Dana K. White, 
the author of several funny, practical and compassionate books about decluttering,
suggests five minutes of picking up every day.

She doesn’t care when you do it, or which room; she merely suggests that if you spend five minutes every day, it will make a visible difference in your home.

Starting small, when things feel overwhelming, can be just the boost you need
to keep going.

Use the five minutes to pick up any trash/recycling in the space.
If there’s still time once you’ve dealt with that stuff,
grab things that don’t belong in that space and put them in their homes.
If you find something that doesn’t have a home:
Create one for it-where you would look if ever you wanted the item.
Or consider that it is homeless because it doesn’t really need to be in your house.
(See trash/recycle)

Will five minutes give you an immaculate home?
Obviously not.
But it will clear some clutter from at least one place.
And that’s a start.

You, showing up for your own life.

You, showing up in small, everyday ways for the people you love.

You, giving the benefit of the doubt.

You, offering compassion-to yourself.

You, offering compassion to others, when it seems easier to cast judgement.

Imperfect you.
​
You are a gift.
Act according.

Worried that if you let something go you’ll regret it later?
That’s a possibility.
And it’s just as possible that once it’s gone you’ll never think about it again.

Do you want to live with clutter or regret?

Also, if you’re really using something now, in this life,
you won’t let it go.
It’s only in that future someday life,
when you think you might need the thing that keeps you stuck.
And feeds that “What if I need this” thinking.

Say you do let it go.
And in a month, or six you realize you need it.
You’ll figure out a way to get it again, or use something else,
or live with the regret and move on.

If what you really want is less clutter,
fewer things to the care of, manage,
or have to find homes for:
Let things go.
Being willing and brave enough to know you can survive regret.

The learning process isn’t finished when you acquire knowledge. It’s complete when you consistently apply that knowledge.
 
Many people accumulate information. Far fewer use it to evolve and improve. The ultimate test of growth is closing the gap between awareness and action.  Adam Grant

The Two Minute Rule.
Saving things Just in Case (Justin Case)
One in.  One Out.
How much is enough?

Use what you know to determine how you act.
​Close the gap.

Say Thank You.

Quietly to yourself.
Out loud.
In a text.
With a gesture.
Send an email.
Write a small note.
Make a phone call.

Small moments.
Tiny kindnesses.
Loving and being loved.

So much to be grateful for……..

Trying to get a space decluttered and organized?
Just start by bagging up the trash.

Don’t worry about what you’re going to donate,
or where you’re going to find homes for keepers,
or how overwhelming the project feels
Start with the trash.

That one step will make space in the area,
help you see what’s left behind to deal with,
and let you feel like you are making progress.

Pick an area.
Grab a bag.
Start.

​

Looking to create more space in your home?
Try letting go of something big.
​
The chair in the family room that isn’t comfortable and is usually piled with clean clothes in need of folding.
The coffee table that’s merely a flat surface magnet for papers, unread magazines and dirty dishes that haven’t made it to the dishwasher.
The second dresser in your bedroom that’s filled with clothes you don’t wear.
The stacking drawers in the office filled with supplies for a hobby you quit doing years ago.

You will be pleasantly surprised how much more living space you have once you let go of things
you’re always running into, or ignoring, or no longer fill a need in the life you are living right now.

Look around.
Choose something big, but unnecessary,
and let it go.

Work is what you do for money.
Time is what you spend.

Take a moment to consider your daily spending habits.

Do you spend time with friends and family you say are important to you?
Do you spend time doing hobbies and activities 
that use and express your talents and interests?
Do you spend time in routines and habits 
that make the mechanics of daily living easier?

Given your time every day is limited:
Spent it wisely.

We can accept ourselves and also expect more from ourselves.  Gretchen Rubin

We can accept that our house will never look perfect,
and we can still  make an effort to keep it uncluttered.

We can accept that we are sentimental,
and we can still let go of things from our past.

We can accept that we may still buy things on impulse,
and we can expect ourselves to make use of what we do bring home.

Accepting ourselves does not mean we are  resigned to things never changing.
It does mean that we see ourselves as perfectly imperfect,
and that we treat ourselves with compassion.
We know and expect that we can and will do better as we are able.