Try this surprising decluttering trick

There’s one sure-fire way to reduce tripping hazards in your home: have fewer things.

“Many people have too much stuff in their home, and it can create the risk of falls and tripping,” says organizing expert Kelly McMenamin, co-owner of PixiesDidIt.com.

Six out of every ten falls happen at home, according to the National Institute on Aging. In fact, it’s the leading cause of injury in adults 65 and over.

Organizing your home has health benefits beyond physical safety, too. Research shows it can lower stress levels, boost your mood, and even improve focus.

So what’s the best way to start? You may have heard the advice to go through items one by one. But that process can make it harder to let go, McMenamin argues. Instead, she recommends this low-stress strategy. Here’s how it works.

Sort stuff quickly

Choose a room to start with. Maybe it’s the bins and baskets in the living room. As you go through them, don’t spend a lot of time thinking about each thing. Trust your gut. When you feel sentimental about something, you’re less likely to throw it away, McMenamin explains.

Put it in a “later box”

Stash anything you don’t need into what McMenamin calls a “later box.” And if you’re really on the fence about an item? Put that in the box, too. Once the later box is full, close it up and put it away.

See what you missed

Mark your calendar for six months later. Are there items in the later box you found yourself searching for? If so, maybe those are worth keeping. If you didn’t miss the item, it’s time to say goodbye. “Because the contents of the box are not immediately going away, it gives you the confidence that you’re not going to make a mistake,” McMenamin says. “The later box helps relieve the stress that people feel about getting rid of treasured possessions.”