Hell on earth: decluttering items with emotional value

This is how you can do it

I don't know about you, but I am one of those idiots on earth who can almost cry when it's time to put away stuffed animals. Yes, stuffed animals, you read that right. I'm packing all my things to move in with my boy soon and HELP, I'm having an annoyingly hard time decluttering. I'm not going to throw away my old diaries, am I? And that cute plush skull monkey that I once got from that friend? For the first time, I realize that items with emotional value cleaning up are a downright hell. A hell in which you have to be strict.

So I went looking for the best tips to say goodbye to the emotional stuff from my youth. Moving soon too? I would say: definitely read on.

Step 1: repeat this sentence as a mantra in your head…

“You can throw away items without losing the nice memories of the past. You can throw away items without losing the nice memories of the past. You can throw away i…”

Take your last moment with the object

Ah, those worn-out shoes with which you stole the show at school for three years. All your friends wanted to borrow them. You still love them. Just wear them one more time, send a photo to that friend and laugh about it together. Even now you will see: it's not about the material, but about the memory.

Actually, you will gradually realize that you are being overly dramatic

Look, I understand that your grandma's gold bracelet is dear to you, that can stay. But that chewed-up wicker chair because it also belonged to your grandma? Really? Often you make it a lot more sentimental in your head than it is. You need to ask yourself if you are really going to use it. If the answer is no? Then it can't come with you.

Test: if my house is on fire and I could quickly grab three items with emotional value…

…then I would choose that whole box of old crafts from the past, because nice for the memory? No. Think of it this way. Your house is on fire. Make choices, girlfriend. And if you really can't help it, take only the absolute best craft with you. For the rest, just take a photo. Also of all those old love letters. By the way, you can also scan all the ‘papers’ you are attached to and save them on a hard drive. You can always read them later.

Do you know that feeling, that you find it ‘sad’ to throw away items? Consider this

Items do nothing, can do nothing, and have no will. Items have no feelings, do not argue with you, and do not make things difficult. Items do not go away and certainly do not die. And especially: items have no trouble letting go. They don't care, because they have no opinion, because they are lifeless. You are in control of what is in your home, comprende? Finally, read this again: 7 golden basic tips for easy decluttering.

So, and now with all that junk in the container. Good luck!