Humans are complicated creatures. We form emotional attachments not just with people but also with things. As a result, our homes are often stacked with sentimental clutter – objects of no apparent value that we don’t use or don’t intend to use. Ironically, you might not even like these items, but they have managed to stick around over the years purely for sentimental reasons.
Such sentimental clutter could be in the form of gifts, souvenirs, inheritances, or tokens of memories. And honestly, getting rid of such items is easier said than done. For this reason, we have this guide on ways to get rid of sentimental clutter without the subsequent guilt. So, let’s dive right in.
Get Right to It
The more you will dwell on the idea of getting rid of sentimental clutter, it more you will procrastinate. And if you are into emotional hoarding, this task will get progressively overwhelming and discourage you from diving right in.
As such, set aside a time and date for decluttering your home and get down and dirty. Once you get going, you may realise that it is not as formidable as it would have appeared and is, in fact, liberating. It is only getting started that is the hardest part. Or as Woody Allen says, “Eighty per cent of success is showing up.”
Come Prepared
Getting rid of sentimental clutter can be emotionally draining. As such, you need to be in the right frame of mind while undertaking such an ambitious and taxing job. You may be unprepared for the flood of nostalgia that will leave you gasping.
And as a result, you might want to abort the mission and call it a day. In such a situation, you can always distract yourself by moving on to simpler tasks rather than persevering and opening emotional wounds. Be kind and compassionate if you find yourself struggling at any point. You may even seek help from friends and family.
Set Aside a “Maybe” Box
Do you find yourself wavering at certain items – the things you don’t know if you wish to keep or discard? You can always put them in a “maybe” box. Pack it up and store it out of sight. Revisit these items after the passage of some time.
If you have managed to go on with your life without needing, wanting, or even thinking about these items, it is most likely the kind of sentimental clutter that needs to go. With such a safety net, you can be sure that you would not regret getting rid of something.
Find Ways to Repurpose
One of the best ways to get rid of sentimental clutter is to repurpose it into something more useful. With this technique, you can enjoy and appreciate these items every day in your life. Using them as decorative items for display in your showcase is the easiest way to personalise your home and add some character to it.
Apart from this low-hanging fruit, you can repurpose items in various ways depending on how creative you are. You will find several DIY ideas that can upcycle clothing items into keepsake pillow covers and silverware into jewellery – all you need to do is look!
Digitise, Digitise, Digitise
We are living in wondrous times where you can commemorate anything by storing it in its digital format. This is particularly true for photographs as you no longer have to lug around heavy albums as all your memories are captured and stored in the Cloud.
Along the same lines, you can digitise other items such as ticket stubs, letters, and scrapbooks by scanning them. As for physical items that cannot be scanned, you can capture their images and videos as these would very well last longer than the actual thing in question!
It’s Okay to Hold On
Just because you are looking for ways to get rid of sentimental clutter, does not mean every item will end up in the bin! For all you know, if the exercise is to leave you emotionally perplexed then it’s having quite the opposite effect than what is intended.
Allow yourself to keep a few sentimental items as long as it is within reason. As a practice, you can predetermine how many items you might reserve for sentimental reasons. Setting such a limit will allow you to truly prioritise what bears meaning and value and focus on saving that first.
Getting rid of sentimental clutter is not easy. However, it is very much necessary as you would be freeing yourself from futile attachments with materialistic possessions. Always remind yourself that your memories are in your mind and heart, and not locked within objects. With this mindset, you will find it easier to embrace the different ways to get rid of sentimental clutter.
Stay tuned to the HomeLane blog for more tips and tricks on how to improve your home and make it more livable!
