Are you drowning in stuff you dont use, you dont love, or you dont have a convenient place to store? Its time to tackle your clutter!

I know what youre thinkingYes, butI dont have time to get organized and my space is so overwhelming, I dont know where to start.

Being organized isnt an add-on to what you currently do; instead its replacing a poor habit with an effective and an efficient behavior. Thus, it takes less time to be organized than to be disorganized. And second, getting started is easyjust follow The Clutter Diet; you will get all the guidance you need to change your thinking, change your actions, and create a home youre proud of.

Start your Clutter Diet now with these 5 simple strategies to curtail the volume of non-essential items (clutter) you bring into your home.

1. Always take a list to the supermarket. Consumer experts report two-thirds of the purchases we make at the grocery store are things we didnt intend to buy. For example:

• The aroma emanating from the bakery can make you feel hungry and when youre starving you buy more food. Solution Shop after youve had something to eat and buy only the items on your list.
• Childrens toys are purposely positioned on lower supermarket shelves so your little ones can grab items and put them in your cart. Solution Schedule grocery shopping when you can go alone and buy only the items on your list; youll save time and avoid any fuss with toddlers.
• Supermarkets are arranged to entice you to buy more. For example, the dairy section (an essential area for most families) is in the back of the store. The purpose of this layout is to draw you deep into the store with the intention that youll buy more along your route. Solution Take the shortest path to the dairy section and buy only the items on your list.
• Research suggests the longer youre in the market the more youll buy. Solution Dont go down every aisle. Shop only in aisles that have the goods you need, buy only the items on your list, and get in and get out as quickly as possible.

Buying items that arent on your list often results in duplicates and clutter. In addition, its not the best use of your assets (time and money).

2. Say No to family or friends who want to give you their hand-me-downs. If the people around you are offering items they no longer need or have room for, ask yourself these questions:

• Do you love the item?
• Do you have a convenient and attractive space available for the item?
• Will you use the item enough to bring it into your home?

If you can sincerely answer Yes to all three questionsby all means accept the article. Otherwise, it will be just another piece of clutter.

3. Steer clear of spur-of-the-moment purchases. Impulse buying typically short circuits the opportunity to flesh out where youll keep an object and how much youre going to use it. Think twice about:

• Bringing home vacation souvenirs.
• Signing up for magazine subscriptions and book or DVD clubs.
• Late night buying on QVC and eBay.
• Shopping in the mall or specialty stores.

These are just material thingsyou may find them appealing but it isnt likely you need any of them. Save your money for paying down debt, building a strong financial foundation, and doing good in the world.

4. Reduce the amount of junk mail you receive. Did you know that in the course of one year you can receive as much as 500 pounds of junk mail? Dont let this stuff steal your space or your time reading it any more:

• Join www.stopthejunkmail.com. It is a fee based service that allows you to stop junk mail (such as catalogs, coupons, contests, etc.) delivered to your mailbox by the US postal service.
• Or, visit www.obviously.com/junkmail if youre a DIY type and want a free guide to reducing unwanted advertising.

If after applying this strategy you still get a trickle of junk mail, immediately dump it in your wastebasket or recycling bin.

5. Inform gift givers you would prefer a gift certificate, gift card or a charitable donation in your name, if they want to acknowledge a special occasion. You probably have gifts you have never used and will never use taking up space in your home. But you hang on to them because you dont want to offend the gift giver. If this sentiment reflects your thoughts, its time to reframe your thinking. Keeping gifts you will never use arent an assettheyre a liability. They rob you of your space.

Send gifts you arent using to a charitable organization and let someone else have the opportunity to enjoy them.

Practicing these strategies for a period of 21 days will help you form an important Clutter Diet habit. At the same time, you will find that incorporating this thinking into your life will save you time and money and give you the confidence needed to tackle the next steps of The Clutter Diet.

Pam Woods

Pam is a respected authority on personal effectiveness. She has mentored hundreds of executives, managers, and professionals over the last three decades. Now, through her business, Smart WorkLife Solutions, she is helping individuals at home and at work to declutter their space, their schedules, and their lives. As a result, clients have more balance, a more focused approach to work and play, guilt-free time for themselves, and live their best life every day.

Pam has been selected as one of "The World's Greatest Business Mentors" - an honor bestowed to only 50 professionals internationally. The selection identifies her as an innovative expert whose skills, experience, and record of success qualify her as an unsurpassed resource and mentor for others. She has co-authored a bestselling book, Create the Business Breakthrough You Want: Secrets and Strategies from the World?s Greatest Mentors. The manuscript was written in collaboration with business gurus Brian Tracy, Mark Victor Hansen, and Robert G. Allen. Two highly respected authors, Ken Blanchard of The One Minute Manager,, and Dr. Stephen Covey of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, have endorsed the book.

Pam has been writing about systems and solutions to enhance personal effectiveness since early 2001. Her articles and advice have appeared in a variety of publications including the Des Moines Register, the Des Moines Business Record, CoachVille?s Resource Center, Iowa Next magazine and several newsletters and internet sites.

Prior to founding Smart WorkLife Solutions, Pam had a successful 20+ year career in financial services as an insurance executive and Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for the U.S. operations of a multinational company. Pam is a graduate of Coach U and is pursuing advanced studies at the Graduate School of Coaching, and instruction from Dr. Phil?s own advisor. She is affiliated with the International Coaching Federation, CoachVille, the International Association of Coaches, and the National Organization of Professional Organizers. Pam earned a Bachelors degree from Drake University, and NASD Licenses: Series 6 & 63.