We've all been there...

We've spent countless hours getting rid of clutter, only to see it slowly creep back into our life. Could anything be more disheartening?

So what does it really take to stay clutter free? Well, there are five relatively simple steps to take. Here they are:

1. Create Systems. This sounds more complicated than it is. The good news is - you already have a set of systems that you use to manage your home or office. The problem is - they aren't very efficient. Think about it. What's your system for handling mail when it comes to your home? Do you throw it in a pile on the kitchen counter? Toss it into an in-box on a desk? Open the important stuff like bills, file them for later payment, and leave the junk mail in a pile on the counter? In any of these cases, the result is the same: mail becomes clutter! So how could you revamp that system?

Make it your policy not to even bring in the mail until you're ready to handle it completely.

Keep a recycling bag as close to the front door as possible. Toss all junk mail directly into the bag when you walk in the door. (Better yet, contact the direct marketing association and have your name removed from all direct mail lists!)

Open all bills and file them in your bill-paying file drawer. (Better yet - sign up to receive and pay all your bills electronically!) Recycle the envelops and advertisements that come with the bills. Set aside time once a week or once a month to pay bills.

Put all personal correspondence in a special folder. Set aside time once a week to respond.

It's simple enough to create efficient systems for all kinds of household obligations like grocery shopping, laundry, etc. So why is it that systems alone aren't enough? Why do we still end up with clutter? Something must be missing...Oh yes! You have to manage your systems!

2. Manage Your Systems. Maybe you've heard this saying: The system only works if you work the system!

Once you've created your efficient systems, it's all about taking daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal actions. If this sounds suspiciously like self-discipline, there's a reason! Picking things up and putting things away is certainly not the most glamorous of activities, but it's non-negotiable if your goal is to stay clutter-free.

The good news is that once you are clutter-free, it means everything left has a permanent home. So the daily and weekly de-cluttering you participate in will be easy and even rewarding. No more shuffling things around to different rooms pretending you're getting something done!

This time it's for good. You've got a system and you're following it!

3. Just say "no!" to stuff. How does new "stuff" come into your home? Maybe you love the activity of shopping and every time you do it, you buy something. Maybe you love to go to garage sales and rummage sales. The deals are irresistible, so you end up buying things that you don't really need. Maybe you have generous friends and relatives that just love to give you their stuff when they're de-cluttering!

For someone who wants to stay clutter-free, these scenarios are a nightmare! The only true solution is to just say "no" to all that stuff!

4. Buy only to replace. Does just say "no" to stuff mean you have to stop shopping forever? Absolutely not! But keep in mind the rule that when something new comes into your home, something old has got to go. You know you can only store just so much stuff. So, what stuff will it be?

5. Make choices based on your values. So, what stuff will it be? That's a great question. You have to make a choice somehow. The answer is to let your choices be based on your values.

Your personal values are reflected in what matters to you most. For instance, if one of your favorite things to do is cook, it makes sense to have the pots and pans necessary for you to work wonders in the kitchen. But if you hate to cook, what's that springform pan doing in the far reaches of your corner cabinet? And why would you say yes to dearly departed Aunt Betty's cookbook collection???

When faced with the prospect of adding a new item to your home, an easy question to ask is, "Does this relate to something I find valuable?" If the answer is yes, you're all set. But if the answer is no...well, you know what to do!

So there you have it! Five simple steps to staying clutter-free. What's your next move?

Learn more about easily getting clutter free!  Click here for Coach Jen's popular ebook, "Clutter Day!"