Keepsakes

We know keepsakes are challenging to sort through because they carry memories, emotions and maybe even some guilt. They may not even be OUR keepsakes, but those we inherited from loved ones in the midst of a busy season of life raising children, careers, caring for parents, illness, etc.

As a professional organizer, it is standard practice that “Keepsakes” are the last category to go through once you’ve built up some “decluttering muscle”. If you’re overwhelmed with kitchen cabinets, lack of pantry, clothing coming out of your ears, books galore, toys out of your ears, than start with one of those.

BUT, what do you do with these items in the meantime. I recommend choosing ONE area of your home to store items that you aren’t displaying. Use large totes to store items in the attic for now (or a guest room closet or upper shelf somewhere). If you live in a small space, you have to be more ruthless more quickly. And remember to keep photos stored in a separate temperature controlled location.

For the most part, try to DISPLAY keepsakes - on the walls or a bookshelf for visual interest. For the items that cannot be displayed, designate one bin for each family member. My hubby and I personally use a cedar chest for our childhood/family keepsakes and each our kids has a file bin for small trinkets and paper keepsakes. This provides a great spatial boundary. I have probably only “reviewed” items in these areas a couple times over the last decade or so and find that a few things I once held dear, I am no longer interested in keeping.

What is your threshold for clutter?

When I work with families, I often hear overwhelmed moms say things like…

“I just want it gone”

“I’m so sick of all this stuff”

“Where does it all come from?”

“Burn it all”

“So and so doesn’t listen to my request for less”

“I don’t know where to even start”

As a mom of 3, I empathize. Even now I still have a rage fueled moment here and there where I dump all the miscellaneous crap on every surface in a bag and either throw it away or stuff it in the attic (yes, probably not the best place, but my attempt at not operating out of anger).

• The thing is, my kids have some of their own money now and they buy things they want, even after conversations about living with less.

• They bring home trinkets and treasures from school and birthday parties.

• They are blessed by family members.

• They are creative and make all manner of items out of the recycling.

• Hubs and I get tempted by the online ads, or some sale, even as we strive for intentionality. We aren’t perfect and sometimes we do feel the consquences of those impulse buys.

Understanding my threshold for clutter has been helpful as I try to consider what I have control over bringing into our home. I know that full surfaces (counters, tables, furniture, shelves) make me lose focus as all the piles catch me eye. Said piles are DISTRACTING. I find myself trying to sort through, “who needs to clean that up? Is there some action I need to take? Is that trash?” etc etc.

Minimizing the opportunities for this by having fewer surfaces, a home for everything and involving the whole family in clean-up and chore routines has made a difference. In our gift giving we focus mostly on consumables and experiences. We view the tangible items that come in as temporary and have built decluttering maintenance into our seasonal rhythm.

So, are you clear on what YOUR threshold is? If you’ve reached it, what can you do to shift back beneath that threshold?

2022 Holiday Gift Guides and Thoughts on Giving

It was Christmas 2013 when I first remember feeling the glazed eye overwhelm, being surrounded by stuff, in the midst of newborn exhaustion after our 3rd babe was born that fall. I think it was the sense that as a mama, I wouldn’t be able to manage, to keep up with it all, that we would just be indefinitely surrounded in chaos.

I have come along way since those early days - the days of toys strewn about are limited. It is but a very brief, very sweet, season in the grand scheme of things when our kids want to play with toys. Knowing that we are blessed in a family of givers, we have spent the last 5 years gifting our kids experiences - amusement park memberships, monthly simple dates (think like ice cream outings and a trip to the movies and sleeping in a tent in our living room), and one year the promise of a PUPPY! That helped me relax some regarding the new items coming into our home through the generosity of others.

Believe it or not, we may opt for tangible gifts this year, even knowing some of those things may have a short shelf life. We will still keep it minimal and many of them consumables, But knowing I have a system for moving items out that no longer serve a purpose helps me to be okay with that. I’ll let you know how it plays out, ha!

In light of all these things, below are my 2022 ideas for experience gifts AND tangible gifts that add fun and excitement (plus, the tangible things are either consumable or can be easily passed on once you are passed that stage!). The most important part is gratitude, teaching our kids that generosity comes in many forms and that paying it forward is the best part. Here’s to a holiday season focused on family fun and blessing others.