Your CLEAR Method: 5 Steps to Save the Memories and Clear the Stuff
Are you ready to let go of clutter—but not your memories? You’re not alone. Many of us hold onto things because they connect us to people, milestones, and moments. But when our spaces are overflowing, it becomes harder to find peace, focus, or joy.
That’s why I created Your CLEAR Method—a step-by-step method to decluttering with intention, honoring the past while making space for the future.
C – Compass: Set Your Direction
Before you open a single drawer or storage bin, you need to know where you’re headed.
Your Compass is your personalized guide, built from your vision, values, and goals.
- What is most important to YOU? Is it your family, hobbies, travel, collections, etc?
- What are your prized possessions (hint: if you think everything is, it’s really nothing)
- What do you want your home and life to feel like?
- What are you making space for?
- What matters most to you right now—and in the future?
- Ask yourself: “If I lost everything, what are the few things I’d miss the most?”
When you start with your Compass, you’ll have clarity in every decision you make along the way.
L – Let Go: Release What’s Holding You Back
Decluttering is never just about “stuff.” It’s about the emotions, stories, and what-ifs tied to those things.
In this step, you’ll begin Letting go—not carelessly, but courageously.
- First, understand you have things you can and need to let go.
- Release items you’re keeping out of guilt, fear, or habit.
- Say goodbye to the things that no longer reflect who you are today.
- Trust that you can keep the memory without keeping everything attached to it.
Letting go creates space for peace, energy, and freedom.
E – Essentials: The Items that You Use
Now that you’re making space, it’s time to decide what stays.
The Essentials are the items that truly support your life—things you use and love.
- Focus on function in your current season of life.
- Be honest with yourself, when was the last time you used something?
- Certain items have to stay because it would be a real problem if you didn’t have them. (like your toilet plunger)
You deserve to be surrounded by things that make your life better, not heavier.
A – Adore: Honor the Items You Treasure
There are some things that go beyond function—they carry your heart.
The Adore step is about intentionally choosing the keepsakes that make you smile, cry, or feel deeply connected to someone or something.
- Display the items you love—don’t let them collect dust in a box.
- Protect what matters most with proper storage or digital backup.
- It is ok to have a few things in your home that you just love.
Adoring doesn’t mean keeping everything sentimental and beautiful —it means elevating the few items that love and save your story.
R – Remember: Preserve the Memories
You don’t have to keep every item to keep the memory alive.
The Remember step helps you carry forward the stories, people, and experiences that shaped you—whether or not you keep the physical object.
- Take photos of items before letting them go.
- Write down the memory the item brings up.
Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting. You can remember with intention—on your own terms.
The CLEAR Method is not about decluttering for the sake of minimalism. It’s about clearing space for what really matters—your values, your memories, and your next chapter.
By following these five steps, you’ll gain more than just a tidier home. You’ll rediscover what’s most important to you—and carry it forward with clarity, confidence, and peace.
The 10 weeks will include:
Chapter 1 – What’s important to you!
Chapter 2 – Create a plan
Chapter 3 – Kitchen & Clothes
Chapter 4 – Photos, Videos & Memorabilia
Chapter 5 – Papers
Chapter 6 – Hobbies & Collections
Chapter 7 – Lessons learned and keep going
Are you ready to start your CLEAR journey?
The CLEAR Method Founding Circle starts October 10, 2025. Each week, we will introduce a new Chapter that helps you along your journey to Save the Memories and Clear the Stuff. Throughout the 7 weeks, you will have the opportunity to do live Q & A with Lisa Tonjes Moritz and your fellow circle companions.
Great tips! I especially like the idea of being intentional with what we keep so the memories we save actually spark joy.