If you struggle with letting go of material objects, Jenny Dietsch—founder and chief executive organizer of Dallas-based Getting it Done Organizing—says the first step to combating the issue is understanding your “why.” For some, it’s the feeling that they’ll need the item again one day. For others, it’s more about what (or whom) the object represents—a loved one who has passed, perhaps, or a little one who’s not so little anymore.
“We want to hold on to emotionally significant things because they are a reminder of an era we know is going to pass or has passed—and that’s normal!” she says. “But there are ways to hold on to the memories and feelings without keeping the physical items.” Dietsch shares her tips for keeping emotional clutter at bay.
Store It!
For items you deem keep-worthy, Dietsch shares her thoughts on storing.
Corral wisely.
Not everything should be stored the same way. Papers, for example, should be kept in filing cabinets for easy access, whereas protective heavy-duty lidded bins are best for long-term storage in attics and garages.
Show some ID.
Clearly identify all bins and boxes. Dietsch recommends using a label maker or an app called Scan Your Boxes, which creates QR codes you can scan to reveal containers’ contents.
Dymo label maker
The Container store, $25
Create more space.
If you’re short on room, Dietsch’s team can craftily add more. (Think: ceiling racks in garages.) “We are experts at creating more storage space than you thought you had,” she says.
Tame It!
Ways to shed—and stop—clutter.
Say no to needless stuff.
Encourage the gifting of experiences over tangible items, and just say no to freebie T-shirts and trinkets. If it never enters your home, it can’t stay there.
Let gifts go.
Free yourself of guilt for tossing gifts that don’t work for you. “Thank the person for their generosity, and then quietly donate the item,” Dietsch says.
Get snap happy.
Taking photos or videos allows you to keep the memory, minus the clutter. (Bonus: Storing them in a cloud-based location reduces digital clutter on your phone.) “Make a memory book, music playlist, or montage to remind you of the time, but let the physical items go,” Dietsch says.
Take your time.
Purge in stages as your comfort level allows. As you revisit, Dietsch says, you may find things aren’t “as valuable in memory to you as when you originally put it in there—or you don’t need 10 things to represent that time period; maybe one will do.”
Creative Genius
For many parents, paring down children’s artwork can be an especially sensitive topic. Dietsch suggests this three-step method.
Display your favorites.
“Displaying your kids’ art in your home is the No. 1 sign that you love their work, and by extension, them!” says Dietsch, who prefers hinged display frames or hanging wires with clips “so you can rotate the pieces often.”
File the rest away.
Dietsch swears by her “holding tank” system: Place papers in a stackable drawer labeled for each child. “At the end of each year, weed through and pick the ones worth remembering,” she says. Toss or recycle the rest.
Preserve the masterpieces.
Dietsch loves Artkive for turning favorite works into a high-quality, space-saving keepsake. Their team professionally photographs each piece and creates a bound hardcover book.
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