A: Decluttering is important to maintain a safe, clean and comfortable home. It also can help how we feel because with excess “stuff” we often feel the weight of the possessions on our mood.
I recently did a lot of decluttering and while the process was tiring, the result made me feel lighter, freer and so good about my home. Some people say if you have not used or enjoyed an item in more than a year you should get rid of it. While I do not think there are any absolutes, I feel this is generally a good guideline.
One of the main reasons people often get stuck decluttering is that every item can feel valuable in one way or another. It may hold value because of a memory, or because it was passed down from someone dear to you, or because you may need it in the future. Consider the reason you’ve kept each item when deciding how to proceed.
Start small so that you do not get overwhelmed. Start with one room, one section or even just one shelf. Focus only on the designated area. Sort everything into piles. One pile to keep, one to donate and one to throw out. Once you are done sorting you can take the items you’re keeping and reorganize them neatly into their space.
Sometimes when we go through this process it reminds of things we forgot we had that we could start to use and enjoy again. It may cause you to rearrange and move items to the front, so you use them more often.
When looking at items with sentimental, but not practical value, think of them in categories. For example, you want to keep a few old baby clothes as keepsakes, but you do not need a whole drawer full. Cards people wrote you can be sorted and only keep the ones with very special messages written.
If you have multiples of the same item, such as kitchen supplies, similar shoes, or many towels of the same color, downsize so that you only have as many as you really use. Save just the best items and get rid of the older more worn ones.
If your emotions are making these decisions challenging, consider asking for help. Asking a friend, a professional organizer, or a therapist to help you think through this process may be a valuable tool. Sometimes just explaining out loud to someone your thought process can help us see things in a different way.
Years ago, I helped to clean out the home of a close family friend who had passed away. It really made me think about things differently. It was clear so many of their belongings were hidden and not used or enjoyed. I made a promise to myself that I would enjoy the items I have and not keep things just for the sake of keeping them.
Of course, even after that promise things creep in and stay longer than I mean them to. It takes planning to spend time sorting through possessions, like I recently did, to declutter and start fresh again. It is an ongoing process, and we must be ready both physically and emotionally. When the time is right though, the benefits can feel amazing. Right now, I am still in the phase of enjoying my newfound space made from a good cleanout.
Martha Shapiro can be reached at Senior Concerns at 805-497-0189 or by email at mshapiro@seniorconcerns.org.
