If your house, car or office is filled with piles of newspaper, bits and pieces of memorabilia or mail that you think you might need, you're a pack rat. Pack rats keep everything "just in case," though for some people, keeping a multitude of items is a sign of a mental disorder. You can work through you pack rat syndrome, but if you find it a difficult habit to break, consult with a health professional.
Step 1
Break the clutter into manageable pieces. For many pack rats, too much stuff seems overwhelming. For others, the fear of losing an item with potential value overwhelms the idea of getting rid of it. Define either a set number of items to dispose of each day, or define a de-cluttering period of time--15 minutes or a half hour--each day to make the project more manageable.
Step 2
Look at each item and determine if you will truly need it. If you think you'll need it within the next month or the next quarter, set it aside. If you won't need it within that time frame, set it to be sold, donated, recycled, shredded or thrown away.
Step 3
Sell the items that have value. List the items for sale on either an online auction site or have a garage sale. Old baby clothes, gently used toys, costume jewelry and outgrown children's clothes and sports equipment have some value and are worth selling rather than giving away.
Step 4
Give away an unsold item as well as items you've found through de-cluttering that can be helpful to someone else. For larger items, some charity organizations will pick up. Other charity organizations have drop-off locations easily found on their websites.
Step 5
Place the items for recycling in the recycling bin. Shred any sensitive documents, such as those with account numbers, and toss them along with any items you've decided to throw away.
Step 6
Continue evaluating each new thing that comes into your house. With mail, for example, immediately file bills, throw away advertisements and junk mail and shred credit card offers. If you receive a gift, for example, determine if you will enjoy it. If not, either donate it, return it or pass it along to a friend.
Things You'll Need
- Shredder
