No doubt about it. Clutter can create obstacle courses in your life. Some of those obstacles are physical, such as having to remove items from a chair in order to sit down or the need to climb over boxes. Other obstacles are emotional. These can cause a feeling of ‘overwhelming’ in your life, resulting in frustration, embarrassment, stress, and restlessness.

Applying good habits and daily routines can fight clutter and hopefully slow down collecting too much. Here are 5 ways to control clutter.

1. No clothes on the floor or on furniture. After getting dressed for the day, always make a habit of picking up all your clothes and hanging or folding them (in a drawer or closet if it’s clean) or in the clothes sorter (if it needs to be washed).

2. There is nothing left on the bathroom counter. Bathrooms quickly get crowded from all the products we use every day … from makeup to shampoos. Make sure each product has a home and be sure to put each item back in your home when you are done using it. Also, keep products to a minimum. An overload of toiletries and all of that invites clutter.

3. Do not allow mail to stay longer than one day. Check your mail every day, sort it, and take each piece where it is needed. Recycle garbage immediately. Then get bills in your bill payment system, greetings cards on the mantel, invitations on your fridge (reply as soon as you open them), and documents needed for a) action – in your action file system or b ) for reference: on file in your filing cabinet.

4. Don’t let them go empty-handed. At the end of a meal, make each member of the family responsible for bringing something, i.e. plate, utensils, glass, etc. to the dishwasher or sink. Better yet, if everyone dumps food scraps, rinses, and puts items in the dishwasher or sink, even better!

5. Every time you enter a room, say goodbye to something. If you have a lot of clutter, when you enter a room, do not allow yourself to leave before picking up ONE item and putting it in the charity box or in the trash.

Your goal, with clutter, is to eliminate the obstacle courses it’s causing in your life … so your path is clutter-free, both physically and emotionally. Good daily habits help you do it. Why not start today?