Podcast Episode 96 — How to Declutter Without Saying Goodbye to Sentimental Things
It’s ok to keep things. Really.
Today I want to talk about decluttering and sentimental things.
One of the questions I get asked the most is what to do when you need to declutter but have things you don’t want to part with. This is a valid question. Many pro-declutter people will tell you to get rid of everything that doesn’t bring you happiness. Sometimes, though, you have things that mean something to you, or your family, that don’t mainly make you ecstatic when you see them. So what do you do?
First, understand that it’s ok to keep things.
Yes, even if you’re trying to declutter. The trick is to do it smartly.
Here’s what I mean:
If you have your children’s artwork, essential documents, and old papers that are taking up space, consider using a scanner and a cloud-based storage system or a flash drive just for those important things. Scan and upload them, and you will never lose them. Make sure you only do this for what is essential to avoid digital clutter. Consider creating a photo book from your scanned and uploaded images for the kids' stuff. It makes a lovely keepsake that doesn’t take up a lot of space.
