Step 1: Trash
Take a trash bag and collect:
Food wrappers
Empty bottles
Old receipts
Broken items
Packaging
Used tissues or napkins
Anything that is obviously garbage
Do not make major life decisions yet. Just remove trash.
Step 2: Dishes
Collect dishes from:
Bedroom
Living room
Desk
Coffee table
Bathroom, if needed
Car, if needed
Bring them to the kitchen. You do not have to wash them all immediately. First, gather them.
Step 3: Laundry
Collect:
Dirty clothes
Towels
Sheets
Socks
Clothes from the floor
Clothes from chairs
Clothes from the bathroom
Put them in one place.
Step 4: Surfaces
Clear one surface at a time.
Good starting points:
Kitchen counter
Bathroom sink
Desk
Bed
Table
Nightstand
Do not pull apart the whole room. Pick one visible surface.
Step 5: Categories
Once trash, dishes, laundry, and surfaces are under control, sort items into simple categories:
Keep here
Put somewhere else
Donate
Throw away
Unsure
Make an “unsure” box if needed. Not every decision has to be made immediately.