The Hardest Thing to Declutter

Most people probably think the hardest thing to declutter is sentimental clutter.  While it's true that presents its own challenges, I actually think the hardest thing to declutter is aspirational clutter.  This type of clutter is tied to your actual identity!  By decluttering, you're admitting to yourself that you're actually not the type of person you thought you were or that you're not going to do things you wanted to do.  Admitting this to ourselves can be SUPER tough!!

There really is light at the end of the tunnel, though, and if you can let go of your own aspirational clutter, I promise you'll have a huge sense of relief!  Keep reading, or watch the video here to see how I handle aspirational clutter!

Here's an example of my own aspirational clutter.  When I was pregnant with my daughter (my first child), I wanted to create this super cool baby book, document my pregnancy and her first year of life, etc.  I bought a ton of supplies to create a Project Life style of scrapbook.

I think I did one spread about my pregnancy toward the end.  After she was born, I made a few journaling cards, but I never even printed out her baby pictures, even though I took plenty.  I'm just more of a digital person, and I never got around to it.

Then I had a second baby, moved TWICE, and I packed up my Project Life supplies each time…and still never made any progress on that baby book.  Finally I just realized that I was never going to do it.  I'm just not the type of person who has a huge desire to document everything and keep a physical book.  But every time I saw those supplies in my craft area, I felt bad and guilty.

Eventually I may make my kids digital books of some kind…or maybe I won't.  But I know by now that even though I think the Project Life books are cool and cute, I'm just not going to do one.  Once I decided that it wasn't going to happen, letting go of the supplies was easy!  I donated them, and hopefully someone else gets them who will love them and actually use them!  But the hard part was just finally deciding that I wasn't going to do it.

Hobbies

Hobbies can be a difficult area for aspirational clutter.  I've always wanted to be this fantastic cake and cookie decorator, and I had the supplies to do it!  Except I never take the time to actually get it out and use it.

I also finally let go of my old college textbooks.  I was an engineer before becoming a blogger/YouTuber.  It was a huge part of my identity, and I went through four (rather grueling, LOL!) years of college to get there.  But I just don't ever see myself going back to it, or at least not anytime soon.  I really feel like I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing.  I doubt I'll EVER go back to engineering.  That's tough to admit because I worked so hard for it and because I tied my identity to my career as an engineer,

Perhaps you have a hobby that you were super excited about, invested money into, and then….it just kinda fell flat.  It's hard to admit that we wasted money and time on something we aren't going to follow through with.  But it's even harder when that hobby is something we value or admire in others or would really love to be good at ourselves.

Exercise Equipment

How many of you have heard the joke about that treadmill or stationary bike becoming a clothing rack?!?  Exercise equipment can be even more laden with guilt than other clutter because we know exercise is healthy for us, and it's something we really should do.  But just because it's sitting in your basement, it does you no good if you don't actually use it!

If you have unused exercise equipment, give yourself an ultimatum.  Either you use it three times a week over the next month (or whatever you decide), or you will get rid of it.  Sometimes that's a strong motivator.  But if it isn't, then you're probably just never going to use it.  That's okay!  Maybe you like walking outside better than on that treadmill.  Or if you bought equipment during the pandemic, maybe you really prefer going to the gym now.

It's REALLY hard to say, “I'm just not a person who uses the bike/treadmill regularly.”  But keeping that piece of equipment doesn't make you that person, anyway.  If you just aren't using the home exercise equipment, pass it on to someone who will use it.  Try to find another form of exercise that you do like.

We all have different types of aspirational clutter.  I support decluttering anything that is making you feel bad about yourself or guilty for not doing or being something you wanted in the past.  Even if you still hope to be a person who does X, it's okay to say it's not going to happen anytime soon and let go of those things that bring up bad feelings.

What have you decluttered or finally let go of that was tied to your identity or who you thought you'd be?  This can be so emotional, even more so than letting go of sentimental things.  Here's to doing the hard work and feeling the relief that comes after letting go!

Organization that actually sticks for busy, happy lives

Posted Under: Decluttering