Battling Clutter- How To Let Go Of Items You No Longer Use

In my evening classes we’ve lately been covering topics that touch on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the environment, how to take care of it, the little things we take for granted like food wastage and we somehow just got to an interesting subtopic, on what to do with things one no longer use.

Do you know those days when you decide to ‘put your things in order’? When you decide to thoroughly clean your walls and closets and everything that can be cleaned and you find your nursery school report card. Or the woolen sweater your grandmother had sewn to gift you on the Christmas of 1928.

It’s 2019, and since 1928 when you were only a teenager, you still have the screaming yellow sweater. You have moved to twelve different houses and towns but you do not let go of it. A relative’s child came visiting without a sweater but when the visit came to an end you wouldn’t let her go with it even though you’re now ten times bigger, you’re even doing aerobics, taking plenty of water and no starch after 3 pm and yellow is certainly not your favorite color.

Whatever you keep yet you no longer use, you’re not alone. Let me be ‘so Kenyan’ and say the “we are so many” consolation. I, for instance, have things I should probably give away but I still have them. Somebody I know keeps empty bottles of colognes and lotions. Another just collects pens and the weirdest patient I know is the one who keeps tools. Hammers, screwdrivers and the like.

I know, it is difficult to let go of things we love even if they became useless. You may not exactly be selfish. Maybe you are just avoiding change or are so attached to them and you tell yourself you will surely need it one day.

That is definitely some sort of disorder that I think almost everyone is suffering from. But did you know there are other severe cases?

Now, I know that you, as much as you collect things over time which you don’t find useful now, they are neatly arranged every time you clean your house. They haven’t quite affected your normal activities.

Imagine someone who has 40 screwdrivers. Or 60 can openers and too many things he/she no longer has space for more things yet they keep collecting and feeling pained to let them go. That is definitely Hoarding.

While most of us may not necessarily be ‘hoarders’, we most definitely are collectors of many things. The only difference is that it is not an untidy collection like it is for people with hoarding disorder.

The following are ways to let go of items you no longer use without too much hesitance or pained feeling.

• Set aside a few minutes of putting your things in order. That way, you will constantly be aware of things you do not need, making it a lot easier for you to let it go.
• Ask yourself why you’re keeping it. Is it because you’re happy or because you think you should just have it? If your answer is the latter, it’s time to let it go.
• If you really think you may need them soon, hide them somewhere for some time, say a month and if by the time a month elapses before you use them then that is a sure sign you need to declutter.
• Some items are sentimental. Like your grandmother’s yellow sweater you’re keeping for decades. If you give that out to someone who will use it, trust me you won’t forget your grandmother. You’ll still cherish the memories.
• If they are items you can digitize, then please do so as soon as possible. Get them scanned. that’s a better way to save them.
• Make some money out of your items. Instead of letting them gather dust and filling up space, sell them out to people who may need it and use the money for something more useful.
• Donate to charity. You will feel good. If it is a dress you love so much but it no longer fits, chances are that little girl out there without clothes to cover her body will love it too.