Thanks to the industrial revolution and a general condition of affluence, most of us in the modern world have more stuff than we need. The result is a cluttered life. Clutter takes many forms. It can be literal stuff that you must sort through, take care of, store, and be able to find again. Or it may be in the form of activities and things to do. Finally, clutter can be mental. Damaging and unnecessary thoughts don't bring harmony and order to our lives.

Getting rid of clutter can be hard for some people because it requires decision making, and making decisions involves a certain amount of risk. More simply put, you must decide what things in your environment, schedule, or mind are taking extra space or energy that you don't have. You must make the decision to let them go. This means you are risking losing something you might want again later. Still, the risk of having a cluttered life is much greater than the risk of letting something go.

Physical clutter exacts a demanding load on the average person, as they must move it around and clean around it, or else just put up with looking at it. Storage has become a hot commodity, with entire businesses devoted to storage equipment. While storage has its place, in many cases it is better to simply eliminate the extra items.

The best way to remove clutter from your life is a little at a time. Thrift shops are great as a place to unload unwanted clothing, kitchen utensils, books, and other household items. You could plan a big yard sale, but unless you are really in need of the money, the hassle and stress of it are probably not worth it. In addition, you will probably still have a lot of stuff to take somewhere when you are through.

A great idea is to set a timer for ten or fifteen minutes, and just sort through stuff somewhere in your house until the timer goes off. Throw things away, and bag up things to be given to the local thrift shop or Salvation Army. Do this every day, and in no time your home or office will begin to look less cluttered.

Another tip for decluttering stuff is to always get rid of as much as you bring in. For instance, if you buy a new T-shirt, throw out or donate an old one. If you get a new cooking pot, get rid of an old one. By doing this, new stuff won't accumulate and create clutter. Another idea is to choose a number and make yourself get rid of that many items every day. Some people use 25 or 27, but even if you only eliminate five or seven things a day, it will help.

Here is a rule of thumb that can help you decide what to get rid of. Is the item useful or beautiful? If it is, do I have room for it? If the answer to either question is no, feel free to eliminate the thing from your life. Don't feel bad about throwing something away, especially if it is in bad condition. You don't need to keep every old ratty pair of underwear for a cleaning rag. Throw them in the trash! It's liberating!