How to let go of Sentimental Items

Sentimental items is one of the hardest categories to declutter. It’s an area with so much emotion and memories attached to it. I am not here to tell you to get rid of everything that is important to you, but what you can do is take some carefully steps to decide whether you need to keep all of the items that are sentimental to you. First, we need to decide which items are sentimental to you.

What items are sentimental to you?

You may be surprised to hear that people have different ideas of what items are sentimental. So try and think about what is sentimental to you. Avoid comparing with others if you can, as that in itself can be a slippery slope. Knowing which items you are treating as sentimental will help you to evaluate them differently. Some people value every piece of a child’s artwork from school, whilst others value ornaments. There is nothing wrong with either, you just need to know that we are dealing with these items with a different mindset than we have for other items we have decluttered in the past.

Sort into categories

The first step is to sort items into categories; keep, donate, sell and rubbish. It’s important that we keep the basics the same as any other decluttering session. It will keep items contained and tidy for when you finish your session.

Set aside time

Unlike a standard declutter, this is going to be a bit more personal so be prepared to set aside enough time to deal with the emotions that come with looking at sentimental items. By allowing time, you know you can really think about each item carefully and how it makes you feel.

Ask questions

In order to understand your attachment to the item it is worth asking yourself some key questions: Does it remind you of a happy memory? Would you buy it again? Does it fill you with joy to see the item? If you answer no to any of these consider whether you can let it go.

Share heirlooms

Sometimes we can be burdened with a wealth of items from loved ones which can be too much to handle. Consider whether you could share the items with other family members or close friends. At least you would be given the items to people connected to the lost loved one.

Reduce duplicates

When looking through sentimental items we still manage to keep hold of multiple items that belonged to someone else, such as glassware or cups and saucers. Why not keep a few key pieces and donate the rest. You could also reduce down the number of photos as it is likely you have duplicates – these could be shared with other family members or loved ones.

If you can’t decide – wait

The truth is, sometimes we are not ready to part with an item or ready to make a decision. And this is OK! There is no pressure from anyone to have to make decisions right away. Leave the item and come back to it in a few weeks or a month. This might help you look at the item with fresh thoughts and feelings. If the item is still tricky to decide upon, you could consider asking a friend or family member to help you rationalise on the item.

Display items you keep

When reduce sentimental items, it can be tempting to put them straight back into a box in the loft. If you are wanting to keep an item, it should be an item you are keen to display and enjoy on a daily basis. I know this doesn’t work for all items (for different reasons), but it is lovely to celebrate some of the sentimental things we have.

Digitise items

For some bulgy items it may be worth digitising them so that you have a digital photo of the item rather than the physical thing. It still allows you the opportunity to look back at the item, but without the need to sacrifice space in your home.

Keep items that bring joy

Always try and think about how the item makes you feel and whether it brings you joy. These are the most precious items and should be kept no matter what. If they do no spark joy when you see them, are they worth keeping hold of?

Remember – you are letting go of the item, no the memory

It will always be a tricky category, but find a way that works for you. Hopefully these ideas will make it manageable and doable in your own pace.

Rachel, Declutter Your Life x

How to get started with decluttering: https://declutteryourlife.co.uk/decluttering/how-to-get-started-with-decluttering/

For more ideas, check out my youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/c/RachelNoakes