What to do When You’re Overwhelmed with Stuff
Stuff is easy to accumulate. From the things you pick up on holiday to the gifts you are given by friends, the stuff you buy to make yourself feel better to the things you think you need but ever actually use – stuff is all around us.
For years and years, the amount of stuff a person has was an indicator for how well they were doing. But now, people are less interested in accumulating things and there is a huge move towards a more minimalist lifestyle. With less of a focus on stuff and a greater emphasis on experience, plenty of people are now looking around their homes and feeling overwhelmed by what they see.
Where should you start? What should you get rid of? What should you keep?
Understanding What You Really Need
A slightly extreme way to figure out what you really need and what you can live without is to put all your stuff into storage, excepting the basics. So, while you can leave things like your microwave and bedding, all your ornaments and other stuff must go into storage spaces. Try this for a week at least to really get used to living with less.
What this will show you is how little a person needs to survive and be happy. It will also demonstrate just how much space you have at home. Rooms that have previously been crammed full of stuff will suddenly feel huge! If you are feeling smart, take this opportunity to do a deep clean – if there’s been piles of stuff lying around for a long time, there will be plenty of dust to vacuum away.
Choosing the Things that Make You Happy
Once you have lived with less, the value that you place on things will change. The things that have an emotional or sentimental attachment will suddenly feel even more precious but the other things that you don’t really love or need won’t be very difficult to get rid of anymore.
Of course, sentimental value can make choosing your things more difficult too. If you are struggling, try choosing just one out of a collection of things and photographing the rest. You could also try thanking the things you no longer need and giving them to charity as a way to allow the item to continue a new life elsewhere, bringing someone else joy.
Changing Your Priorities
Getting rid of excess junk and learning to live with less is all about changing priorities. When you’re no longer worried about maneuvering through your stuff all the time, it will be much easier to relax at home. It is true that living with less can give you more.
Shifting your priorities from the accumulation of stuff to the accumulation of experiences is a brilliant way to live your life. Not only will you have a little more money in your pocket but if you go the whole hog, you could downsize and save even more. Feeling overwhelmed with stuff is the first indication that something needs to change. And you can start anytime you like.
