It’s easy to justify holding on to things that we don’t need. We are often attached to our possessions and trick ourselves into keeping them around because we think they’re worthwhile or that we will need them. In reality, owning too many things makes it hard to focus and leads to mental clutter.

One of the most important things we can do to make life easier is getting rid of “stuff” — the things we keep around that don’t enhance our life in any way.

There’s no need to be a full-out minimalist, but it’s worthwhile to consider if an item is something you use.

The easiest way to start is by focusing on a small area: your desk, one shelf of your dresser or wherever. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and you can work much more efficiently in a small space. Take everything from that area and put it all in a pile. Get a trash bag and a couple of boxes — one for stuff to donate and one for stuff to hold on to or sell — and you can start sorting.

For each item, think about when you last used it. The most important items are the ones we use at least once a week. As a general rule of thumb (there are exceptions), if you haven’t used something in the last six months, it’s not worth keeping. If you’re saving something for the future, consider if you’re really going to use it. Eliminating clutter is a gradual process, so don’t feel like you need to get rid of everything at once.

Start by eliminating multiples and things you’re certain you don’t want. I found that I kept a lot of “backups” — tattered shirts for working, old notes, misshapen Tupperware and things that just took up space. By eliminating these, you can evaluate the worth of what you think is important.

Paper clutter is the easiest to get rid of and usually holds the least bit of value. Old magazines, junk mail, notes, letters and notebooks aren’t worth keeping. If you’ve got notes from an old class that you want to keep, which you usually should, set up a time to type them out and then toss the notebooks. For magazines you think you want to keep, keep them for another couple of months.

If you’ve got clothes that don’t fit, take them out of your wardrobe and put them into the donate and sell box. If you haven’t worn something in a year, it’s not worth keeping. If you’re on the fence with certain items, turn all of your hangers in the opposite direction. Once you’ve worn that item, hang it back up in the other direction. At the end of the season, if you haven’t worn that item, it’s not worth keeping.

Many items are hard to get rid of. We keep around a lot of things either for sentimental reasons or just in case. Some items might be worth keeping to make money but aren’t worth the clutter. If you have something you want to sell, don’t put it back where it was. Instead, make a plan to sell it. You might feel bad getting rid of the shirt grandma got you, or you might want to hang on to your old textbook you’re never going to read, but they’re not worth the clutter.

Once you have your items sorted, you need to get rid of them. De-cluttering and simplifying what you own can also be an opportunity to make money. Make a plan to try to sell your items as soon as possible. I’ve been able to get rid of old equipment from various hobbies, housewares and clothing on eBay.

If you think your clothes are worth something, Columbia is home to numerous resale shops including Maude Vintage, Plato’s Closet, New Beginnings Consignment Clothing and Absolute Vintage. There are numerous resources to sell back your books and textbooks online, and you can also go to the The Mizzou Store and The Textbook Game.

The key is to get serious about getting rid of your “stuff.” If you can’t get money on something the first time around, you should donate it. Columbia is full of [places to donate](https://www.gocolumbiamo.com/PublicWorks/Solidwaste/Clothing.php) and shelters and organizations in need. Once you’ve gone through your pile, try to get everything out of your house and to the donation spot as soon as possible.

By eliminating what we don’t need, we can achieve more mental clarity, live a simple, more efficient lifestyle and can focus on more important things. Eliminating the excess is an ongoing process. After you initially sort through your things, re-evaluate what you kept. If you still think it’s worth keeping, hold on to it and go back through everything in a couple of months.