When I was younger and still living at home, I would rearrange my room every three or four months. Besides the thrill (yes, I was easily amused) of a room that felt “new”, I had the added satisfaction of getting my stuff under control. Of course, it helped that my mom would clean my room every day --- pick up said stuff, put it somewhere, do my laundry, make my bed, etc. No wonder as a grownup I’m such a slob. Thanks, Mom.
The good news is that there is an upside to my slovenliness. Over the years, in my various states of despair, I have learned quite a lot about how to get rid of stuff. I’ve read countless articles, collected books, and consulted those friends one simultaneously admires and despises because of their organizational prowess. I know what needs to done. I understand that getting rid of stuff involves much more than time and a bunch of garbage bags, more than a couple of trips to Goodwill or rearranging a room. To get rid of stuff, for good, you will need to be honest with yourself, about yourself. What do you really enjoy? What do you really need? If you’re willing to put in this work, your reward will be great: a place with less stuff, and a lighter, freer spirit.
Get Rid of Your Stuff
Gather your supplies. You will need garbage bags and/or boxes for three main piles: trash, donations and stuff you can sell. You may also want to separate those items that friends or family could use. Next you will need some Ziploc bags for smaller stuff, masking tape for sealing and labeling, and a permanent marker. Find some ass-kicking music (Nirvana recently helped me through yet another grueling bill-paying session), and you’re set. It is going to be much harder to back out now.
Attack the easy stuff. It’s important to get started, so begin with the things you’ve just put off getting rid of: expired medication, used-up hair products, ugly sweaters, that extra waffle maker. Whether you’re focusing on one room or the whole house/apartment, you’ll feel amazing after this step. You’ll want to do this all day, which is good because you’ll probably have to.
Use the One-Year Rule. Here comes the step that makes most people terrified to get rid of stuff, the step that finds you muttering, “Well, I may use/wear/like this someday.” No, you probably won’t. The One-Year Rule is a good one: If you haven’t used it or worn it or appreciated it in a year, then get rid of it. Try really hard not to hesitate or second-guess here – the stakes are too high. Try also not to feel guilty about getting rid of horrid gifts you received or lamps you inherited. Guilt is a powerful force, but remember how good it will feel to lighten the burden of unwanted stuff.
Know what you really need – and what you don’t. You can think small here, like the purple bridesmaid’s dress, or big – like your car when you live right next to the subway station. This is a time when it’s important to be honest. Yes, you’d love to be into yoga because it seems like a fantastic thing to be into, but…you’re not. So those mats and blocks lodged in the corner of your attic? Someone else really might use them. It’s sometimes hard to admit we’re not everything we’d like to be, but doing so can be the first step in discovering the true aspects of ourselves. And hey – if you make a mistake or “someday” really does arrive, you can easily borrow what you need, find it secondhand, or buy it. In the end, peace of mind will far outweigh the cost of anything you may have to replace.
Become familiar with your “get rid of stuff” options. When you want to get rid of stuff, there are plenty of people and organizations ready to help you out. Try to resist the urge to just throw everything into a huge dumpster; by making your things available to those who truly need them, you’ll be doing your part to reduce global waste. If you’re a media person, check out freecycle.org or craigslist.org, or place an ad in the local newspaper. If you want to just drop stuff off somewhere and be done with it, check out any goodwills, churches, or second-hand stores in your area – just call ahead in case they only accept donations at certain times. Some second-hand shops offer money or store credit (so you can get more stuff!), so that may be something you want to consider. Pawn shops and eBay are also good if you’re looking to make some cash. Something to remember: if you donate anything, be sure to get a receipt that you can use for a tax write-off.Organize Your Stuff
Once you get rid of your stuff, it is vital that you figure out a system to help you control the rest of what you have. Walk around and check things out: does everything have a place? Especially important to pay attention to are the catch-all areas like kitchen counters, the dining room table – any flat surface, really. Decide what needs to be contained, and contain it. Bins, boxes and baskets of every shape and color can be found anywhere – there are whole aisles in department stores dedicated to home storage, plus you may even find something in your own basement that will work. Just remember to measure shelves or closets to make sure a certain container will fit.
Because things will always break, become tiresome or be rendered useless all of a sudden, it is a good idea to have places for this stuff to go. If possible, create permanent giveaway boxes, hidden away somewhere, so that you can take action instead of just thinking, “I’m gonna have to get rid of that.” Intervene early. Try also to follow the “buy something, get rid of something” rule. That way, stuff won’t build up again.
