S.T.R.E.A.M.L.I.N.E. – R is for Reason for Each Item

R – Reason for each item

While you are sorting through your stuff, you need to ask yourself for each and every item: what is the reason I am holding onto this.

• Do I use it?
• Do I like it?
• Is it really special to me?

Besides the stuff we buy, it is so easy for things to enter our homes – marketing freebies & samples given at conferences, soaps and shampoos taken from hotels or items given by friends and family that no longer serve them a purpose. But do we need these things?

Unless the answer is “yes” to the any of the above questions, don’t hold onto it.

And what about duplicates – how many of the same item do you really need – stationery being one of the biggest culprits – how many pens/pencils & paperclips is enough?

Or think of all those extra screws you get when you assemble furniture; the instructions of the new TV in 12 different languages or the beloved Allen keys.

When you make decisions on duplicates, use the mantra “save the best, declutter the rest”.

Whether it is a one off or a duplicate – it also comes down to space – you need to decide what is more valuable to you – the item or the space it occupies. Given that space comes at a premium for most of us, this decision is easier to make than you think. Throw out the empty boxes you keep in the loft of all items that are no longer under warranty or worse, you no longer own; check the cupboard under the stairs – how many shopping bags do you use? What are all these wires and leads for? Do you still own the electrical item (and if so why is the lead not with it) and then use this newly acquired space for the storage you really need.

Here is a statistic for you – we use 20% of our stuff 80% of the time. This translate that we can get by with just 1/5 of all items we use*. But finding your 20% can be hard – don’t hesitate to ask for help from someone objective – a friend or a professional, someone who will shed a real light on the items that cloud your decision making. And very soon you will be able to allocate the relevant “T” [T – throw, treasure or transfer]

*Pareto principle 80/20 rule

Missed last week’s blog? Click the link : T – throw, treasure or transfer
Next Week: E – Everything in its place