Ask yourself:

• Can I get this information any other way?
• Is it easy to obtain again?
• If I even remember where I stored this paper, would I actually retrieve it or would I take a different action (look online, make a phone call, etc.)?
• Can I live with the worst-case scenario consequences if I get rid of it and need it later? If so, let it go. If not, keep it.

TIP:  Take a moment to examine your habits. Just because you’ve kept papers in the past doesn’t mean it’s effective today.

If you don’t know what you have, you can’t use it.  If you know what you have, yet aren’t able to find it, you can’t use it.

• What area of yours needs to be arranged better visually so you can see exactly what you have in one glance?

Placing items strategically in their home ensures you don’t waste time searching for something.

TIP: Instead of a pile, fold your clothes in drawers so you can see each item and access it immediately.  These are the same shirts/shorts before and after.

An unfinished task is a form of clutter that weighs heavily on our subconscious.

• Is there a task you’ve repeatedly bumped to the next day for more than 3 months?

Consider whether it’s time to complete or cross out that task. If you don’t want to do it yourself, who can you delegate it to? The monetary cost of delegating may be less than the cost of distress you’ve already paid.

TIP: Ask yourself “If my schedule was completely clear for the next 24 hours, would I actually DO that task?” If not, release it.

If you would rather be doing something fun or meaningful instead of feeling paralyzed by the clutter around you, consider this:

• The less you obtain the less you have to maintain.

Easy as it is to let an item in through your front door, it’s equally hard to get that same item out the door.

• Ask yourself: “Is maintaining this item really worth my valuable time?”

TIP: Label a bin “Donations”and place it in your closet, laundry room or garage.  Whenever your eyes land on an item that doesn’t spark joy, let it go into the bin.