What to do with your stuff?
If you are planning a spring cleaning, you’re going to find out something really quick: you have a lot of ‘stuff.’
We do a big clean-out at least twice a year and each time I wonder how we accumulated so much! Nonetheless, more stuff means more organization. And it also means letting go of some things too.
Letting go of your stuff can be difficult. For most, memories are attached to these things, and giving them away or throwing them out feels like you do not treasure those moments you’ve had – at least not enough to keep them.
But you need to remember, clutter has a way of hampering happiness and productivity. In a way, a purge can be refreshing. A clean slate that you probably have long been in need of.
To jumpstart the process, below are a few tips you should consider while in the process of determining the things to keep, give or throw away.
Little by Little, Every Day
One of the major reasons people refuse to sort through their belongings is time. It takes time to do this.
Instead of working an entire weekend, set aside half an hour a day to go through your stuff. Doing tiny bits of organization often is less tiring than having to go through every room in the span of 48 hours. You can even use 10 minutes to do a small area.
Evaluate Each Item
It can be difficult to go through each item that you are thinking about getting rid of. However, it is important to ask yourself why you are hesitating to give or throw away a certain thing.
- Does it make you happy?
- Does it make you more productive?
- Or is it just because you think you MIGHT need it in the future?
If it’s the latter, then throw it out because chances are you won’t need it – especially if you’ve had it for over a year!
Test Your “Maybe” Pile
In order to move the process along, create a “Maybe” pile for the things you are unsure of whether you want to keep them or give them away. Stash this maybe pile somewhere hidden and keep it for a month. In the course of 30 days, if you do not find yourself needing any of the items in your pile, then you’ll know it is time to get rid of them.
Create a System that Works for You
Organizing your things and throwing away those you do not need can be very therapeutic. However, it is very easy to fall into the same hoarding patterns. This needs to be addressed in order for your purge to be sustainable.
Develop a system that works for you and commit to
