Often without realising it, we have accumulated items in our homes that we keep in case something unpredictable happens to us in the distant and perhaps non-existent hypothetical future that makes us need them. One of the most common triggers for accumulating objects is to just keep them. Is it really useful?
Or is it time to let go and declutter your home from unwanted items?
Our fears define us – and our homes!
We fear the hypothetical, perhaps unrealistic future possibility of not having anything to write on, because we’ve thrown away the promotional pamphlet we’ve forgot in a hidden part of our desk drawer (that we brought back joyfully from a conference 5 years ago). Even if we eventually need it in 6 months, 1 year or 5 years from now, we say to ourselves:
“I mean what if I need it? Should I really throw out a perfectly good pamphlet? I mean it does not disturb anyone in this drawer, right?”.
“…It will be good for something else, because it is a “useful” item. Right?…”
Most of us don’t think about the fact that accumulating too much stuff brings negative thoughts into our lives. Everywhere we look, all we see are unnecessary objects. We can’t find what we need, which makes us feel frustrated and stressed. Did you know that the average person spends 15 minutes a day searching? That’s almost 8 hours a month! That means we spend almost 4 days a year just looking.
That’s why we don’t need these “just in case” items. We hardly ever take these objects out in our lives. They are crammed into the deepest, darkest places of the wardrobe, taking up precious space, collecting dust and dragging us down with them. Most of the time, these items are not even items we will ever need, yet we find it hard to let go.
Sometimes we just find these items sentimental in a way. Some time ago some interesting think happened to us, and that item was part of a journey. But would it still happened, if you wore a different dress? Or different shoe? Why we humans are the only species who attach some meaning to objects?
Instead of piling things up you do not actually need, let’s free up your space: get rid of all those “just in case” items! We can do it! Sometimes we don’t even think about how many little things we have collected around ourselves. And most of these things we simply have to get rid of, we have to let them go because they are unnecessary for us.
As I sad – FOR US. That pamphlet is useful. In a way. A toddler can draw on it. A housewife can leave notes to her husband to get milk and bread from the grocery store. However you do not need 100 promotional pens, 10 pamphlets you never going to use. Each household is different. People living in that household need different things. An item can be useful in its own, but can be totally unnecessary for your specific household needs.
If the item does NOT make sense in your home. It does NOT give you added value, does NOT help you, does NOT have any aesthetic meaning for you – it is time to LET GO.
No more excuses – it’s time to let go!
The extra 3-4 towels that you never use yourself, but you can give them to guests when they come over. It’s true, you haven’t had a guest in a years who didn’t bring their own towels, or sleep at your place, or even have a sofa they could sleep on… The same goes for extra pillows and duvets. How many guests stay with you at the same time in a year? How often?
Do you really want to have 4 sets of extra? Can you even afford of giving those extra space for guests who never come, never stay, and even if they did, probably would not mind bringing their own if you asked them to?
Those too big/too small clothes that fall into the once I lose weight/get back into my shape/ start climbing again will be in the “let go that item” category. Let’s face it, our weight hasn’t changed in the last 2 years and besides, those clothes are long out of fashion. Will you really do the extra mile and CHANGE YOUR HABBIT in order to reach your goal?
Now you are thinking “I might…” NO! You will not. If you did you would close this article sit down and make room in your calendar to actually change your habbit, would go out at least walking, or even buy healthier choices. But you are still here. Your life has changed, your goals have changed. You changed! It is awesome! Time to let go the items which are the past, and try to embrace the new you. The future you you will actually become. Not some hypothetical utopian future yourself who wakes up at 5 a.m., has cold showers, and meditates half an our before drinking a green tea, while journaling and visions the success one will achieve that day.
You can start with the easy “just in case” items:
- Broken items – which “need” to be fixed – trust me, you will NEVER going to get them fixed…
- Shot glasses from your party days, even though you would get a heart attack having a plan starting from 9 p.m. – you would already have your PJs on by the time…
- Anything which you do not actually like. Anything. It is your home. Your rules.
Decluttering is a crucial step in creating a tidy home. It can be hard sometimes, it can be emotional. It get’s a little easier if you try to “vision” the home you want to enjoy when you get home from work. Do you see clutter anywhere? How does it smell? Do you have anything on the dining table? What do you want to first see when you walk in to each room?
My own experience
Recently, our family got rid of almost all of these items and freed up entire shelves. Of course, there are still some “just in case” items, for example in case of fire, or medication … but I can say that we have got rid of 90% of them. And on our last family trip of several days, we agreed not to take any souvenirs home. No magnets, no nothing. Every single item which comes into our home from this moment needs to serve a purpose. Otherwise it will not be able to join our household. That’s it. That is our rule from now on, and friends and family need to get used to the idea of not giving us sh*t we do not actually like or need.
What are the items you keep at home “just in case” the unthinkable happens?
Things to do: you can always start decluttering by room / category, but if you are not ready to have your whole house ripped apart and declutter: start in a small drawer / on a small surface! Whichever small space you “hate” the most at the moment.
What are the items you once bought, received, but never used, don’t like, or have no function in your life? Or maybe you’ve forgotten they even existed? Once the “Oh, I might use it in the fall” mindset kicks in, throw it out or give it to someone who really needs it.
If you really think you will use that christmas decoration this year, set a timer on that item. If you use it, fine, but if you have the urge to buy new ones and will not really want to use the old ones, give it to charity, or to the school. They might actually enjoy it 😉 rather than keeping them all to yourself, but not even end up using it.
Before you start – please take a picture. Your mind will not remember the “before”, you will juts get used to the “after”. This way you remember that you did actually throw away stuff you did not need and you do NOT actually miss them.
When you’re done, take a moment: how do you feel? If you feel more liberated and happy with the new system, then get going and get on with the rest of the space!
In the process of letting go and decluttering, you also make room for new and excited things to arrive, and for a more balanced weekdays. Clutter-free, clean and tidy. You will enjoy your time being home, I promise! Try it and not only will your home be more spacious, but your thoughts will be more free!
