Page 35 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Summer 2019- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS
Stuff

Certified Senior Move Manager Be Gone!
Kate Freeman,

Stuff, stuff and more stuff. What do I do with my stuff? you can put your remaining items back where they go,
Decluttering is all the rage right now, no matter what and your space is now clutter free!
stage of life you are in. And while everyone is talking Allow yourself the freedom to imagine the life and
about it, few seem to know how to do it. Whether space you are trying to achieve by decluttering, and
you are downsizing to a smaller house, moving to a don’t get bogged down by sentiment and obligation.
retirement community, or staying where you are, or you Your memories are tied up in events and people, not in
just don’t want your family and friends to have to mess things! If you are having a hard time letting an item go,
with all your stuff later, chances are that you are trying to but know you really should, take a picture and keep the
figure out how to declutter.
picture instead of the object. You can always scrapbook
The first question is: “Where do I start?” As with most or make a photobook, adding a picture of the person or
projects, you need to start with a plan and small bite-size place with the memory that item evoked.
goals - and write them down. Today, I will clean out my
dresser drawers. Tomorrow it will be one kitchen cabinet. The decluttering process is amazingly freeing if you give
Next Wednesday, I will tackle the guest bedroom closet. it a chance. Start with something small, like a drawer
Make sure your goals are small enough, and you allow or cabinet, and watch as other spaces become easier and
enough time to complete the task in one session. Coming easier to declutter!
back to it later will be counterproductive!
No matter the size of project, go through the entire space,
let’s say a junk drawer, and put each item into one of
three piles:
• Trash – Don’t keep anything that is broken, part of
something that is gone, or obsolete. Let it go! This
includes most of the items in the “I might need it
someday” category.
• Donate/Give away/ Return – This pile is for
items you no longer use or want. If you have a
specific person in mind, call and ask if they want it
(and don’t be offended when they say no). This is
also the pile for items that need to be returned to
someone else, as well as items that were gifted to you
that you do not intend to use. Let someone else use
them. Give yourself permission to let things go to
someone else.
• Keep – This will be the smallest of the piles. (Read
that sentence again!) If you are truly decluttering,
this will be the smallest. This should be items you
use or want to keep. You are under no obligation
to keep anything given to you or something that
belonged to a family member if you truly don’t want
it.
Make sure you get rid of the trash and put the donate pile
in your car before you ever stop working. Get it out of
your space so you aren’t tempted to change your mind
and add it back into your now- decluttered space. Then

Amarillo Senior Link 35