4 Questions to Ask Yourself When Decluttering Sentimental Items

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Boxes of photos, piles of artwork made by your kids, mementos from trips and gifts from friends and family.  We all collect pieces of our past, but how do you part with these “things” that evoke happy memories but are now taking up space?

Once, when helping a client pack for a move, we uncovered a box of items that belonged to her late husband.  It was his collection of wooden ducks.  Tears sprung to her eyes as she related her husband’s love of all things duck.  But here’s the thing, she didn’t share his love of ducks, but she loved him and didn’t know what to do.

I had her take out each duck and hold each one.  She shared more stories of her husband and, in the end, she kept one and decided to donate the rest.  That duck now sits in a place of pride in her new home…not in a box in the garage.

Letting go of sentimental clutter is tough.  But ask yourself some simple questions to help you decide what to hold onto and what to let go.

DOES THIS ITEM BRING ME JOY?

If the answer is no, think about letting it go.  The “things” we surround ourselves with should make us happy and make our lives fuller.  Why hold onto something that evokes a negative emotion?

IF I PART WITH THIS ITEM, WILL THAT MEMORY BE LOST?

Will you forget about your first date with your husband if you toss the ticket stub from the movie you went to?  Probably not.  Will you actually wear your wedding dress again or do your wedding pictures bring back the happiness of that day?  If that dress is taking up much-needed space in your closet, why not donate it to a charity.  Imagine the joy it will bring to another young bride.

DO I HAVE A PLACE TO DISPLAY THIS ITEM OR CAN I USE THIS ITEM IN MY EVERYDAY LIFE?

Moms and dads, you know that kids generate a massive amount of artwork.  It’s not realistic to think you can hold onto, let alone display, every single piece.  So what’s a parent to do?  Take a picture.  You could create a screen saver of your children’s artwork, a digital scrapbook or even an actual book.  This doesn’t mean you have to photograph and then toss every masterpiece, but it will allow you to save just a few of your favorite pieces each year, drastically cutting down the amount of artwork you’ll need to store.

WILL THIS ITEM BRING SOMEONE ELSE JOY?

That Christmas sweater from Aunt Agnes, the t-shirt quilt from your best friend’s “crafting stage,” or those wine glasses from a vineyard you visited 10 years ago.  The sweater doesn’t fit, the quilt just isn’t your style and you have a matching set of wine glasses.  Give yourself permission to give these once-cherished items to someone who needs them and will truly appreciate them. 

When it comes down to it, recognize what’s truly meaningful and what’s just “stuff.” 

And if you find yourself stuck, please give me a call.  I’m here to help you.

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