Decluttering helps you look at what you own, what you value, and what you don’t need. Decluttering your life can help you feel more organized and open up space to create room for new experiences. The more organized you are, the less likely you will feel overwhelmed by the simple task of reorganizing your clothes or shoes. Do you ever feel like you create a new problem every time you clean out one little corner of your house? If so, read on to discover a few simple tips that can help you clean out and declutter your sentimental items.
1. Take a Picture of It
Sometimes it’s hard to let go of something you love. Images can be a great way to help remember some of the things you have in your life. You can keep your things and still create a visual reminder of your memories with them. People also create shadow boxes with smaller items and photographs. Creating a shadow box or framing a special photograph will help you preserve the memory that is so dear to you.
2. Write a Description of the Item and the Memory it Invokes
This is a great way to help you remember why you have that item in your life. Maybe it’s because you have a childhood memory of the item, or maybe you like it for its design. If the item is sentimental, then write about why you like it. This will help you remember how much fun the item was when you were growing up and maybe how much of an impact it had on your life somehow. Include a photograph to help you keep the memory. If you don’t need an item anymore, write down some of your favorite memories with it.
3. Pass the Item Along to a Family Member Who Wants It
If an item has sentimental value, but you don’t need it anymore, give it to a family member. This will help you remember the item that much more. If you have an aunt or uncle who collects porcelain dolls, give them your porcelain dolls collection. Maybe they want to buy them for their collection. Maybe they’ll use the dolls in a play at school or at home with the kids. Whatever the reason, passing along meaningful items can help you remember why you bought that item in the first place and how much it meant to you.
4. Donate it to a Charity Where it will go to a Person in Need
If you don’t need the item anymore, donate it to a charity where it will go to someone who needs it. This can help you remember the item that much more. If you have a favorite ornament, then donate your ornaments to a charity or pass them down to someone who means a lot to you. If you have a box of toys sitting in your attic, maybe it is time to pass those old transformers g1 toys to a child who is going to love them. They will likely enjoy playing with them as much as you or your child once did which is a much better use of the item than it collecting dust in a box.
5. Repurpose Fabric
If you are no longer using certain clothing items but you can’t seem to part with them, turn the fabric into something useful. This will help you remember the item that much more. If you have a favorite shirt, make it into a quilt for yourself or your family. If you’re holding onto old clothing that belonged to someone who passed away you could create a quilt with the shirts you’d like to keep. You could also create throw pillow covers for your favorite lounge chair.
Conclusion
If you have any of these items, then you should keep them. If you don’t need an item anymore, give it away to someone who can use it. If you are no longer using an item that means a lot to you consider turning it into something useful or donate it to a charity where they make something useful out of your old item.
