It’s easy to get off balance in life, which leads to finding yourself in stressful situations more often. Establishing order within the outer influences of your life will allow you to return to a state of inner calm. In the same way, finding a peace within oneself will make organizing life an easier process.

The Kitchen Stockpiles

Spare Glasses and Mugs:

• Keep matching glassware that’s used daily.
• Donate all back-of-the-cabinet dust collectors.

Excess Tupperware Containers:

• Evaluate containers, and recycle all that are misshaped or missing lids.
• Keep only what fits neatly into one cabinet.

Surplus Dishes and Utensils:

• Donate the old set that is collecting dust in the back of the highest cabinet.
• Vow to use your fancy set more often.

Nonperishable Stockpiles:

• Assess your pantry, and remove all expired items that are adding to the clutter.
• Donate food that can’t be used within two weeks to a local shelter or food drive.

Bed and Bath Reserves

Emergency Sheets and Blankets:

• Eliminate down to one spare set per bed.
• Donate the excess to an animal shelter.

Extraneous Pillows:

• Remove all old pillows that have lost their support and have since been replaced.
• Lose decorative pillows that land on the floor.

Superfluous Towels:

• Donate excess to animal shelters who use old towels for pet beds and clean up.
• Keep only towels that are in good condition.

Backup Toiletries and Medicine:

• Toss all free samples and any product that you do not use on a weekly basis.
• Remove all expired or unused medications, and start a medicine cabinet inventory.

Other Household Extras

Supplemental Office Supplies:

• Throw away dried out markers and pens.
• Donate all new or gently used supplies.

A Library of Books:

• Keep a selection of favorites and references.
• Donate all other books that have been read to local schools, bookstores, or libraries.

Special Project Craft Supplies:

• Assign supplies to a project, and date it. Anything that’s not created by that date goes.
• Donate all new or gently used craft supplies.

Unused Electronics:

• Recycle safely by visiting www.earth911.com to learn how to properly recycle electronics.
• Visit www.cristina.org for local nonprofits that are in need of electronics.

Now that you have created an open environment in your home, the same process must be done to declutter your mind. Prioritizing tasks, balancing life and work, and navigating spending are key to eliminating personal stress. Ultimately, opening yourself up to only necessary information and appropriating your time will help you achieve that desired inner calm.