How DO you declutter

So I apologize. I figured everyone had done this before, finding out that is not the case. So let's start at the beginning! You have to look at the severity of your case, if you have already done a huge declutter on your own (I have) you won't need to do this every single time. However, if you have never decluttered... I recommend you follow the directions below.

1) Your going to need three boxes or three laundry baskets

2) Your going to mark the first basket "donate" these are things you no longer need & want to donate. I suggest that as soon as you are done with the room take it put it in your car and donate it the next time you are out, otherwise you will leave it there, and you will decide later on you may really need that can opened your Aunt Betsy got you that you don't know how to work & have never used. You won't... get rid of it! Your going to mark the second one "trash" this is all going to go STRAIGHT into the trash can as soon as you are finished with the room you are in. Lastly your going to mark the other one "return" this may be an item you borrowed from someone, or an item that is just in the wrong room... for instance: your cleaning the kitchen and find a Polly Pocket, just throw it in that basket... don't run off to place it where it goes, otherwise you will get sidetracked. Trust me... been there done that!

3) Each item, ask yourself "When did I last use this?"
Never~ out it goes!
Within the last year~ Out! unless it is a holiday item, and in that case go get yourself some colored totes and store the stuff!
Within a month~you have found yourself a potential keeper! You need to decide where that item goes thou, in that room you are in & if it doesn't then stick it in that "return" sorter and we can deal with that later on.
Yesterday~Hold on to it.

If you absolutly can not stand to part with your stuff, like someone is ripping it from your hands, stick all of it in a box and label it "whatever room you are in declutter" seal it and stick it in your attic. Leave it there for 6 months, write it on your calendar so you don't forget. If you then live w/o the items in there for 6 months.... take it and donate it. You don't need it. All it is, is stuff! Clutter causing you chaos. Do not open the box or just take a peek otherwise you will start this whole process over again.

So hopefully this will give you some motivation to work on these challenges... those of you who were FREAKING out!

Let me know if this helps at all.
We will go back to our challenges tomorrow.