Decluttering sentimental items feels nearly impossible, especially when there are years
of memories, emotions, and stories we draw a connection to.
And regardless of how deeply we want to live with less and achieve a minimalist life, we’re
still struggling to clear that stubborn sentimental clutter.
But why?
Well, maybe it’s because these things are real.
The memories are real.
And we’re afraid of forgetting those precious memories, so we tell ourselves that the only
way to NEVER forget is to hold on to all the things for as long as time allows.
There are similar issues with things we’ve inherited.
Or gifts we received.
We're worried about how people would FEEL — even if they are no longer with us — if
we just decided to let go.
But see the thing is, hoarding sentimental clutter has negative effects that outweigh
the positive memories we THINK we’re preserving.
We’re actually hurting ourselves and possibly our families if we allow ourselves to become
The Keeper of these Things by default.
So how do we let go?
How do we detach gracefully and gently?
And then how do we stand firm in that decision?
Well, that’s exactly what I plan to share with you today as I walk us through 10 ways
to successfully declutter sentimental items.
However, I do want to preface this conversation by saying that I don’t know the depth of
your connection to your sentimental items personally.
But you do.
So take these ideas and thoughts I’m about to share and apply them to your life at your
own pace.
Let’s jump into it.
Number one is to lift the burden of just because.
I chose to start this conversation here because I feel that this is the best first step you
can take when deciding what to do with your sentimental items, so listen carefully.
Don't feel burdened to keep something just because it was a gift, an heirloom, or it's
tied to memories you have or loved ones you miss.
Or just because it might be "worth something" one day.
There is no obligation to keep things you won't use.
I repeat there is no obligation to keep things you won't use.
This is important to keep in mind because until we lift the burden of just because,
it will be nearly impossible to make intentional and purposeful decisions about what to do
with the things we no longer need or use, sentimental and non-sentimental items alike.
Number two is donate in good condition.
Something I've found helpful on my journey when it comes to letting go of sentimental
items is doing so when that item is still in good condition.
I don't know about you, but early on in my journey, I found myself starting to hold on
to things that I planned to donated but didn't because I wasn't sure if it's in good enough
condition for someone else to use.
So fast-forwarding ahead, I had to learn to be more mindful of this because if only I
allowed myself to let go earlier, while these things were still in good condition, then
someone else could have gotten use out of something I no longer needed.
And I found this to be true with sentimental items specifically.
If we let go, while that thing is still in good condition, it becomes easier and in some
cases, we might find joy in doing so as well because it's knowing that someone else can
enjoy it rather than it going to waste that makes us comfortable enough to detach ourselves
from it.
Number three is think in layers and stages.
It's important to realize that you don’t have to get rid of everything right away,
all at once.
Knowing this can be a huge relief especially when sentimental items are standing on the
decision block.
Do I keep it?
Do I let it go?
What if I'm not ready?
See when it comes to decluttering sentimental items, it's best to start with the easiest
things first so can you build momentum.
I've learned that most of our motivation to let go comes from physically being able to
see the progress we're making.
And if you were to start with those items you have the deepest connection to instead
we're more likely to quit and give up on letting go because of how hard it would be to get
started.
So divide your space and things into stages and attack them layer by layer, working your
way from the easiest items towards those more difficult sentimental attachments.
Number four is determine what's worth more
and I'm not talking about money.
See, we have to remember things and objects don't have hands.
They're not holding on to us.
They're not emotionally attached to us.
We're the one with the tight grip.
We're the one that has to learn to let go.
And when we can begin to understand this concept we'll start to wonder about what's worth more.
Ourselves or these sentimental things.
And before you answer, let me save you some time.
No thing or object is worth more than your life, mental peace, energy, and time.
So don't waste those things trying to be the keeper of all things.
Number five is ask questions.
Now there are a ton of questions that we can ask ourselves that will help us navigate through
how to deal with our sentimental clutter.
Here are some of my favorites:
Why am I holding things that others could use and love?
Will a picture work just as well to preserve this memory?
Do I feel obligated to keep this?
Who will take care of this after I’m gone?
What purpose is this serving in this season of my life?
Is it keeping me from my why?
What is my most cherished sentimental item?
See I've learned over the course of my journey that asking the right questions will always
lead you down a path that's right for you.
Now since we're on the topic of questions, there's one question I'm sure you're thinking
to yourself or itching to scream at me is:
Is it really necessary to remove my sentimental clutter?
And to put it bluntly, yes.
Remember, if everything holds sentimental value to you, then nothing can really stand
out.
It all just becomes general clutter, and those special things will get lost in the noise
of the generic.
Now, I'm not suggesting you become cold-hearted and get rid of everything.
I mean I still have sentimental items that truly mean a lot to me.
But I chose to only keep a small amount, therefore I could still appreciate them, rather than
feel burdened by everything.
A clear objective for you could be to let go of sentimental clutter that is either:
keeping you chained to the past; has become a financial or spatial burden or is causing
friction within your family.
Number six is make firm decisions.
Now let's assume that you're beginning to make progress with your sentimental clutter,
yet you still have an arm full of stuff that somehow survived the previous questions we
just talked through.
So what do you do?
Well, it's time to ask yourself one final question that you're probably not going to
like:
How can I enjoy this item in my everyday life?
If you can’t answer that, then it’s time to be brutally honest with yourself about
the items you're trying to persuade yourself into keeping.
The truth is that you probably don't need it and it's time to let go.
Period.
End of story.
Sounds painful, doesn't it?
But see, this is why I prefaced this conversation by saying that it's ok to move at your own
pace when sorting through sentimental clutter.
However, I do recommend that you don't lie to yourself.
So you can let go when it's time to let go.
Number seven is start small and start slow.
While this is a great tip for decluttering in general it's particularly important whenever
we're approaching sentimental items.
Remember the goal here is not for me to pressure you to let go, especially if you're not 100%
ready.
However, I am suggesting that you begin to take baby steps towards letting go because
personally, I don't want to see you trapped by your things.
So when clutter is emotionally overwhelming, you absolutely MUST give yourself grace and
space to take your time.
Maybe that's 10 minutes a day or one box per week.
And eventually, as you being to make headway, you'll learn to be tougher on the clutter
you no longer need or want.
Keep in mind, it gets easier when you can see the progress you're making.
Number eight is ditch the guilt and embarrassment.
Now let's separate these two ideas and break them down together.
So what does it mean to ditch the guilt?
This is all about letting go of feeling bad about letting go.
Maybe the guilt that's hanging over your head has to do with the fact that this item was
a gift or heirloom that you feel obligated to keep, but deep down you don't really want
it.
Or maybe your guilt is tied to the amount of money you've previously invested into this
item.
Now regardless of which one it is, I'm here to encourage you to give yourself permission
to let go.
And when you do, let go of the guilt as well.
Because if you don't that guilt you feel will weigh on you unlike any other weight we've
carried and I don't want to see you crushed by your clutter.
On the other hand, what does it mean to ditch the embarrassment?
This is all about letting go of feeling embarrassed because of the amount of clutter you may have,
or the fact you're struggling to let go of your sentimental items when others you know
don't seem to struggle at all.
This is also about letting go of the feeling too embarrassed to ask for help.
Speaking of help, number nine is ask for help.
Who says that decluttering your life, including sentimental items, has to feel like a chore
or be something you're stuck doing alone.
It doesn't.
If you're struggling, looking for company, or just need someone to talk to you.
Then invite your family or your closet friend over to be there by your side.
Play music, and combine laugher with letting go.
Or just spend some time talking through your emotions so you can detach from what is no
longer serving you.
Number ten is enjoy the things you choose to keep.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with keeping a reasonable amount of items you truly love
and enjoy.
As I mentioned earlier, I still have a few sentimental items that I hold close to my
heart.
So with that said, anything that passed the test we’ve just discussed throughout these
ten tips can be considered a keeper.
So what do you do with the sentimental items you decide to keep?
Well, you can set up a memory box, build a photo album, create a blanket or quilt if
your items allow for that, you can even display them as decor throughout your home, or if
you want you can leave it sitting on the shelf in your closet.
It's up to you.
Just remember to be intentional and purposeful with these items, the same way you have been
with everything else you've donated or kept on this journey.
Keep growing, keep learning and always stay true to you.
I'll see you in the next one.
Peace!