The average American home contains more than several thousand items. When you face a move, having that much stuff can be intimidating. Most people will make some effort to declutter before their moving date. Sifting, sorting, and getting rid of belongings can be challenging. But you can take notes from those who practice a minimalist lifestyle that may help.
1. Acknowledge Certain Items Have an Emotional Draw But No Value
Take a discerning look at the items in your home as you begin to organize your packing. Consider how many things you keep because you use them and how many items you keep “just because.” For example, you may have items you save because they hold some emotional value. One primary rule in minimalism is to eliminate tangible items that genuinely don’t provide any value in your life.
For example, people tend to hang onto items that remind them of the past or comfort them because they belong to a loved one. This could be old toys, clothing no one ever wears, or even dishes. The key to letting go of items that bear emotional attachment is remembering that your emotions and memories are important, not necessarily the thing itself.
2. Divide and Conquer Large Collections First
Walk through your home and determine what you have the most of. People often amass collections of items for different reasons, and not every reason is enough to hang onto so many similar things. For example, you may have an extensive collection of coffee mugs because you enjoy drinking coffee. Yet, you only use a select few cups. Or, you may have a sizable collection of bath towels because you fear needing more for guests, but overnight guests rarely occur.
Work to pull out whatever collections you have in your home; separate them from everything else. Then, consider if your number of items serves a good enough purpose to take you to your next home.
3. Avoid Saving Items That You Feel Obligated to Keep
Humans are emotional beings, which means we can develop a sense of obligation to a person when they gift us an item. Somehow, we can feel as if we are insulting someone else if we get rid of something given to us. Small gifts you don’t use or create clutter in your life may not be worth hanging onto for the long term. If a gifted item does not serve a purpose, or you only keep it because you feel like you have to, it may be time to let it go.
4. Consider How Much Time Certain Items Require
The stuff in a home may seem like it is not utilizing your time, but many items do. The average person spends considerable time searching for things they have misplaced. Here are a few examples:
- When looking for something in your closet, you must move dozens of unused items
- When you vacuum, you shuffle around furniture pieces you never use
- Every time you prepare a meal, it takes you a long time to find the pots and pans you need because you have too many
You could spend the time you spend dealing with extraneous items on something productive. Getting rid of unneeded belongings can save you time.
Hire a Residential Moving Company to Help
Once you have decluttered, your move can be much less overwhelming. However, enlisting the help of professional movers can be a good step in the right direction. Contact us to schedule your upcoming moving day.