Cleaning is my own personal form of therapy. There's something about clearing the decks that puts a smile on my face and relaxes me. Over the years, I have developed a method that is especially effective for me and my family. (Warning: Chaos is involved.)
When I am cleaning an area such as, say, my front hall closet, which I recently tackled, I take everything out and put it on the living room floor. Every tennis racquet, bike helmet, lacrosse stick, sleeping bag or soccer ball gets strewn on the floor and remains there until someone—either me or someone in my family—decides they want it enough to put it back in the closet. After 24 hours, anything left on the floor goes to friends or gets donated to charity.
This works because I have zero tolerance for mess in the living room, and putting it all on the floor forces the issue. I do the same with bookshelves, and it even works with my office inbox, which by day's end is usually teeming with memos, stories and Post-its.
I try to clear things out often because I know it staves off stress: The longer something languishes in your inbox, the more anxiety it creates. Need a little nudge in the decluttering direction? Jen M. R. Doman, owner of Get It Together!, an organizing service in Brooklyn, New York, suggests asking yourself these questions to help you pinpoint what to purge:
• When you look at the item, does it bring up unpleasant memories of a tough time? Sentimental keepsakes should promote feelings of happiness, not regret.
• Do you have a home for it? If you don't immediately envision the spot where you think it belongs, it's a clue that you may no longer need it.
• Is there someone else (a friend or family member, even a charity) who would enjoy the item more than you do? If so, put it on your giveaway pile.
• When did you last use it? If it has been more than three months and it is not a seasonal item (such as your Christmas tree stand), chances are, you can do without it and not even notice.
Find more ideas on spring-cleaning the clutter at Self.com's "In 30 Days, You Can Get Organized."
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