What this does to us is cause a distraction from the things that are most important. We collect; we reshuffle; and hide our lives behind a mountain of stuff that seems to invade every closet.

So, here is what you do:

Get everyone around the table and say enough is enough! If you keep one member of the household off the boat, you are fighting a losing battle. The one not engaged in the process will find several reasons why something can’t be removed.

“I know I have not worn that in a year, but I was actually thinking of wearing it to the party next weekend…”

“But that was a gift from my Great Aunt…”

“I hear they don’t make those anymore…”

I think you get my message here. Be sure to get everyone engaged in the importance of removing the stuff.

If you have not touched an item in 6 months, with the exception of some things that might be seasonal, consider getting rid of it. If you were cleaning out the closet or drawer and uncovered something that you forgot that you had, then get rid of it. The chances are that it will get covered up and lost again only to be rediscovered the next time you get the bug to clean up.

So, just how do you get rid of the clutter? Well, one option is to sell it. As they say “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” Open up an account on Amazon, eBay, or Craig’s List, etc. It is very simple to set up an account and most of these types of services offer a method to search for what your item has sold for in the past. Word of advice on this one, set it at the minimum amount that you want to get before you go through the effort of trying to sell something online. Is it possible to sell a pair of used undies on eBay for 99 cents? Yes, but do everyone a favor and dump those babies in the nearest trash can. I am sure that plenty of people make a living selling dollar items online, but for the purpose of cleaning out the clutter, you are going to get nowhere fast. Set a minimum amount that you want to get and then check the history of how similar products have sold. You just never know what you might find when you start checking the values of some of your clutter.

It was in the news just the other day about a couple that was getting ready to have their house foreclosed on and found a comic book worth over $200,000. Is it likely that this will happen to you? Probably not, but you never know. One thing’s for sure, you won’t know if you keep it stacked up.

Yard sales are always a good way to get rid of some of your household items. Occasionally, you might have a treasure that someone else is looking to purchase. Why do you think people are out with flashlights before dawn looking at your stuff? I spent my first yard sale in my pj’s due to the early risers that arrived before I could set up.

Another option is to donate your items. There are plenty of people that desperately need help, so why not take this stuff that you rarely use and give it to someone that can use it. Way too many people are freezing while we continue to collect coats and sweaters that will seldom get worn. Get that stuff out and give it away!

The easiest and simplest way to clean up the clutter from your life is to just throw the stuff away. Take a weekend and four boxes of trash bags and start dumping. Just get the process started and you will be surprised how much fun you can make it.

Look! It is not going to be easy to clean out all the clutter in your life. I have not removed everything I can, but I am headed down the path, and it has not been easy. I had a Jeep Wrangler in the garage that I enjoyed taking on drives during the spring and summer with the top down. My son was 4 at the time, and we would take trips to the golf course together. Great memories! I sold the Jeep last summer. There are easier ways to build memories than keeping an under-used car collecting dust in the garage.

I have sold class rings, watches, gifts, etc, and still have more to go. I haven also donated or thrown away more than I even care to mention. Once you get the fever to do this it becomes a very fun, rewarding, and easy process.

Key Point: Once you remove clutter, do not replace it! The main objective is to free yourself from the need for all this stuff and live simply.

Eliminate the unnecessary clutter, eliminate the desire to collect more, and eliminate the distractions that keep you from focusing on those things that are most important.