With your action plan under your belt, now it's time to start sorting through the clutter. Be sure to take a good look at your plan and tackle only one area at a time. (Don't worry, the rest of the clutter will still be there when you're ready to conquer it later!) Take these steps:

• Create the following sorting labels on 8.5 x 11” inch paper: Trash, Keep, Sell, and Undecided. Set up sturdy and easy-to-use sorting boxes for your project. Tape the labels onto your boxes so you can easily remove and save them for other organizing projects.

• Sort the items one at a time working around the area in an orderly fashion. You can go in a clockwise, counterclockwise or zigzag pattern – whatever feels the most natural to you. Focus on sorting first, then worry about the storage later. Remember not to get too attached to anything you touch during this step. Later, during your break, you can take the time to travel down memory lane while flipping through Junior's baby book. Right now it's time for action!

• Get the kids to help you or invite a friend to join in. Listen to upbeat music to keep you moving and on track. Try not to leave your sorting area to put things away – this will inevitably sidetrack you and you'll forget to return to where you first began.

• Take the Trash box outside to your garbage can, dumpster, or curb so you don't have to deal with it taking up valuable space.

• Take the Sell box to your car or van to be dropped off at your local resell shop. (Or, delegate this job to your spouse or teenager.) Once that's done, take the time to go through your Undecided box again. When you're this far in the process, it's much easier to be ruthless and toss out things that you would normally hoard. After sorting through it, if anything is left over, move it to the hallway for now.

• Address the Keep box, which is the only box you'll actually be organizing. Search your closets for any shoeboxes, plastic crates and wicker baskets you've held onto throughout the years. Remember that it's the process, not the product, that works best for your new system, so don't feel you have to go out and buy new organizing tubs and containers if you can make do with what you already own. (Besides, using what you have means you're taking care of even more clutter. And you didn't have to take out a home improvement loan to do it, either!)