Spring cleaning and reducing clutter

Cluttered desk

Less cluttered desk

Most all of living in the U.S.A. have way too much stuff.  In a Chicago Tribune article Jan Weigel provides advise on how to reduce the clutter in our lives (Dig out from under your clutter).

Some specific recommendations she provides include:

1. Bag it up - Use the three bag approach; one large bag to donate, another for recycling and one more to throw.
2. Ungift - If  you don't need more stuff, ask that people not give you presents.  Also consider presents to others in the form of a gift that will give back, such as a donation to charity.
3. Hold a storage unit sale - Sell stuff you're saving and use the money you make to enhance the quality of your life, like a nice night out with your family.
4. Avoid toxic people - Don't any more time around negative people any more than you absolutely must.  
5. Pause before you consume.  Ask first, 'Does my heart truly desire this? Will it make my life better? More fulfilled?".  If not, then don't buy it.