Sentiment and emotional attachment have a lot to answer for in lives that find clutter and overcrowding a problem in their homes.

“Oh I must keep this, that and the other as it may come in useful.”

Yeah right when does that day arrive for most things and is it actually worth the hassle and time to keep this stuff for when one day it may be of use?

Half the time saved items cannot be found when needed so its off to the shops to buy a new one anyway. If you are lucky enough to find what you think you need often the design has changed or its not the right part so back in the box it goes.

Then there are the clothes. This must be kept for when I loose weight or get back into skiing or formal nights out. It just does not happen and by the time it does, if it does, then things are so outdated that they can’t be worn. “what about fancy dress?” I hear someone shout. Well there are charity shops just for that sort of event. Why keep this unused stuff to cramp and crumple what is used?

Being surrounded by clutter has its downsides too and can lead to depression, accumulation of dirt (leading to ill health) and a lack of useful space.

So the time comes to be ruthless and detached.

Choose and area, pick out everything that is used or needed regularly, pile up everything else and see where you are. Then replace the important things. There maybe a good amount of spare space left. If so sift through the piled up items from the first sort. Things broken, holed, worn or the wrong size should be discarded. Then the remainder can be split into keep or charity donations but don’t keep out of emotional attachment or if the storage area becomes overfilled.

If you haven’t used something for a year or more then you more than likely will not use it again or miss it if chucked out.

Repeat this for every space, area, room or cupboard and be amazed at what you find, what you can live without and further more the room that is created.

It may seem harsh but it does liberate one and can lift a weight of stress off your shoulders.

If it can be done every few years then its so much easier that leaving things to get out of control.

This my friends is exactly what I plan to do over the next few days and weeks.

Give me back my home and space. I have  too much crap.

I shall let you know my results as often words are easy to write but reality kicks in and little changes. I will honestly do my best and see if there are any more positives to come out of this exercise.