Why Do We Hold Onto Things We Rarely — or Never — Use?

As a professional organizer, I often see how difficult it can be to let go of belongings — even the ones we haven’t used in years.

We hold onto craft supplies from hobbies we once loved. Sports equipment for activities we intended to try. Half-finished projects waiting for “someday.” Sometimes it’s a matter of time. Sometimes our interests have simply changed. And sometimes those items represent a future version of ourselves — the person who was going to sew her own clothes or finally learn how to ski (complete with all the gear, of course).

We also keep:

• Clothing that no longer fits, no longer feels like “us,” or needs mending we realistically won’t do.

• Wardrobes from past careers or past seasons of life.

• Food items we won’t eat — even expired ones we just haven’t gotten around to discarding.

• Furniture passed down from parents or grandparents that doesn’t suit our space or style, but carries emotional weight.

• Children’s toys and clothing long after the kids have grown and moved out.

None of these things are kept by accident. They are tied to memories, hopes, guilt, identity, and good intentions.

We tend to hold onto two categories: pieces of our past and possibilities for our future. Yet many of these items are tucked away in storage, unseen and unused. They quietly take up physical space — and often mental space as well.

Over time, this accumulation can make our homes feel crowded rather than calming. Instead of serving as a sanctuary, our space begins to feel heavy with unfinished decisions and unfulfilled intentions.

Creating Space for the Present You

I encourage clients to gently step back and reflect:

• How do I want my home to feel?

• What do I truly want from this space?

• Does this item support the life I am living today?

Room by room, space by space, object by object, consider what no longer serves you. Releasing these items is not about erasing the past or giving up on the future. It’s about making room for your present life — the person you are today.

If one day you decide to return to those crafts or finally take that ski lesson, you absolutely can. But you can also choose to create space now — space that supports your current priorities, your current lifestyle, and your current sense of peace.

Your home should reflect who you are today — not who you were, and not who you thought you might be.

Letting go is not about loss. It’s about alignment.

Less Clutter = Less Stress ^SM     in your home, your business and your life

Organizational Consulting Services

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