttering and organization spree so far this year, so hopefully once I clean things up it will be less daunting to make sure everything goes to its home when I am done using it.

Schizohedron Says:

January 11th, 2008, 13:09 pm

In a fine list, #5 hits home. I’d cleaned intensively in December for the holidays, and didn’t want to lose my work to entropy and my bad clutter habits. So I made a 14-day schedule of surfaces, floors, rooms, and other areas where I need to clean, plopped it into Google Calendar, and pinned it up in my kitchen. With each task taking maybe 15 minutes tops to complete, and a little being done each day somewhere in the joint, so far no cleaning or maintenance task has gotten so large and daunting that it stuns me into inaction, because I’m scheduled to come back to it before that can happen. Keeping the apartment clean has been very satisfying as a result, and coming home in the evening no longer elicits a soul-groan of disgust at a huge clutter obstacle!

Mark Says:

January 11th, 2008, 13:46 pm

I used to have a real “buying” problem, so what I do now is if I buy something I force myself to bring it home and not to touch it for 3 days. If I can do that and I still have that want, I’ll take it out of the shopping bag. If have lost that feeling for it, I take it back.

Most stores have return policies that allow you to do this, the only exception is on electronics and larger purchases where there may be a restocking fee.

April Says:

January 11th, 2008, 14:20 pm

Just wanted to share the way that I address my desire to buy stuff. I buy clothes at second-hand shops and sell them on ebay. I get to shop 2-3 times a week, I don’t have to keep the stuff, and I make enough money each week to go out to dinner on Saturday night. Win-win.

I do have to keep under control what I buy and sell. I keep no more that 10 pairs of jeans at a time, and I keep my shipping supplies on 1 small shelf.

Tara Says:

January 11th, 2008, 14:34 pm

ur nuts!

Sarah Marie Says:

January 11th, 2008, 14:43 pm

To regulate purchases and prevent clutter from arriving in the first place, I like Madame X’s list of questions from the money blog, My Open Wallet. It helps me think twice (or more!) about things I want. A printed copy hangs above my desk to discourage casual Internet shopping.

John from Indiana Says:

January 11th, 2008, 14:58 pm

#6 really hits home, Leo. I look at the majority of my “collections” and wonder why I need a quarter-ton of phono records, 30 Barometers, and 20 35mm cameras.
I realize that I don’t own this stuff, it’s the OTHER way around.
Time to pass it along to somebody else.

gwinne Says:

January 11th, 2008, 15:08 pm

One of my major issues is that there’s stuff I don’t get rid of because I don’t want to throw it in the trash (bad for environment) but don’t know where/how to get rid of it. For instance, old video tapes and cassettes, a useless laptop computer from 1994. Such items have been “decluttered” from my living space but sit in a box in the basement until I know the best way to dispose of them. Suggestions?

Lisa (aka RussianMafiaBabe) Says:

January 11th, 2008, 15:43 pm

So true. An empty space acts as a vacuum, so when you create one, it is necessary to envision what you would like to have there instead, and the space that exists is a valid choice. If you clean out closets of old clothes that no longer fit, for instance, envision whether you want only the space that remains without refilling, or if you would like to create a new wardrobe to replace the one that is left, or clothes in a smaller size as you become healthier and give away the ones that will soon be too large. This is especially useful when cleaning out the bill drawer, because you don’t want entropy to create more bills : ), just more empty space (or more deposit slips).

jason Says:

January 11th, 2008, 15:47 pm

I took your advice the other day and cleared all the flat surfaces in my bedroom, except for my TV, a couple framed pictures and my alarm clock. Within hours, my roommates had complimented on it.

Pam Says:

January 11th, 2008, 15:52 pm

Leo, sage advice — thank you so much for sharing. Clutter is a toleration that many of us “put up with”; at least I do and have done so. It’s just an energy drain so these tips are very helpful for clearing the clutter. Besides, we all know that when you clear out the stuff that isn’t serving you, you make room for the good stuff that does.

karma Says:

January 11th, 2008, 16:01 pm

I simply love this list, especially the 30-days rule. Hell, it really works. Saved me a LOT of money :)

Trixi Says:

January 11th, 2008, 16:05 pm

@gwinne (and John from Indiana): try listing your items on freecycle. It’s often truly amazing what people are looking for.

@ John from Indiana: you also might want to see if there’s perhaps a school nearby that might be able to use some of your items ~ e.g., cameras for a photography club, barometers for a science class, that sort of thing. Also, others area groups or clubs (such as cub/boy/girl scout troops, for example) might have a use for things like the barometers and cameras.

As a general rule: if you have things in working condition, even if they seem antiquated by modern standards, someone can almost certainly use them.
If you have things that are not in working condition (computers, other electronics, even cars!) you can often find a VoTec class or similar group in your area that can use these things as part of their curriculum; or even just an individual who likes to tinker will often gladly accept such things to ‘work’ on.

Many municipalities also have periodic *hazardous waste* drop-off dates ~ when they takes things like old leftover paint, used motor oil, old car batteries, various electronics & such. It seems to me that this sort of info is often not readily available on the net (we usually see a notice in the newspaper a couple times a year); but a simple phone call to your local chamber of commerce would likely be a good first step to getting that information as well.

Mark Says:

January 11th, 2008, 16:28 pm

These are all great tips! Ones which I have be applying in my life for the past few months! Thanks for sharing.

Meredith Says:

January 11th, 2008, 18:17 pm

Great article, especially enjoyed the wonderful quotes!

Ted Says:

January 11th, 2008, 19:28 pm

Having recently married, merged two households and now helping our parents downsize, we have found continuous decluttering is crucial to physical and mental health. Our experience:

The trick is putting processes in place:

Clothes - go to Goodwill. Using two people to do the dropoff saves time and effort.

Chemicals, paints, etc. Most difficult to dispose of. Our community has a hazardous waste day 2x per year. they will take the nastiest stuff off your hands with a smile.

Lumber. Either bring it to your recycle center or put it at the end of the driveway the day before trash day. Our town used to have a lumber recycling area - it was a great place to save $ for that small project.

Dead batteries. We have a bag in the front close where all dead batteries go. Then on to hazardous waste day.

Furniture - if one piece comes in, another must leave. we are down to valued heirlooms or our favorites. Excess furniture goes on the curb day before trash day and disappears within hours.

Artwork. That precious piece of family that you hate but can’t dispose of? My parent went into assisted living and they were glad to take her favorite piece of artwork and display it. I was off the hook, my parent was happy and the artwork didn’t have to go to my cellar.

Sporting goods. Sell on Craigslist. Trash anything you wouldn’t consider buying. We sold that recumbent bicycle that I just had to have. Kayaks go well on Craigslist. There’s nothing like getting real cash for your stuff. I sold my 10 year old BMW on eBay Motors in three days.

Housewares - we give to a local non-profit that provides housing for low income, etc. They often will pickup. Want that new widescreen, then find someone to take the old TV first.

Used electronics - we put used electronics out in a box marked “free” early the day before trash day. It magically disappears. Non-profits will take useful electronics.

Rugs - No one wants a used rug. cut it up and put it in the trash.

Teenage packrats - Everything on the floor goes on their bed. Eventually they determine that less stuff means they get to go to sleep faster.

Adult packrats - After two warnings throw excess stuff into the back yard, preferably from the second floor. If it comes back in the house, it goes back to the back yard and gets burned. My wife actually burned that shirt I should have thrown out years ago.

Small appliances that mis-behave - Must disappear also. Day before trash day, have a family event and throw it out the front of the house, from the second floor. then put it in the trash.

grace Says:

January 11th, 2008, 19:35 pm

It’s my experience that part of the clutter problem is when an individual is not honest with themself. They bring things into their lives based on who they wish or imagine theirself to be not who or where they are in the present. They organize their space on how they think they should use it not on how they actually use it. An example would be a kitchen equipped with every imaginable gadget when you reallly only heat frozen dinners in a microwave. So, part of the solution to clutter is accepting yourself where you are presently, then gradually creating habits to fit your ideal.

AJ Says:

January 11th, 2008, 20:06 pm

A problem I always run into is what to do with accessory items that a come with so many electonics or other things I buy.

For example I just purchased a router that came with a wall mount. I’m not using that wall mount at the moment but in the back of my mind I always think… “What if I want to use it later”. Unlike most things I can’t just through it out because it’s made specifically for that item and would be very hard to purchase again.

And since these specialty accessories come with so many different items they get piled up and their odd shaped make them hard to organize and store. What does everyone else do with these? any ideas? should I just scrap them? Thanks!

Trixi Says:

January 11th, 2008, 20:09 pm

Also: old towels, old blankets, coats, sweaters, flannel shirts, fur coats and the like ~ the ones that are too old/worn etc. for Goodwill, but that you hate to just toss in the trash: Animal shelters (& farm animal sanctuaries) are in need of these for shelter & rescue animals and will take them in conditions not useful to people.

In some areas there are even people out there who will pick up and deliver ~ your local shelter may know someone you can call if you can’t drop them off yourself.

Fiji Says:

January 11th, 2008, 20:44 pm

Great post. ‘cept kids don’t seem to get with the program!

Trixi Says:

January 11th, 2008, 20:50 pm

@AJ: this may not work for you, but what works for us fairly well is having one large plastic storage container that we keep accessible (but not exactly handy) in an infrequently used (small under-the-stairs) closet. When we have miscellaneous accoutrements like you describe (and we have a lot of ‘em!) I label them clearly (using masking tape & a sharpie marker) & toss them in the box. If there are smaller items (smaller shelving brackets, extra screws, a few small connector wires, that sort of thing) we toss them in an appropriately sized ziploc bag first, and then label the bag before tossing it in. It’s sort of like a freestanding oversized junk drawer ~ except it’s designated ONLY for miscellaneous specific parts as you describe: items that you may not need, but are specific to an item you own, and could not easily be obtained separately. We do not use it for any general-purpose things like extension cords or such. (They have their own box, which actually stacks very nicely on top of the ‘accoutrement box’. ) And nothing goes in unless it is clearly labeled first. So even though we have a lot of random items in it ~ most of which we will probably never need ~ there is still room for more; and the few times we have actually needed a particular part, we have been very glad indeed that we have that box!

The box we use is really much larger than it need be, but that’s by design. By being oversized it allows for two things: readily available sufficient extra space to accommodate even odd-shaped pieces without having to stop and reorganize everything, and the ability to rifle through it quickly to find what you need without having to dump out the contents on the floor in order to do so. It also ensures that the box itself doesn’t get lost or forgotten in the shuffle as small boxes sometimes can.

Andy Says:

January 11th, 2008, 21:18 pm

Last year i made the difficult decision to get rid of all my books. it felt great. And then Amazon came out with Kindle, so now I can buy all the books I want and they are all at my fingertips, like music on an iPod.

Shea Says:

January 11th, 2008, 21:56 pm

Oh, if I could only put your way into action. My mind is always here and there, and that is what manifests itself around me. I get things neat, and soon enough I have reorganized it back into the mirror image of my thoughts.

AgentSully Says:

January 11th, 2008, 22:26 pm

#7 - the 30 day list. Now that’s a new one. I like it! I do a similar version on the rare instances I go “shopping.” I put things in the cart, but when I get to the checkout, I remove most of them using the “do I really need this”-test.

My biggest problem is in the kitchen where I like to keep things on the counter for convenience sake.

I think I need to bring in my mom or sis who are both good at tidying and do a winter-decluttering.

Thanks for the inspiration to do so!

def Says:

January 11th, 2008, 23:20 pm

No more am I a solitary voice in the wild proclaiming, “When in doubt, get it out.” The Four Laws and this post are excellent articles. The 30 day list is a great idea which can also save money.

A few other suggestions / rules:

Variation on #1 - One in, one of equal size or larger out.

If the four seasons have passed (winter, spring, summer, and fall) and the item is unused, it is obviously not needed.

Get people to think of space as open rather than empty.

Thank you for publishing and sharing.

grace Says:

January 12th, 2008, 10:07 am

Trixi
You have some great ideas!

AJ Says:

January 12th, 2008, 16:59 pm

@Trixi

Thanks so much for your recommendation. I haven’t been labeling my items as appropriately as I should and have been mixing them with other misc items… causing confusion.

I’m going to take your advice and start a specific accessory box today. Much Thanks!

chris Says:

January 12th, 2008, 17:12 pm

I personally think that having a lot of books and displaying them, at least in the study, is a great thing. It’s only great if you have actually read a few of those books though. Maybe that’s my opinion because I come from an academic background and grew up among piles of books.

Jess Says:

January 12th, 2008, 22:14 pm

To Leo’s list I’d like to add 6.5: If you can’t (or don’t want to) reduce your desires for more, channel those desires for good.

Like many others, I have a book addiction. My fiance and I just consolidated into one apartment and I had to declutter my book collection, but I just love to go to the bookstore!

One of the clergy members my fiance and I are working with for marriage prep teaches at an inner-city private school that provides a free education to all its students. They operate entirely on donations, and it turns out that in particular, they need more books for their now-tiny library. Now I can satisfy my book-buying desires without accumulating any more book clutter, and I know that what I buy will go to much better use than just sitting around in my apartment.

Andrew Brunelle Says:

January 13th, 2008, 1:03 am

Hey, I enjoyed this article very much. I donate many books to the library and I streamlined my DVD collection into a small CD case that is no bigger than a CD in diameter. I am a fellow minimalist by nature, knowing how trivial most things are, although I do indulge in items that are useful to me. The library can be a great place to read books without buying them, but I find they sometimes do not have a very good selection. This is at least true with some of the books I am looking for. Getting rid of clutter is a major mission for me and I enjoy it to the fullest. Keep up the good articles.

Lily Says:

January 14th, 2008, 13:07 pm

It’s my experience that part of the clutter problem is when an individual is not honest with themself. They bring things into their lives based on who they wish or imagine theirself to be not who or where they are in the present.

Ditto. That was my problem with my previous shopaholic habits, I was looking for my identity in the wrong places, in objects that didn’t mean so much to me.

Joshua Says:

January 14th, 2008, 13:42 pm

Nice post! I got to put some of this into account when I picked up Rock Band this weekend :) Given the clutter associated with all of the peripherals, I had to get rid of some other stuff to justify my newfound clutter :p

Toni Says:

January 14th, 2008, 23:36 pm

“Limited storage” — very true! I love having canisters or boxes for my trinkets, but having too much of those organizers cause clutter too!

Matt Says:

January 15th, 2008, 13:52 pm

I honestly believe that changing your habits and outlook on your clutter are the key to decluttering. We live in a consumer society where newer and more is better than anything else.

Getting into the habit of clearing out clutter is what has kept me sane in recent years. What amazes me after each decluttering session is the sheer volume of stuff (useless stuff) being thrown out or donated.

Janet Says:

January 16th, 2008, 0:58 am

Its really great and wonderful articles. Thank you for the nice post. I enjoy reading your posts.

erin Says:

January 18th, 2008, 17:01 pm

Great reminder post. I spent a good portion of last year trying to declutter. It is great when I was focused on it but as I have lost focus, clutter has crept in. I like your idea about setting regular declutter dates with yourself. This at least can help refocus me once a month or quarter. Then if I could get into a habit of clearing off surfaces, I think I would be in good shape. Thank you.

amy Says:

February 6th, 2008, 20:23 pm

One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star - Nietzsche

The Minimalist Says:

April 30th, 2008, 11:55 am

Designate a home for everything is the best tip yet! It makes all the difference. I would add that things should be stored were they are used because they have a higher chance of being put away. It’s also ok to change an item’s home if it seems to be left out a lot or is in a primary storage spot when it isn’t used that much, ( like the TV remote when you actually use the cable remote.)