In the massive industry of decluttering, one of the starting points for nearly any method is to pull out the buckets.

One bucket is for things to keep

One bucket is for things to donate

One bucket is for things to trash

It’s a brilliant and simple system. There are only three buckets.

The harder part for many of us is to follow the rules for each bucket.

Throwing away an old remote to a broken TV is easy. The tricky part comes when you’re figuring out what to keep.

Here is what makes it so hard. Many of us have attempted all manner of self-improvement efforts. We’ve tried to declutter, to lose a few pounds, exercise more, or meditate consistently.

Our accumulation of stuff is a reflection of the story arc of our lives, our relationships, and our interests. So, we get stuck in “just in case” mode.

My friend Joshua Fields Millburn calls “just in case” one of the worst phrases in human history. It is a constant hedging of our bets against what might be.

Maybe we’ll read that book. Maybe we’ll take up running again. Maybe we will learn how to juggle, unicycle, bird hunt, solve Rubik’s cube, bake a vegan cake, or get back into yoga.

“Just in case” isn’t worth the money we’d save if we happen to do it again.

He has a rule. If you can replace an item in 20 minutes for under $20, you should just get rid of it.

So, the rules for bucket #1 become clear.

Do I use this or does it bring me joy? If the answer is no, you proceed to the next question.

Can I replace it within 20 minutes for under $20?If the answer is yes, you should either donate it or throw it away.

Simple rules for sorting. Simple rules that help you decide.

But What About Our Time?

Our time is also cluttered. Requests bombard us. And far too often we fill every moment with things that are neither useful or bring us joy.

As a father of four who also runs a business, there are many demands on my time. My children need me. My wife needs me. My business needs me.

I also have interests and hobbies that bring me joy.

I have to be selective about what I am doing, and what I can keep.

The idea behind decluttering your home is to have more space. We’re not always comfortable with space, so we believe we should fill it up.

But when our space is clear, our mind is free to focus on other things.

Decluttering your time also creates more space. It creates a freedom from the constant bombardment and the crass consumption of time.

We make ourselves busy in the same way we accumulate more stuff. It’s because we are uncomfortable with space.

Let’s get back to the buckets.

When it comes to how we divide our time, we have a few decisions to make about what goes into our keep bucket.

It helps to have some rules.

If you could, I would ask you to hold each activity in your hands as you decided whether to keep it.

Is it useful? Does it bring you joy?

Or perhaps these questions are better.

Does this activity serve my family?

Does this activity serve my business?

Does this activity improve my health (physical and mental)?

If the answer is yes, you should probably keep it. With everything else, you may just be giving away your time for nothing or spending it on trash.

What rules do you have for your time?