A guide to Decluttering

Happy First Day of the Last Month of 2011!  
Here in the United States we just had our Thanksgiving and we are now preparing for Christmas. December is a month often spent buying, cooking, and gathering groups of people to consume what was bought and cooked. While I could rant a bit on the commercialization of an important family holiday to a holiday about consumption, I won't. 
This post is about de-cluttering. Clutter is that random stuff we all just happen to have in our homes. It is not important or useful stuff. It is just stuff, old sweaters, junk mail, and old computer parts. Decluttering helps us clear space in our homes, which helps reduce stress because the less stuff you have it is easier to be organized. Decluttering is a process, it is not something that can be done in one day or even a few days. It is something that is an on-going process, but it being December 1st by the end of the month, working a bit every day, there should be a noticeable difference by the beginning of the New Year. Which means that 2012 can start fresh with a decluttered home and a sense of accomplishment.  The benefits of decluttering go beyond the material, it allows us to figure out our values, what is actually important. In her book, No Time To Lose, Pema Chodron writes that giving creates more generosity. This is important to keep in mind because you'll find that you won't want to throws things away because it is a waste. Thus recycling, giving to a charity and reusing are important aspects of decluttering. 

11 Tips to Decluttering: 

• One room at a time. When beginning choose a single room, kitchen, bathroom or bedroom. 
• Create a space for recycling and donations and remember to clear these areas weekly.
• Let go all everything you've kept "to use later". You won't.
• Create a personal question list to ask yourself when you have a hard time deciding it something should go. Ask questions like, "why I do want this?" "Where did I get it?"  and "When is the next time I will use this?" However, do not spend a lot of time doing this. Keep it short and sweet.
• Make sure there is a place for everything! Don't have more books than you can fit on your bookshelf. And if you do, go through your books (This one is hard for me to say, but I did it. And I love books). 
• Get creativity. Do not think that you need to go out a buy an organizer of some kind to help you declutter, that is just bringing something else in to your home. Need a pen holder? Color paper (or old comics!) and a soup can. Re-purpose what you can.
• Don't rush so you don't regret. Once you start to let go of these things you might find yourself giving too much. Create a cleaning schedule, 15-20 minutes a day. That and your weekly donations should allow you effort time to not only accept and let go, but also allow you time to realize what is actually important enough to stay.
• Think before you buy. Stop yourself before you accumulate clutter.
• Routines! Figure out where your clutter comes from and create a system that organizes and stops it. Catalogs and mail stacking up? Sort mail before you even set it down. Clean your kitchen while your waiting for those last few minutes of your stove timer while cooking. 
• As for clothing, you haven't worn it in 6-8 months (depending on climate, of course), donate it. 
• Journal about the decluttering process. Record your thoughts and feelings and reflect on the experience.

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Here are a few useful decluttering links:
Dr. Jeanine has a video about decluttering.
Zen Habits has this awesome list that goes great with decluttering.
And here is an article about decluttering as a spiritual practice.