OK, are you surprised that I made it all the way to Day 20 before mentioning Decluttering? It really is the fastest and most effective way to simplify your life. It’s also one of the hardest.
But let’s face it. You can’t live a life of Simplicity when you’re surrounded by clutter. It steals our time, our joy and our peace of mind. And Out of Sight does not mean Out of Mind. Our subconscious mind still knows it’s there.
Imagine walking into your home after a long, tiring day. You drop your mail on a teetering pile that topples over when you add the new envelopes. You push aside the panini press, deep fryer and rice cooker to make more room. And you knock a glass off the counter, where it shatters on the floor. As you get the broom from the pantry, boxes of cereal fall out on top of you. You clean up the broken glass, pick up the cereal boxes, shove the broom back in the pantry and wrestle the door closed. Exhausted, you step over piles of laundry and scattered toys to reach the living room. You throw yesterday’s newspaper onto the floor so you can collapse into your favorite chair.
Relaxed yet?
OK, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but some days are like that.
No one’s saying you have to become a Minimalist overnight, or at all. But the less you have, the less you need to clean, store, and protect. Do you really need 4 sets of sheets for each bed? 12 coffee mugs? 100 books you’ve never read?
Clutter is a constant problem, even in the most organized home. We’re constantly flooded with more junk stuff. Try as we might to stem the tide by shopping less or tossing the junk mail, we’re consumers in a consumer society. It’s very hard not to accumulate.
So I have 3 practical steps you can take today to start decluttering your life.
1) Embrace the Use/Love Philosophy. British designer William Morris said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” That pretty much sums up what you should own. No possessions ever paid you rent. If it doesn’t serve a purpose – or if you don’t love it – it has no right to occupy space in your home.
2) For some serious help decluttering and an organizational system that really works, get my book Get Organized This Weekend. 
It’s quick and easy to read. After all, you want to rip apart the Rubik’s cube and get to the solution, right? So you’ll find no fluff, nitty-gritty, practical advice on organizing every room in your home, and tips to declutter everything from shoes to sentimental items.
3) The final hot tip I have for Decluttering is to take the 100 Item Release For Peace Challenge. Commit to getting rid of 10 items a day for 10 days. Donate a pair of shoes to charity. Toss an old receipt that’s laying on your desk. Give a borrowed item back to its owner. 10 items. 10 days. Track your progress and challenge a friend to see who can finish their list first. Download your free tracking sheet here.
Do it now. Do it often. And watch the peace return as you declutter your life.
For the rest of the week, we’ll talk about other ways to declutter your life. In the meantime leave me a comment and let me know how you enjoy the Release For Peace Challenge!
