3 Unexpected Philosophies to Help You Get Rid of Your Junk
The cluttered house that is making us anxious. Or we find our apartment no longer holds our belongings. And the kids don’t play with their toys because they’re visually overwhelmed by choices.
Stuff piles up and we know we need less. Life would be simpler, happier, and less hectic if we cleaned out the closet or created a visually appealing space. You know a lot of your stuff is no longer serving a functional, emotional, or spiritual purpose.
But how do you get rid of it? Understanding the logistics of home organization is one thing, but it can be hard to let go, especially if you’re sentimental or not sure where to begin. Here are three unexpected methods I came across in other topics that are helpful for eliminating the nuisance stuff in your life.
From Business and Finance: Zero-Balance Budget for Your Stuff
Zero-balance budgeting (ZBB) is a budgeting method used by business that involves basically “starting over” with the budget each period. Instead of thinking about how much money each project is currently getting, the company begins by allocating zero funding to each project. All money is one communal pot and is then allocated to projects based on current needs. This helps avoid psychological hang-ups over previous budgeting allocations that may have been incorrect.
So how does this work for your stuff? Start by getting rid of everything. Not literally. But imagine everything is in your get rid of pile, and then choose the things to save.
This method can work even better if you have the space to pile everything in an extra room or corner. Then you can select the items you want to keep and thoughtfully organize them back into desired spaces. I did this recently with my chaotic home office. I put everything in storage tubs so I could start with a pristine space. By taking items back out of tubs as I needed or desired them, I was able to figure out which things are actually used and enjoyed.
From Witchcraft: A Spell Can Run it’s Course
A few months ago I was listening to an episode of Atomic Witchcraft and someone on the podcast said “a spell can run its course.” The example given was a simple friendship bracelet — the kind girls weave out of string at summer camps. These bracelets are tied on the wrist and (in some circles) not removed until they wear off. You might think of these as a simply a symbol of friendship, or perhaps as a spell or charm to help the friendship grow.
When the bracelet eventually wears down and falls off, the podcaster says, the spell or charm has run its course. It has done what it needed to do and the bracelet isn’t needed anymore.
If you’re someone who assigns sentimental value and power to object, this concept is really helpful. How often do we save an item because it reminds us of a person or a time that was meaningful?
I’m not saying we shouldn’t save some sentimental items. Objects can hold meaning and help remember loved ones. I would say the “spell” of these objects hasn’t “run its course” yet. But we don’t need to save every birthday card, stuffed animal or vacation t-shirt. Those things come into your life, serve their purpose, and when they’re done, it’s ok to let them go.
(As an aside, even if you don’t believe in “magic” wearing a physical symbol of a relationship almost certainly has some impact on the relationship. These kinds of “scientific” aspects of witchcraft/religion as “spicy psychology” are fascinating to me — but that’s another topic).
From Psychology: Breaking Generational Cycles
There are two ways I think our families feed our tendency to hoard items.
- They keep too much stuff themselves and this behavior becomes learned, expected, and normal. Older relatives have houses full of knick knacks. Maybe there are packed attics and rented storage units. It feels normal to us and we don’t question it even as we drown in our own junk.
- Guilt. Maybe generous family members gift you clothing or decor or toys you will never use. Maybe you’ve ended up with furniture or dishes that used to belong to a deceased relative and now you feel obligated to keep them.
I’m not saying all families have done anything wrong here because many were just doing what was normal or even necessary for them. Historically, many people relied on furniture handed down from older relatives to furnish a home. Grandparents who struggled financially may have felt like they needed to keep everything. However, there are also families with an unhealthy view of material goods. They assign to much meaning to things and refuse to get rid of possessions. You find yourself being judged for not keeping every item you’ve been given. You feel guilty.
But regardless of your family, you don’t have to feel obligated to keep material stuff that doesn’t serve you. Every generation has a chance to break dysfunctional cycles and do better in many ways. We find better ways to parent our children. We avoid the relationship mistakes parents made. Maybe we find better work-life balance.
We find a way to improve. You can include a healthier relationship with stuff as one of your ways to do better.
