The Overlooked Type Of Clutter That Can Get In The Way Of An Organized Home

Our homes reflect us, but not always in the way we think. Think about that cupboard full of cookware and kitchen gadgets that we bought because we thought we'd cook from scratch more. Or the bicycle that's collecting cobwebs in the back of the garage, since we cured ourselves of the fitness bug. And what about the paint set we inherited from our dad after he passed because someday we were going to be the great painter he never got to be. All of these items are what home organizers call "aspirational clutter." They represent the part of us that we wish we were or hope to become.

Unfortunately, these unused items do more than just give us extra stuff to organize. Oftentimes, they spark feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. We look at those things — like the smaller clothes in the closet and the treadmill that has become a clothing rack — and remember that we wanted to lose weight. After a time, reminders of these unfulfilled goals weigh on us. And it's not just weight loss gear and diet books that qualify as aspirational clutter. It's that stack of business books, unused seminar videos, and musical instruments that never get played. Essentially, it's anything that we keep that doesn't represent who we are today, no matter how badly we want the stuff to be an accurate portrayal of who we are now. 

Understandably, this kind of clutter is among the hardest to get rid of. So much emotion is attached to it. Getting rid of it requires not only decluttering strategies that work, but more importantly, to adjust our thinking about who we think we're supposed to be instead of just accepting ourselves for who we are right now. There are some steps you can take to help. First, take an inventory of the stuff. Be honest with yourself. Have you used it in the last year? Have you ever used it since you bought it? If not, it might be ready to go. If you can't bear to part with it, you have an option to put it away for another three months and then revisit it. If you still feel bad when you look at the stuff in three months and you haven't used it, it really should go.

Second, you might feel better if you donate unused items to someone who really can use them and appreciate them. Doing so can take away the sting of parting with them. Donating items with one simple mindset change may make it easier for you to accept that those particular items are just not who you are right now. Finally, if after soul-searching you still feel like the goal that the clutter represents is still something you want to pursue, you may want to talk to someone like a coach or a therapist to get started. Doing so could give you a game plan for getting rid of the overwhelming piles of clutter and help you finally realize some of your goals in the process.