I was given this article a little while ago that a client had found on the internet (www.warriorsage.com) . Unfortunately the link is no longer there but it does have some good ideas in it. 

How to identify clutter

1) Anything that is messy and disorganized

2) Things that we do not use or love

3) Too many things in the size of the space

4) Anything that is continually left unfinished

5)Things that are not in alignment with our real goals

How to clear clutter away

(my own additions and comments are in italics)

   1. Recycle old mail, magazines, newspapers, boxes, plastic bags etc.

   2. Sell or give away books - if you are reluctant to let go of them evaluate if they will be a reference book to be returned to      multiple times, worthy of re-reading many times, or just a good book that you have enjoyed but could pass on to someone else.

   3. With regard to past passions (collections, art supplies, creations, hobbies, sewing etc) decide what best represents you now and give away, recycle, or throw away the rest. One good way to look at sewing materials in particular is to determine if you are going to make the garment etc within the next 1 to 2yrs. If you aren’t it isn’t worth keeping it. Plus if you do plan on it but it isn’t immediate store it away from your sewing room and keep only the immediate projects on hand.

   4. With unwanted gifts dispose of them in some way that honours the relationship you have with the person who gave them to you. Essentially discriminate between the person and the gift.

   5. Duplicate items can be sold or given away.

   6. For entertainment items ( CD’s, DVDS, videos, photos) get rid of those that you don’t love or use.

   7. If broken things are lying around either fix them or get rid of them. If they haven’t been available for a considerable amount of time you probably could do without them anyway.

   8. Create a filing system for financial paperwork and get rid of the old and outdated. Just remember to shred!

   9. Go through your clothing and donate or sell items that don’t fit you anymore. A personal tip I use is to hang your clothing in your closet with the hangers backward and when you use something put it back in the correct way around. This is a very visual way of seeing what you do and don’t use.

  10. Items from infancy or childhood (yours or your children) can be gone through to keep what is important (or just a scrap of a baby blanket for example that could be put into a scrapbook) and give away the rest.

  11. Things you really don’t like or have no real use for give them away, sell them, or throw them away.

When does clutter become a problem? (quoted from the article found on warriorsage.com)

“Clutter can be immediate, such as pulling out the bills for this month and not putting them away after they are paid. This is an immediate, minor, mess that is easily cleared up. Clutter can also be chronic. By continually delaying cycles of completion, one’s life becomes full of incomplete cycles. They may be hidden away in drawers, closets, basements and attics, but the situation never gets resolved. This chronic state of affairs prevents us from being able to fully participate in our own life. Other problems often result from not completing cycles. Clearing up clutter, and keeping it cleared can alleviate numerous other problems and relieve stress. Some habits that create clutter are; hoarding, clinging to things out of fear,over buying, not knowing what to do with something, delaying making decisions, delaying facing uncomfortable feelings or situations, not discarding things, and neglect. Facing these tendencies in one’s self, and becoming free of them is tremendously liberating”

I thought it was well phrased and what I took from it was that clutter isn’t something that happens all at once. It builds up over time. You may not even notice it happening until it has become a problem. In order to permanently get rid of clutter you will need to learn new habits. This does require some work but if you are able to work at it for 30 days, the amount of time to replace an old habit with a new one, it will become much easier.