November 18, 2020
I’m sure you’ve heard of Spring cleaning, yes? Before I sat down to write this, I was thinking about that and wondering who ever decided that Spring was the best time to clean and purge? I personally am one of those weirdos who enjoys going through my belongings and getting rid of excess. But I wasn’t always. It’s taken time and mental conditioning to get into the mindset that I’m in now, were I can easily clear space in my home and life and not think twice about it. Spring cleaning is fine and dandy, but guess what? The holidays are coming up and I vote that that should be the new official time to go through your things! If you struggle getting rid of what you don’t need, this is a great time to give it a go because you more than likely are going to be replenishing some items when Christmas rolls around. It’s also a great time to get into the spirit of giving by donating! If I’ve convinced you that it’s time to take a look at your belongings, I’m going to give you three questions to ask yourself to help you decide if you should keep something or get rid of it:
- Have you used it in one year? This leaves a little room for items that you maybe don’t use often but are seasonal. Or sometimes there’s that thing that you almost never use, but when you need it, you NEED it (like a plunger lol). For the most part, I feel like if I can get at least one or two uses out of something each year, it’s probably worth keeping. If you haven’t used an item in an entire year, you more than likely don’t need it. *Cue the “but what if I need it when I…” thoughts. I know, I get it. Let me remind you that if later down the road you end up needing the thing, you can always purchase another one and then you know that it is in fact worth keeping. If it’s any reassurance, I’ve never run into this situation.
- Have you forgotten it exists? Ok so not everything has a real use. A lot of our belongings are knick-knacks, pictures, etc. If you’re going through your things and pull out something you haven’t seen or thought about in ages, you don’t need it. This one can be tough because we experience that little flashback to the memory ties to the item. But here’s the thing, if you’ve been going about your life not thinking about or missing this item at all, you can bet that the same will be true once you’ve gotten rid of it. The only difference will be that it’s not taking up space and adding to clutter in your home.
- Does it genuinely have sentimental value? Let’s talk about sentimental value for just a sec. Having a memory associated with an item doesn’t necessarily make it a sentimental one. We tend to have this fear that if we get rid of something, we’ll lose the memory that goes with it. But this is not true at all. Our brains hold TONS of our memories and often times they’re resurfaced through conversation, sounds and smells, or time spent reflecting. When you ask yourself this one, you have to be brutally honest with yourself. Does this item really, truly represent something so so special, that you absolutely cannot be parted with it?
This process can seriously feel like pulling teeth when you first start. You guys, when I decided it was time to go through my clothes, several years ago, I cried. I was so upset at the thought of parting with clothes that I hadn’t worn in years or that didn’t even fit me that tears just came right on out. But you know what? It’s ok. It’s ok to feel attached to your things because we are human. If you really have a mind to downsize your belongings, you will. All that matters is that you just start and know that you WILL be ok. The freedom and clarity you feel when you simplify your life will be so worth it! If you decide to lighten your load, take a picture and tag me on Instagram so I can celebrate that victory with you!! Until next time, my friend.
xoxo
Amber
