I woke up a month ago and realized that I was a phony. Here I was building a company where I’m preaching simplicity and decluttering and yet, I’m living in a 2200 sq. ft. house with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a library, 6 closets and a garage. And it’s just me.

And while I was pretty much paperless having scanned my documents and photos earlier that year, I still had a lot of stuff. Books, clothes, kitchenware and countless objects in the garage that were just sitting there. Waiting for what? And so I embarked on a mission.

1. Find a new place where I’d actually use the entire space. The reality was that I rarely used my library, guest room or back yard. Those fabulous dinner parties I was planning to host on my spectacular dining room table never really materialized. I pretty much lived in my office and bedroom. And occasionally watched TV in the living room.
2. Get rid of ½ my stuff. That was the other thing. I never wore half my clothes (too many closets) and never really went back to read a book on my shelves (plus I now read everything on my iPad). And since I rarely (OK, never) cook, all those kitchen platters, bowls, utensils and gadgets were just taking up space.
3. Sell as much as I could (something I never attempted before) by using Craigslist, eBay, consignment etc. and donate the rest.
4. Move as little furniture as possible so I can buy new furniture to suit my new place. In the past, I always looked for new homes based on my existing furniture. This time I was going to fall in love with the place first and then figure out what to move.

And so while I’m still drowning in boxes (the move was yesterday) I am happy to report that I accomplished my goals. I lost 1,000 sq. ft., donated 2,000 books (I allowed myself to keep 100), sold 80% of my furniture and even my outdoor plants, and gave away or consigned ½ my clothes, shoes and purses. I donated my kitchenware and almost everything in my garage. And since I’m not a hoarder it was all in great shape, just waiting for a new home. I even lost 5 lbs. packing up and getting rid of stuff.

The best part. I feel free. I only kept those things that meant something to me. Art, collectibles, books, furniture that I actually cared about. Rather than accumulated. Instead of the 2 moving trucks it took to move me 6 years ago, this time it was one truck and it wasn’t even full. And it was fun to buy new furniture to suit the new place (from the money I received selling the old stuff) and my fresh start.

So mission accomplished. Now I need to get back to those boxes.