It's likely that your sentimental items are important to you.You may not be able to use your living space to create the life you want if you accumulate too much stuff.It is hard to let sentimental items go, but you will feel better once your living space is more organized.To make it easier to let items go, consider how your living space can support your best life and evaluate each item to decide if you want to keep it.
Step 1: Why have you kept each item?
What does each item mean to you?It could remind you of a special memory or be a gift from someone special.If you think about why an item is important, you can decide if you want to keep it.You might have kept old birthday cards to remind you of how much you mean to them.You might have heirlooms that remind you of how much fun you had with your friends.
Step 2: Determine if an item makes you happy.
Don't feel pressured to keep items that are making it hard for you to live the life you want.If you have sentimental items, ask yourself if they make you happy or not.Keep items that make you happy.A loved one hand painted a decorative plate for you.You could keep this item because it makes you happy.You could let go of a flower bouquet that you caught at a wedding because it is just gathering dust.
Step 3: Do you think the gift giver would want you to be burdened?
One of the hardest things to let go is gifts, but they don't have to be.If you can remind yourself that your friends and family want you to live a happy life, you will be able to release gifts.If a gift is not serving you, give it away or sell it.The person who gave you the gift probably wants it to be used and enjoyed.If you don't use a gifted item, give it to someone who will.
Step 4: How does this item fit into your daily life?
It might be easier to let items go if you know they aren't helping you.If you ever use the item or display it as a decoration, consider it when evaluating it.Let it go if it isn't something you use or need.You have a stack of drawings that your child made.It can be difficult to get rid of these, but it may be easier if you display 1 and let the others go.You can remember their drawings with this method.
Step 5: You can get a second opinion from someone who isn't sentimental.
It might be hard to tell what is important and what isn't if you're a sentimental person.It is possible to get perspective on an item by talking to someone who isn't sentimental.If you are having trouble letting things go, ask for help.You could ask your friend to help you sort.You can take a photo and send it to someone you trust if you can't find someone to help.Should I keep this item or let it go?The back of my closet is where it has been stored.
Step 6: Let the rest go if you want to keep your most cherished items.
It is easier to pick out what you want than it is to let go.Pick out the items that you want to keep.Donate or give away the rest of the items.It will help you feel like you are creating a life that you love rather than letting go of things that are important to you.It's probably best to let it go if you feel obligated to keep it.You should only keep items that you really want.
Step 7: Give yourself some time to clear your space.
It is easy for your progress to stall if you are not able to sort the cluttered space.To keep yourself on track, set a time limit for your cleaning sessions and a goal for completing your clear out.The clear out phase of organizing your home will be prevented by this.If you want to complete your clear out in 1 weekend, you can either set a goal or give yourself a block of time.If you have a lot of stuff, you may need to clean it all out in a few days.If you're struggling, don't feel pressured to do it all in one day.
Step 8: How much space do you need to display or store?
Take a walk through your living space and imagine what you want it to look like.Consider how you want to use your space, as well as the space you have to display and store items in.How many sentimental items can you save?You need to be aware of the space you have so you can decide where to put each item.It's best to let it go if you can't find a spot for it.
Step 9: Keep items that fit in with your lifestyle.
A cluttered home can prevent you from doing what you want.How much space do you need to enjoy your hobbies and interests?Think about how each item will affect your ability to live the life you want in your home as you sort your items.Let's say you enjoy cooking.The amount of space you need to display or store cooking gear should be considered.Make sure you have easy access to your gear and ingredients.You might like playing the guitar.Make sure you have enough space to practice your guitar.
Step 10: A small space or box is ideal for sentimental items.
If sentimental items are important to you, you can keep them.Limit yourself to a small space for storage to avoidcluttering.Depending on what works best for you, display or store the items.A small shoe box is a good example of a shelf for sentimental items.
Step 11: It is easier to let items go if you share the memory of them.
It can feel like you are giving up a memory when you let go of a sentimental item.It is possible that honoring your memories will make you feel better about clearing out your stuff.Tell someone else about the memory.You don't have to hold onto the item to preserve your memories.If you want to tell a story about the item, post a photo of it on your social media account.If you have concert stubs from when you were first dating, you can send them a pic of the stubs with a comment about your favorite concert.
Step 12: Say goodbye to items you don't want to keep.
It can be easier to let an item go if you say goodbye to it.When you say goodbye, you honor the memory associated with the item you are letting go.As you sort your items, say goodbye to one item at a time.Marie Kondo encourages people to say thank you to items they no longer need.
Step 13: You can collect photos of sentimental items.
Take a photo of the items you are releasing.When snapping a photo, save it to a digital folder so you can look at it whenever you please.Shoot special items instead of saving them to avoid creating more confusion.You could save 1 drawing that your child made and take a picture of the rest.Let's say your grandparents left you a bunch of dishes you don't like.If you take a picture of the dishes on the table, you can donate them to someone who will care for them.
Step 14: You can give away items you don't need.
If you know your items are going to a good home, it will be easier to let go of them.Check with your family and friends to see if they want heirlooms.Take your remaining items to a charity that helps people in need or a thrift shop that sells used goods.You can sell your items at a garage sale.Don't bring unsold items into your home.