---
name: declutter-by-room
description: "Declutter a room (or a whole home) with a plan that actually finishes — a sensible order, quick decision rules, and a way to keep it from creeping back. Use when asked how to declutter, help me declutter my [room], I'm overwhelmed by clutter, or a decluttering plan. Produces a room-by-room order, a decision framework for keep/donate/sell/toss, time-boxed sessions sized to your energy, where to route the outflow, and habits to stop the clutter returning — without demanding you become a minimalist or do it all in one heroic weekend."
---

# Declutter By Room

Decluttering stalls for two reasons: it's overwhelming to start, and the stuff creeps back. This gives you a finishable plan — a sensible order, fast keep-or-go rules so you're not agonizing over each item, sessions sized to your actual energy, and maintenance habits — so the space stays clear without requiring a personality transplant into minimalism.

## What This Skill Produces

- **A room-by-room order** — where to start for momentum (easy wins first) and how to sequence the home
- **A decision framework** — quick keep / donate / sell / recycle / toss rules to end the per-item paralysis
- **Time-boxed sessions** — chunks sized to your energy and schedule, so it's sustainable, not a burnout weekend
- **Outflow routing** — where things actually go (donation, sell, recycle, dispose) so bags don't just move to the garage
- **Keep-it-clear habits** — the one-in-one-out and reset routines that stop clutter creeping back
- **A gentle stance** — no forced minimalism; keep what you love and use

## Required Inputs

Ask for these if not provided:
- **The scope** — one room, a category, or the whole home
- **The pain** — what's driving it (overwhelm, a move, a life change, just fed up)
- **Your energy/time** — how much you can give, and over what period
- **Sticking points** — sentimental items, "might need it," someone else's stuff
- **Constraints** — kids/partners involved, space, physical limits

## Framework: Easy Start, Fast Rules, Stays Clear

1. **Start where you'll win.** Begin with a low-sentiment, high-visibility area for a quick, motivating result — not the hardest, most emotional pile.
2. **Use fast decision rules.** Keep only what you use or genuinely love; for "might need it" and sentimental items, apply simple tests to avoid agonizing over every object.
3. **Work in time-boxed sessions.** Short, sized-to-energy chunks (a drawer, a shelf, 30 minutes) beat one exhausting marathon that never repeats.
4. **Route the outflow immediately.** Decide destinations (donate/sell/recycle/dispose) and get bags *out* fast, or they migrate to the garage and back.
5. **Install maintenance habits.** One-in-one-out, a weekly 10-minute reset, and a home for everything stop the slow creep back.
6. **Stay kind.** This isn't about owning nothing — it's about keeping what serves you and clearing what doesn't.

## Output Format

### Declutter plan: [scope] · energy: [x] · sticking points: [y]

**Order:** start with [easy win] → [next] → … (momentum-first).
**Decision rules:** keep [use/love] · donate/sell [good, unused] · toss/recycle [broken/expired] · "might need it" → [simple test] · sentimental → [test/box].
**Sessions:** [chunk size + cadence for your energy].
**Route the outflow:** [donate where · sell how · recycle/dispose] — get it out fast.
**Keep it clear:** [one-in-one-out · weekly reset · a home for everything].

## Quality Checks
- [ ] Starts with an easy, motivating win
- [ ] Provides fast keep/go decision rules (incl. sentimental/"might need it")
- [ ] Sessions are time-boxed to the person's energy
- [ ] Specifies where the outflow goes, fast
- [ ] Includes maintenance habits to prevent creep-back
- [ ] Non-judgmental — no forced minimalism

## Anti-Patterns
- **Starting with the hardest, most sentimental** pile and stalling.
- **Agonizing over every item** with no rules.
- **One heroic marathon** that never gets repeated.
- **Bags that just move to the garage** instead of leaving.
- **No maintenance habit** — clutter returns in weeks.
- **Preaching minimalism** at someone who just wants tidier.

## Example Trigger Phrases
- "Help me declutter my bedroom — I'm totally overwhelmed."
- "I need a plan to declutter the whole house without burning out."
- "How do I decide what to keep vs. get rid of?"
- "Declutter my kitchen in short sessions."
- "How do I stop the clutter from coming back?"