So, you are moving soon, maybe in a week, or even in a month. You are predicting that moving day is going to be chaotic and stressful, so you want to get ahead of it by clearing out the stuff you do not want. That is the mistake a lot of first-time movers make. They bring a full house of belongings to their new place, then spend weeks throwing out things they never needed or that do not even fit. You know better than that. You want to clear your belongings of everything that is useless, broken, old, or unused.
You might start with your clothing, and you may even do well for a little while. You will get rid of some old shirts you have been meaning to toss, and you will donate a few pairs of jeans that used to fit. Then you come across a dress or a suit that was your absolute dream fit, something you bought back when you started going to the gym or tried a new diet. All of a sudden, your old commitments come rushing back, and you think, maybe I will lose the weight after this move, maybe I should keep this.
Before long, all you’ve done is gotten rid of a few shirts and signed up for a gym membership near your new place.
That is because getting rid of old things is not just about setting up a pile labeled Donate. Getting rid of old things is about confronting change.
Feeling stuck here is normal, and it does not mean something is wrong with you. Our Santa Clarita moving team works with people going through exactly this every week, so we have picked up a few things worth knowing before you start.
Main Reasons Why It’s Hard to Get Rid of Stuff
Every person is different, but many people feel the following emotions when they start to go through and get rid of their stuff. Understanding and accepting these emotions is a helpful first step when you are decluttering.
People often feel a mix of the following when they start to get rid of stuff.
- Guilt because they spent money on it, it seems wasteful, it was a gift, or it was owned by someone who has since passed away.
- Grief because they are saying goodbye to belongings that may have held some emotional value to them.
- Fondness toward the object or objects because they associate them with certain memories or times of their lives.
- Overwhelmed by the amount of work there is to do. It may seem like it will never end.
- Frustrated that they have so much stuff in the first place.
- Anxiety that they will later need one or more of the belongings they get rid of, but they won’t have it anymore.
All of these feelings are perfectly normal. Remind yourself that you do not have to get rid of everything and live a minimalist lifestyle to be happy. Find your balance and stick with it. If certain belongings you rarely use still bring you joy when you look at them, it is fine to keep them around. There is nothing wrong with holding on to happy memories while you make new ones.
What Your Things Say About You
What people buy is often a statement about what kind of people they think they are (or hope to be). People who buy treadmills want to be seen as healthy and fit. People who buy themselves gardening books probably want to be gardeners. People who have a lot of unused camera equipment, at one point, wanted to be seen as a photographer or videographer.
A lot of things do not fall into that category, which is why most of us do not have a problem giving away or trashing a broken TV remote or an old stereo. But the things that do fall into that category, the things that represent who we are, tend to be especially hard to let go of. At the core of throwing those things away, you are not just tossing an old pair of jeans or a piece of athletic equipment. You are letting go of who you used to be, and in some cases, an old dream you are not chasing anymore.
Giving away a set of dumbbells might not be hard, but giving up on your dream of having a home gym might be more difficult than you bargained for.
Where to Start
If you are donating or trashing old pieces of your life, a good place to start is with who you are right now, at this moment. Ask what your current dreams and current projects actually are, and what you need on hand to make them happen. Write down your current plans and projects, then make a second list of the things required to pull them off.
While you go through your old things, ask yourself the following.
- Is this thing going to help me with any of my current plans or projects?
- Is this thing connected to an old plan or project that I’ve let go of?
It is hard work, but it helps you let go of things that are only taking up space, both in your house and in your mind.
If you are torn on a specific item, you do not have to decide immediately. Our short-term storage keeps things safe while you take the time you need, so you are not forced into a snap decision just to hit a moving deadline.
Get Support from the Moving Experts at AQMS!
Moving can be overwhelming. It’s hard to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for a move while also handling the logistics of packing, finding a truck, and getting your household in order before the big day. If you’re looking for a partner to handle all the tedious, difficult stuff while you focus on what matters, then we can help.
We are Affordable Quality Moving and Storage, and we have helped Southern California families and businesses move for almost thirty years by keeping the process fast and low-stress. Our licensed and insured movers handle packing, transportation, storage, and unpacking in whatever combination you need. If all you need is a truck to get your things from A to B, we can do that. If you need a logistical expert to handle your entire move end to end, we can do that too.
Call (661) 622-2636 today to get a free quote on your move. We handle moves of any distance, from local moves to international relocation, and we would love to make your moving day easier. If letting go of things is the hardest part for you, we put together more thoughts on deciding what to donate when you move, which might help you get unstuck.