To Get Rid of It or Not - Sentimental Items
plus master the midweek with these organizing quick tips
This is Real Life
Do you find it difficult to get rid of things?
I keep my sister’s coat hanging in the back of my closet. (she passed away when I was in high school)
I still have a few maternity tops. (my youngest is 14)
I saved every piece of artwork the kids brought home, starting from day 1.
I saved all sorts of papers from the kids elementary school days.
Some experts may say that I need to display these things or take pictures and get rid of them.
I say NO!
I’m not going to, unless I’m ready.
You do not have to let go of anything that you’re not ready to let go of.
The time will come when you are ready to part with sentimental things.
For years I found myself feeling bad because I just could not bring myself to throw away things the kids brought home from school. I felt like I was throwing away a part of them!
A time came when I realized just what all I had piled up of their things. We had to move our garden shed - this is where it was all shoved over the years. Boxes and boxes and boxes were full of their artwork and papers from school. Once I pulled it all together into the garage I saw what I’d gathered of their things.
As I opened each box, I pulled out each paper. I let myself remember those times.
They say the days are long, but the years are short. Oh, my. This is so true!
I spent every spare moment I had that summer going through all of it. I never cried so much! Tears of joy, tears of sadness at the time that had passed.
And if I’m being completely honest, tears came realizing how I’d spent so much of their little lives worried about things that just didn’t matter! Things out of my control.
Whether I kept their papers and artwork or not. Or worrying about whether people liked me or not. Or if my home was clean enough when people came over.
As I went through every piece of paper, I sorted them. I kept some and threw most away. It was an amazing experience. One that helped me understand that it is ok to keep the things until I’m ready to let them go.
Keep what you want. Fight the feeling that society has pushed on us, that we need to use it, display it or get rid of it.
Instead, when you accept that you are just going to keep some things because you want to, then you can focus on how to keep them safe and organized.
Do you feel this pressure to get rid of things that you just aren’t ready to get rid of?
Midweek Organizing Quick Tips
Actionable tips that you can do quickly on a busy day that help your home be more organized and functional.
Quick Tip 1 - Start small
An organzing project can be seen as large, intimidating and overwhelming.
Instead of looking at your entire home or even an entire room, you can start small.
This means that you select an area that is small, tiny even!
Why?
When you start small, you’re able to work through the entire process. You have enough time and energy to sort through all the things in that space, make decisions on what to do with them. Then set it all back in order, they way that works best for you. Finally, you can put measures in place to keep it that way. Documentation to tell you and others what they need to do regularly to keep the space organized.
Select a small space that is fully within your control. Perhaps a book shelf, a nightstand, a section of your closet.
These are all small manageble spaces.
Work through the process of sorting (aka declutter), organizing and sustaining what you put in place.
Quick Tip 2 - Delegate the simple things
The amount of time we need to “get organized” feels like we just can’t find or make in our days.
In order to carve out some time so that you can follow quick tip 1 - start small - delegate some of the things in your normal day. Such as doing the dishes or making dinner.
Other things that kids can do? Laundry.
Not forever, unless you want, but just for a week or two.
Delegating tasks to your kids regardless of age is a boost for them. Even at the teen level, they complain, but they learn that you trust them to do a task.
Pick a few things to delegate to your kids and/or your spouse.
Share with them what you want them to do, how you want it done or the results you are wishing for, then let them do it!
And be ok with the results. Otherwise you’ll be doing it forever!
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