Why do people have a hard time letting go of things like old clothes, junk mail, or just stuff in general? If you find yourself having a difficult time letting go of things, you might have ‘Hoarder Syndrome’.
People cannot declutter things because objects, habits and beliefs fill a void in their life or self-esteem. They feel guilty that they are throwing away things that cost money and that they still think are good, and one day they may still need. Letting go of things can be stressful. In addition to being hostage to them, having many things makes them feel safe.
What Is Hoarding?
Hoarding is when people have difficulty throwing out items regardless of their actual value. This behavior results in an excessive number of items kept in the home. As incredible as it may sound, some people even keep pets that are sick or dying.
Why Can’t I Throw Stuff Away?
When people are excessively attached emotionally, they will feel guilt or shame about letting go of things. They may even worry that they might need these items in the future which can be a sign of is a mental dysfunction.
Perfectionism
People have a hard time throwing things away because it goes against their sense of perfection and order.
Lack Of Organization
Many people with hoarding issues just can’t seem to put things back where they belong, if they want to put them back at all.
Fear Of Making The Wrong Decision
Some people keep everything because they fear that if it does not work out as planned then they will always regret getting rid of it. This comes from indecisiveness and difficulty prioritizing what’s important. The end result is a lot of junk!
Difficulty With Decision-Making
People with hoarding issues often have difficulty making decisions in general. Throw it out or keep, donate or save – these are not easy choices to make!
How Do You Emotionally Let Go Of Clutter?
Accept your choices. If you have a cluttering problem, try to accept your choices. You may not want to get rid of certain things but that’s OK! Try putting them in a separate place for now while you work on improving your organizational skills.
Practice Living With Less
Take an honest look at the items in your home and ask yourself, “Do I use this or does it just take up space?” If it doesn’t bring you joy or serve some functional purpose then it might be time to part ways with it.
Be Patient With Yourself
Everyone has problems being organized from time to time – including people who are normally extremely organized! Don’t beat yourself up if you mess up every once in a while. Just get back to your normal routines and try again.
Try To Get Off Things Belonging To A Person Who Passed Away
Sometimes, letting go of clutter can be difficult if the things belonged to a a person that passed away. This happens when family members come into possession of their deceased loved ones things or are stored at their home.
If it is too hard for you to get rid of these items yourself, a good way to overcome this would be to consider donating them instead. Have you thought about this, maybe these things can be useful to someone else in need.
Get Support
Sometimes clutter becomes so overwhelming that we need help organizing the stuff in the home. If this is something you’ve tried but can’t seem to make progress on your own, then reach out for help from friends and family.
You may also consider consulting a mental health professional who will provide support and help with organizing your home so that it is clutter-free. This support will help you solve the question of “Why Do I Have A Hard Time Letting Go Of Things?”
What To Throw Away And What To Keep?
If it doesn’t fit, you don’t need it. Keeping clothes that are too small, don’t fit you or you haven’t worn in 2 years is just taking up space. If it doesn’t fit then you should donate it!
Don’t be like my husband who insists on keeping a pair of pants that no longer fit him, hoping to one day fit into them when he loses weight
If It’s Broken, Say Goodbye
If you haven’t used something in the past year and it’s broken, there’s no reason to hold on to it. Toss broken stuff out since repairing things takes time and money – neither of which we want to spend on something that will take up space!
If You Don’t Use It, Give It Away
People with hoarding behaviors tend to be attached to items even if they aren’t put to good use. This is simply because they spent money on an item and feel as though they will waste their time or money if they part ways with it. If you haven’t used something in the past month then consider donating it.
If you can’t remember the last time you’ve used it, consider letting go of it. Let go of all those books you bought but never read, the home décor pieces that are collecting dust and even those craft supplies taking up space because you changed your hobby over the years.
Those are things that are probably not doing you any good. If you haven’t used it in the past several months then that’s a clear sign that it’s time to let go and pass on your items to someone else who will enjoy them. Cleaning old stuff at home is necessary when you can’t remember the last time you used it.
If Something Doesn’t Make You Happy, Don’t Keep It
Some people, attach their sense of self-worth to the things they own. This is problematic. When it’s time to get rid of old things, it becomes difficult as they feel they will lose themselves or what makes them who they are. This is not true! Things don’t define who we are as a person, so if something doesn’t bring you joy anymore consider giving it away.
Does Having Too Much Stuff Cause Stress?
Having too much stuff in your home that you don’t know where to put anymore can cause stress because it’s overwhelming. You feel as though there isn’t enough space, or that your things are cluttered and disorganized. This leads you to think about the item constantly.
Over time, this can affect your mood if you’re always thinking about how messy or cluttered your home is.
How To Slowly Declutter Your Home?
Get a plan. If you’re looking to declutter your home then it’s best for you to take time to plan what you want to get rid of. Take the necessary time to think about it.
In the beginning it can be difficult to start, and for some people this process might take days, weeks, or months depending on how big of a clutter problem they have.
Start With The Easiest Things
Take some time to go through your things and get rid of what can easily be donated or tossed out. Old clothes that don’t fit (unless they are expensive pieces), broken electronics, or things that are expired should be thrown away first. Now that you got the courage to take the first step, you can move onto bigger things like furniture.
Go Room-by-Room
Decluttering a room at a time. It is easier than trying to do everything all at once! Take the kitchen, for example. You can start with going through your pantry and getting rid of anything that expired or is damaged.
Next move onto the drawers and get rid of kitchen utensils that are either chipped or dirty. Finally go through all your cabinets to see if there’s any space left that can be used for food storage.
Take A Break And A Deep Breath
If you’re following all the steps so far, pat yourself on the back! When decluttering your home it’s important to take breaks every few hours. As it might become emotionally draining and difficult for some people. Plus, having a break will help you regain focus on what you need to do next.
Every area of the house you tackle, make sure to reward yourself with a small treat like watching an episode of your favorite TV show or by treating yourself to a meal out.
It’s important to take things slow when decluttering your home. This process can be emotional for some people. For example, it will not be easy to let go of things that have memories attached to them. You may need to make some difficult decisions but in the end you will feel lighter.
If you’re not sure where to start then set small goals for yourself and work towards completing them one-by-one.
If this article was helpful and you know someone with the same problem don’t forget to share it.
