Clutter is an annoying, energy-sapping roommate, threatening to take over your space from the closets to the countertops. No matter how much you say you want your clutter gone, it can feel impossible or overwhelming to make a dent in it.

Clients regularly approach me asking for tips and strategies to help them declutter. If you feel like you just can't get rid of it, here are some of my favorite tips for winning the war once and for all:

1. Start with what bothers you the most. When you decide to attack clutter, don't try to do everything at once. Start with the pile, area, or room that causes you the most stress-usually an eyesore that you have to look at daily. You'll get the most relief from getting rid of that and feel deep satisfaction that will in turn motivate further decluttering.

2. Identify and change the root of the clutter. Consciously change the habit that perpetuates the problem. For example, I used to accumulate my recycling in a closet, and the pile would keep getting higher.   

One day, a lightbulb came on and I realized that I could simply take it outside every day when I took my dog for her morning walk. That way, it goes directly into the container from which the city collects it and I can use my storage closet for much more useful things (the eyesore of all that recycling junk spilling all over the place is also gone, yahoo!).  

Identify your behavior habits and modify them to help prevent clutter.