CC0 Licensed Image Courtesy of Freepik
Letting go of valuables can be pretty hard, especially if there is meaning behind them. However, hanging on to the past isn’t good for mental health, and too much clutter can be bad for physical health. Combined, owning too much can get in the way of living a healthy lifestyle and can lead to issues such as hoarding. So what can you do? There are a few methods that can make the process easier, from creating digital memorabilia to designating a container for your items.
Table of Contents
Selecting the Best to Keep
It can be surprising how much you can acquire, even in a short space of time. Antiques, China and even tools are valuable these days, and they can find good homes when you choose to let them go. Even if you are thinking, “I can sell my gold to make some money”, you might want to keep the best for yourself for sentimental reasons or financial gain later. A minimalist approach in life isn’t just about space; it’s about intention. Getting rid of excess can hold you back.
Letting Go of Valuables with Digital Memorabilia
Around 60% of people keep items for sentimental reasons, but sentimentality is about memory, not physical presence. If there are sentimental items, it can help to preserve the memories, without the burden of physical storage or household clutter, with a digital memory book:
- Use natural sunlight and photograph in an uncluttered and clean space.
- Use a high-DPI flatbed scanner to capture documents and photographs.
- Save images in clearly labelled folders and back them up to cloud storage.
Gifting Items that will be Appreciated
You don’t have to just throw stuff away when you want to let go. Although this can help, it will add to landfill waste, which is a shame if something can be used by someone else. When it comes to items like clothing, jewellery or even book collections, others can enjoy these items just as much as you did. Family members especially will appreciate gifts that have been passed along, as they understand how much they mean to you and how hard it can be to let them go.
Decluttering with Gratitude
Decluttering is an essential part of clearing the home to clear your mind. Most people enjoy an annual spring clean, and it is a perfect time to organise your home. However, there might be some items you are unsure about getting rid of right now, and it could be because of some unresolved memories surrounding them. One reliable method that people use to let go of sentimental items is to acknowledge the purpose the item fulfilled and say goodbye to it.
Letting Go of Valuables You Don’t Use
It’s pretty easy to end up with loads of things you don’t need anymore or even use. Some people are making good extra money selling stuff they don’t need, and it can help make life easier, such as helping with the cost of living in the UK, where even food is at a premium!
The limbo box method
One of the most powerful ways to let go of things you don’t use is to put them in a box and seal it. If you don’t use anything from the limbo within six months, then you probably don’t need it.
Seasonal sorting
If you dress seasonally, then you can make some extra cash by selling your stuff. This can bet you some serious money as you embrace another season rather than dwelling on the past.
Outdated electronics
Before you have even figured out your new phone, the next model is out! Outdated electronics are always in demand as people want to pay less for desirable items that you can just let go of.
It doesn’t do you any good to hang on to stuff that just clutters up the house. There are tons of things most people do this with, and most can be sold or donated. These include seasonal clothing and outdated electronics that you can even put into a limbo box to see if you use them.
Repurposing Your Pieces
Like passing some items on, there are also items that can be reused in many creative ways. For example, vintage clothing that is long past its wearable days can be made into fabrics for other fashion items or even a family quilt. Of course, jewellery pieces can be sewn into fashion items too, immediately elevating their style and function. This allows you to keep the sentimentality around while also helping move on through using items in unique ways.
Recognizing Long-Term Costs
It is believed by some that there is genuine stress behind buying items in the first place and keeping them for sentimental reasons. As such, the real cost of an item isn’t the price tag, it’s the pin associated with it. The money you spend on an item is gone, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Recognising this can help you move on, but the associated mental strain will hold you back, so consider the real long-term costs of holding onto something with memories.
Letting Go of Valuables with the Container Method
A survey in the UK found that 90% of people admit to having clutter in their homes. Sentimental attachments to items are one of the biggest factors in this, but you can actually use a simple method to let go of something without clutter taking over your life and your home:
- Choose a container large enough for a few sentimental items you value.
- Add what you want to keep to the container, and that container only.
- When you want to add more, you must remove some things from the container.
Ongoing Changes throughout Life
Throughout your life, your personal sense of style, tastes and interests will change. So is there any point in hanging onto anything? By focusing on what you want in life right now, you can more easily decide whether to move on from a memory or keep it for a while longer. While sorting your valuables, ask yourself if you would buy this item now or if you would discard it. This can help force you into seeing the true value of something by keeping the things you need.
Summary
Going through your stuff and selecting the very best to keep can help you decide what to sell when letting go of valuables. You can also use methods like the limbo box to see what you really appreciate, and try to focus on keeping the things that serve you in your current life stage.
