6 Things Almost Everyone Has Trouble Decluttering—Plus, How to Let Go

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Don't Allow Clutter to Hinder Your Progress.

It should be easy to let go, right? But for someone like me, who's a bit of an emotional person with a strong sentimental side, that's a lot easier said than done. When it comes to things that get to me, like family photos and heartfelt letters, it's particularly tough to simply let go.

Six Things People Often Struggle to Let Go Of—and How to Let Them Go.

Schoolwork, Study Materials, and Yellowed Notebooks

Need to hold onto that paper that earned you that grade? Probably not. We all tend to get caught up in keeping schoolwork and notebooks, thinking that somewhere down the line you’ll need the information scribbled in them.

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Books

You may want to start narrowing down your choices. Begin by sorting your reads into three categories: books to keep, books to donate, and books that could be repurposed for decorative use around your home. Consider using pretty, colorful books for filling open shelving, even if you don't plan to read them again.

Consider preserving your cherished possessions, valuable vintage items, and favorite books that you continually return to. If parting with your collection by donating it seems too impersonal, consider setting up a little free library in front of your home. This way, your neighbors and fellow book enthusiasts can browse through the books you've shared - and you might even discover new favorite titles within the library, donated by others.

Photos

You don't typically print out photos anymore, so any that you have gathering dust are probably old and sentimental. However, there are a few ways to organize your photo collection, get rid of any unwanted shots, and preserve your treasured favorites.

Create a personal and meaningful keepsake, or share them with loved ones by making a tangible book using a company like Artifact Uprising or Shutterfly.

Appliance Manuals

quickly became overwhelming.

It's simpler to use our home refrigerator's user guide than constantly examining a stack of instruction manuals whenever our household refrigerator stops producing enough ice.

Heirloom Items

Some family heirlooms, like Great Aunt Mildred's World War II treasures or Grandma's silk scarves, might be better off being preserved and showcased rather than being relegated to a dusty box in the attic forever. You can store and display these delicate items in a way that protects them while still letting everyone enjoy them.

Companies like Framebridge can beautifully showcase your cherished belongings by placing them in shadowboxes and frames that not only safeguard your treasures with great precision but also create a stunning piece of home decor. This can be especially helpful for pieces created by kids, such as art class masterpieces, that you're reluctant to part with.

Greeting Cards

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My suggestion: Keep any cards that have a sweet handwritten message from a loved one, and let go of the ones with just a signature. The thought behind them matters, but we don't need to clutter our homes with Hallmark cards any more than necessary.

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