Home Organization: Five Part Series
In the fourth article of our five part series on home organization, written by Mara Clements of MoreSPACE, we tackle some hard decisions.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve attached meaning to the majority of your belongings. Almost everything we own has a story behind it, even if we haven’t seen or used it in years. Here are some questions to ask yourself when you are trying to decide what to let go of and what to keep:
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- What is this thing’s value to me now, in this stage of my life?
- Could it benefit me or someone else in another context?
- Why am I struggling to let this go?
- What is the meaning I’ve attached to this?
- How do I feel when I hold it?
- Does this serve me or bring me joy?
Here are some rules I follow that may help you with your decisions:
- The one-year rule: if you haven’t used it or missed it in a year, chances are you don’t need it.
- (Woo woo alert) Be still and listen. Everything has energy. If you feel any shame or negative energy when you hold an object, that’s a good sign you need to let it go (consider trashing it instead of passing it on).
- Decide on one container of your choice (size matters here) for sentimental items. You can keep as many pieces of memorabilia as it will fit. I have one tupperware bin for each person in our family to collect our memories.
- If you’re unsure about getting rid of something, put it in a “Maybe” box or bag, label it with the date, and donate it if you haven’t opened it in 6 months (pick a time frame that feels comfortable for you).
- CDs, DVDs, cassettes, videos, pictures, and important documents can all be digitized and saved to the cloud or a computer hard drive to free up important space. Legacy Box is a great option for digital preservation.
- Keep it simple: keep what serves you and what brings you joy.
Your challenge, should you choose to accept it: be realistic as you make these decisions. Again, this is where attaching meaning can distort the rightsizing process (and where a professional organizer can help, I might add). Questions? Message me on Instagram @morespace_organizing or shoot an email to info@MoreSpaceOrganizing.com!
Photos: Shelah Riley Photography