I’ve discovered the secret to weight loss. Give it away.

I’m not talking about the cookies in the cupboard, the kids’ Halloween stash or the love handles that have survived generations.

I am referring to the pounds of stuff that are in your house, stealing space and weighing you down both physically and emotionally.

For the packrats among us - and you know who you are - a new home simply means a new place to gather more stuff. Like me, you have probably looked at the streamlines modern simplistic décor images in the magazines and swooned. You may have even managed to implement some sense of decorum on the main floor that passes neighbourhood scrutiny. But delve deeper - spare closets, hall closets, bottom drawers and the dreaded unfinished basement - and you’ll find a mishmash of old shoes, holiday decorations, kids’ school projects and toys no one will ever see again.

There are the clothes that are too big, the clothes that are too tight, the things you meant to wear and the things you were never meant to wear, all heaped in bags and boxes and crates doing no one any good.

What’s a well-meaning hoarder to do? Give it away.

According to Kate Hanley, an oft-sought-out writer and expert on issues relating to health and wellness (www.msmindbody.com), facing the problem head on is not only good for your space, it’s good for your soul.

“Having too much stuff in your life becomes oppressive, like a garden that’s choked by weeds,” Hanley says. “When you clear away some of that excess stuff, you create room for new things to grow.”

But, she adds, it’s not just about making space physically, it has a mental component too.

“When I moved from San Francisco to New York, I spent weeks packing everything that would fit into boxes that I paid gobs of money to ship. I unpacked those boxes and realized I wasn’t happy to see 95 per cent of the contents, she says. “Why did I spend so much time and money shipping a dilapidated toaster oven? Only then did I get it that clinging to your stuff can be a big waste of energy.”

Change might not come easily but it will be worth it, she adds.

“Set the stage for it to feel like play. Eat a hearty breakfast (nothing’s worse that trying to make clear decisions with low blood sugar) put on your overalls, and blast your favourite music.

“And when you’ve bagged up your last pile, be sure to reward yourself. You deserve it.”

If your excuse has been not knowing what to do with all of those extras, it’s not a very good one. These days the options for donating your stuff are endless. I started by purge last week and I’m already better for it. I lost about 10 pounds within a few hours by donating some gently used and mostly ignored toys to some kids who will give them a good run for my money.

The good feeling I had after seeing them go to a better place has completely filled the void left in my basement.

Here are a few places that would be thrilled to convert your problem into someone else’s salvation:

1. The Canadian Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.ca) will pick up gently used clothing and other items from your home, sell them to Value Village and use the proceeds to help fund research. Or you can drop off items at The Salvation Army Thrift Store (www.thriftstore.ca). If you’re overrun with business attire try Dress Your Best (www.dressyourbest.ca.)

2. Women’s shelters are often in need of personal toiletries, kids clothes and baby items. You can find a list of shelters at www.nellies.org.

3. If it’s periodicals that are holding you back, check with local doctor’s offices, vet clinics, mechanic shops and area hospitals, Many of these service industries want new reads for their waiting rooms.

4. If you’re more computer savvy, try online trading post websites such as Freecycle (www.freecycle.ca) or York region’s “Reuseful”
(www.myyorkregion.com/reuseful/index.php) where you can give away just about
anything. Check the sites for details and rules.

5. If you’ve got a car that you no longer need try Car Heaven (www.carheaven.ca) or the Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.ca).

For more ideas on where your donations can make a difference visit: www.charityvillage.com/cv/charityvillage/donate.asp.

Reprinted with permission. 

Heather Greenwood Davis is a freelance columnist. Her column appears on alternative Saturdays in the Toronto Star. Reach her at heather@greenwooddavis.com.