Picture this: magazines, albeit neatly organized, bulging out the sides of my bookshelves; paid but un-filed bills in a box; unused candles on display but collecting dust. Sound familiar? How often have you quietly said to yourself "but I'll need it someday!" People are hesitant to throw something out that hasn't been used, worn, even glanced at for years for fear that they will need it 'someday'.

As the demands and stresses of life increase, what can you identify that is holding you back from discarding stress in your life, whether it comes in the form of a shape or a thought? Organizing happens from the inside out, and you can start by taking time out to access why you are holding onto your clutter.

The benefits of getting organized are unmistakable, yet the process can be overwhelming. It's hard to know where to start, and difficult to stay focused from beginning to end. Since organizing is a process, not a quick fix, a popular approach is to schedule a series of daily or weekly appointments with yourself. Find a system that is easy to maintain because it is based on your needs, unique goals, natural style and habits.

Whether you live alone or in a full house, you can start today with a few simple steps:

1. Deal with things on a daily basis. Recycle papers and magazine. Ten minutes a day can really add up.
2. Put everything in its place. If you leave your mail on the kitchen counter, move it to your office area. That way, you're more likely to find it when it's time to open them.
3. Avoid zigzagging from room to room. Instead pick one room or a small area within a room that's achievable to start with. Success often propels one to continue.
4. Surround yourself only with things you love or that serve a regular, useful function. If you don't need it, don't buy it.
5. Purge. Consider craigslist.com, consignment or donating to your favorite charity.

Do the Try It Out exercises in the sidebar to help you learn to organize from the inside out