As I moved out of my dorm last month, I came to a sudden realization: I have so much stuff. I vowed that when I got home, I would clean out any junk in my room to make my move in next semester easier. However, going through your room is like going through your memories, and sometimes it’s hard to let things go. I developed three principles that helped me clean my room this past week.

1. If you haven’t used it, don’t keep it

For me, this applies specifically to clothes. A common thought when separating clothes you want to keep and clothes you don’t is I don’t really wear this, but what I want to sometime in the future? The answer is if you don’t really wear it now, you probably will not wear in the future. A rule of thumb I use is if I haven’t worn it in the past two years, it’s going in the donate pile. The truth is, if you want to effectively clean your room, you need to let go of things. And that starts with things that are no longer useful.

2. If it doesn’t bring you joy, don’t keep it

Inevitably, as you clean your room, you will find old relics from your childhood. I was extremely tempted to keep a hold of the souvenirs from my past, as they reminded of a simpler time with less stress. Nevertheless, if it doesn’t spark joy, don’t hold onto it. This mantra was inspired by the Konmari method of cleaning. If it doesn’t add anything valuable to your life, don’t let it take up valuable space.

3. It’s a process

Cleaning is not a one-time thing — it’s an ongoing process. The things that are important to you now may not be in the future. It is essential to realize that as you progress through life, your needs, and therefore things you keep, will change.