According to Webster, “stuff” is: (noun) household goods, personal belongings, objects, things; any kind of matter indefinitely; worthless objects, junk; (verb) to fill too full.

“Stuff” accumulates. Why? We live longer (more time to save and accumulate), have larger houses (more room to store it), and have more discretionary income (we buy more).

But there are ways to deal with all our “stuff.” Here are some tips to help you get started:

Organizing
Stay focused. Do not allow distractions to get in the way of completing the task at hand. Don’t say “I’ll put it away tomorrow. . . .” Put it back where it belongs – in its designated place – NOW. Find a place for everything.

Start with even the smallest of projects. Once done, it will help motivate you to accomplish more, and get other areas in your home or office organized.

De-cluttering
De-clutter one room or area at a time. If you are cleaning out a closet or a room, stay in the room until it is done. Leaving the room only creates more distractions and potentially more piles of “stuff” in other rooms.

Once you have made the decision to get rid of something, remove it from the premises. Take unwanted items to a nearby charity. This frees up the space and removes it from sight (or you may decide to revisit the contents of the bags).

Moving
The more organization you do ahead of time, the easier the move. Create a plan complete with a to-do list for each room. Break down the tasks into small items that can be accomplished in an hour, or an afternoon. “Cleaning the basement” is much more overwhelming than a half a dozen smaller tasks like “clean out under the steps,” “purge the magazines,” etc. It is a great sense of accomplishment to check off six smaller tasks than to continually see the one larger, looming project.

Packing
Start early by sorting, purging, and packing items that are not used everyday. Think about the last time they were used and consider the cost to move these items. Pack similar items together and clearly mark top and sides of boxes so movers can place them where they belong in your new home. Use ample packing materials to protect the contents of the boxes.