Reducing Clutter
There are varied reasons why people keep so much and become pack rats. In order to first let go of some things, you might have to dig deep within yourself to discover your own psychological reasons why.
For some, it can be a form of comfort. To have so many possessions can give one a feeling as though they’re wrapped in a cocoon of warmth and security. It’s possible this person never received a lot of love or affection as a child. Things become their form of affection or give them a sense of belonging.
It might also be due to a “control” issue. Some would wonder how this could have anything to do with having control when in fact it seems totally out of control. It can get to the point where each and every room is filled to capacity with stuff. But to the person who becomes a packrat to the extreme, it might seem as though this is the only thing that they have actual control over, when all else in their lives has become unmanageable. This allows them some say in their own lives.
Still, some cling to things due to sentimental value. It might be that ugly vase that doesn’t go with your decor, but because it was grandmother’s, you feel you need to hang onto it in order to remember her by. It may be gifts you received from family members, feeling that if you were to get rid of it, they’d think you didn’t like or appreciate it. But let’s face it, we don’t always hold the same value to certain things that others might, nor do we all have the same tastes.
Lastly, another reason some become attached to their material possessions might be due to the fact that they had very little during their childhood. Once they have buying power as an adult, they can overdo it. The hoards of useless items might be their way of having something. They finally have things they never could as a child.
If the clutter isn’t too out of control, it can be easier to rid yourself of those unnecessary items. A rule of thumb is that if you haven’t used or even looked at it in the last 5 years, then you probably won’t miss it if you toss it out.
In the case of children leaving home, you have to tell yourself that you no longer need to feather the nest. The children have left and you can now make more space in your home.
Envision your home with less things in it. The style these days in all the magazines and home decorating shows appears to be minimalism. Less is more fashionable today when decorating one’s home.
Think of the money you can save by curbing your spending habits. Don’t buy on impulse, only purchase things that you really need. Don’t buy it because it was on sale. Instead, set that money aside and let it build. It could be that holiday that you’ve been dreaming of having for years.
Gather up all your useless, unnecessary items and hold a yard sale. You could have a lot of money in your pocket by selling off all the clutter. With the proceeds, you can maybe allow yourself one big purchase, or pay off some bills (possibly paying off some of those over extended credit cards).
When it comes time for gift giving, have your loved ones give you something that isn’t an item purchased from a store, something that could collect dust and become clutter yet again. It can be a gift certificate to a nice restaurant perhaps or tickets to a theatre.
Make it a rule that when you bring a new item into the house, an old item must go. That way you can keep the clutter down to a minimum and a more manageable level.
In the case of extreme clutter, where you can’t even find a clear path within your home, then you will definitely need some professional help. People who have let it get so far out of control as to having stacks of boxes filling each room to the brim, will find themselves near a breakdown if they are forced to get rid of it all. It can be akin to telling them they no longer need their legs or their beloved pet. The accumulated clutter has become very much a part of them. It needs to be done on a gradual basis, with compassion and understanding.
It may take days or even weeks, but they may need to go through each and every item, assessing their importance. Often times, they themselves will have to admit the item in itself has no value. By actually hearing themselves say the words, it will make it easier for them to either sell the item or toss it out.
It can be a long arduous process, but with understanding and support, it can be done. Once the home is cleared to a respectable and manageable level, they will find it quite a relief to their own emotional state, to finally be rid of this overwhelming hold their possessions held over them.
