From clutter amnesty to the 'ex' factor, 3 tricks for clearing your life of clutter for good
We are now more than halfway into 2019 and if you haven’t filled your New Year’s resolution of Marie Kondo-ing everything in your life, it’s not too late.
And Marie Kondo’s approach to “tidying up” is not the only decluttering method out there.
Author Gretchen Rubin is a proponent of finding manageable tips and tricks to create order that will then free up space in your life for happiness, creativity and productivity.
Decluttering can have a positive psychological impact for many reasons, according to Rubin, including creating less conflict, eliminating bad feelings about unused stuff or unfinished projects and leaving you more energized by the items that you do keep.
Rubin, the author of "Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter and Organize to Make More Room for Happiness," shared with "Good Morning America" three tips to help clear the clutter for good.
1. Consider the 'ex' factor
"This has to do with clothes," Rubin explained. "So if you're thinking about whether you wanna keep or donate an item of clothing, you say, 'If I were walking down the street and I ran into my ex wearing this particular item, would I be glad that I was wearing it? Or would I wish that I were not wearing it?'"
"And if you are not happy that that's what you'd be wearing to confront your ex, it's probably time to donate it," she said.
2. Give yourself 'clutter amnesty'
Clutter amnesty is declaring an end to feeling guilty for unfinished projects, according to Rubin. Think of it as clearing the slate and starting fresh.
"[A] clutter amnesty day [is] where you just say, everything that you have, you're just going to put in the recycling. And yeah, maybe you're months behind in a magazine that you love, but you're just gonna start over from now," Rubin said.
3. Ask yourself 3 questions
When you're trying to figure out what to keep and what to get rid of, Rubin says to ask yourself these questions -- Do I need it? Do I love it? Do I use it?
For more from Gretchen Rubin, listen to Dan Harris's "10% Happier" podcast for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, or the ABC News app.
