The Three Keys to Decluttering

Remembering these three ideas is literally the only way I can keep my apartment in reasonable condition.

Every object must have a home. Once this is true, it's just a matter of returning each thing to its proper place, a process that should take minimal thinking.

Every object must have a purpose. If you find something that's been sitting around for a while with no real intent, ask yourself why it's still there. If it has a purpose, find it a home. If it doesn't, get rid of it. Be ruthless, and remember that you won't miss it in a week.

Just do one object at a time. If you try to tackle a whole room (or even a whole bookcase or box) you will feel a powerful urge to do something else. Instead, start at one end of the room and work your way around. Pick up one or two objects at a time, and find their home. Repeat for each object without skipping any. Music helps you get in a rhythm.