Even if you perform a regular clean-up in your home, clutter and junk will still continue to buildup in a never-ending cycle of addition and disposal. Clutter is simply stressful, and you may hit the roof when you wake up one day in a pile of junk.

No need to lose your sanity, though because you can easily solve the problem. It only involves two steps: 1) purging, and 2) adopting best practices.

Having said that, following are some of the best practices to declutter your life that will result to a healthier, happier, and freer life:

  1. Before attempting a massive clean-up, ask yourself 4 crucial questions. -The answers will give you a clear direction on how to proceed.
    1. What can possibly be the worst thing that can happen once I throw this away?
    2. Can I borrow or rent this if I find the need for it in the future?
    3. Is the space that this item takes up worth it?
    4. What can I sell? Pro tip content local stores, they generally pay higher prices for your items.
  1. Plan the purge. – People often get the idea to declutter only during warm weather – when windows are open to let the sun in. However, it is not recommended to schedule the purge only during spring. You should schedule major clean-ups at least two times a year, to keep clutter under control
  1. Buy a label maker. – Making labels is not only fun and relaxing. It is also a big help in your efforts to declutter. Label the different storage containers and drawers with the categories of the stuff that belong there. This way, when you organize your home, things will be in their proper places.
  2. Don’t be too kind with unpaired socks. – You may think this is just a trivial matter, but you’ll be surprised by the growing pile of mismatched or lone socks that take up space in your drawer. You can’t expect the pile to get smaller, so get rid of it ASAP. As a rule of thumb, if you fail to find the proper partner of a lone sock in a few months, just get rid of it.
  3. Trash the manuals. – These days, it is impractical to file thick product manuals that come with electronic or appliance purchases for future reference and troubleshooting. They will only take up valuable space in your home. After all, any info you may need on practically any product is now available online.
  4. Minimize duplicates. – You may have extra spatulas and peelers in your kitchen drawer. Or, you may have lots of USB cables that you haven’t had the chance to use in months. Get rid of duplicates as the only add up to the clutter.
  5. Clear your medicine cabinet of unnecessary contents. – Just go through the stuff in your medicine storage and get rid of expired prescriptions or medications. You don’t have any use for them, after all. If there are expired drugs in your cabinet, put them together in a small bag, then drop it at the nearest pharmacy in your area.

There are lots more ideas you can use to declutter your home. Idea is to start somewhere, and these 7 tips can help you determine where to start.