As the trees shake off their last rusty leaves, it’s a perfect time to shake off our household detritus. I used to religiously spring clean but I’ve shifted that energy since my kids have grown, and now autumn is for organizing – this is the time of year I look critically at my closets. What possessions do I have, what possessions matter most, and, more importantly, what possessions can I stand to live without? Sorting through my belongings helps me to prepare my home for the long, cold winter ahead, when I know I’ll be spending more time inside.

It starts with one box. Grab a box from your grocery store and stand in the middle of your living room. Ask yourself: How many of these things am I willing to dust for the next twenty years?

Speaking as someone who has downsized dramatically three times in just under a decade, I can say that there is great relief in shedding unnecessary belongings. I’ve helped numerous retired folks sort through their belongings, too – letting go can be hard no matter the age. You should be the one to benefit from your refreshed living space. Trust me, no one is sorting your stuff. A dumpster will be delivered to your driveway. I’ve never seen a U-Haul following a hearse.

“Thrift, gift, or garbage” should be your mantra. The holidays will be here before we know it – a great opportunity to give things away. I started with my cookbooks, copied only the recipes I actually use, and freed up five shelves.

Here’s the challenge: try to fill seven boxes of stuff in seven days. Holiday dishes, sweaters, board games you never play. Now pass those things on. I take a totebag’s worth of stuff to the thrift store on the first Saturday of every month.

Perhaps you’re already familiar with the concepts of the best-selling Japanese author (and popular television show host) Marie Kondo, whose 2014 book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up inspired a trend of deep-cleaning. If something you own doesn’t “bring you joy,” love it enough to let it go.

Visit your local library and browse the nonfiction shelves for other books about simplifying your space, like The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson, or Declutter Like a Mother: A Guilt-Free, No-Stress Way to Transform Your Home and Your Life by Allie Casazza.