After Christmas is over, and I've put away the decorations for another year, it usually becomes a time for me to re-evaluate what's really needed in the house. As a Details Dad, I'm always trying to figure out ways to make the household run more efficiently. I think one of the ways to do that is to reduce clutter, cut the bulk, and cut back on extra items that are filling the house and garage. In a recent article written by Kristin Tillotson in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, a family from Eden Prairie was featured. The article talked about how the family was "part of a growing national movement of personal downsizers, people who are simplifying their lives--and spending habits--by paring down their possessions and resisting the urge to buy more."

Are you doing that in the new year? I'm trying, but it can be hard. One of the problems is finding time to purge. The other problem can be making sure your spouse is on board with you when you decide to throw stuff away. I can remember throwing a spice rack away once, and my wife made me go dig it out of the trash. I didn't think we needed it, but she did!

Again, it's much like dealing with a news story: keep it simple and straightforward. In the new year, I am going to purge some material possessions, and I would encourage you to do the same. Here's what I think could work: First, talk to your spouse and decide what areas and/or items in the house are completely off limits, and what areas could be organized. Second: start small. Personal organizing expert Peter Walsh has suggested taking 10 minutes twice a day to declutter your personal spaces. That would be great. But right now, I'm thinking about taking 20 minutes two times a week targeting a small section of the house. For example, you could target a junk drawer one day. Throw away things you never or seldom use, and keep only the items you know you will use. Then, 20 minutes later, you will have achieved a goal, and one part of your house will feel just a little bit lighter.

Sometimes the details of life, like cleaning out a junk drawer, can make you feel empowered. As the Details Dad, I'll give it a try.