Minimalism is a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of focusing on what truly matters and reducing the amount of sentimental items we accumulate. It involves defining our priorities and focusing on what truly matters. To begin, decluttering our homes and setting aside unnecessary items can be a helpful step towards living a minimalistic life.
To simplify sentimental items, it is essential to focus on what is meaningful and valuable to us. This can be achieved by taking pictures of items we want to remember or scanning old photographs of them. By letting go of sentimental items, we can free ourselves from guilt and create space for what matters most.
One of the key aspects of minimalism is understanding that less is different than none, that memories do not exist in the item, and that our emotional attachment to them is not a barrier. By learning to separate the emotion from the item, we can free ourselves from guilt and let go of sentimental clutter.
Sentimental items are scattered throughout our lives, and while small independently are large, they are all together. A step-by-step guide and helpful tips can help you declutter sentimental items without guilt or fear of forgetting, creating space for what matters most.
Minimalism is not a philosophy that seeks to reduce everything to its functional value; instead, it is about holding onto things that are meaningful or valuable to you. By focusing on what truly matters and letting go of sentimental clutter, you can create a life that you love today.
📹 Letting Go of Sentimental Items
In this video I talk about our relationship with things – specifically the things that we have a deep emotional connection with.
Does minimalism help ADHD?
Minimalism offers several benefits, including fostering clarity amidst chaos, encouraging mindful consumption, prioritizing and organizing resources, and reducing overwhelm and sensory overload. It helps individuals with ADHD maintain focus and clarity by decluttering their physical spaces, allowing them to harness their creative energy more effectively. Mindful consumption helps reduce overwhelm and sensory overload by being more conscious of what they consume, whether it’s material possessions, information, or relationships. Minimalism also helps individuals prioritize and organize their resources, creating more spaciousness for the things that truly matter.
How to emotionally detach from objects?
Clutter can hold emotional weight, making it difficult to let go. To overcome this, one can reflect on attachment, start small, seek support, practice gratitude, and visualize an ideal environment. A minimalist living mindset can help, as is regular decluttering and reorganization. Understanding the psychological impact of clutter on the mind and emotions is crucial. Clutter can remind us of past experiences, people, or places, making it difficult to let go.
However, holding onto clutter can prevent us from moving forward and creating a peaceful living space. To overcome this emotional attachment, one can explore the reasons behind their emotional connection, such as holding onto items as happy memories or fear of forgetting someone or something. By acknowledging these emotions, one can detach from the physical items and find alternative ways to preserve memories.
How to emotionally detach from clutter?
To achieve a peaceful and clutter-free environment, one should reflect on their attachment to certain items and understand that memories are not tied to physical objects but to experiences and feelings associated with them. Start small by decluttering less sentimental items to build momentum and confidence, gradually working towards more emotionally charged belongings. Seek support from friends or family members to provide encouragement and accountability during the process.
Practice gratitude by shifting focus from letting go of items to the space, clarity, and peace gained from decluttering. Visualize your ideal space and use this vision as motivation to let go of items that no longer serve you. By addressing resistance and employing these strategies, one can begin the journey towards a clutter-free haven. Traditional decluttering strategies involve embracing decluttering techniques and a minimalist living mindset.
What is the 90 rule for minimalism?
The 90/90 rule, as devised by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus of The Minimalists, represents a systematic approach to decluttering. It entails posing two questions about each object: first, whether it has been utilized within the past 90 days; and second, whether it is likely to be utilized within the next 90 days. This rule is particularly useful in instances where JavaScript is disabled or blocked by an extension.
How to stop getting emotionally attached to items?
It is recommended that individuals consider donating or selling unused items in lieu of discarding them, as doing so can provide a sense of purpose and facilitate the emotional process of letting go. This alternative to discarding items has the potential to assist those in need.
How to sort through sentimental clutter?
To make parting with sentimental clutter easier, take pictures of items, write descriptions of them, pass them along to family members who want them, donate them to a charity, or transform old clothes or fabrics into useful items like quilts. These items can become burdens over time, so it’s important to tackle them last when decluttering your home. Sorting through them will take more time and be tougher than other projects. By following these tips and strategies, you can make letting go of sentimental clutter easier and create a more organized and enjoyable space.
Why do I get sentimental over objects?
It’s normal to attach sentimental meaning to things in our lives, especially those that remind us of memories or those tied to loved ones. However, this attachment can be more common in relationships than we realize, as each person processes emotions differently. For example, a more sentimental person may feel less connection to things and can let them go more quickly, while a less sentimental person may be more attached to them.
How to overcome sentimentality?
The article offers seven tips to get rid of sentimental items: start with an easy space, remember that you are getting rid of the item, find closure by using the item one last time, keep items that bring joy, recognize meaningful items, and digitize memories. Brown recommends asking three questions when taking stock of sentimental clutter: would you buy the item yourself, would you keep it as a gift, and if it evokes happy memories? If you answer no to more than one question, you should get rid of the item. Remember that you are not giving away the person’s love or affection.
What to do with sentimental items minimalist?
We are more than our possessions; our memories are within us, not within our things. Holding onto sentimental items can imprison us, while letting go is freeing. To remember items, take pictures or scan old photographs. Sentiment items can be useful for someone else, but the danger of sentimentality is more subtle. If you want to get rid of an item that is weighing on you for sentimental reasons, it may be time to free yourself of the weight. However, not all items should be discarded.
For example, when returning to Ohio, I had four boxes of my mother’s photographs that I later scanned and saved online. These photos are now digital, allowing them to be used in digital picture frames and never be destroyed in a fire.
How to stop being overly sentimental?
Emotional resilience is a vital component of overall well-being. The process of emotional resilience entails the management of emotions, the practice of mindfulness, the keeping of a journal, the avoidance of taking things personally, the exercise of self-acceptance, the coping with distress, the practice of self-care, and the seeking of support to navigate sensitivity and support in various aspects of life.
What is the 20 20 rule in minimalism?
Over the past few years, the couple has been reducing their just-in-case possessions, ensuring they don’t pack anything just in case. They believe that any items we need can be replaced for less than $20 in less than 20 minutes from their current location. This theory has been proven to be true 100 times, with no replacements needed and no longer requiring more than $20 or going more than 20 minutes. This theory is likely applicable to all items and people, including the couple.
The couple hasn’t missed the hundreds of just-in-case items they’ve gotten rid of, and most didn’t need to be replaced. Getting rid of these items clears their minds, frees up space, and takes the weight off their shoulders.
📹 How to let go of sentimental items » MINIMALISM & DECLUTTERING Tips
Want to know how to let go of sentimental items? This video tells you everything you need to know. So set yourself up for some …
I used to have three sentimental items from my grandfather: an old car from the 80s, one grey cardigan and a pair of classes. I was very much attached to those things, especially the car. And I feel it was an unhealthy attachment, manly because I didn’t use that car and it was just rotting in the front yard. When my mother told me she was selling the car, I was really angry at her. “How can she sell it? It’s important to me and one day I will restore it!”, I used to think. But then I realised something: that car would become too much of a burden to me if I decided to keep it and it was not going to be a good memory. After discovering minimalism, I could finally let go of it. The cardigan was a little easier to let go, because I had already learned that lesson with the car. I forgot it outside one day and my dog tore the shit out of it. I wasn’t pissed or angry, just a little sad. It was a fine piece of clothing and I liked to wear it. And what happened to the glasses, you ask? Nothing. I’m still wearing them every single day. I don’t want them to break, of course, I want to wear them forever. But I know that one day they might break, as every material thing does, and if that happens, I will be grateful to have been able worn them for so long. Thanks for your insights, Matt! Keep up the good work.
This might be overboard-but I’ve started recognizing the things (sometimes literal trash) that if kept for too long can rack up sentimental value based SOLEY on the fact that I’ve kept it for this long! Now I recognize the things that could rack up empty sentimental value if I keep it too long (coffee sleeves, little pamphlets…a gah-damn pencil from high school??) and get rid of them before they attach 😂
Realizing that most sentimental items really wouldn’t be missed was a great way for me to throw them away. That baby blanket? Throw away. The highschool yearbooks? Throw away. College sweaters and clothes? Throw. Away. But there are somethings that i keep. I have a small printed book that i drew and wrote in the 4th grade. I have another small book that i wrote and drew in the 1st grade. But other things such as real books that i used to collect after i read them i donated them all. Even social media things i have decluttered. I guess it also helped that my previus boss was extremely neat and tidy so he kind of discplined me to be neat and tidy. Not just the things on my desk, but the way i wrote emails, the way i organized my emails and whatnot. The photos on my phone, even the way my computer desktop looks like. Clothes are kinda important to me butttt i guess instead of buying trendy clothes, i just look for “timeless” pieces that are way more expensive but fit me and will last a long time. It’s kind of nice being able to shop like that. Plus i don’t have to keep clearing out my closet every year. WOW WHO IS GOING TO READ THIS -_- haha
I took photos of my 93 pickup before we sold it. It was my first car and in the 2 years of owning I grew attached to it. But it had alot of problems because the past owner, my sis, does not know how to take care of cars lol. Hurt to let it go but at the end of the day it was for the best and I’m not out their in the street with a wrench every week
You mentioned storage, last weekend I cleaned out my storage unit of 5 years and 8 months and terminated my lease!! Giving back the keys and driving out of there knowing I will not have to pay someone to keep my crap was the best feeling ever! All that money I wasted all those years to store my crap! Now my new place is going to stay minimal thanks to people like you, I needed a wake-up call and articles like yours helped a lot! Thank you!
My Nan got me a TV once because I said mine was broken. I didn’t want a new one really, it didn’t really use mine very much but she didn’t know that and got me one anyway. It wasn’t very expensive but it really touched me for some reason and even though I never even turned it on I kept it in my room for years until one day I decided to clear out everything unnecessary in my room… i still feel bad about selling that TV
This is great advice. I’m taking photos of all my kid’s stuff and then donating it to Goodwill! I have all the memories stored on my laptop without the physical, material burden. After all, It’s the memory that matters, not the actual physical thing. I made a big pile of all the things and then took photos before donating. I dont think it’s healthy to hold onto physical things. They become baggage. That weigh down, physically and mentally.
A few years ago, the “taking a picture”-method was fortunately a great way for me to get rid of all the things that were important to me, more like a “landmark” in my brain-memory-bank than the item itself. I store them actually in a cloudspace and I found out that it is also very handy for congratulation/holiday cards (the cards which were written by people who actually took time to think about a nice text). Great article, great advices. (and yes, I had to laught at the second drop again xD good one)
My late grandmother left me a ton of old jewelry that wasn’t my style. I couldn’t figure out what to do with it. Finally it hit me that I should have tested it for lead a long time ago. It was a bit pricey (about $3 per swab) but easy to do at home and I’m so glad I did. The vast majority of it had dangerous levels of lead; scary to think I’d had them in my room for so long! I took pictures of those items, pitched them, and kept the rest. Now my home is safer and a lot less cluttered! And I have a reasonable number of items to keep as mementos, instead of being overwhelmed. 🙂
My mom passed away 2 and a half years ago in my early 20’s. I have a really hard time letting go and not being sentimental/nostalgic/sad about pretty much everything. A big step from me was moving out from my parents house where I was the only one left after everyone else moved out, but I did carry over a lot of burden with me to my new apartment and my new life. What is there to do about it? how to part with things which are on one hand your dearest memories and on the other the thingw holding you back and making you sad?
I moved house last year. Various things had to go to the tip, a “handful” of which I had some attachment to. Mainly these old seats that have been around since maybe before I was even born. They made good footrests for me. I took photos of them at the tip before I threw them into the big pile of various junk. Such a shame… keeping at least one of them would’ve worked well as a footrest in my room when perusal TV, but my Dad and Step Mother got me a new one for Christmas. It does the job alright, though I usually have a pillow on it to better cushion my feet.
I’m intrigued by the minimalist lifestyle and am glad I found this website, but this article in particular I have issues with honestly… I’m not trying to say we should hoard every single item that has an ounce of sentimental value, but what I am saying is humans are sentimental creatures and it is nice to hold onto some things you said to get rid of like yearbooks, and whatever else. I feel like getting rid of some stuff like that is warranted but sometimes it could also be damaging to our mentality. I feel like there should have been more emphasis on getting people to think about what they need to keep than I felt was actually in this article.
i would have written this comment earlier but i was finishing my lunch of tomato pie with grits and cheese but now that i’m done i can get on with it. for those extra special items i would recommend a large format film camera. At the very least a 6×6 cm film, a roll of 120 ilford hp5+ 400 iso. what would be the ultimate is photographing memories with an 8×10 film camera. get it printed on ilford paper and hang it on your wall. for everything else, there’s your iphone. P.S. keep dropping and breaking things. that made me laugh out loud which now written is sad and rather disturbing. Not to worry got the next session scheduled with my shrink!
I will be sharing this article with my boyfriend. His mother recently died and he has been sorting through literally boxes and boxes of decades-worth of items she has collected over her 90 years, and he knows he needs to pass some on to her grandchildren, keep some and get rid of most, but he cannot seem to get rid of anything. Ive been on my minimalist journey for several months and have told him how less stressful it is to just have what you need, not so much what you “want”. Thank you for your time doing these articles.
My bed set it was my first bed set ever to purchase in my first apartment but I want to move somewhere else. I’m still latched here because of holding on to my dam things that I won’t be able to move (too expensive). I can leave anytime nothing is holding me back except me and my dam furnitures. 🤦🏾♀️ lol I worked my ass off for everything you know and to start all over….
I lost something I really loved a month ago, it was a black and white striped ponytail. Yes, you read that right, a ponytail. It’s dumb, I know, but I’ve had it for so long that now that I lost it, I only realized how important it was to me:( I have a replacement for it however it’s blue and white instead of black and white but it’s making me feel a bit better in some way:)
Matt I bet that’s Natalie stuff that you dropped.You are in trouble.That vase is unique.I collect vases and each item is unique.I cant get rid of them.i need a bigger space like a house.Your place is so neat and clean.Wait till you have 2 or 3 kids who dont know how to clean up their mess.Somehow in life I think you and your partner will have children in the future and you will make a article about how messy they are.If we are single or only living with a partner with no child we could maintain our place but if you live with grown up messy kids that’s another story.
I need this because I gave away 2 of my four chairs that were my great aunts. And I regret it now. But I really need to learn to let go because it’s just things. Please send me encouragement. I have lots of things that were hers and I still have 2 chairs of hers. I can’t keep everything that we’re hers. I do have a problem and potentially a hoarder. Please send me love and encouragement you all!! And the same to you guys!!
I’ll be inheriting quite a few items. Two old shotguns, a stopwatch, a bible, wooden toys my grandfather made for me, articles, pictures, and a nearly complete family history that was compiled by my mother. These things are important and priceless items that I would hope my descendants will continue to take care of. However, this is the stuff that has been saved after sorting through multiple houses full of junk over the course of 10 years. The moral of the story is that people need to actively decide what is and is not important, and then act on those decisions. I hope to live a simple life and only leave things that are important behind. It’s kinder to my family, friends, and the planet.
I am trying to get rid of shit. Alot of shit. I actually want to do something close to a death cleaning. I do not want to leave my daughter with my shit. (If something happens to me or when I’m ancient and die) recently I have been giving clothes and other items to a woman who had a house fire. She has nothing. Im giving items she needs. Told her daughter if there is something she doesn’t to donate it.
I have been practicing minimalism approach to my lifestyle for two weeks now. I am 29 I have been a compulsive idiot for 15 years, buying unecessary stuff. Now, I an trying to sell all those things. It was hard really hard to take this steps. However, you trully inspired me Matt I hope I saw your articles as early as possible. Anyhow, wish me luck guys😊
I would’ve watched at least 50+ of your articles Matt, and only just now have I realised I hadn’t subscribed.! I watched your documentary and it was an amazing eye-opener. In the process of asking ‘does this possession give me value’ to all my things and it makes the process of getting rid of stuff so much easier. Thanks for all the content and good vibes you put out there, you’re a legend!
Matt! I recently got into minimalism and I got rid of so many things, your yt website has helped me A LOT. You’re the kind of minimalist who is not so extreme, and you make it seem like it’s all so easy and simple, love it. The funny thing is that I saw your articles long time ago but now you are my number one YouTuber. Also you are SO funny even tho I’m 10 years younger lmao
i have a little “memory box” in my home, one of those Kallax boxes from Ikea. If something is to big for the box it’s not worth holding on to. The box is filled with photographs, postcards, keychains, jewlerry, all kinds of stuff that has memories attached to it. Looking through the box from time to time makes me happy and it compresses the clutter into one tucked away space cube.
dude, i really like your website and i think is funny how so much of stuff you say or teach here are things that i actually already do in my life and try to “teach” to people i talk about minimalism and tiny living. Im working in my TinyHouse project, studying about all i have to know on th esubject, all the legal stuff, all the archtecture stuff, from the idea to the actual building, but im from Brazil, and here minimalism its just starting to “be a thing” you know, and tinyhouse here its almost nothing. Just a few people understand the “philosophy” behind the SmallHouse. And the majority of material about minimalism n tinyliving its in English, and not everyone here speak english. So im starting a Blog, a website to talk about it, to help to spread the word. (not a Vlog cuz im not a good speaker in article haha) So, a lot of stuff you have in your podcast (that i love btw) and stuff here in your vlog i think are really well explained, so i would like to use some of your stuff in my website. Can i use your ideas, tips and stuff on it? (the website isnt gonna make money, its just a personal project to help spread the minimalism n tinyliving here where i live)
I switched to PC 6 months ago from my PS4 Pro. I wasn’t using at all, and since my parents bought it for me, I thought instead of selling it and taking the money for myself, I gave it back to them so they could decide what to do with it. Because it wasn’t mine to sell. But Somehow even though I never use it anymore, I still feel regretful about giving it back to them. I feel that I’m still attached to my PS4 Pro. But It’s not up to me what happens to it now. I hope they either sell it themselves or at the very least keep it safe. I made so many friends and memories with that console. And I hope I can move on. It’s just been sitting in one of my desk drawers for the past 6 months.
My mother is a pack rat, very similar to The Minimalists’s story from their TED Talk. I don’t know how to help her with a lot of her stuff but I knew what to do with all of her photos and photo albums… I scanned and digitized them all and put them on a hard drive (and in the cloud) and sealed the albums in large, plastic containers and put those in long-term storage. They might still be occupying space but it’s better than them taking up room in her living room where they also have more of a change of being damaged.
I once had the literal worlds largest collection of a discontinued Japanese arcade game as a kid, called butto burst. And my mother threw it out without telling me. I was quite mad because I hadn’t found out for a long time. It just made me feel awful for a long time. I watched this and realized why it didn’t really matter 13 years later.
I have 3 medium sized storage bins filled with sentimental items like my yearbooks, medals, pictures and various knick nacks that I can’t bring myself to get rid of that are currently at my parents house. The plan is when I get a place of my own, I’m currently renting a room in a house, I can put those items up and remember why I kept them. Also, when I have kids one day I can show them. Other than that, I am pretty minimal. My goal is to be able to fill a car with everything I have and I can even do that if I can have those storage bins up to where I live now.
I came here because I used to have a small white bowl, back when I was little, I used to eat cereal with. A few months earlier I accidentally dropped it and it broke, I was very upset about it and decided to keep a small piece of it with me. Right now, that small piece is missing, and I am feeling very sad 🙁
I used to have pink blanket and a small Pooh bolster pillow. I grew up with those two items, My dad had that blanket since he was a teen and my parent divorced when i was 1yr old so it’s the only thing i have from my dad. As I grew the pillows and blankets got smaller but i still keep them. My mom Threw away my Pooh pillow so the only thing left from my childhood is the pink blanket, the blanket have lots of hole everywhere so my Mom cut them to two parts, one of them is severely damaged the other is in good condition. She kept forcing me to throw away my blanket i said “no, if you want to then just get rid one of them, ket me keep the other” it turns out she get rid both of them i cried all day cause that’s the only thing left from my childhood, i don’t even have baby picture or picture when i was a kid. I miss my blanket and Pooh, those things possibly no longer exist in this world. i haven’t seen anything else similar
Something I’ve always wanted to ask you is what do you define as value? I’m looking to change my lifestyle as I’m in graduate school and feel minimalism could help me after I graduate. I used to have a lot of things. I collected many forms of entertainment and slowly have liquidated my collection over the years; however, I have a hard time parting with some items as they have or I can potentially see give me some form of inspiration. I can get ideas on my off time to make something dope. I’m a painter who has aspirations to teach and is inspired by music, movies and games. Any insight you could give to help me trim down my collection a bit more?
The only thing i’ve ever regretted A LOT gtting rid of was my white Psp. That thing was my first ever game console and I got it when I was 4 years old. I hope that the PsVita that I traded it in for doesn’t crap out on me now that i’ve had it for almost 7 years. If I ever see that psp in some store on the island i’m buying it!
Totally agree with you. But i will suggest to people to put some of their most sentimental items in a box. Don’t throw it away just to be a minimalist. Just store this box at your parent’s house or in a small locker room. In a few years you could regret throwing out your school books or family items.
I’m probably not the first person to ask you this question but I’m going to ask it anyway. Are you aware of the Konmari method / philosophy / books? I read the Konmari books recently, then I discovered your website, I noticed that minimalism and “spark joy” has much in common; further reinforcing my gradual self-improvement of becoming a minimalist. Thank you so much for all your great articles!
“DON’T” Oh god I love this.. I always get annoyed when minimalist start talking about how you don’t need the sentimental items when you have memories.. but I personally don’t think we shouldnt dread keeping the items that make those memories stick. I have a lot of books that used to belong to my father who died when I was little. Now, many would argue to keep just a few selected ones, but most of them are filled with underlined sentences and little notes on the side in my fahers handwriting. It helps me understand better what kind of a person he was inside, and makes me feel like he is still here. So no. Don’t touch my books. And the rest? Well, most can go!
Our last move, we downsized A LOT. Due to my work schedule, I had others packing my stuff for me. I told them that most of the stuff that I had in the basement could be given away. They took that literally. All of my childhood stuff and even stuff I actually needed was gone. But surprisingly, it was actually so freeing. I don’t have that stuff weighing me down.
Taking pictures of sentimental items that you want to get rid of but haven’t used or even looked at in years is GENIUS! I am not a minimalist but I am about to be 30 years old, and yes, still holding on to childhood stuffed animals. I can only laugh at myself for sharing this in a public comment. Here’s the thing, they haven’t been on my bed or even neatly arranged in some display case for visual enjoyment. They’ve been stuffed in large garbage bags for years now. YEARS. I get so frustrated at how much space they are taking up but when I think about getting rid of them, I get nostalgic, overcome with childhood memories without even opening the bag. I then proceed to tell myself I’ll figure it out later…or, the funny one, I’ll pass them on to my own children someday. Do kids even have stuffed animals anymore? Anyway, I no longer benefit from the physical presence of the stuffed animals like I did when I was a kid. It is only the memories that have been attached to the sight of them, that I enjoy. I didn’t realize the difference until perusal this article. Attachment to stuffed animals seems silly but this helps with other sentimental items that I have had trouble parting with. So…thanks! Sincerely, a grown woman with a buttload of stuffed animals to photograph. 😛
Thanks for this article. Sentimental items are what I really struggle with, not helped by times I’ve gotten rid of things then obsessed over them so much that I’ve spent hours online trying to find replacements! In our house, when growing up, gifts were very much symbols of love and that’s stuck with me – getting rid of sentimental things feels like I’m discarding the love or the person. I’m trying to work on that as I’m really drawn to minimalism. I like stuff but hate the clutter and want space that is calm; and I’m fed up having to hunt for things or buy replacements because I’ve ‘lost’ them! I also have chronic health problems and just don’t have energy to waste, so having a lot less stuff and more space would make a huge difference. Matt, I hope you write a book about minimalism, that would be awesome.
Up until maybe a year ago, I was the kind of person to hoard everything. Not in the sense that I’d have mountains of things in every room, I didn’t have much to begin with, but I would hardly ever throw things away. Every item I had, even if it was the floppy disc drive of an old laptop I’d taken apart or some bits of felt left over from a project, or just any random things I had, I would always think “I’ll use this at some point”. Only recently did I come to terms with the fact that I barely ever did. I’m still in the process of clearing things out, but I’ve severely brought down how much garbage I own. The trouble is, I don’t know if it’s like this for other people, I remember exactly where everything I own is. I had 10 shelves, each with 8 large boxes on them, all filled with items. And anytime I needed an item, even if I hadn’t seen it in years, I knew exactly where I’d put it before. This always made it hard for me to just throw a box away because I knew what it contained and somehow I would convince myself I would need it. I would multiple times a day end up needing an old notepad or some other junk I had in a box, but when I really thought hard about all of it, I came to realise that if I threw half of it away, I wouldn’t actually be any worse off. The sheer amount of junk I was able to throw away was astounding, and when it was gone I felt so relieved because it was like I could let go of so much information from my head that I didn’t need to know. I’ve only got 10 boxes left now, and I still think I can get rid of another 8 before it’s just stuff that I need.
I love Your films. Lately I’ve watched quite a few of Yours productions and I’m very impressed – such a value, such a peace, such a beautiful peace of your work. Stunning and soothing. Tomorrow is gonna be a photo-day! I’m so gratefull to You. Also, I regret I just got to know your website and subscribed, not few years ago. With regards Biggest sentimental hoarder
Nothing against you Matt cause you said it perfectly, but I’m using this article to rant. The one thing holding me back from calling myself a minimalist is the fact that I keep things given to me, even if they don’t add value to my life. While I don’t buy things unless they add value, I have no problem holding onto something given to me if has sentimental value, looks cool, or simply just makes me happy. I get cleaning up and organizing your life, but I don’t get why people think you have to get rid of things you didn’t spend money on. That’s just dumb…
Wife and I are really wanting to get back into minimalism now that our kids are getting older. We have a 2006 civic that we have just sitting in our driveway. I am very emotionally attached to that car. Myself more than my wife. It is my first car that I ever paid off, it’s the first car that I bought my wife. We brought both of our kids home in that car after they were born. So the car means so much to me. So many memories. But it is taking up space and we could actually use the money if we sold it’s I keep telling my self it for the greater good but I just keep dragging my feet on getting rid of it. But I do feel that once I get rid of it. It’ll make decluttering a lot of stuff in my life a lot easier.
My only problem is that I’m very physical and not extremely visual. I can’t take a picture of something because I have to have it. Now if something or someone was taken from me and all I have left of that thing or person is a picture I can handle it. But I have a lot of pictures of my grandmother. But if I have something in my hand that means something to me my mind just says “why take a pic and get rid of it when you have it right here. That is the story of why my room is a mess
Matt, Most of the time I feel my life and mind are too cluttered, mainly because I’m a teacher and also because I’ve been through a few personal difficulties. I’m trying to become a minimalist to have more space to breathe, but I sometimes feel I’m being unseccessful. I got rid of a bunch of things that I had no use for. I donated some of my clothes that I wasn’t using anymore. I tried to organise my computer, cupboards, wardrobe, etc. But, somehow, things continue to get messy and I still feel surrounded by useless things. I still feel like I’m not done yet. I live with my father, so probably that’s a factor. These aren’t all MY things, MY space, which means I don’t own them neither I have control over everything. Even though, I know I still can go minimal. Honestly, your articles have been encouraging me to keep trying. Not only because of the hints, but also because of the way you produce them. The visual aspect, music, tone of your voice, everything kind of encourages me. Unfortunately, though, I still feel like failing somehwere. Well, I wish you could read ALL this “novel” of mine and help me find a way.
Awesome article! I’m working on purging my stuff so I can fit in a tiny home. My main struggles are sentimental stuff from my childhood (I’m only 18, but I have a ton of stuff from a couple years ago) and stuff that I can think of uses for. I think the artist in me is too creative with craft ideas for random junk. I see an old knife and the handle is pretty, so I think, “Maybe I should save this and use this in something, because if I ever need something like this in a project, I’ll think back to this knife and regret tossing it.” I do that a lot. For example, I’m always looking for new, funky things to use in my snake enclosures as decor. Plant pots, miniature things, kids toys, etc. They enjoy hiding in them and climbing on them, and I think it makes their homes look cute. But that means I now have two bags full of random stuff I’ve collected for them. This whole “I’ll eventually find a use for it” is killing my minimalism drive. The problem is, I DO find uses for many of the random things I have. So somehow I have to decide where the line is.
Sentimental items catalogued is a great idea…… But……to some point I believe if taken to far it would be like just another way of putting you life and it’s content into digital form. A history that for the most part only has evidence as one single digital image. And if you are the sole keeper of those images. Wouldn’t the threat be that your whole life would essentially be nothing if nobody has anything left by you. It’s a great article and certainly got me thinking. Thank you👌
Im cleaning my house and tomorrow I have to check a lot of sentimental items from my time living in Mexico. I wish I could get rid of some items, but it will be difficult 😔 UPDATE: Im still working on that and went back to this article. I got rid of some items from other people’s trips and Im chosing some of the best items in mine. But its been hard!!
The only items that are difficult for me to let go of are my daughters. Her baby clothes, toys, books, items shes painted. I keep the paintings. Donate the generic stuff. And send the meaningful stuff to cousins who have little ones. So now I can see the items I loved on my cousin’s baby or it’s being read to them. <3
I was just talking to my close friend about this exact issue. I never knew I was a minimalist til perusal these articles and realizing I just so happen to function this way. I didn’t know there was a label for the habits I practice. They just come natural to me. Anyway, ever since my Grandma died almost a decade ago, I’ve had quite a bit of her belongings in storage. I was recently able to get these items out of storage, and realized most of it was of no use to me. I only chose to keep a lot of it out of grief when her estate was settled. I’ve finally hit a point where I can get rid of 99% of her things I can’t use. There are just a couple useless things I can’t part with. I have a coat that I leave hanging with the rest of my clothes even though it’s too small for me. Also, I have a box of her hair rollers and combs that she used daily. I can’t use them bc they’re tiny rollers, and my hair is long. Still, after staring at them earlier today and considering throwing them out, I chose to keep them. And that’s ok. 🙂 Plus, like you said, I know I’ll be fine if they ever get lost or something happens to them. I have the memories that keep her alive in my heart. But for now I’ll keep her box of rollers on my shelf and her coat in my closet just for the simple purpose of reminding me of her every time I lay my eyes on them. That is a pretty useful purpose if you ask me.
This article is the one that I was most excited to get to on my watch list because my biological Mom is a hoarder and I feel like her influences weighed heavily on me and I subconsciously picked up some her habits and reasoning to keep things in my life. On another note, OMG. I was invested in that sentimental story about the vase that you made me physical react when you “dropped” it, second time around with the coffee cup … yup got me there too. Oh, and I re-winded the article just to hear you say “shit” again 🙂 Great article through and through.
My grandfather is a cobbler. He used to constantly be making shoes for my younger cousins. One time I asked him if I could see the process of it all. One thing led to another and he ended up teaching me how to make shoes. Over the following week, we made these beautiful artisan crafty rustic looking graveyard boots that I cherish so much, not only because of the looks of them, but because they remind me of the time we spent on them and the bond we created and how happy he was knowing his grandson had an interest in what he at one point used to do for a living. The years have passed and now that I’m pursuing a minimalistic lifestyle, I’ve found that it will not kill me to give those boots away to someone that might need them a lot more than I do. I’m traveling right now, but I’ve decided the second I get home, I’m gonna take a picture of those boots and I’m going to give them away, as I know it’ll make me so happy that something my grandfather and I created is going to go to someone who’ll take good care of it and put them to good use.
your website has been extremely helpful for me as a person with severe ocd. for me, one of my compulsions is to declutter. to the point where i constantly want to live off of, like, one change of clothes and a toothbrush, even though it would actually have a negative impact on my life. perusal your articles is a good reminder and set of guidelines (or lack thereof) for me to keep the things that bring value to me, instead of getting rid of shit just because my brain wants me to. so, thanks man. i appreciate your stuff.
It’s hard for me but I’ve been trying to declutter my life so I love my screensaver because it’s a combination of pictures I’ve taken from my long gone pets, landscapes from my parents village, some selected screenshots from the games I’ve played so, taking pictures of other kind of things I want to remember is a nice idea that fits perfect for me, thanks!
I love the minimalist ideal and think it is amazing perusal your articles has helped me get rid of a ton but I could never truly do it, i love photos and having things that make a room mine to some my room may look full but to be it is my idea of minimalist, most things have value my desk has photos and magnets, i have a wall with quotes plagues and i have a lot of lights the only thing i keep that I probably shouldn’t is books lol i have a wardrobe full and i just can’t seem to get rid of them, i sort them out every few months but nothing on the scale i should, lol i need help
I love how Matt isn’t radical in his minimalism. It seems like a lot of minimalist content creators are radical and see it as a goal to own as few items as possible. More power to them, but I feel like Matt’s minimalism philosophy is much better for people like myself and other getting into the philosophy. He focuses on what matters, not the idea that he needs fewer things.
I also came up with the take a picture thing to get rid of nostalgic items… or pretty Easter chocolates… I’ve called myself minimalist pretty early in life (I’m not very attached to material things). My mom is a hoarder and it completely turned me off from material things. Few things that I’ve decided to keep though are books and article games (unless they don’t add value), but I have to admit that sentimental items are especially hard to get rid of… I don’t always do it even though sometimes I should.
I found what helped me most is to go through everything multiple times over time. I got rid of a lot…I was so sentimental…I had so many little notes and pieces of little bits of paper…i had items I couldn’t even remember why it’s sentimental so it’s like a layer…the ‘low hanging fruit’ and then I left it for 6 months but continued my minimizing journey and more learning…when I went through the second time I thought why on earth did I not declutter this last time? But I eventually learned it just wasn’t the right time yet. I call it the onion method…layer after layer. I go real easy on myself and don’t get rid of anything that I’m very unsure of. Never ‘forcing myself’ to get rid of it for the sake of decluttering alone. So I have now learned to trust that each time I go into a category, especially sentimental items, I trust that the items where their time has come to leave…I will ‘see it’, ‘feel it’, know it’ and it won’t have that yucky conflicting feeling…it will feel good ( as in peaceful) to let it go.
This is still hard for me. As I have been letting go of sentimental items I feel better. It’s been hard since my mother passed away. I know she wouldn’t want me holding on to them and she wants me to be happy. When I let go of her things and they are gone I realize she isn’t the items and that she is always with me without the items. I guess it can get confusing. Thank you Vera for this article.❤️🙏🏻
Best way to get rid of those sentimental items is to bring them out into the open. If you put the object out where you can see it on a regular basis you’ll start to think about it more and more. Eventually you get to the point where you’ll either get tired of looking at it and your ready to get rid of it or you’ll come to the conclusion that the object actually has meaning or purpose.
My mom passed away last year and she was a bit of a hoarder, nothing extreme but she did like to hold on to many things and many papers and “just in case” items. I’ve decluttered most of the items. I still have all the photos and cards she kept and drawings/newspaper clippings. I’ve been wanting to get a flatbed scanner so i can start scanning photos and getting rid of the physical photos and having the digital version saved to the cloud so i can still have the photos but without the clutter. And that way i can also share the family photos easily so other people can actually look at them and appreciate them instead of them being stored in a box like they’ve been for years
Great article… I have been doing all these things over the last 3 years of my minimalism journey 🙂 I have made 3 boxes for each of my kids.. Two hang file boxes with files from birth to 18/20yrs.. And one box for lumpy stuff eg christening candle, baby hospital clothes, crafts etc. . They can take their 3 boxes when they leave home and it will be easy for them to go through and then they can decide what they want to keep long term. For my own sentiment stuff.. I was struggling with diaries and letters.. So recently when I had another attempt to reduce my sentiment stuff I used the “Swedish Death Clean” method.. Where I asked myself “if I died tomorrow, would I want my kids/family reading/seeing this stuff?”… Basically my answer to almost all of the diaries and letters was “no way! “.. So I looked through them, had a giggle (or cringe) and binned 98‰ of it!.. The few I kept.. I won’t be embarrassed if they every saw/read them!… That method really helped me with that category of sentiment items!.. I hope these ideas help someone 🙂
Please give tips on how to convince others to NOT give us stuff or buy stuff for us. I mean I keep asking my family members to not buy somethings for me like clothes but just gift me what I really need, like a whiteboard or a set of colored markers. But then their reaction is that these things you can buy for yourself, or they are not expensive enough to qualify as a gift. I mean how to make them understand that a gift is best when the person can actually use it or needs it, and it need not be expensive enough to qualify as a gift.
Very good topic! I too have struggled with this one. Some things I know I will never part with (like my grandmother’s gold watch) but I tend to only keep small items which are easily stored. One category which is difficult for me is items I’ve had from my childhood which I have carried around and repeatedly moved for 60 years (I’m 66 now). I don’t love the item, but feel I owe it because of the time I’ve owned it. Ridiculous. I pitched it and truly haven’t regretted it. In fact, I feel a huge sense of relief as it no longer owns me.
Last month, I finally let go old letters and cards that I’ve received and kept for more than 20 years. When I went through them, they don’t make smile anymore. In fact, they were not able to stir any emotion in me anymore. That’s how I realized it’s time to let them go. I actually felt better after letting go of them.
This was the hardest area for me, I’ve always felt so guilty about getting rid of cards and my kids artwork and when I offered it to them they didn’t really want it, I am also extremely sentimental but I love the idea of taking a picture of the most special things and living in the present with them and now I have so much less clutter around, it is so liberating!
My lovely wife died in February after battling cancer, I’m devastated. I still have all her clothes and shoes, handbag etc. Not sure when I could let go of her stuff if ever 😢 to be honest I could give up my TV and car easier than her toothbrush. Although I have decluttered lots of other stuff making my home much better. Your articles are great thank you.
I appreciate the reminder to keep the things that make you happy. I notice that I’ve been holding on to sentimental items that make me feel sad or guilty and your article sparked the thought that these are life experiences and relationships where healing is needed. I think that intentionally grieving the losses and forgiving myself is so important before letting them go. Journaling and going to the sacrament of confession are ways in which we can allow God’s healing light and graces in and really give those thoughts and feelings over so we’re not carrying that baggage through the rest of our lives. Then let the item/s go, in a peaceful way. These thoughts and feelings that come up during the decluttering process can be trusted and seen as prompts for what healing we may need in our lives. Thank you, Vera❤️
Going thru sentimental items can really be healing. My grandma left me all her stuff as she knew it would mean the most to me of anyone in our family. As I went thru everything and decided what I truly wanted to keep, I laughed and cried and I have to say it was and will always be one of the most healing things I ever did. I still have most of the items I originally kept but recently let go of some items.
Decluttering sentimental items: compose it a letter in my journal, telling about the item and about the giver. Creating its history and giving it meaning in a place I can revisit if I need to do so, or simply being able to say thank-you and farewell, would work for me. I might even keep a beautiful box with letters letting go of the item/giver. I would include what I had gained from having the item but especially what the giver did for me in giving his or her gift. If I felt the need, I could add a picture of it. Writing is important to me, so I frequently journal my minimalism journey anyway. Saying goodbye to something in a letter would give it permanence in my life but not emotional blackmail I sometimes feel because I’ve hung onto something that no longer gives me joy or adds positive meaning.
Love your fluffy ostrich. I do not keep any sentimental things. Either I use something regularly, depending on one of the four seasons naturally. If something is not loved or used out of goes. Have no foot stuck in my life. Guess it comes from previously moving and living between countries. Now am very happy living in Zurich, leading a great minimal and very happy life.
I love my fridge magnets from all over the world great times of traveling wonderful memories 🧡🧡🧡 they are staying 👍🏻👍🏻 I find it hard to get rid of cards that people personally give you 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ they don’t have value but it’s from my dad that has passed or an uncle that has passed it’s so hard I have paired them down tho 👍🏻👍🏻 getting there
Someone in my life will often give me birthday present or item that they like, instead of what I really like. If I then choose to declutter that item(say donate the sweater I don’t like to a clothing store), they are offended when they ask where the item is, or if I wear it. When I open the gift I am thankful but don’t feel like it really a thought out gift when it’s not something I like…thoughts on how to respond to them?
I know I commented this on another article, but as a person who has trouble with clutter due to OCD, I’ve found your articles really speak to me far more than any other YouTube article and even more than my therapist on this topic lol. I love your logical but very thoughtful approach. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!
I own what is left of my knickknacks but they seem to me like clutter yet I can’t quite declutter them, so for the time being I put them in a small box to look through at a future date. I’m also storing my former mother in law’s 4 objects so that her daughter doesn’t steal them until she moves to her new apartment. Thank you for the insight on decluttering sentimental items. 🙂
Sometimes it’s a good thing to put an item aside for a while, in one special tote, box or basket, when you don’t know your heart or what to do with the item. It’ll come to you when the time is right. Time is a funny thing. I’ve noticed that this works for me. The next time I’ll see the item I suddenly know what to do, to part with it or not. Sometimes it’s like: oh that thing is in here aswell, totally forgot about it, well time to say goodbye… 😉
Hello Vera, found your website, you are a lovely person. Love your great ideas,for decluttering items,thankyou so much for your advice, I am in the progress to declutter items that are cenementle to me.im going to hand some things down to my grandchildren now,before I’m two old . So thankyou so much,I love listening to you Vera .xo😊💕👍
Hey vera! Do you have tips to help me out? I struggle with decluttering some items. They aren’t really sentimental anymore just childhood toys and such. But the second I decide for it to leave and try I panic. Tho it doesn’t serve a purpose. Do you have anything for this ? If not thats okay. This article was very helpful in general 😀 thank you
I remember keeping a Root beer bottle as a teen because it was the last drink my Dad had bought me before we lost him in a race car accident. I finally got rid of it, but I remember how hard it was to let go of that. It was just an empty bottle. But, losing my Dad at 13, made everything he ever touched important to me.
I have 50 years of my Christmas decorations plus things that belonged to my grandmother, my mom, and my aunt and uncle. Some years I have used a few of each. Now everything is mixed up in a bunch of boxes in my basement. Putting like with like may not work this time. I guess I will just have to try starting with a box or two and see if I can pick out the most important things and least important things.
Hi Vera, great article!! Thank you!! When we moved to an other country to live and we couldn’t take everything with us in our suitcases, I made pictures from those sentimental items that I would remember but couldn’t bring them with us (for example arts and crafts from the kids, we only brought a few with us). The sad thing is that I had one little box with the ring from my mom (she passed away) and the marriage rings from my grandparents (passed away) and the necklace from my grandmother (also passed away), together with a few usb sticks full with those sentiments item pictures and other childhood pictures and movies of our kids and myself as a child. Unfortunately the box got stolen over a year ago. It still hurts (the jewelry not so much though but the usb full with pictures and movies from our kids does still hurt). I am a minimalist for about 8 years now. I love to get rid of a lot of stuff. But that was just my precious box, my sentimental box. And they just stole that from us. I know… Memories are in your heart and not in a box ❤️. That’s what I always try to remember when I remember a memorie which was on one of the usb. Anyways… I love your website!!! Very inspiring!!! Keep on going 😁!!!!
I might be wrong but I don’t think I have a lot of sentimental clutter. Ironically, three things I haven’t let go of are a large aluminum strainer and a large aluminum pot lid. I did let go of the pot. They were all used on a regular basis by my mother, and sometimes by my father when he made spaghetti sauce. I don’t cook with any aluminum and haven’t for years. I guess it’s time to let go of the strainer, and maybe the pot lid. The third thing, I have never used. I never saw my father use it. When I was born, in addition to working full time he worked part-time as a janitorial cleaner. I have his mop bucket wringer. I have dragged it around with me for close to 40 years. My childhood was far from happy, I knew I wanted to get away from home before I was five years old. Yet I also realize my father’s life was quite miserable from birth on, and although my mother claimed to have had a wonderful childhood, I know that could not be true simply based on how she treated me versus my siblings. The things I inherited were things that none of my siblings wanted. In many ways, I realize now, that’s a blessing.
Every time I get a birthday card or holiday card from the same person, I discard the last one they gave to me. It’s kind of like getting card updates. To clarify if I wasn’t clear: if I got a birthday card from my mom on my 21st birthday, I will get rid of the card she gave to me on my 20th birthday.
Thank you for the article. I really like that you always find some new perpectives to look at things that have been subject of so many articles of others already, never boring, great job. I have scanned a stack of old letters to the computer like 15yrs ago because I felt I didnt want to take all of that with me when I moved to another apartment – and, to be honest, I never looked at the scans since then, but I know I have it and I could, if I would like to one day. This still feels like a good compromise for me.
LOVE LOVE LOVE I loved this, Vera. Feeling thankful today that I discovered your website a bit more than a year ago ( I think! ) Your conntent always helps me clarify and brings me peace & joy!! You do an awesome job getting to the heart of the matter, always. (#14 ) I am working on this one! It’s not our kid’s fault, it’s mine haha They don’t want ANY of their school papers and I’d like to keep far less of them…but I feel like I’m throwing part of their life away. I’m trying🙃
Hey you have iceland in wood!!! yeiii have you been there? I would love for you to come and visit someday when the pandemic is gone for good!!! And regarding sentimental items it´s my boys drawings and stuff made in school i´m keeping in a keep sake box in our storage room. Anything else i just threw away i don´t like stuff and i still feel like our appartment is full of stuff!!! And i´m still decluttering and getting rid of stuff feels soo good…. Love your website and your tips your voice is so soothing