Do you find organizing difficult because you hate to let things go? If so, you are not alone! The task of parting with your stuff can easily become overwhelming. Some people even stretch the rules to avoid making the big decisions. Consider the woman who, when faced with whether to part with a teal flapper-style dress, remembers the rule, "If you haven't worn the article of clothing in a year, just throw it out." So she wears the dress to do housework and reasons, "I've just worn it. I must keep it."

For her, like for many of us, clutter isn't the real issue; fear is. Below, I share some of the most popular organizing excuses, fears that prevent many from clearing clutter. Do any sound familiar to you or to someone you share your home with? Read on to get practical solutions to these common problems.

1. When you think, "But it's still good," you really fear being wasteful.
So don't waste it — donate it. Find a local charity where your "still good" items can be used by someone else instead of being shoved in a waste bin or piled on the closet floor.

2. When you think, "I might need it one day," you really fear the future and possible regret.
It's understandable to want to save important items so that you'll be prepared for an emergency. But do we really need all those plastic and paper shopping bags that clutter our drawers and cabinets? Paring down is easy when you determine your priorities. Once you know who you are and what you enjoy doing, it's much easier to decide what to keep and what to toss.

3. When you think, "It's not really worth the time and energy to get organized," you really fear that your efforts won't last.
Being organized is not a destination but a habit—one that will give you more time to enjoy your life. One of the easiest ways to develop the habit quickly is to use the two-minute rule. If you can put it away in two minutes or less, put it away right then. Don't leave it where it doesn't belong only to waste time later putting it away.

4. When you think, "I don't want to know what's under all this stuff," you really fear that, due to time and neglect, there is no way out.
Set a timer for 18 minutes and dig in. When the timer goes off, stop what you're doing. Look at all you accomplished. It will motivate you to keep going, 18 minutes at a time. It might take 18 minutes a day for two weeks, but you will eventually conquer the clutter. Keep a pen and paper handy to make notes about things you need to deal with.