The first step towards getting organized is purging. Organizing is not just about moving all of your clutter around, dusting it off and putting it in a different spot. You need to really evaluate whether or not what you have is worthy of taking up precious space in your home. Here are some tips to help make those hard decisions:

Rule 1: When in doubt throw it out This is a time to be ruthless. Ask yourself, what is the worst possible thing that could happen if I didn’t have this (insert item here).

Rule 2: Use it or lose it Keep only items that are useful now, not in the future or at some point in the past!

Rule 3: Efficient storage This means that what you need is close to where you use it or where you expect it to be. Also, store all similar things together so you only have to look in one place. Tip: Get rid of doubles, you don’t need four wine bottle openers!

Rule 4: Handle clutter once Make the decision to keep or throw out unwanted items, and if you decided to go with the latter then get rid of the items immediately.

Rule 5: Recycle Don’t keep 100 cool whip containers to store leftovers, keep only two more than you have ever used at once. Donate clothes that don’t fit or you don’t wear. Sell books and give magazines to a hospital or nursing home. Almost anything can be used by someone else!

Rule 6: Use a filing cabinet They store everything and help to control paper clutter.

Rule 7: Everything in its place Sometimes clutter is just stuff that belongs somewhere else. Refer to rule 2.

Rule 8: Define an object’s purpose Items displayed in your house have to pass a test: function or form.

Rule 9: Don’t do things “later’ Don’t let clutter build up, leave a room the way you found it. Put newspapers in the recycling box, do the dishes after dinner and put the toys back into the toy box.

Rule 10: Label things Write down exactly what is being stored in bins and boxes.

Rule 11: Make time for organizing Schedule organizing time with yourself or a professional organizer on a regular basis! This will help to keep clutter from getting out of control.

There are a number of substantial pay-offs to purging and cautious shopping: a sense of freedom, the ability and time to manage your daily life, the capacity to live in the present, having a more beautiful home environment, and a more productive life. Imagine…everything being in its rightful place, finding stuff when you need it, scheduling and keeping appointments, paying all your bills on time and ending up with more free time and money! What are you waiting for?