Lifestyle

How to Get Rid of Sentimental Items (Without Feeling Guilty)

Sorting through sentimental items can be an emotional experience. Especially when decluttering before a move or big reorganization, it’s normal to feel regretful when saying goodbye to things that hold special memories or once belonged to loved ones. However, whether it’s clothes, trophies, or other keepsakes, it’s often these exact items that pile up and create clutter around the home. If you’re struggling to get rid of these nostalgic items, there are certain strategies that can help you sort through everything. Here are some expert-recommended steps to declutter sentimental items without regret.

  • Beth Blacker, thumbtack pro and owner of It’s Just Stuff
  • Lauren Piekos, Vice President of Business Development at Atlas Van Lines

Declutter One Area at a Time

Decluttering is hard enough, even without throwing memories into the mix. Start by focusing on just one area to make decluttering more manageable. “Always start with one cabinet, drawer, or closet at a time,” says Beth Blacker, Thumbtack pro and owner of It’s Just Stuff. Taking on too much at once can quickly become overwhelming, making it difficult to keep moving forward.

“The actual items aren’t what is difficult to let go of, it’s the emotion you’ve attached to it,” she says. “Try to keep in mind that no one is telling you to let go of the memory, just the physical object.”

Take Your Time, But Stick to a Timeline

Give yourself time to sift through things and make decisions. Take it slow, but remember that the goal is to keep up the steady momentum to declutter. It can help to set realistic timelines to get through different areas of your home.

Use the One-Year Rule

Ask yourself how important an item is and why it’s so important to you. “Ask yourself how often you use, see, or interact with the item,” says Lauren Piekos, vice president of business development at Atlas Van Lines. “If it has been stored away for over a year, it is probably time to let it go,” she adds.

Try the Three-Box Method

So, how do you decide which sentimental items to keep? Try the three-box method to stay organized when decluttering. Dedicate one box for items to keep, one to donate or sell, and another for the items that leave you feeling undecided. When it’s time to sort through the undecided box, consider more than significance. Prioritize holding onto items that are functional. If they can serve a purpose aside from simply filling a drawer or closet, then incorporate them into regular use.

Evaluate the Items’ Significance

“Not all sentimental items are created equally,” says Piekos. Heirlooms, for example, may be worth keeping as opposed to hand-me-downs. “To determine if something is an heirloom, consider its history and significance within your family,” she says. “Has it been passed down for generations, or does it have a meaningful story? If not, the item is likely cluttering your space.” Sentiments aside, if it’s an item that might also have monetary value, do some research. Whether you consult an antique dealer or get a family member’s second opinion, determining an item’s value can help you decide if it’s an heirloom worth keeping, donating, or selling. 

Find Other Ways to Hold Onto the Memories

Inevitably, there will be items that aren’t functional or significant to your family tree, but that still make you feel an emotional attachment. It’s okay to hold onto the feeling while giving up the item itself. “Take a photo of the item if that would be helpful and consider making a memory book with several of these cherished items and include short stories of what the object meant to you,” Blacker recommends. Taking a photo will help preserve the memory. If you really can’t part ways with a nostalgia-inducing item, find ways to repurpose or upcycle it into something new and useful for yourself or someone else close to you.

Be Kind to Yourself

In this day and age, we accumulate so many items—whether new, gifted, or passed down. From birthday cards to baby clothes to family china, it is hard to part ways with much of our stuff. But when it’s time to move on, remember that it’s normal for the process to be difficult. “Give yourself the space for grace and allow yourself time to reminisce about anything you do decide to let go of,” Blacker says. Let go of the guilt around letting an item go—instead, consider it a way of releasing it to find a new owner who needs or appreciates it just as much as you once did. “It’s okay to cry and feel sad, but continue to believe that you aren’t ‘throwing or giving away your life,’ you are simply trying to reduce the burden of both physical and emotional clutter,” she notes.

Call in Some Help

No one says you have to go through the decluttering process alone. Find ways you can lean on others around you for support. Maybe they can do the original sorting, leaving you just to worry about the undecided box when the time is right.

When tackling inherited items, in particular, you may want to work as a team to ensure your beloved keepsakes are passed to people who will cherish and appreciate them. Remember, you can seek assistance from professional movers or decluttering and organization experts if you’re on an immediate time crunch or an impending move-out date. Remember that decluttering is highly personal, and only you know what is truly worth keeping.


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