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Why is it so hard to declutter? That is a question you may ask yourself a lot if you are struggling to put a dent in the mess overwhelming your own home. Quite often, it isn’t that we cannot find the time, or do not have a solution for what to do with clutter. We just may not have the right mindset to achieve our goals.

What mindset is helpful for getting rid of stuff you don’t need so you can organize your entire home? Here are some tips for cultivating the right outlook and approach.

1. Be in the present.
It is hard to get rid of items when you think, “Well, there is always a chance I could end up needing this someday.” It is true that just about anything has some feasible possible future use. But that doesn’t mean you need it now or are likely to need it going forward. One thing you do definitely need now is more space, so weigh that against the “possible” needs you might have in the future.

2. Think about the needs of others.
Sometimes we hold onto things we neither want nor need because they were gifted to us. This makes us feel guilty letting them go. But shouldn’t you feel more guilty about holding onto something you aren’t using which someone else really needs?

You cherish the generosity of the person who gave you the item, and that is enough. There is no better way to say “thank you” than to pay it forward by being generous to someone else. Donate the item so someone else can feel that same sense of gratitude that you did when you first received it.

3. Trust your memories.
We cling to things sometimes because we are afraid that if we let them go, we will also lose our memories. Maybe we are afraid of forgetting a fabulous trip we took one summer, or an amazing relationship we once had. Either way, we assume that we need the physical objects to retain those special memories.

Material items can help invoke memories, and sometimes keeping them is worth it to aid in that process. But your memory probably works a lot better than you think, and if all you really value is the reminiscence, you will likely find that you retain it fine even after decluttering the items.

4. Less is more.
It’s easy to think that when you are decluttering you are just removing things from your life. But you are getting something important back for your efforts. After decluttering, you will have more space, time, and comfort. While these are intangibles, they are very valuable!

Nourishing the mindset we need to get rid of clutter can be as big a hurdle as any of the logistical challenges we face along the way. But once you are able to reframe your thoughts and emotions in a way that facilitates your decluttering efforts, you should find that success is within your grasp.