Am I Just Keeping Stuff To Fill A Space?
Clutter has an impact on a space. It has an impact on everything. So let’s ask ourselves a couple of questions to determine the impact it is having on your home.
Do you have rooms where every corner is filled with something?
Does an open space bother you? In what way?
Am I just keeping stuff to fill a space?
The answer to these questions helps explain the need to hang on to stuff. There are some beliefs people have that equate stuff with success. I’ve also heard it said, there’s stuff here worth a lot of money so I don’t want to get rid of it. I also hear people tell me they are holding onto things of their adult child’s youth for their children. I inherited these items is also a common reason why people are hanging onto stuff.
Addressing the Beliefs
Equating the accumulation of stuff with success likely goes much deeper for you. This may require working with a trained Professional to have their help in getting through this. You are so much more than your stuff.
The belief that the stuff sitting in a corner collecting dust or packed away in a box is worth money may or may not be true. The value in something lies in what someone is willing to pay for it. In my experience there is not a lot of selling going on, just wishful thinking.
Your adult son or daughter left the stuff behind because they don’t want it. The chances of them wanting their child to have it is slim. Ask them if they want it for their child. If they say no, then it answers all the questions.
The inherited stuff is wonderful if it is something you want to have in your home. If it doesn’t match your style and you have no intention in using it, consider donating it to someone who would get use out of it. This is a better way to honor the person who gave it to you.
There is a freedom in knowing exactly what you own and where it is located. Accumulating things without any real way of enjoying them can often lead to stashing. Stashing is a common activity in a home of clutter and disorganization. This is because stashing is not a system. It is merely a desperate act done out of hanging onto stuff.
Now let’s have a get real talk for a moment. Think about the statements below, do you agree?
Open corners make a room look larger and happier when you enter the room.
Closets that are not busting at the seams with stuff can be a welcome space to put your belongings.
A kitchen table you can sit at is a wonderful place to engage with others.
The area you enter when you first come into your home speaks volumes to you and others.
Opening Up the Space
Recognize that the space should dictate the amount of stuff that can live there. This is for very practical reasons such as safety and general home maintenance. An avalanche of stuff can cause damage. Healthier air comes with the removal of clutter, it is not possible to clean where there is clutter. Dust is the byproduct of that. There can also be unwanted visitors in areas of clutter that are untouched for periods of time.
Be honest with yourself and admit you don’t even know what you have in those boxes or bins in the corner, closet or cabinet.
Choose only the best to keep. This is really effective in areas like the closet. Go through your clothes and group like things together. Once you have your eye on the pants, go through and pick out the ones that fit the best and look the best on. Keep those and donate the others.
This can also work in the kitchen when it comes to small appliances and kitchen gadgets. Look through the cupboards, drawers and countertops to decide what seemed like a good idea but has never been used that item nor is it likely to be used.
Give the items in your home a time limit. At the end of the time limit, it is decision time. For example, the things you are holding onto in hopes your adult children will take them must be given a proper time limit. It is fair and reasonable to ask them about the items and let them know you will be looking to get rid of them in _____ amount of time. Deadlines are great for people who struggle with procrastination.
Open up the boxes, bins, closets and cupboards you haven’t been in an awhile. Determine if there is anything you must keep, otherwise it is time to let go. You may need to take it one area at a time.
Be aware of the emotional attachment to things in memory of others. I am encouraging you to notice this and then you have a healthier opportunity to work through it. It is always good to remember things are not people. It is not unreasonable to keep small things you can easily display out in the open as remembrance. Furniture is usually the challenge for many people. Decide if this is something you actually want to have in your home. Would you have purchased it? If not, it is good to let this item go on to someone else who could use it.
Periodically going through areas like closets can help from accumulating too many things. It happens to me from time to time, this is why I recommend doing a closet check every now and then. I try to do mine twice a year or more frequently if the space becomes less functional. That is my cue to get in there and see what is going on.
Let go of the “what if I need it?” If you apply this to every item in your home, you will continue to have more items than you need. Now, there is always a possibility that some time down the road you might need it but that could be years from now. It is best to live with the concept of NOW. Do I need this now?
Giving yourself a free space in your home is really a gift. This is directly connected to having a free mind. A mind free of clutter thinks clearly and creatively. As you work through this process, notice the difference in the atmosphere of your home and in your attitude. I recommend doing this in a gradual manner so that this really gives you the ability to open up yourself to the possibilities of a home that is free and clear of clutter.
