Bust that Clutter

Real Simple magazine had a great article on seven strategies for getting rid of all the things  you don't want, need or even like.  I have taken what I thought was relevant and kookized it.  Here is my list of six strategies for getting rid of "stuff":

Fake a Move

Basically picture yourself as if you are moving.  Envision your home as a prospective buyer or renter might. Categorize all your items. What to throw away, what to donate and what you'd love to keep. Chances are, you're holding onto many things that really have no use even in your current home.

Rooms with a Purpose

Now you can break out that nifty clip board that you knew would come in handy one day! Walk through the rooms in your house or apartment.  And write down what activities take place in each room and/or what activities you would like to take place.  Then start building the room based on your proposed purpose.  Remove any items that have nothing to do with your room activities but keep the whole house in mind. You may be able to re-purpose items for other rooms.

Be a Donate Diva

It's true, it is much easier to toss items when you picture them benefiting someone else.  Pick an organization that you really want to help and check their websites on what kind of donations they are in need of.  I like to get the kids involved especially with this one, so that they can see what it's like to give.

Room "Editing"

As if you are reading from a book, start in the upper left hand corner and move from left to right, from top to bottom. "The room is a book, a dresser is a chapter, each drawer is a paragraph, the boxes or trays or Ziploc bags in the drawers are the sentences, and the things in the containers are the words," says Alice Winner, an organizational consultant from Pennsylvania.  The key is to get rid of all the "words"  that make your life more complicated. Just try to resist the urge to skip chapters.

Closet Shopping

Go through your closet and grab an arms worth of clothes. Try them on.  If you would buy them a second time, hang them back up and donate the rest.  Keep in mind the keepers should fit, be in style and not need any alterations.  This method works for those who don't want to spend hours on purging through their closets at one time.  Set a schedule, like every time you put laundry away and try this method.

Theme it Up

This is great tool to use in the kitchen or bedroom.  Group like items in your drawers together. Forks, knives and spoons all have their own slots in a drawer and wooden and slotted spoons in another.  Every shelf and drawer in your home should have a specific theme.  When you group all like things together, you may realize you have duplicates.  Keep the newer or better item and toss the other.

Thinking backwards...

Even if you install the latest and greatest closet organization system you'll find that your wardrobe will still be a cluttered mess. Purging is the best way to get rid of all those pieces that you no longer wear. But you may ask, how can I keep track of what clothes I do wear? Here is a simple strategy.

Hang all your clothes backwards, with the hanger opening facing you. Every time you wear an article of clothing, hang it back forwards, with the hanger opening facing the wall. At the time of your purge, you will know what clothing you should consider donating.

I like doing this every 6 months when I switch out my wardrobes for the seasons. But you can do it as frequently as every 3 months if you like. The key is after purging, not to go on a spending spree. Only add pieces of clothing that you absolutely love and have longevity. Think of it this way, for every two items you purge, only purchase one. You'll find that your closet will be much more manageable.

True Story!

According to research from Indiana University, the more tidy your home, the more likely you are to be physically active.  The reason? Cleaning burns calories!  Also, for most, a messy space can make it difficult to think clearly and be focused, which means you're more likely to find yourself mindlessly snacking in front of the television, says Stacey Platt, author of What's a Disorganized Person to Do?