The One Thing That Can Be The Hardest To Declutter From Your Closet

From birthdays and anniversaries to Secret Santa exchanges at the office, most of us have gone through the awkward experience of receiving an unwanted gift from an in-law, a co-worker, or someone dear to you whose present was well-intended but simply off the mark. Yet the painfully ironic part of gifts is that even if we dislike them, they can be incredibly hard to get rid of — and end up taking up valuable real estate in closets and drawers.

Why is it so hard to let go of gifts? A big part probably stems from guilt. Feelings of guilt while decluttering are normal, but especially when you're purging your home of stuff you've accumulated from other people. It's not uncommon to feel guilty just for receiving a gift, because unconsciously you may feel unworthy of it or unable to return the favor. Then, when it comes time to part ways with it, even if you're not particularly fond of the gift, you may feel as though getting rid of it is an act of ungratefulness.

You may also struggle to part ways with an item if it was gifted to you by someone you care about. If a mug reminds you of your best friend from high school, or a sweater was selected for you by your grandma, throwing it out might feel like a rejection of the person who gave it to you. And finally, there's the dreaded possibility that the gifter may ask you about the item after you've discarded it. If even thinking about that scenario gives you anxiety, you might hold onto that gift out of a sense of obligation.

Giving away a gift doesn't need to mean it ends up in the trash. You may find it easier to part ways with an item if you know it's going to good use elsewhere. While thrift stores are a good option, you can also look into alternatives to thrift store donations, such as giving unwanted books to a local library, or unneeded clothing to a local shelter. It can also be very fulfilling to pass on a gift to someone who you personally know will enjoy it much more than you would. If you can't stand board games (gasp!) and received one as a gift, for example, you may want to offer it up to that one friend who you know loves hosting game nights at her house.

It's also important to give yourself some grace. If a gift holds some sentimental value and is too difficult to part with, don't feel the need to pressure yourself to give it away just yet. Keep holding onto it for now, and you can always revisit the idea of giving it away the next time you're decluttering your home. And if the dreaded scenario where the gift-giver asks where the gift is ends up materializing, you have a few options: be (sort of) honest and say that although you loved it, you gave it to someone who appreciated it or needed it even more; be vague and say it's packed away somewhere safe; or, our personal favorite — quickly change the subject!