I've been a minimalist (or essentialist) for two years now.

Here's a very dirty secret: I'm the only one of my close female friends who keeps a clean home. Every woman I'm close to owns too much stuff and doesn't know where to begin when it comes time to clean up for good.

You don't have to sell most of your stuff and become a minimalist like me.

Here are 3 not-so-obvious blocks on the road to a cleaner, decluttered home:

1. Sunken Costs: You don't need to feel shame or guilt because you want to get rid of something you spent "so much" money on. Let it go.

2. Someday isn't coming: How much of your closet space is dedicated to that "someday" pile? Someday isn't coming, honey. Let it all go and start living in the now.

3. Attachment: We can come up with an emotional attachment to objects or souvenirs just because...it was a gift, or reminds us of better times. This is OK!

   But when it's because Aunt Edna bought it for you 12 Christmases ago and you feel terrible to donate it...that's not Ok. Who determines how you live? Aunt Edna from 2010? Or you, today?

That last one is the hardest because decluttering brings up a ton of emotion. So reward yourself when the job is complete!