Declutter a room in one afternoon

Clutter feels heavy because every item asks for a decision. A clear system makes the decisions faster.

Before you start

Set aside two to three hours. Get a trash bag and three boxes labeled keep elsewhere, donate and recycle.

Work in this order

1. Remove the obvious trash and recycling first.
2. Pick one area, such as a shelf or drawer. Empty it fully.
3. For each item ask: have I used it in the last year, and do I like it?
4. Put keepers back in a place that makes sense, and send the rest to a box.
5. Wipe the empty area before returning anything.

Finish well

Take the donate box to your car right away, and put misplaced items back in their rooms. Leaving boxes in the hallway means the clutter just moves.