Can't Say Who:

It may be an old saying, but recognizing the problem is a huge part of the solution right there. Let me offer these starting points:

I was able to turn a corner to cut down on the clutter when I found a couple of books by Don Aslett. If you only read one, pick up Clutter's Last Stand: It's Time to De-Junk Your Life!. Read it cover to cover. There are lots of illustrations, it is an easy read, but it is an important read because he doesn't tell you how to do it he helps make you want to do it by offering sound yet simple philosophical reasons why the clutter got there and why it is difficult to let go. It helps you see the clutter differently.

There is procrastination involved. Where to start - the task is overwhelming. The Procrastinator's Guide To Getting Things Done helped me address the time issues - it's a slim volume. Make it simple - if you pick up these put them in the bathroom, read a little at a time, and if you find a chapter interesting enough that you want to keep reading take it with you to read some more and don't lose it in the clutter. I'd start with the Aslett book first, that might be enough.

We've had people drop in and out of these lists for years. My house looks a lot better but it isn't finished. I go in spurts. When the garden calls, the house sits and waits. We need motivation. Something like this might work. Why aren't you inviting your friends over? Because the house is a mess. Is the stuff in that house more important than your friends? You know they'll come to see you, not your house, but aim for a compromise: work your way through a room at a time and start by clearing the kitchen and living room so you can have company in. We usually suggest to people to start small - clear the smallest room (don't relocate, get rid of or put each thing in it's proper place if it needs to stay) and work outward from there. We say if a room is too big a project, start with a cupboard or a drawer. I don't think you have that luxury, so look around and see what are the biggest things you can get rid of first so you can see a change quickly.

If you're ruthless with yourself, you'll rent a 30-yard dumpster (the largest they rent to individuals) and you'll treat it like an overstuffed estate and start throwing the surplus out - if you can't use an item, don't worry about it, it goes. I've been doing the more frugal route of not trashing but selling and shipping it, or if an item is big, listing on Craig's list or having the Salvation Army pick it up.

In the environmental climate today putting stuff in the landfill isn't a great idea, so I wouldn't blame you if the dumpster is too radical a suggestion. But you can set up a schedule for yourself. Once a week to the Goodwill or St. Vincent DePaul or Salvation Army. You need a goal to thin out the duplicate stuff and if you decide to donate, you can list the fair market value on your donations (use eBay prices, garage sale prices, thrift store prices, consignment store prices, auction gallery prices, etc. depending on what you're donating - take photos and keep track for the IRS, there is a form that asks this) and give yourself a sizable deduction on your income tax. If you're on several medications, have health care bills and insurance and medical costs that allow you to itemize deductions, the donations will further save on taxes. (This is the case in the U.S. If you're somewhere else, someone else might have suggestions about donations and taxes.)

I hope I've spelled out enough ways and reasons to start tackling this. Please keep coming back, and please decide to out yourself once you've gotten started. It's easier to be yourself than log in and out to comment anonymously - you'll be more likely to participate and share your progress on this thread.

SRS