Want to do some decluttering this weekend? Or trying to get closer to a more minimal lifestyle every weekend? Many of us struggle with getting rid of things. “But I could still use it!” or “It’s perfectly good!” Do you ever envy those who enjoy clutter-free homes because they don’t give a second thought to tossing something out they no longer need or want? You don’t have to have been born with this ability naturally; there are shortcuts to jump start anyone’s motors enough to clean out and throw away things that are cluttering the home, and we’re letting you in on some secrets.

This post is for folks who have trouble getting rid of anything, always finding some reason throwing or giving away and item isn’t the right idea. Whether you’re trying to declutter a closet, a whole room or your entire house, these ideas might help next time you need to get rid of stuff.

Make a list of acceptable “must-keep” things
When absolutely no item-tossing-out decisions need to be made, make a list of the things you do consider to be important and worth holding on to. This could be anything that you think deserves keeping. Next time you come across something you think might be worth throwing out or giving away, go over your list. If you don’t see it on there, you might be able to get rid of it it easier knowing you’ve already decided this isn’t something worth holding on to or cluttering your life with.

→ One Minute Tip: Letting Go of Memorabilia

Make yourself come up with a concrete way in which you’ll use it
Next time you feel that pull to keep something “just in case,” make yourself come up with an actual way you’ll be using it in like, the next month. If you can’t come up with a specific way in which you’ll use or refer back to the item in the next month, let it go.

→ Let It Go: How To Let Yourself Finally Get Rid of Things

Move it out before you toss it out
Don’t throw things away, or even deal with them just yet. Move everything out of the area you want decluttered first. Why? This puts the end results of a successful decluttering right before your eyes, before you do any of the work. Seeing and feeling how great the space now feels might make departing with items easier.

→ 5 Things To Let Go of Today

Start out in a simple spot
Don’t try to dive right into clearing out your closet if you know it’s going to be hard for you to throw away or donate old but perfectly good clothes (even if you haven’t worn them in years). Start instead in a super simple spot with something that obviously needs throwing out. I mean this could be the kitchen trash. Or it could be the junk mail pile. Use that feel-good motivation to propel you to declutter a harder or bigger area next. And then keep that ball rolling as long as you can.

→ How To Let Go Of Things You Love But Don’t Love

Be procrastinating
No really. Is throwing away things hard…even a task you hate? Then the perfect time to try and get through this disliked task is when you have a task you dislike even more waiting to be done! Next time you find yourself putting something off…consider spending that procrastination time on attempting to declutter an area of the house.