Are you overwhelmed by the thought of removing clutter? Are you finding it difficult to eliminate personal possessions even though you want to tidy and organize? That’s because, for sure, people, decluttering is more than just a task for an organization. It could turn into an emotional process. Many common reasons justify not getting rid of clutter. When I hear them, it’s immediately apparent that the declutterer-in-question needs some emotional and mental prepping to get them in the right mindset.
What if I’ll need it again?
This happens when two families merge into one. At this point, keeping the second potato masher or toaster oven is sensible until something occurs to the first. Many people exhibit these habits because they were instructed to “waste not, want not” by the previous generations who had to endure hardship. This leads to an entire generation who believe that the cupboards for brooms are meant to be filled with plastic bags to store their groceries.
We live in an era of abundance, and things are much more affordable than in past times. Having a surplus in our homes now isn’t a good idea. Our homes aren’t meant to accommodate a thousand bags of groceries or an entire second-hand appliance store in the attic or basement.
Take all your excess items, and leap replace something if required. For the bags for grocery shopping, keep just enough in the bag for one month or so of what you’ll be using them for, and then recycle the remainder! (And purchase some recycled grocery bags when you’re in the process!)
It was a present!
If someone presents you with an item of gift, the intention is to give you an expression of love. They wish to make you feel loved. They do not want to burden you with items you don’t like, which you later feel you must keep. Make sure to give the gifter a sincere thank you. If you think the deep-seated ache that tells you that you don’t love it, take it back to the gifter, re-gift it, or give it to someone who would be grateful for the gift.
There are just so many things to go through!
I know that, but Rome was not built in a day! Don’t think of it as an unfinished job if you can’t change the closet of Oscar The Grouch into Carrie Bradshaw overnight. Start small and build up in smaller, manageable chunks. Choose one category, for instance, jeans, and then do an honest review of all your pairs. After you’ve finished, you can go to a different area or pick it up again later.
What happens if I feel regrettably the fact that I gave an item for free?
I’ve found an excellent method to deal with this fear: that limbo box! Ensure you have a large basket or container to keep in a safe place. Be sure to keep it hidden from view and out of your mind. If you have any questions you’re unsure about, keep them in the closet. Review it every 3 to six months. If you’ve ever needed or misplaced something in the store, You’ve probably already pulled it out. If you’ve not thought about it now, it’s time to donate it to the charity of your choice.
And the memories!
It’s time for you to separate memories from the things. A large box of tickets, Playbills, and stubs that haven’t been organized in years will only get more irritating with time, but not any less. Remember your memories! Make digital photos of ephemera, keep a journal or post pictures on social media, and create a shadowbox or frame one or two of your most treasured objects so you can display them in the open and take time to appreciate them. Storing them in an item you only look through every few years is unnecessary. T
Oh! The benefit of having less stuff you accumulate in your home is cleaner. It is to keep clean. Happy decluttering!