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I could be wrong but does clutter in the house create clutter in the mind?

In any case, too much clutter is not pretty. And it really brings down your decor! Finding ways to reduce clutter can help reduce stress. (That and a good glass of wine of course.)

You love your things: your books, your dishes, your art, your clothes. But your things could be overwhelming your house and you.

Plus, if you have to move and you walk into the nightmare of packing and moving your stuff, your things have now become so much more work!

What do you do?

There’s a current popular suggestion that says hold on only to the things that have a special place in your heart.

For many, this isn’t terribly helpful, because the sheer volume of accumulated stuff means that letting go of some of it means you’re still left with mountains of things to pack and move.

It may be hard to do, but finding ways to reduce clutter and simplify your life can wind up making you feel good! Marie Kondo actually says that tidying up your life can help you find more joy!

If you want to know how to reduce clutter fast, here are four rules to help you tame the clutter beast.

Rule One: Be Ruthless

Make a little money while you reduce clutter with a garage sale!

Seriously. Anything that is absolutely, positively not a one-of-a-kind family heirloom is fair game for disposal.

Count the number of people in your household. Let’s say there are four of you. To figure out how many mugs, glasses, dinner plates, cutlery place settings you need, double that number to eight.

Any glasses, dishes, knives, and forks over that number–get rid of them. You simply do not need them. If you have a set for “every day” and a set for “good” dishes and cutlery, think seriously about jettisoning both and substituting a set that works in both casual and fancy settings.

I mean how often do you really use that fancy china? If you are fortunate enough to own a sterling silver dinner service: use it everyday. It won’t wear out, and it will earn its keep rather than sitting around gathering dust in its chest.

Reducing clutter gives you full right to use your best household items instead of saving them for a special occasion.

The same rule holds true for bath towels, wash clothes, and hand towels. Two per person is all you need. The rest can go to a survival center or an animal shelter.

Minimizing your clutter is a great way to give back to others who may need it!

Two sets of bed sheets per bed is your goal, one to wash and one for the bed. The number you get by doubling the number of family members is a good rule of thumb for paring down stuff you use collectively.

Rule Two: Outsource Your Storage

You love to read. That’s great, until you try to move multiple 50-pound boxes of books, many of which, if you are honest, you know you will never read or consult again. Get rid of them!

You have two alternatives to letting your house be littered with books:

The public library, where you can go anytime to be mesmerized by the atmosphere of bound volumes and where you can drink in the aroma of old books.

An eReader on your smart phone or tablet. You can fit at least as many books in your personal library on your e-reader, which is portable and indexed. Even if you don’t have one, there are online sources for books you can read on your computer.

One of the easiest ways to reduce clutter is to use your computer as your file cabinet. Scan paperwork and file it on a zip drive or a remote server. If you store electronically, you can whittle down your paper files to a manageable folder or two.

Reducing clutter in the new digital age is even easier than in the past. You can ditch extra items from your house, but not actually have to lose them!

Rule Three: Live in the Present

There is really only one good reason to hang on to an appliance or an article of clothing or a piece of sports equipment. You either use it, wear it, or play with it–now.

When was the last time you used your bread machine? Two years ago. Get rid of it.

When was the last time you wore that fringed jacket? Three years ago? Get rid of it.

Ditto the snowshoes and exercise ball. Just because once upon a time you indulged in a hobby or sported a certain trendy look doesn’t mean you will again.

Donate, sell or trash the things that once served a purpose but do not currently. It’s a pretty safe bet if you stopped using something, you’re not suddenly going to start back up again with it.

And if it isn’t being used, then it can be turned into cash or donated to someone who will use it.

Rule Four: Don’t Buy It

By far the most difficult rule to keep if you love stuff. You see something pretty or potentially useful. It’s only a few dollars, you tell yourself, and it will really give you a lift. Why not?

Because you have lived your life until now without it, and, chances are good that once you leave the store you will forget about it–that’s why.

The mountain of clutter you face didn’t spring up overnight from an undersea volcano. It grew step by step, as you acquired things but never stopped to consider the growth of the mountain.

It is important to learn ways to minimize clutter, but it is equally important to learn how to stop clutter in the first place.

Imagine if you ran other aspects of your life this thoughtlessly. Do you eat until you explode? Do you keep on putting coins in the parking meter after you’ve paid for the time you need? Of course not!

Apply that same good sense the next time you visit your favorite store. The result? Less clutter and more money in the bank!

These clutter-reducing rules will set you on a path to minimize the amount of stuff you have, and train you to keep from adding to your things.

When it comes time to call the movers–you’ll be glad you followed them.

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