How to clear away the clutter

A cluttered home is one that is typically filled with memories. However, as the years and the memories pile up, clutter can take over a home. When that happens, residents can feel uncomfortable and boxed in. Clutter has even been linked to mental health issues, most notably depression, as some mental health professionals theorize that clutter indicates a preoccupation with the past and possibly a dim view of both the present and the future.

Those who don't have an issue with clutter might find it difficult to understand just how difficult it can be to address. But removing clutter is more than just boxing things up and leaving them at the curb. To clear a home of clutter, men and women should consider the following tips.

* Enlist a friend to help. When people work alone to conquer clutter, the process is far more likely to draw out. That's because individuals will likely find a reason to keep everything they have, making decisions on each and every item very difficult. Enlist the help of friend who can help decide if an item should be kept. Someone who isn't attached to each knickknack and keepsake can likely offer a more objective opinion on items cluttering up the home.

* Don't kid yourself about broken items. Clutter collectors often have several items around the house that they insist they'll get around to fixing. When it comes to broken items, men and women must be honest with themselves as to the reality most items will never be fixed. If an item has spent years lying around the house in need of patchwork, then it's realistic to assume it will remain broken. What's more, if a broken item like a candy dish has already been replaced by a candy dish that isn't in disrepair, it's safe to discard the broken dish.

* Clean out the file cabinet. Clutter collectors are often renowned for keeping documents long after it's necessary to do so. Though some documents, including tax returns, boast longer-than-average shelf lives, it's not necessary to retain all personal and financial documents for years. The rule of thumb with respect to keeping tax returns is to hold on to them for seven years. Additional documents, including mortgage papers, investment paperwork and other extraordinary documents, should be held on to as well. But there's no reason to hang on to documents like utility bills, phone bills and even bank statements for several years. Cleaning out the file cabinet could clear up a significant amount of space. When disposing of old documents, do so with a paper shredder to increase security.

* Embrace recycling. One way to turn clutter into a positive is to embrace recycling. One of the items clutter collectors commonly accumulate is periodicals, be it newspapers or magazines. For those who live in a community with curbside recycling, consult the local recycling center to determine if they collect periodicals. If not, arrange a time when these items can be dropped off at the center. Recycling old periodicals is good for the environment and can help individuals living in clutter quickly and easily clear out a significant amount of it.

* Consider if there's a chance to make money. A home full of clutter isn't necessarily devoid of value. In fact, older items that have done little more than collect dust could actually be valuable. Cash can be a great motivator when it comes to clearing a home of clutter. Turning clutter into cash can be done in any number of ways. Yard sales, online auction sites, local newspaper classified ads, and even the local antique shop are a few of the options men and women have if they hope to turn their clutter into cash.