I’ll be the first to admit it: I have a tiny problem with holding onto sentimental stuff. Tickets to the first concert I went to with my now husband? Chilling in the bottom of a random “memory box” of course. The hoodie I haven’t worn since high school but reminds me of my speech and debate days? Yep, still chilling in my closet a decade later. And don’t even get me started on the box of birthday cards from people I haven’t spoken to in years guys… we all know it isn’t the most logical thing but something about the memories just makes it so hard to let go of the items.
And as hard as it is to declutter them it is worth it if they are cluttering up your home and living spaces. They are probably creating a chaotic an emotionally charged environment in your home. And it will feel so good when you have brought down your sentimental item supplies to a reasonable level.
Decluttering sentimental items is truly an emotional rollercoaster and there is nothing I can say that will make it a totally emotion-less process. And that is okay!
But there are things we can do to make it less emotionally draining. Which is what we are going to focus on today. Below I chat with you all about how you can declutter sentimental items with love and the least amount of emotional tugging as possible.
So let’s get into it so you can start decluttering-
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How To Declutter Sentimental Items With Love
Guide to decluttering sentimental pieces:
Tip 1: Start with the easiest items!
Don’t stress yourself out right away. Start the process of decluttering items with notably less sentimental value than others.
Instead of going right to a box of childhood items from your parents try going through event t-shirts first. Get into the grove of decluttering and dealing with sentimental items.
Remember- you do not HAVE to get rid of anything. But sadly sentimental items can quickly clutter up our homes to the point we can’t live in the environment that we want to and will thrive in. So start slow and begin with items that don’t tug at your heart as much as others.
Tip 2: Keep the memory not the item
Most of the sentimental items that we are holding onto are because of the memory behind them not the actual, physical item.
But keeping those memories does not require you to keep the item. You can preserve the memory in so many different ways, and which way works best definitely depends on you and the item itself.
Here are some of my favorite ways to preserve an items memory without storing the item-
- Take a picture and/or video of the item. And store it digitally! I do recommend storing these sentimental pictures and videos on at least two different places- ideally a physical hard drive as well as a virtual cloud.
- Write about it! Write down the memory and the things you want to remember about the item in a memory journal.
- Record the story. Just use your phone and voice record (or video yourself) telling the story of them item and the memory that it holds for you.
Tip 3: Set a one box limit
Realistically we are all going to have some “top” items that we can never declutter. Items that hold strong emotional value. And that is okay!
But setting a limit on how many/ how much sentimental items you can keep in your home can be life changing. I recommend assigning one box or tub to memory items. And making that a hard limit for how much you can keep.
This allows you to not feel like you are getting rid of all your memories but also being realistic about how much should be kept.
Tip 4: Repurpose Items into Something Meaningful
Really can’t get rid of it? Maybe you could repurpose it into something you can use or at least will take up less space in your home.
Let’s talk about a couple of examples of this-
- Old T-shirts & fabric → Turn them into a quilt or pillow.
- Letters & notes → Compile them into a scrapbook or framed collage.
- Jewelry & trinkets → Repurpose them into a wearable piece.
- Books & records → Display a few favorites instead of storing them all.
Also of course I recommend heading over to Pinterest for inspiration for your specific items! Chances are someone has already came up with an awesome idea you can use!
Tip 5: Pass It On to Someone Who Will Treasure It
Sometimes, parting with sentimental items is easier when you know they’ll be appreciated by someone else!!
If the item is a family item try passing it along to a younger sibling or cousin that will cherish it. Especially if it’s something like household items!
Donating clothes and jewelry to those in need can make that part feel so much easier on your soul. Same with childhood toys and books- you won’t ever use them again but they could mean so much to children in need!
Knowing that an item will continue its story with someone else can make letting go feel like a gift rather than a loss.
Tip 6: Release Guilt About Gifts & Inherited Items
It’s common to hold onto things because they were gifts from loved ones or inherited treasures, even if we don’t use or love them. But guys, keeping something out of guilt isn’t honoring its true purpose.
The person who gave it to you gifted it hoping to bring you joy not to burden you. And at the end of the day it is just a physical item. You have/had an valuable relationship with them and that doesn’t disappear if you get rid of the item.
You can honor a person’s memory without keeping everything they owned!!
Tip 7: Remind Yourself: You’re Creating Space for What Matters Most
Letting go of sentimental items doesn’t mean forgetting. It means choosing to focus on the present and future, rather than holding onto the past through physical objects.
Picture how much lighter you will feel with less clutter surrounding you and know that even in that situation all those valuable memories will stay with you no matter what.
Every item you release makes room for new experiences, new memories, and a home filled with only the things you truly love.
Korra-Shay
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