If you’re like most people, you have a lot of stuff. And if you don’t have enough room to store it all at home, you may be renting a storage unit. But what should you keep in your storage unit and what should you get rid of?
First, you should determine your purpose for decluttering your storage. Are you hoping to downsize your storage unit, or do you want to declutter and organize your belongings so they can be found more easily? Consider what your end goal is so these items don’t end up back in your home again if you don’t truly need them. Here are some tips to help you decide what to get rid of to help keep your storage unit more organized.
Emotional attachment to stuff
Decluttering can be an emotional process for some people. Letting go of items from your past that you’ve been holding onto can be difficult. Attaching too much meaning to stuff is often the case and people think letting go of the items is like letting go of the memories that they represent. You need to remind yourself that people are not stuff, so letting go of things doesn’t make their life or the time you spent with them any less meaningful.
If you have a storage unit full of belongings from a loved one who has passed away, be gracious with yourself during this process and allow yourself permission to let go of their stuff.
There are many reasons that people tend to hold onto stuff. Sorting through feelings and understanding why you are keeping those items can help you begin the decluttering process. When you’re in the right mindset, decluttering can happen more quickly and efficiently.
Make a list of the things you want to keep
Think of the things you have stored and if there is anything important to you. If there is, you’ll want to make a list of those items that you know you want to keep. You may also find that there isn’t anything important you want to hang onto and that’s okay. Many people forget a lot of things that were stored in the unit and why in the first place.
Create rules
Before decluttering, consider creating rules for your stuff. For example, if it’s something you haven’t used in the past year, let it go. Or if there isn’t a place in your home where you could comfortably keep it then get rid of it. Remember these are your rules and you get to decide how to clean out your storage unit but create rules that work for you and that you will be consistent with.
Label boxes and bags
As you sort through the items in your storage unit, having boxes or bags will help you organize things into one of the following categories.
- Trash
- Keep
- Donate
- Sell
- Second Chance (unsure)
The top three categories are easy and self-explanatory. Setting aside items that you hope to sell, is fine, just be sure to create a plan so they don’t continue to just sit in storage. The second chance category is optional and is for someone who has a hard time making decisions and needs a little more time to think about it later. Typically, this should be reviewed in a few months after you’ve had enough time to decide. Write the deadline date on the box.
Getting rid of things with sentimental value
If it’s difficult for you to let go of items with sentimental value, try focusing on what you want to keep instead what you’re getting rid of. An idea is to take pictures of sentimental items before letting them go and see if this works for you. Giving away items to someone who you know wants them and will use it can help when you are letting go of something that sentimental.
Whether you’re downsizing or want to clear out some space, it can be tough to figure out what to do with all your stuff. Cleaning out a storage unit takes time and effort but is worth the burden lifted by all that stuff. Hopefully, these tips will help you let go of some things so your storage space can be cleaner and more organized.