By Natalie Hale and Danielle Ellis

Clutter seems to plague modern Americans like no other generation. Previous generations had neither the money nor the availability of too much stuff. Many lived by the motto, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”

Yet our society has fallen prey to the idea that more stuff makes for a happier life, and we all want lots of happiness, right? Whatever reason you may have for keeping too much stuff, there are two points to understand about clutter. First, “stuff” is not bad. It’s allowing possessions to overrun our homes that is problematic. Second, “Too much” is a relative concept. An appropriate amount of “stuff” is determined by the square footage you have. If your stuff is getting in the way of an orderly home and life, it’s clutter, and you need to pare it down.

Part of our stewardship in this life is to “Set in order your houses; keep slothfulness and uncleanness far from you” (D&C 90:18). So how do we go about keeping our busy homes uncluttered, presentable and clean?

I have discovered that the key to housework is all in building routines. Sign up for emails from www.flylady.net (a free service), and you will get help building daily routines that will begin to put your life in order. From those daily routines of laundry and emptying the dishwasher, you can begin to work on de-cluttering areas of your home, one at a time, for fifteen minutes at a time.

Don’t fall victim to the idea that you have to clean the whole house (or garage, or toy room)- and never get started because it’s overwhelming. Literally setting a timer for fifteen minutes, and working until it beeps, and then stopping, will begin to work wonders.

Set small goals you can accomplish like filling up a trash bag or donation bag, or straightening one kitchen drawer. These focused fifteen minute segments will add up to big dividends over time. Depending on the amount of clutter you have, it may take longer until others notice a dent, but you will begin to see a difference immediately, which will give you incentive to keep going.

A vital part in breaking free from stuff is an attitude of gratitude. If you go about your work with a bad attitude, you will hate your work. Make a choice that you will be grateful for your home, worn carpet and all.

Thank the Lord for each person who lives in your home. Be grateful you have a roof over their heads. Be grateful for the dirty dishes; it means you have food to eat. Be grateful for the dirty laundry; it means you have enough abundance to clothe those precious souls. Your time working in your home is a blessing for those you love if you do it with a loving heart.

Choose to bless your home and family with order and clean underwear and clear walkways through the house. Load the dishwasher and clean the toilets and do the laundry with a smile on your face and your family will soon catch on. You are creating a home worthy of a celestial family.

With a cheerful attitude and routines in place, you will be able to evaluate your spaces better. Set up zones within your home (reading, playing, bills, entertainments, sleep, etc.) and keep all stuff in its proper zone. If you don’t have room for all the items in the zone, it’s easier to know what to pare down.

If every kitchen cabinet is full and you’re storing china and tablecloths in the garage or a spare bedroom, pare down kitchen stuff until it all fits in the kitchen. Remember that your goal is to bless your family, and clutter actually prevents you from loving your family properly. It also steals time from them in that you have to maintain it or hide it when company comes.

When it comes to maintenance, any number of chore divisions or incentive plans can help. But the most important key is to keep your daily routines and set your timer for other jobs. If children need help, a few (5-10-15) minutes of patient work with mom or dad can transform the messiest room more than hours of nagging. Clutter is part of life, and you have to keep up with it.

You can break free from the burden of too much stuff. My house wasn’t bulging at the seams. But once I broke free from too much stuff, paring a few things from each room, I found a new spirit there. There is more peace, more happiness, more room to play together and make happy memories. That’s worth more than all the bookshelves and toy bins and closet organizers put together.