The Happiness Project: Myths of De-Cluttering

Possessions are only a burden if you identify with them. The strain of this is enough to cause some people to throw out important stuff. (It causes others to ceaselessly acquire new things but that problem is well known.)

A more sane approach is to treat possessions as part of the scenery and solve household problems as and when they arise.

Much of the configuration of your house represents the result of solved problems. It embodies knowledge which you, the owner, may have forgotten. This is why after moving house it can take months or years to get your domestic life back together.

So solve clutter problems as and when they arise. Don't go looking for stuff to throw out. That would be like vacuuming under the couch.

e.g. If a pile of books is impeding entry into the bathroom, then by all means chuck some books or put up more shelving.

All of this seems to fall under the general principle of "eliminate before you optimize", but it's good to have reminders of specific applications every once in a while.

Think before you eliminate.

Happiness is having what you need, not thinking "I had that a year ago, but sold it because I wasn't using it; where can I get another one quick." There is another Edison quote I've seen beside the one about inspiration and perspiration, "To invent you need ideas and a big pile of junk." These take care of 5, 6, and 7 especially for hackers/tinkerers.