Category: Declutter

Stop Holding Old Items.

Everybody holds on to sentimental items at some point in their lives. It might be a postcard from a friend who lived abroad, or a dried bouquet of roses from wedding. Then there are the more questionable items – perhaps you still have notes from an ex tucked away in a drawer somewhere, or a stack of medical bills you paid a while ago, but hold onto anyway in case you need a record of it.

Whatever you’re holding on to, the bigger question is this: why are you holding on to it in the first place? The answers may not be as obvious as you think.

The Connection Between Physical Clutter And Mental Clutter

Our choices in life are almost always physical manifestations of our subconscious and our emotional connection to the world around us. According to a study done by John A. Bargh and Ezequiel Morsella of Yale University, the patterns of the unconscious mind precede the conscious mind, and as a result, determine much of our behavior. Bargh and Morsella also found that the subconscious is actually not as inflexible as neuroscientists and psychologists previously believed. In fact, through cognitive behavioral therapy, we can rewire our subconscious to improve positive behaviors.

What does this have to do with clutter? A lot, actually. When we hold on to personal items, we are really holding on to an emotion that our subconscious is making a connection with. For example, you might keep a bin of old stuffed animals in your room because it reminds you of your childhood. But take a closer look and ask yourself why you can’t get rid of those stuffed animals – is it because you fear letting go of being a kid? Are you holding out hope that you’ll use them again if you have kids? Does it make you anxious to throw them away?

If the thought of letting something go causes tension, or even guilt and shame, you are actually creating subconscious drama in your mind, which could be negatively affecting your mood and wellbeing.

The Benefits Of Getting Rid Of Old Items

There are many reasons to dispose of old things. Instead of focusing on the negative (for instance, feeling upset about throwing something away), focus on how getting rid of something will improve your life. When you are mindful of the positives, you can train your brain to associate actions with positive memories. Here’s how getting rid of old items can be beneficial to your mental and ultimately physical health:

• Detachment from unpleasant, subconscious memories
• You can add new items to your home that have new meaning
• Get rid of clutter, mess, and disorganization
• Let go of expectations of your self (for example, getting rid of your old size 0 dress that fit you in high school)

When we let go objects that are actually holding us down, we can break free from our own personal shame and fear.

How To Get Rid Of Things The Right Way

It still might not be easy to throw away those binders full of notes from college – after all, you worked so hard on them! When getting rid of old stuff, psycohologists recommend doing it one by one, that way you can evaluate it’s meaning and why you need to let it go. Be honest with yourself too, and don’t let yourself feel guilt over saying goodbye to things that once symbolized so much to you. One practice to live by is the KonMari method, developed by organization queen extraordinaire Marie Kondo. Kondo suggests keeping items that bring something positive to your life, or “good vibes” you might say. These items should give you at least one of four things: truth, love, meaning, and purpose. If it doesn’t bring you any of those, it’s time to get rid of it. So stop holding on to old items and break free.

If you own or lease an urban home, you are probably somewhat cramped for space. Even some of those who live in the suburbs and rural areas find that they have an abundance of possessions and too little space to store them. If you are searching for a way to improve the look and feel of your living space, decluttering is the answer. Here’s how to declutter your urban home.

1. Prioritize

The first step to decluttering your home is to spend some time figuring out which items are worth keeping. Walk through your entire house and pick out items that are worth keeping. If you use certain possessions on a regular basis or intend to use them in the near future, label them as “keepers”. If certain items haven’t been used in years and you probably won’t use them in the short-term, put them in a “discard” pile.

2. Separate the Items That are to be Discarded

Once you have split up your possessions into the two groups described above, it is time to determine how to get rid of items that you would like to discard. Do not make the mistake of trashing everything. Some items can be donated to the needy while others might be of interest to a friend or co-worker. Separate your “discard” pile into three new piles: one for charitable donations, one for trash and one to give away to friends. This alone makes the process to declutter your urban home easier to deal with.

3. The Challenge of Bulky Item Removal and how Power Cleanouts can Help

As you clean out your home, you will inevitably face the challenge of removing bulky items and other unsavory junk. Attempting a full-fledged DIY (do it yourself) removal of these items might prove to be a grave mistake. Do yourself an enormous favor by reaching out to Power Cleanouts for a quick and safe removal of your bulky items. Power Cleanouts removes large items and other junk from homes as well as businesses. This way, you won’t have to worry about lugging those large items to the curb and worrying about whether your local trash service will ever pick them up. You can book online here.

4. Some Items can’t be put out to the Curb

Hazardous materials and certain bulky items should not be thrown in the trash or put out to the curb for removal. Electronics that are improperly discarded will inevitably leak harmful contaminants into our sensitive planet’s soil and water. Certain electronics can be returned to the retailer where they were purchased so they can be properly disposed. Other items like household cleaners, paint, batteries, pesticides, engine fluids and transmission fluids should never be put in a regular trash bin. Reach out to your local fire department for assistance with removing these dangerous items.

5. Space out Your Decluttering Project

Plenty of people fail to declutter their living space simply because a project of this magnitude is intimidating. Some assume that to declutter your urban home will take several days or weeks to complete. Though decluttering might take a while, you can facilitate the process by spacing it out over time. If you are uber-busy, consider devoting one weeknight per week to each room of your home. Eventually, you’ll get the job done and relish the newfound openness of your transformed living space.

If you want more info check out “How Clutter Can Affect Your Brain and What You can do About it”  in this excellent article from lifehacker.