Most of us keep sentimental items around- photos, cards, gifts, mementos and a plethora of knick knacks. For many, sentimental items serve as a reminder of the past and evoke different emotions. While it can be comforting to have those items close by, the truth is the more you have the more cluttered your home becomes. If you cross the line between sentimentally attached and sentimental hoarder, you can quickly find yourself drowning in tangibles and choices.
When sentimentality gets in the way of normalcy and catharsis, it’s time to create some space and let go of sentimental items. Read on to learn how to embrace change and understand the grounding power of freeing yourself from the physical things that serve as tethers to the past.
Understand Why You’re Attached
The first step in learning how to let go of sentimental items is recognizing why we’re attached to them in the first place. Some items represent memories and moments, whether it be the notes from your first love or the tickets for your first concert, thinking about these items makes you feel a connection to the past. Additionally, many items serve as reminders of events and even people, providing comfort and security to have them around.
When an item in particular has special significance, and is attached to a memory or person, or event, it can feel like letting go means giving up an emotion or a part of a memory, as well.
Categorize and Prioritize
No one will be able to tell you what deserves to stay and what needs to go. To make the process easier, categorize your items into themselves:
-
Absolutely Necessary: Keep this group of items to a minimum, these are things you can’t realistically part with.
-
Sentimental Keepsakes: There are many items with significant memories attached to them, from art projects from your children to photos from when you were young.
-
Negatively-Influencing Items: These are items that may serve as reminders of a place, experience, or circumstance that we don’t necessarily want to remember.
-
Miscellaneous: Everything else.
Prioritizing these items can help make the decision to let go easier. Ask yourself, “If I don’t keep this item, will I really miss it? Are there any other ways I can reminisce about the memories associated with it other than keeping it around forever?”
Letting Go of Sentimental Items
Once you’ve categorized and prioritized your items, it’s time to make a plan on how to let go of the sentimental items that no longer serve you. Here are four approaches to consider:
-
Keep Sparingly: Instead of keeping items in bulk, limit yourself to a few favorites to serve as reminders of that memory.
-
Take a Picture: Get a picture or scan the item and store it digitally, or print out a copy and frame it in an album or scrapbook.
-
Repurpose or Hide Items: If you can’t bear to part with an item take an artistic approach. Transform it into something new, an ornament, a jewelry box, or pillows. Or, keep the item tucked away, where you can access it when you need it.
-
Give it Away: Pass a sentimental item down to a family member or give it away to a charity, or add a sentimental value of the item to a gift.
Finally, take some time for self-reflection and understand why you’re attached to certain items. Once you know what it is about certain items, letting go will become easier.
Making the Choice to Part with Sentimental Items
Making the decision to let go of sentimental items can be difficult, but the rewards can be tremendous. Freeing yourself from the physical clutter can open up an array of possibilities and land sparkling new opportunities. Establishing KonMari rituals for paring down sentimental items can give you more room for growth and change, as well as provide a more peaceful living environment.
Get Support From Friends and Family
While this process should ultimately be up to you and driven by a personal decision, consider tapping into your family, friends and mentors for help. Ask them to support your decision, in terms of helping find new homes or appreciating your efforts, they can provide insight and encourage you to move through the process.
Parting With Sentimental Items
Parting with sentimental items is never easy. But by understanding why sentimental items are important to us, categorizing and prioritizing, and enlisting the help of friends and family, we can shift our emotions and let go of attachments to things that don’t help us live our best life.
Letting go of sentimental items can be a challenge. But by recognizing why we’re attached to those items, developing strategies to maintain the memories associated with them, and engaging support from family and friends, you can face the challenge head on and free yourself from physical clutter, to make room in your home and your heart.
