“The idea of 'just in case I may need this someday’ keeps me from finding what I need, when I need it.”
Alex was reflecting on the work she’s been doing with guidance from Spirit & Space.
“The process I do at home to keep things just in case I need them and not letting go of things regularly, I do in every aspect of my life. My emails, receipts, photos, downloaded files…”
The volume of things that she keeps creates clutter, making it difficult to find what she needs. “I buy things just in case or keep things just in case, before I need them. They go unused, clutter up my space (physical and digital), and get outdated. It is overwhelming.” She frequently deals with expired items such as food and batteries as well as an overabundance of toiletries and cleaning supplies, and finds that extra tech items become obsolete before she uses them.
Keeping things just in case also increases Alex's anxiety about running out of things, which triggers a panic. If it happens, she tends to overcompensate by overbuying to avoid another panic.
Impulse buying contributes to the challenge as well. Whether it’s a great deal at Costco, the latest craze that “everyone” is buying, or a great price online (such as Amazon Prime Big Deal Days), it can be easy to succumb to the thrill of getting something new, whether it’s needed or not. The result can be too much stuff unused, unneeded, and kept just in case.
Alex is now working intentionally to change her habits. After targeted decluttering and organizing in almost all areas of her home, she is now on a maintenance schedule; we meet once a month to continue to organize and restore order.
Sometimes, when she’s ready to let go of more stuff, we revisit places in her home that we’ve worked on before. Alex admits that the process of relinquishing unneeded items is difficult for her. She has said more than once that “it just takes time; I’ll come back to this in a little while and be able to let go of more.” She always feels good when she lets go of items she doesn’t need!
“My cleaning out process continues in every facet of my life, both physically and digitally. I think more before I buy or save things now. It never entered my mind to do that before.”
Alex knows that having a coach in this process provides the encouragement, support, and accountability she needs to accomplish her goals. She’s realistic about her long-held habits, and committed to living differently in her home, without unnecessary clutter. I give her huge credit for the self-awareness and dedication that enables her to reach her objectives and find more joy in her space.