Letting go of the things that are sentimental to us is probably the hardest area to declutter. You’ve cleared the clutter in your kitchen, your kid’s toys and even your closet but those boxes from your parent’s house are still there. Maybe you’ve even moved with them and they are still sealed. It’s because of course you’re keeping them. Sentimental things are irreplaceable. Many of us wouldn’t even think of decluttering them but we often don’t use, need or even like them. But how do we let them go?
Sentimental items are the trickiest because we have an emotional attachment. You probably don’t have an emotional attachment to an extra whisk or an expired medication. They also are irreplaceable. That coaster you saved from the bar where you had your first date or the scrap of paper with your mother’s handwriting can’t be replicated but they aren’t doing any good in a box taking up space either. So how can we tackle emotional clutter and still create space?
There are two ways; let it go or honour it. I think likely you’ll end on a blend of both. We certainly do need to let go of some of it. But there may be some really special things that could be displayed or treasured rather than stored. Here are some strategies for both.
Take action
Taking action is the antidote to overwhelm. Sorting and culling sentimental items is overwhelming, the best way to tackle them is by getting started. You don’t need to finish the job all at once, small steps get the job done. Take your time, don’t let the size of the task stop you from beginning. Remember, you make the rules. You do not have to do it all at once.
Your memories aren’t in things
Remember your memories are in your heart and your head not in things. By getting rid of something that belonged to your mother, it doesn’t dim your love or your memory of her. It does free up space and release the weight of clutter. Having less will mean less stress and more time and energy for the things that really do matter to you. And remember if you love that item, use it, display it – don’t store it.
Take your time
It’s a great process, sorting through things. It’s emotional; sad, heartwarming, funny, painful. What a great way to honour the sentiment. There’s no need to rush it, there is no rule you have to toss it all at once or within a certain time frame. You get to decide the pace you take and what you keep or toss. Remember if your goal is to live with less then you’ve likely noticed that extra isn’t supporting you. It causes you stress, takes up valuable space and takes from the time you could be doing something more meaningful with.
Know why
Make sure you know why you’re keeping it. Are you just keeping it because it’s old or from your past? Or does it hold meaning? Reflect and evaluate. Creating a life that allows you to focus on what matters means you are intentional about what you keep in your life. Likely you’ve experienced the joy that decluttering brings if you’re reading this. Remember what that feels like when you sort through your sentimental stuff. Recall how much lighter you feel, how you have less to clean and maintain and your storage space can be easy to get things in and out of if it isn’t filled with boxes of things you are not using – just storing.
Be present
You can honour the past and still be in the present. Don’t make your home a storage space for your past. Keep in mind what you want for your current life as you make decisions about sentimental items. When you know what you want now, what’s a priority, it makes it easier to let go. Acknowledge what your past has given you, how it has shaped your present and decide what you can keep that honours those things.
Gifts
I’m going to keep this one short. You DO NOT have to keep something just because it was a gift. You are not obligated to anything. If someone gave you something and it doesn’t add meaning to your life, let it go. You are not responsible for other people’s feelings, a gift is something given to add to your life – not take away.
“You can honour the past and still be present.”
simple + intentional
Ways to Honour your Items
- Take a picture
- I’ve used this one a lot. I had a huge bin full of things from my childhood; diaries, awards, photos, toys, little notes and bits. I took pictures of the things that were hard to toss and enjoyed the process of looking back. Then I created a file of those photos.
- Frame it
- There are really lovely ways to display items that are meaningful to you. Shadow boxes are one of my favourites.
- Make a scrapbook
- Collect papers and photos into a scrapbook. Then you can enjoy flipping through the memories while having them respectfully organized
- Repurpose
- There are many creative ways to repurpose; turn fabric items into a quilt or stuffed animal, jewellers can turn outdated jewelry into a new piece you could wear regularly.
However you choose to work through this process, it’s yours to decide. Enjoy it, going through our past brings up lots of emotions and can certainly be difficult. The difficulty can be a reflection of how much we’ve grown or gained. There is never bad without good and vice versa. Maybe you dive into it several times before you’re done or get it all done in a weekend. Whatever your process, I hope these ideas help support it.
