When the Today Show starts running lots of segments on organizing and decluttering, you know something is up (Evidence is here). With magazines like Organize (I’m still waiting for my first copy), website like Unclutterer and a general wider understanding about how cleanliness and organization can make you happier (Real Simple, Martha Stewart, 43 folders, etc.)

I am going to write a weekly series of entries about “The War on Clutter”, my progress in reducing clutter (that’s where I get to post pretty photos) and helpful tips on what you can do to reduce the clutter that is holding you back.

A great starting place is Merlin Mann’s first post in his War on Clutter. He mentions a book, It’s All Too Much, a book I have read, and it was life changing. Getting rid of 90 gallons of clothes, changing. Buy a copy, I’ll but referencing it a lot.

For my birthday, my wonderful wife, bought me a Logitech Harmony 670 Remote. I know you may be thinking, “Jered, why can’t you just use a universal remote?” We have a universal remote, but the problem is that is isn’t universal enough.

What to change the channel? Better not have the audio receiver selected, otherwise you’ll be treated to radio static. Want to up the volume? Don’t have the TV selected, because nothing will happen.

The Harmony is a wonderful piece of technology, it allows each button on the device to be connected to a function for each of the 5 remotes that have been sitting on my coffee table. That is not the only thing (it would then be as long as my arm with a million buttons), it is programmable a la the universal remote. But unlike the universal, I can program the remote on my computer, which can have the devices updated, so I never have to worry about the remote not containing a new device.

The feature which I love the most is the control by activity. Press one of the brightly colored buttons and all of the necessary devices turn on, go to the proper setting and wait for you to start doing what you want to do. Press “Watch TV”, the cable box, the audio receiver, the HDMI switcher and the TV all power on. Perfection in a remote.

Finally I can put all of the other remotes in a drawer (on the off chance the Harmony breaks) and declutter the living room a bit.