Is your house bursting with stuff you never use but can’t bear to part with? It’s time to look at the emotions behind the clutter…
Meet the experts:
- Dr Linda Blair is a clinical psychologist and the author of Key to Calm: Your Path To Mindfulness And Beyond (Yellow Kite)
- Erin Rooney Doland is an expert on home and office organisation, and the author of Never Too Busy to Cure Clutter: Simplify Your Life One Minute At A Time (HarperCollins)
ALSO SEE: Wardrobe Declutter: 5 Things You Don’t Need
1. Household heirlooms and inherited furniture
What you’re telling yourself…
✔ This writing desk belonged to my parents, but I can’t just give it away.
✔ This chair isn’t my style, but there’s still some life left in it.
✔ My gran’s rocker might be valuable, but selling it online isn’t my thing.
How to let go
* Don’t feel guilty for letting go of furniture that’s been in your family for years. If it was left to you by someone who has died, remember they would want the best for you – and that means making up your own mind about what furniture you have in your home.
* If it’s an armchair or couch and it’s uncomfortable, but you can’t bear to get rid of it, ask yourself why. Are you holding on to it – and tolerating the discomfort – because you don’t value yourself and think you should just put up with it since you don’t deserve better?
* Always call in a valuation expert to assess your heirlooms before you give away or sell them. They will put you in touch with antiques dealers who can sell your grandfather clock if you can’t face putting it on eBay.
* Often, we don’t really see items right in front of us, so go into every room in your house and take a photo. By looking at the snaps, you can get a fresh perspective and decide which pieces of furniture are still useful, and which are just gathering dust.
ALSO SEE: 11 Declutter Tips For A Cleansing New Year Clear-Out
2. Clothes
What you’re telling yourself..,
✔ I have really fond memories of wearing that outfit.
✔ I’m waiting for it to be in fashion again or to fit into it by losing weight.
✔ I just need to find the right coordinate piece or accessory, then I’ll wear it.
How to let go
* If your wardrobe is filled with clothes you hardly wear, start by assessing which ones you do, then be ruthless with those you don’t – is it their cut, colour, or style? Accept they might have been fashion faux pas and pass them on.
* Limit yourself to one box or bag of favourites that you can’t bear to part with, but don’t allow anything else in without taking something out.
* Spend time trying on these hardly worn pieces. Do you really think you’ll wear them again? If so, give yourself a month, or season, to do so, then decide if you still want to keep them .
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3. Books
What you’re telling yourself…
✔ I haven’t got around to reading this yet, but I might one day.
✔ I loved this book; I’ll read it again.
✔ It’s part of my identity.
How to let go
* Books say a lot about us. Only keep a few that have truly shaped who you are. Resist the temptation to keep any you think you should – especially if you’ve had them for more than two years and have never found time to read them!
* If it’s a signed copy, a valuable antique or has sentimental value (for example, a book given by a friend or relative, or even written by one), then keep it.
* Rediscover your local library. Remembering how easy it is to borrow any title will make disposing of ones you may never read again easier.
ALSO SEE: Clever Hacks To Reorganise Your Bookshelf
4. China, crockery, and kitchenware
What you’re telling yourself…
✔ This tea set was a wedding gift. It would be wrong to ditch it.
✔ I’m sure I’ll take that bread maker out of its box one day.
✔ My grandmother’s scales are a part of my heritage – though I don’t see myself ever using them.
How to let go
* It is hard to dispose of gifts, especially those with an emotional connection to something like your wedding. But if it’s been sitting unused, it probably means it’s not useful and doesn’t give you joy. Regift, donate to charity or sell.
* Be honest. Are you holding on to that spiraliser (bought a year ago and only used once) because of who you want to be – a great cook or the new super-healthy you? Part of letting go is accepting who you really are in relation to who you would like to be. If that means in reality you won’t use the gadget taking up your work surface, then it’s time to say goodbye.
* Pretend that you are holding a dinner party, and set the table with serving dishes, crockery and cutlery. What doesn’t fit on your table can’t possibly be used for a dinner party, so get rid of it.
* If you’re afraid of letting go because it feels like a slight to the person they belonged to, why not pass the items, and the stories of where they came from, onto a younger family member?
ALSO SEE: Is It Time For A Medicine Cabinet Clear-Out?
5. School and university material… yours and theirs!
What you’re telling yourself…
✔ My thesis took months and months to write; I can’t just bin it.
✔ Throwing out my old school photos and reports feels like jettisoning my childhood.. even though my children won’t ever read or look at them.
✔ My kids’ early pictures are a cherished reminder of when they were little – they’ve grown so fast.
How to let go
* Scan items you don’t want to throw out and keep a digital copy. Just make sure you back up your files to the cloud so you don’t lose your precious memories.
* Got a poem written by your 12-year-old self? If your parents or aunts are still alive, share it with them, then bin it.
* Accept that your school report from 1972 might be interesting to you, but it’s unlikely to interest anyone else.
* Sometimes, we have trouble letting go of our past because we’re unsure of who we are now. Freedom is just another word for nothing to lose… and we’re only free when we don’t have to hold on to things to define ourselves.
* If it’s really a treasured item, consider framing it. A scrapbook or memory box is also a wonderful idea for children’s mementos like photographs and letters to Santa. Just try to edit what you keep.
ALSO SEE: Reshape Your Outlook And Let It Go
6. Toys
What you’re telling yourself…
✔ I want to keep these toys for when my kids have children, and those grandchildren come to visit me.
✔ There are so many memories attached to this doll.
✔ I’m sure that these toys will have some value one day.
How to let go
* Some toys do endure and can give pleasure to generations to come, but only keep those in full working order – be ruthless with small stuff and large yet unsentimental items.
* Get your teen or adult children to pick two things for you to store for the future. Good-quality unwanted toys will always be welcome at charity shops.
* If you have valuable or collectable toys that are potentially worth a lot of money, remember that discarding the packaging will instantly reduce their value.
ALSO SEE: This Is How To Use Hanging Storage To Your Advantage
Article credit: ti-mediacontent.com
