If you're like me, summer brings out feelings of freedom and liberation - freedom to walk outside in shorts and flip flops, and to bask in the warmth of the sun.

But did you know that your home also needs liberation - from unnecessary items such as books, clothes, toys, and even appliances? Read on to learn how to make your home clutter-free...

6 Quick Tips to Declutter Your Home

1. Do it in small chunks. It's human nature to procrastinate whenever we have a huge task to do that will take a lot of time. Instead of planning an entire day to declutter, set aside 15-30 minutes to organize just one closet of your house. Sometimes baby steps are the best steps!
2. Don't fall into "analysis-paralysis". When going through your items, don't take a long time to decide what to do with each item. Make sure you have two garbage bags handy - one for items you're going to sell (or donate), another for items you're just going to throw away.
3. Use the "one-year" rule. Even if you're a pack-rat, if you haven't used something in the past year, you probably won't ever use it. Get rid of it, or give it to someone who can make use of it!
4. Focus on items that you accumulate the most of. Things like papers, magazines, catalogues, junk mail, and bills are prime candidates here - who has never had a stack of papers on their desk that they really wanted to get rid of?
5. Focus on the energy-wasters. Do you have a toaster oven that you haven't used in six months, but is plugged into an electrical outlet? By selling the oven in a yard sale (or donating it to a charity), you'll be clearing clutter from your counter AND saving on your energy bill. It's a win-win!
6. Create a system to stop clutter from accumulating. There's a good reason why clutter has accumulated in your home - because you don't have a system to deal with it!

   Everyone needs a system to keep things in their place, and get rid of stuff they don’t need. If you need help developing a system of your own, consider purchasing an excellent guide such as DeClutter Fast.

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