This site has some good tips on decluttering.
www.flylady.net Here's a excerpt I copied. It's from a exercise where you set a timer, and have 3 boxes - throw away, give away, put away, and you go through the room quickly. Wome of it's a little out of context, but you'll get the jist of it.
Things to ask yourself as you get rid of your clutter:
**Do I love this item?
**Have I used it in the past year?
**Is it really garbage?
**Do I have another one that is better?
**Should I really keep two?
**Does it have sentimental value that causes me to love it?
**Or does it give me guilt and make me sad when I see the item?
Cleanse this room of everything that does not make you SMILE.
Sing this song: 'Please release me, let me go' as sung from the stuff's point of view. It needs to be loved by someone and if you don't love it - GET RID OF IT!
Get rid of the garbage! When the 'Throw Away' box gets full, pull out the garbage bag, close it, and put it in the trash can, the pickup truck, or wherever you keep your garbage. Put a new garbage bag in the 'Throw Away' box and keep on Flying until the timer goes off.
Donations: When the 'Give Away' box gets full, seal it off, and put it in your car. The next time you are out, you can donate to the area thrift shop. Do not save your clutter for a yard or garage sale, you will be blessed by giving it away. The value can be deducted on your income tax. Remember you are trying to get rid of clutter - not relocate it somewhere else in your home. Now, grab another box, label it 'Give Away', and get back to work.
'Put Away' Stuff: When the 'Put Away' box gets full, take the box in your arms and run around the house (good thing you have shoes on - right?) and put the items in the room where they belong. If they have a place, put them there, if not put them in the room where they logically belong. By the time you have finished you will have a place for everything and everything will be in it's place.
