This weekend, I spent Saturday packing up my things and trying to recover from a wicked cold. Sunday, I moved. For the fourth time this year.

(Don’t get me wrong — I brought all of these moves upon myself. But that doesn’t mean I like it.)

“You must be an efficient packer,” a coworker observed this morning.

“Mmmm … you could say that,” I responded noncommittally. I’m not sure “efficient” is the right word for throwing clothes haphazardly into suitcases, tossing books, shoes and DVD cases into boxes and asking (no, begging) your next door neighbor to drive to your new location.

Regardless, it got me thinking. The last time I moved, I pared down my belongings like never before. I put things in storage, I sent clothes off to my friends and younger sister, I donated books and clothes to Goodwill. In my effort to make my move easier, I got rid of unnecessary and excess items, and it did indeed help my move go (relatively) smoothly.

The same is true in our lives — especially at our associations. Do you hang on to old processes, programs and services on the off-chance that someone (a member) will use them again? Would it make your life easier, or help it run more smoothly, if you simply got rid of the excess that isn’t used at your association?

Here’s the best part … if you discover your organization actually did need whatever service or program you got rid of, you can always bring it back. It’s that simple!

Keeping items — or association offerings — just for the sake of it can be stressful, even if you don’t move often or if it takes little effort to keep them running. That effort could probably be better spent on other things. Just because you’ve always had it (whatever it is) and you can’t envision the association without it doesn’t mean you can’t survive it.

Try letting go of the excess in your association. You’ll probably find that you’re much more efficient that you ever thought you could be.