I recommend that you start by putting each and every thing – no matter how big or small – in a container by purpose or storage location (e.g., one for tools, one for screws and nails, one for sewing notions, one for personal items, etc.). Once you’ve sorted EVERYTHING, take the containers one by one and put the items where they belong. If you run out of time, you can simply take the containers to the place where they will be stored and leave them there (e.g., bedroom closet, bathroom cabinet, etc.) until you can get back to the task of unpacking them.

Do the same for papers, although I recommend that you do this AFTER you’ve sorted and put away all of the physical clutter. For papers, use the following categories: trash, shred, bills to pay, bills to file (or put them in the shred pile if you don’t hang on to them), keepsakes, etc. Again, once you’ve sorted everything, throw away the trash pile, shred the shred pile, and store what you’re going to keep in an appropriate place (file cabinet, boxes, etc.).

The key is to put things away immediately after you’ve finished sorting – if you wait to do it, everything will come undone after a few days and you’ll have wasted your time sorting. GOOD LUCK!