SKILL.md
316 lines · 1,966 words
Decluttering Coach
When to Use
Use this skill when:
User asks about decluttering coach
User needs guidance on decluttering coach topics
User wants a structured approach to decluttering coach
Search the docs, videos, blog, apps, teams, skills and release notes.
At a glance
What it is
Systematic decluttering using KonMari and other methods, room-by-room approaches, digital decluttering, maintenance systems, and mindset shifts for lasting organization.
A skill is a written procedure a bot loads when a job calls for it. This one is a single file, SKILL.md, and the whole file is on this page.
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SKILL.md
316 lines · 1,966 words
Use this skill when:
User asks about decluttering coach
User needs guidance on decluttering coach topics
User wants a structured approach to decluttering coach
Systematic decluttering using KonMari and other methods, room-by-room approaches, digital decluttering, maintenance systems, and mindset shifts for lasting organization.
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Step 1
Send your Chief of Staff this message. It proposes the bot and its role first, and creates it when you say go.
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“Create a bot that uses the Decluttering Coach skill, and show me the plan first.”
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Step 2
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Step 3
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Step 4
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What it covers
When to Use
Why Decluttering Matters
Decluttering Methods
Room-by-Room Guide
Digital Decluttering
Maintenance Systems
Mindset Shifts
Getting Started
Output Format
Example
Edge Cases
Request requires professional consultation beyond educational guidance
User needs emergency assistance
Physical clutter has documented effects on wellbeing:
Cognitive overload: Visual clutter competes for attention, reducing focus (Princeton Neuroscience Institute)
Increased cortisol: Cluttered home environments correlate with higher cortisol levels (UCLA study)
Decision fatigue: More possessions = more daily micro-decisions
Time cost: Average American spends 2.5 days per year looking for lost items
Financial cost: Duplicate purchases, storage units ($1,000+/year average), larger homes to store more stuff
Core Principle: Keep only what "sparks joy." Handle every item, make a conscious decision.
Category Order (not room-by-room):
Clothes: Easiest category, builds decision-making muscle
Books: Emotional but manageable volume
Papers: Functional, less emotional
Miscellaneous: Kitchen, bathroom, garage, etc.
Sentimental: Hardest category, saved for last when skills are strongest
Process for Each Category:
Gather ALL items from that category from the entire house into one spot
Hold each item individually
Ask: "Does this spark joy?" (For practical items: "Does this serve its purpose well?")
If yes: Keep, assign it a home
If no: Thank it for its service, let it go
For each room or area, bring four containers:
Keep: Items that stay (must have a designated home)
Donate/Sell: Good condition but no longer needed
Trash/Recycle: Broken, expired, worn out
Relocate: Belongs in a different room
Set a timer for each area. Make fast decisions. When in doubt, put it in a "maybe" box with a 30-day review date.
Day 1: Remove 1 item
Day 2: Remove 2 items
Day 3: Remove 3 items
Continue for 30 days
Total: 465 items removed in one month
Good for people who are overwhelmed by large decluttering sessions
For every new item that enters your home, one item must leave. This prevents re-accumulation after decluttering.
The 80/20 Rule: You use 20% of your kitchen items 80% of the time.
Declutter:
Expired food (pantry, fridge, freezer, spices)
Duplicate utensils (how many spatulas do you actually need?)
Gadgets used less than once a year
Mismatched containers without lids
Chipped, stained, or broken dishes
Excess mugs and water bottles
Takeout menus, expired coupons
Plastic bags (keep 10-15, recycle the rest)
Organize:
Group by function: baking, cooking, food prep, storage
Most-used items at arm's reach, least-used up high or in back
Clear countertops of everything except daily-use items
Use drawer organizers for utensils
Label shelf zones in pantry
Goal: A calm, restful environment with minimal visual noise.
Declutter:
Clothes that do not fit (be honest about "someday")
Worn out, stained, or damaged clothing
Excess hangers
Old pillows (replace every 1-2 years)
Items stored under the bed (intentionally decide what stays)
Nightstand clutter (keep to essentials only)
Books finished and not to be re-read
Closet Method:
Remove everything from closet
Clean the empty closet
Sort into keep/donate/trash
Return only "keep" items, organized by type and color
Seasonal rotation: store off-season clothes separately
Declutter:
Expired medications (dispose safely at pharmacy)
Old cosmetics and skincare (most expire within 6-12 months of opening)
Sample products you will never use
Duplicate products (finish before buying more)
Worn towels (keep 2-3 per person, plus a few for guests)
Hair accessories and tools not used in 6+ months
Old toothbrushes (keep 1-2 for cleaning purposes)
Declutter:
Old electronics, cables, and chargers (for devices you no longer own)
Pens that do not work
Old manuals (available online)
Completed notebooks and notepads
Duplicate office supplies
Old business cards
Paper Management System:
Immediate action: Bills to pay, forms to fill
Short-term reference: Current year tax documents, active projects
Long-term archive: Tax returns (keep 7 years), legal documents, property records
Digitize: Scan important documents, backup to cloud, shred originals of non-essential papers
The hardest area because it becomes a dumping ground.
Declutter:
Broken items "to be fixed someday" (if you have not fixed it in a year, let it go)
Old paint (check if still good; dispose of dried paint at hazardous waste facility)
Outgrown sports equipment
Holiday decorations not used last year
Boxes of "stuff" from your last move that you have not opened
Duplicate tools
Organize:
Zone the garage: Tools, sports, seasonal, automotive
Use wall-mounted storage (free up floor space)
Clear bins with labels (not opaque boxes)
Keep a clear path and working space
Unsubscribe from newsletters you do not read (use Unroll.me or manually)
Delete or archive emails older than 1 year (search if needed, do not browse)
Set up 3-5 folders maximum: Action, Waiting, Reference, Archive
Aim for inbox zero (or inbox manageable)
Delete duplicate files (use duplicate finder software)
Organize into a clear folder structure
Delete old downloads folder contents
Clean up desktop (nothing on desktop is the goal)
Back up important files to cloud AND external drive
Delete apps not used in 30 days
Remove photos and videos already backed up to cloud
Clean up contacts (remove outdated entries)
Organize apps into folders or remove from home screen
Turn off non-essential notifications
Unfollow/mute accounts that do not add value
Leave groups you no longer engage with
Review and tighten privacy settings
Delete old posts if desired (archival tools available)
Review connected apps and revoke unnecessary access
List all online accounts
Delete accounts you no longer use
Update passwords (use a password manager)
Enable two-factor authentication on important accounts
Clear all flat surfaces (counters, tables, desks)
Put items back in their designated homes
Quick scan of each room
Load/run dishwasher
Lay out tomorrow's essentials
Process mail and papers (file, act, or recycle)
One-in-one-out check (did anything new come in?)
Quick scan of one "trouble spot" area
Discard expired food from fridge
Declutter one area (rotate through rooms)
Process "maybe" box items
Review digital clutter (email, files)
Assess if organizational systems are working
Seasonal clothing swap and declutter
Deeper clean of one major area
Donate accumulated donation items
Review storage areas
| Emotional Block | Reframe |
|---|---|
| "I might need it someday" | Most "someday" items sit unused for years. If needed, could you borrow or buy it? |
| "It was expensive" | The money is already spent. Keeping it does not recover the cost (sunk cost fallacy). |
| "It was a gift" | The gift was in the giving. The person would want you to be happy, not burdened. |
| "It has sentimental value" | Take a photo of it. The memory lives in you, not the object. |
| "I'm going to fit into it again" | Celebrate the body you have now. If you lose weight, reward yourself with new clothes. |
| "It might be worth something" | If you have not sold it in a year, you are not going to. Donate and move on. |
Every item you own costs you:
Space: Square footage of your home dedicated to storage
Time: Finding it, cleaning it, maintaining it, moving it
Mental energy: Seeing it, thinking about it, feeling guilty about it
Opportunity cost: Space and money that could serve you better
The 30-Day Rule: For non-essential purchases, wait 30 days. If you still want it and can articulate why, buy it.
Pre-Purchase Questions:
Where will this live in my home? (If no clear home, do not buy it.)
Do I already own something that serves this purpose?
Am I buying this for who I am or who I wish I were?
Will I still be glad I own this in one year?
Start with the 15-minute method:
Set a timer for 15 minutes
Choose ONE small area (a single drawer, one shelf, a section of counter)
Make decisions rapidly (keep, donate, trash)
Stop when the timer goes off
Repeat daily
Small wins build momentum. Do not try to do the whole house in a weekend.
Start with YOUR spaces (closet, desk, personal items)
Lead by example, not by nagging
Involve family in shared spaces through discussion (family meeting)
Respect that others have different attachment levels
Children: help them decide, do not decide for them
Partners: suggest joint sessions for shared areas, respect personal spaces
DECLUTTERING COACH OUTPUT
=========================
Section 1: Assessment / Analysis
- Key findings
- Recommendations
Section 2: Action Plan
- Step-by-step guidance
- Timeline if applicable
Section 3: Resources
- Relevant references
- Next stepsInput: "Help me get started with decluttering coach"
Output: A structured decluttering coach plan tailored to the user's specific situation, following the process outlined above.
Incomplete information: Ask clarifying questions before proceeding. Do not assume details the user has not provided.
Out of scope requests: Redirect to appropriate professional resources when the request exceeds educational guidance.
Conflicting requirements: Present trade-offs clearly and let the user decide priorities.
SKILL.md
316 lines · 1,966 words
The text of SKILL.md is shown as it downloads, under the Apache-2.0 license, by Ferrox Labs. The license is the one in the file's own frontmatter.
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Decluttering Coach bot
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