How to De-Clutter

[innerSpaceman]

The nightmare that was remodeling my condo had the awesome silver lining of rehabilitating my clutter habit.

I was never one buried under mounds of paper and junk everywhere ... but I did tend to keep things that I had absolutely no use for.

Nowadays, before a single piece of paper will be given a berth in my home, I ruthlessly consider whether I have any use for it beyond that momentary urge to save. 99.999% of the time the answer is 'no,' and out it goes.

I threw out about 50% of my personal belongings when I remodeled, and everything I come across now has to meet two criteria or out it goes: 1) Have I used/worn it in the last 5 years? or 2) Am I purposely saving it for my old age of remincising?

I am really careful about bringing new new stuff into my home. No more material objects, no useless paper. Any clothes coming in mean something I haven't worn in a long time goes out.

And, (backhanded) thanks to my poor memory, I've long been a "Place for Everything, and Everything in its Place" kinda guy. But the last six years have the clutterist-free ever ... and I'm never going back!