Decluttering Isn’t Just for You: It’s a Gift to Your Family
The moment it hits you when there will be a day your kids will have to go through all the stuff you never use can hit you like a blow to the chest. I’ve seen this scenario happen time and time again where my clients are trying to handle a parent’s serious health crisis and scrambling to have to get their home ready for the market or grieving a loss of their parent’s while trying to get on top of the mountain of belongings. It usually on a significant time crunch, sifting through rooms of stuff, not knowing what’s significant, valuable, important. Often all while managing their own kiddos, their job, and their own household. It’s incredibly heart-breaking. So I’ve been trying to get the word out to anyone who will listen to declutter and declutter often so your family doesn’t have to in a time of serious distress.
The average household carries over 300,000 items.
When the moment hits you that you need to start focusing on your possessions, you can finally start to take real action. Here’s where I would start:
Make sure your executor knows where your prized possessions are, or even better yet, if they are sentimental and you are just wanting to pass the item on to the next generation, why wait until you pass? Gift it now! You may find out that your loved ones might not be interested in your things you’ve been storing for years and years and you can sell it or donate it where it will be needed. On the flip side, ask your loved ones while you still can, what things they would like to have to remember you by. You may be surprised of something so small might be the very thing that is the most cherished.
Figure out where you would like to start. Some people like to sort through belongings by category or by room. I personally find it easier for most to start somewhere that isn’t emotionally charged like bathrooms or the kitchen.
Determine organizations and non-profits that are in need of donation items ahead of time. You may be able find somewhere that will pick-up!
Little chunks at a time will prevent overwhelm and help you stick with your goal. Don’t expect to tackle the entire house in a day!
You may have to tackle a category more than once, especially for those who haven’t decluttered in a long time. Give it six months and try again if you find that you didn’t let go of very much the first time around.
Give your items a timeline. If you don’t use that blender, waffle maker, or fondue set in the next six months, it’s time for it to go. This will either give you the push to use your items or it will simply emphasize the point that you can get by just fine without it! I’ve had clients who put a little sticky note on the item or just a reminder in their calendar.
Make a list of repairs that need to be tackled. Let your family members know what needs to be done and don’t let major fixes lapse for too long. This will be an incredible headache the longer you wait or even worse for your family to deal with after you pass.
If you have belongings in a storage locker, get after this as fast as possible. You are paying money to store items you are not using. This needs to be a top priority.
The Canadian Self-Storage Association estimates that 9.5% of Canadian households rent storage units.
Ask for help with the heavy stuff. You may need to call in the family or a professional to help sift through the big things like basement storage, the dreaded garage, and the yard sheds.
People keep stuff for many different reasons. It can be a coping mechanism for not having a lot growing up, a shopping problem, a sentimental hold, or simply never been taught how to let things go. This can be a very hard task. Give yourself some grace, and just know that a little time spent every week will be a significant push to getting things out of your home that you no longer need.
Please share this with your loved ones and feel free to connect with me if you need help in this department! I’ve helped several clients get the ball rolling, offered advice on where to donate items, and help clients get over any roadblocks. Remember, your loved ones didn’t accumulate all this stuff over night. This process will take a long time and getting started now will pay off down the road.
