The New Year is a great opportunity to take a good look at your life and make changes to the things you would like to improve.

A great resolution to tackle is to declutter. Many of us have tendencies to collect items, and those items end up in drawers, closets, on countertops, and in other areas in your home. Sometimes it is hard to get motivated to declutter. Here are some strategies to de-clutter your life, I hope that they help you as much as they have helped me.

Time

Start with a short time-period, maybe 15 minutes to a half-hour each day, then as you see progress increase the time you spend. Your progress will motivate you to keep moving forward.

Area

Start with a small area like a countertop, shelf, or desk. As you succeed in completing a small area you will feel good about the success. Now, continue with other surfaces in the same room and continue until you finish one whole room at a time.

Items

When cleaning out drawers, pantries, and closets, if you have not worn or used an item in the last year and it is in good condition, donate it. You will feel better about parting with it if you know it will be used by someone else.

Help

If you are having troubles parting with your “stuff” ask someone you trust to help you sort through the items, someone who will have an objective opinion. Try to determine why you are so attached to the item. Is it the item itself or is it a memory attached to the item? Even if you part with the item, you still have your memories.

Sorting

When cleaning out an area, use a pile system – trash, give away and keep. Be merciless, we never use as much stuff as we have. Toss items that are broken or not easily fixed. If the item has not been used in a long period of time, then give it away to someone who could use it.

Whether you just want to clean out the clutter in your life or are downsizing and moving to a smaller home or apartment, these strategies can help you to be successful too. Good luck and stay persistent.