Decluttering a home can have benefits you may never have thought about; not only will it help you get things neat and organized, but it can also help you reduce anxiety or stress, improve the air quality in your house, and even help you earn money if you choose to sell items you no longer need.

Many homeowners feel their schedules are too full to allow them to declutter without help, but there are many simple things you can do to get organized. If you have a large home or a lot of belongings, you may feel overwhelmed when you look around at everything that needs to be done, which is why it’s important to start by writing down a list of tasks you want to accomplish.

Keep in mind you don’t have to get rid of everything you no longer want, need, or have room for. If you’re unsure about an item or want to save it for a loved one, you can always rent a storage unit instead of keeping it in your home. This will save space and help you keep it safe until you’re ready to pass it on. Consider also buying furniture that doubles as storage space, such as a coffee table that has shelving underneath, like this one from Wayfair that only costs $151.99.

Decluttering your home doesn’t have to be a huge, stressful job. Break it down into manageable tasks and get started with these tips.

Store it

We all have things we want to hold on to. Sentimental clutter can be large pieces of heirloom furniture, photos and mementos from our loved ones, or antiques we want to pass down to future generations. Unfortunately, those items often end up taking up space in the attic, basement, or garage, leaving you unable to use those rooms. Consider, instead, renting a storage unit to keep those items safe until you can do something with them. A 10’x10’ unit in Saline only runs around $75 a month, and it could be a worthwhile investment to open up space in your home.

Write it down

Decluttering is supposed to be a great way to reduce stress, but you’re only going to add to it if you start without a solid plan. Write down all the things you want to accomplish room by room. For instance, you may want to clean out the closet in your bedroom, pare down books, and fold up all your linens neatly and place them in airtight, sealable plastic bags that will store easily beneath the bed. If you make a list of each job first, you can cross them off as you go and give yourself a sense of accomplishment. This truly goes a long way toward keeping you from feeling overwhelmed.

Learn the rules of decluttering

Many people have trouble getting rid of items, even if they haven’t used them in a while. Individuals of an older generation can be reluctant to throw out things that still have life because they were taught from a young age to get the most out of everything. A general rule of decluttering to remember is that if you haven’t used something in a year or more, it’s time to let it go. Clothing, books, appliances, and bedding can all be donated to organizations that help others, so recognize you’ll be doing a good thing by removing this stuff from your home.

Don’t expect to get it all done in one day

Decluttering can be a big job, so it’s important to keep realistic expectations. No one can do it all in one day, so give yourself plenty of time to get through it and ask for help from friends or loved ones. Be prepared with cleaning supplies, boxes, and trash bags to keep things neat and clean as you go through each room, and remember that you may be able to make some extra cash by selling gently-used items in a garage sale.

Cleaning up your home can have many benefits; studies have shown that living with lots of clutter can be detrimental to our mental and physical health, so the more you can do to get things organized, the better off you’ll be.