Decluttering and Organizing Memorabilia
It’s common to feel some mental pushback when decluttering and organizing memorabilia. After all, these items often hold sentimental value, and it can be difficult to let go of them. Here are a few tips to help you declutter and organize your memorabilia:
1. Set a goal. What do you want to achieve by decluttering your memorabilia? Are you trying to downsize, organize your belongings, or simply get rid of things you no longer need or want? Once you know your goal, you can start to make decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of.
2. Start small. Don’t try to declutter everything all at once. This will only overwhelm you and make it more likely that you’ll give up. Instead, start by decluttering one tub you may have full of items you’ve saved.
3. Set a timer. Give yourself a limited amount of time to declutter each day or each session. This will help you stay focused and avoid getting bogged down.
4. Enlist help. If you’re having trouble decluttering on your own, ask a friend or family member or Professional Organizer to keep you focused and a guarantee to see results. They can be a sounding board and help you make decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of.
5. Don’t be afraid to let go. It’s okay to get rid of items that no longer hold meaning for you. Remember, you’re not getting rid of the memories themselves, just the physical objects that represent them. As your life progresses, you might find some items are very easy to discard. When you’re decluttering, it’s important to be ruthless. Don't keep things just because you feel sentimental about them. If you haven’t looked at or used an item in years, it’s probably time to get rid of it.
6. Find creative ways to repurpose or recycle your memorabilia. If you can’t bear to get rid of an item altogether, find a creative way to repurpose it or recycle it. This could involve turning it into a piece of art. For example, you could turn a baseball card into a piece of jewelry or a ticket stub into a bookmark. My personal story is that I realized my sticker collection as an adult meant absolutely nothing to me. I gave them all to a kindergarten teacher friend and it felt great that the children could use them for school and art projects.
Decluttering and organizing memorabilia can be a challenging task, but it’s important to remember that it’s worth it in the end. By following these tips, you can overcome the mental pushback and create a space that is both functional and meaningful.
Here are some additional tips that might help you:
Take photos of the items you’re decluttering before you get rid of them. This way, you can still have a visual reminder of the memories they represent.
Create a memory box or album to store the items you decide to keep. This will help you keep them organized and accessible.
Separate photos from paper/card/letter memorabilia as you might need to access photos for a friends or family members’ special birthdays or to create a poster for a memorial service.
Donate the items you no longer want to a charity or thrift store. This is a great way to give them a new life and help others. Or post items on your local Buy Nothing Facebook group that you think someone might enjoy having.
And here are some additional tips for organizing your memorabilia:
Use clear containers so you can easily see what’s inside.
Label your containers so you know what’s in them.
Store your memorabilia in a safe and accessible place.
Rotating your memorabilia can help you keep it fresh and interesting.
Share your memorabilia with others. This could involve creating a memory book, scrapbook, or display.
Decluttering and organizing your memorabilia can be a challenging task, but it can also be a rewarding one. |
