It is so easy to attach such strong memories to stuff that we can begin to equate the person with the things. Letting go of the past isnt easy but it is necessary in order to move forward. There are far too many storage units full of belongings of people who have passed because no one wants to deal with it. Marie Kondos organization method have reshaped tidying habits worldwide, but what happens when it comes to clearing sentimental pieces? Make the task easier by saving sentimental items for last when youve experienced some decluttering successes and built momentum. Hold on to the rest with absolute certainty! The most important thing to remember when youre decluttering sentimental items is that the item isnt whats important its the memory. If you are holding onto things for that reason, have an open conversation with the family member you think wants it. One of my very favorite suggestions that Marie Kondo makes in her book is that you should find some way to display your favorite sentimental items, even if youre the only one who ever sees it. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. A collection of pretty photo albums will look great sitting on any shelf in your home, and youre much more likely to enjoy the photos that way. I know many of you arent working at the quick pace that I was (Ive been doing one category a week! You can donate clothing, furniture, dinnerware, and a whole lot more to charities and other organizations that help people in need. Terms and Conditions apply. Place a piece of fabric from a favourite fishing shirt, a photo of him fishing, and a lucky lure in it. Clutter is a registered trademark of Clutter, Inc. 7 Easy Spring Cleaning Hacks For People Who Hate Cleaning, where to donate clothes, books, furniture, toys, cell phones, and more, here are some tips for making sure fragile items stay as safe as possible. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a441aae40770c7414ee077d63a1ad9c6" );document.getElementById("b9e048ea92").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. Can I repurpose it into something useful? While looking at photos of said sentimental items because we can also create an online catalog of everything you have in storage. And thats ok. For items that are more valuable, you could consider selling them, but be aware that this will take extra time, effort, and energy (and things often arent worth what we think they are). You dont have to go through every single detail at this point, but do go ahead and make decisions on all of the bigger items. Learn more, 2022 Clutter, Inc. California, CA If youre decluttering your home and need some help, check out my workshop 30 Days to a Tidy{er} Home. to ask what sparks joy will help you decide which items hold genuine value. Weve got you covered with those special items you just cant bear to let go of. That is not to say that everything needs to go. I'm Julianna. }); As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I promise this post isnt about getting rid of your memories! But if you are able to, emailing or calling the person with whom you shared that special memory can be better than just hanging on to the object itself. Okay, as mentioned before, no one said this would be easy. Sometimes we hang onto sentimental things that are sentimental in a bad way. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Overwhelmed by DIY? Not sure where to donate a specific item? Each one of those emails breaks my heart. Let your imagination go wild on this one. Am I honoring the past by holding onto this object, or am I avoiding the present? If you have some plates your ex gave you that you absolutely hate, take a hammer to them and make them into something you do love. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); To find out more about Heather, click here. All that being said, Id like to recommend you watch this weeks video to learn about how I keep sentimental items in my home without taking up too much space. Theres nothing wrong with keeping sentimental items to honour your past. Build a mixed media sculpture out of your old stuffed animals. Aside from the ceremoniously trash stuff tip, this might be the most fun option. To push past any lingering uncertainty, try asking a few additional questions like: Why is it hard for me to let go of this heirloom? Now you can take a trip down memory lane whenever you want without sacrificing space in your home to do it. Keeping your favourite 1-5 items almost always invokes all the same memories as keeping the whole collection. Another option is to post in your local buy nothing group. 6 of the Best Articles on Decluttering | Live Organized, Live Simple, How the buy nothing project helps me simplify - The Simplicity Habit, Reasons you keep clutter and how to overcome them - The Simplicity Habit, The best ways to responsibly donate your clutter - The Simplicity Habit, Methods for decluttering your entire home - The Simplicity Habit, What simplicity looks like - The Simplicity Habit, Easy things to declutter from your home - The Simplicity Habit, Why emotional clutter is difficult and how to let it go - The Simplicity Habit, Why minimalism is the right fit for me - The Simplicity Habit, How to help kids who struggle with decluttering - The Simplicity Habit, Decluttering lies and the truths that will set you free - The Simplicity Habit, The most popular decluttering and simplifying posts of the year - The Simplicity Habit, How to simplify and organize paperwork in your home - The Simplicity Habit, Decluttering mistakes you need to stop making - The Simplicity Habit, How to declutter when you love your stuff - The Simplicity Habit, How reverse decluttering can help you downsize - The Simplicity Habit, What extreme decluttering is and how to know if it's for you - The Simplicity Habit, The best ways to dispose of your clutter - The Simplicity Habit, 5 Steps to Declutter Your Attic and Repurpose the Space, How to Make Your Home Feel Like An Airbnb, 7 Ways Sustainability and Minimalism Go Hand in Hand, How to Start Decluttering Your House: A Room by Room Guide, How to Streamline Your Kitchen to Maximize Efficiency. Duis iaculis vel magna tristique amet iaculis: We'll let you know when we come your way. Your email address will not be published. When letting go of an item associated with a lot of memories, its important to say a heartfelt thank you. Marie often reminds KonMari Method beginners that successfully tidying up requires that we keep the focus firmly on ourselves. These items are reminders of different people, places and times from our life. As you move through the category, dont force yourself to let go of anything youre not sure about. Printed photos that are too hard to keep? Tuck little mementos or figurines into your makeup drawer, your t-shirt drawer, or a cabinet in your home. You will also receive bi-weekly emails highlighting the latest blog posts, organizing products and practical tips that maximize space, optimize time and simplify life. It accomplishes the same thing, just takes up less space and, lets be honest, probably looks nicer too. Theyll love seeing their artwork in a book and youll love that its not taking over your entire house! Lets do a quick recap of everything weve talked about so far. And here are some tips for making sure fragile items stay as safe as possible. This is a great way to get the excess clutter out of your home if its something youre struggling with, and I cant recommend it highly enough! Get handy organizational tips and space-saving hacks delivered straight to your inbox. Do I want it to be a part of my life going forward. Most recently, I received an email from someone who has some memory issues and the sentimental items in her home are the only way she can hold on to those precious memories she was wondering if that was alright. This category is one that I get so many emails about. Celebrate the progress you have already made and trust in how that same progress has developed your power to discern whats truly joyful. The strong feelings attached to these things make it difficult to let them go. Of course, some mementos inspire us to work on becoming the best versions of ourselves. Just be aware of limiting your space and have boundaries with what youre willing to keep. Once you are practiced at making decisions and have gone through the process in other rooms, it will make it easier to decide what sentimental items to keep. Some people email me to say that they just cant imagine letting go of some of their beloved possessions, and do I think its okay if they just keep it? The Konmari method is all about getting rid of the excess. Now my favourite shirt has a new purpose and I get to enjoy it every time my daughter crafts! Another option, if you feel more attached to a memory rather than an object, is to reach out to that person. If you need to keep everything, figure out what you want displayed, what can go in hiding, and what can go in more long-term storage. Try keeping them in a nice box or album and storing them in a place that sparks joy, like a bookshelf or coffee table, Marie suggests. I hope this series was as fun for you as it was for me I really enjoyed diving back into the Konmari world, and my house is feeling so much cleaner (hopefully yours is too!). Approach this category with an understanding that, by organizing these mementos, you will feel more grounded in the life youve built a life that is worth celebrating. As you start to address some of your more difficult sentimental items, start by reminding yourself that mementos are not memories. If deep inside you know an item has already served its purpose, let it go with a send-off ritual to make saying goodbye easier. We allow more space in our lives. But once you realize your memories are independent of the objects you associate them with, its much easier to let the physical reminders go. Your email address will not be published. Join and be the first to learn about new product launches, get Maries tidying tips and hear about our exclusive joy-sparking collaborations. Want to keep up to date on the latest Simplicity Habit information? Turn that old love letter into a collage. Once you let go of the idea that displaying something has to mean its visible to everyone, youll find that there are a million way to repurpose your sentimental items into things around your house that youll see and love every day. to make saying goodbye easier. If I had an image of it, would that be enough? Kids love to create and they often want to keep everything. Does this object still have life? While Ms. Kondo admits that parting with emotional objects can be hard, it is possible to clear them without guilt. If you are just finding this post and youre new to the Konmari method, please go back and read this introductory post to help you get acquainted with what Im talking about and why its so effective. It might even feel therapeutic. As a bonus, you could even take artsy photos and display them in a gallery wall (something like this), so you can see the items all the time. However, unlike her other living room storage ideas, throwing away sentimental items requires an extra step. If you know you want to hang onto it, but you cant stand it taking up any more space in your home, we might know someone who can help. Throughout his career, Marc has conducted hundreds of interviews with celebrities including Helen Mirren and Hugh Jackman. Journal entries from a tough breakup? Its best to keep them on two different hard drives and somewhere in the cloud, to make sure all your bases are covered. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. If you keep everything, then nothing is important. Deciding to let go of items that are no longer of use or beauty to us is freeing. function ml_webform_success_1378204() { Set it aside in a maybe pile to return to later and move on. But do it safely. Welcome! Introducing the Shutterfly x KonMari Exclusive Product Collaboration. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. If that means youve now taken a ton of pictures that you will never do anything with that will further burden you, then dont do it. This is a game-changer if you struggle to get your home organized. Do I feel connected to this item or to the memory it represents? Keep them in plain sight so that you can reach for them often. Privacy. This is a win-win situation: You get more space in your home, and your friends save money on stuff they were going to buy anyway. I am going to say that again. Picking just a few items that have great meaning to you means they get to shine and arent lost in the mess of all of the other things. You will feel better letting things go if you know they are going to a good cause. Much like you used t. to handle other categories in the home, we recommend collecting them together in one place. Click here to learn more and if youre interested in a quick sample, CLICK HERE to get the first week for FREE! Sometimes we are hanging on to the past. Giving sincere thanks to an item will significantly reduce or even eliminate any guilt you may feel when you decide that you will no longer have it in your home, she explains. Maybe youre hanging onto love letters from your 9th grade boyfriend, like I am. Some people like to take pictures of items before they let them go. Tips, tricks, and endless ways to make more space in your life. Sometimes we hold onto things because we incorrectly believe that someone else in the family will want those items. Lets live lightly, freely, courageously, surrounded only by what brings joy, simplicity, and beauty. Shauna Niequist. I've taught myself how to make simple updates to help make my house a home, and I want to show you how to do it, too. If not, look into local museums and historical societies to see if they would be interested in the items. In addition to contributing celebrity content to Homes & Gardens, Marc serves as a weekly co-host for iHeart Radio's 'Naughty but Nice' podcast. By discarding what doesnt spark joy, we free up space to reflect more deeply on our past experiences and to recognize how theyve prepared us for whatever comes next. That can be from our own past experiences or from people who are no longer with us. Decluttering all sentimental items at once will leave you physically and emotionally drained. You can watch as I go through all of our mementos and memories and see some of my tips and tricks for deciding what to keep and what to purge so that the things I do have left are just the most precious memories. Think of ways you can repurpose an item that will honour the memory or person from your past and align with the life and space you have now. Join BirchTrees mailing list and receive a FREE Organizing Guide & Worksheet: a step-by-step outline to organize anything that is FULL of insider tips to maximize your time, effort and results. If you have stuff thats too hard to keep emotionally, someone who doesnt have that attachment will be able to use it in a practical way. I shared a lot of these tips in the video, but if youre unable to watch, here are the highlights: Things like old sports trophies, that cute stuffed bear youve had forever thats literally falling apart, and the vase you painted with your best friend in college are all sweet things to hold on to but if you arent actively displaying them, you may be better off just snapping a photo. It will help guide you from overwhelmed to a simple step by step plan. We definitely dont condone lighting anything on fire definitely not outside, in a controlled, well-ventilated area . Learn more about becoming a Certified Consultant and sharing your love of tidying with the world. formId: '5d839e061f3845000f2e624c', As you move through the category, dont force yourself to let go of anything youre not sure about. An exception to doing sentimental items last would be handling sentimental items when a close relative or friend passes away and you are responsible for dealing with their belongings. When sorting through sentimental items, some things youll immediately see and think, Why did I hang onto this for so long? Other things youll come across might take you a moment to figure out if youre ready to let go. This article was written by Hannah Van Arsdale, a freelance writer and dog person based in Portland, OR. And for more organizational advice from Marie, we're looking towards her recent book Joy at Work. Learn more about becoming a certified KonMari Consultant and sharing your love of tidying with the world. Once youve reached out to the person and taken a photo of the object, let go of that object. And with all the time you save from not buying boxes to pack, not driving to a self-storage unit, and not heading back when you need something, youll have more time to call the person all those sentimental items remind you of. ), so you may still have a few to go. Maries interior design tips (opens in new tab) allow you to part with sentimental items without any guilt and in a sustainable way. With this week complete, weve gone through the entire Konmari method and it feels so good! That means taking personal responsibility for deciding what sparks joy and what we can discard from our lives. Just make sure you store the photos somewhere secure, and back them up too. These are the sentimental items that spark joy and they deserve a designated place in your home. She highlights the importance of finding a permanent home for your object to ensure your space remains organized long after cleaning.