I believe in the need to declutter. I really only started putting it into action at home, in a big way, about ten years ago.

The first time was a number of months after my then husband had moved out. I went through the house, cupboard by cupboard, over a number of weeks taking out things that belonged to him and setting them aside for him to collect. And finding other things I no longer used, needed or liked and readying them for charity. The more drawers, cupboards and shelves I finished the more energised I felt.

This has now become a pretty regular exercise once every year or so, with a super big one each time we move house. At those times the charity shops or struggling child care centres really do well with curtains and furniture joining the bric a brac.

With some encouragement my children have also picked up on the habit. They get a good feeling when they donate clothing, toys and books that they’ve out grown. Even my daughter who has a tendency towards hoarding, would periodically part with a few more of her (twenty odd) teddies saying, “I still love them all but they would be so loved by little girls with no toys”.

The other day this topic of decluttering came up with a person who is a self confessed hoarder. They repeated the oft raised concern that once they throw something out they are going to find they do actually need it. I was asked if that ever happens to me. I have to admit that it has once or twice. I have a theory that it’s in the throwing out that we stir up the energy that causes us to need that item again. If we leave it alone it won’t be needed – possibly ’cause we forget it’s there?!

So I have come up with a new variant for people struggling to part company. Anything that hasn’t been needed, wanted or loved in the last twelve months can go out into a box in a garage or storeroom, carefully labelled so it does not get forgotten. Put the date on. Then in six months dispose of the contents to charity, recycle dump etc. That way if you have needed anything in the intervening period it will still have been available to you.