DECLUTTER LIKE YOU MEAN IT!

We all want to start the new year by decluttering, but those family photos, grandma’s silverware and the kids’ first-grade drawings aren’t just stuff— they’re memories. That’s where decluttering expert and PBS’ Legacy List host Matt Paxton, author of Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff (Feb. 8, Portfolio), $24, can help. Here’s how he lets go of the clutter but holds on to the stories. —Leanne Potts

FOCUS ON THE ‘WHY’

Downsizing to a new home? Moving an elderly parent? Just want to feel less burdened with stuff? Whatever your reason for wanting to declutter, keep it front and center, says Paxton, who writes his “why” on a large note as a reminder. “The ‘why’ helps you stay focused when the cleanout gets challenging,” he says.

START SMALL

To avoid burnout, don’t try to tackle an entire two-car garage at one go. Instead, pick a junk drawer or shelf to finish in one sitting. Savor it, then move on to the next small task.

DOCUMENT THE STORIES

“It’s not the items we can’t get rid of; it’s the emotions attached to them,” Paxton points out. Film your mother talking about her wedding dress or a piece of furniture. “Capture the stories, keep the emotions. Then you don’t need to hang on to the item anymore,” he says.

SELL, DONATE, TOSS

Make giveaway piles for nonprofits, relatives or friends. Mark items with who gets them and pickup times and give them away if they’re not picked up. If you’re selling, “remember your time has value,” Paxton says. “Don’t spend six hours trying to squeeze an extra $5 out of a used grill.” He recommends selling furniture, workout equipment, bikes and dishware, among other things, online (like at Facebook Marketplace) or via specialty apps like Poshmark for brand-name clothes and Letgo for furniture.