We all have those items that we tend to hang on to just in case we may need it. I hear all too often from my clients and supporters about items they are ‘saving for a rainy day’. This fixed mindset concept of needing something you don’t have the space for in your home can be overpowering. When you find yourself with an item that evokes the unsure feelings of ‘Perhaps I will need this’, ‘Possibly my family member or friend might use it’ or ‘One day I will use that’, THINK about, is it worth housing this MAYBE object? If this object can be used today start using it! Or donate it to a charity shop where this item can be purchased by someone who will use it! Amy, a To Keep or Not To Keep supporter, had this to say about her MAYBE items: ‘Saving my old clothes just in case they fit me one day feels like a silly notion now I have edited these items from the bottom of my wardrobe. I now am able to store and see all my handbags in this space instead.’

Learn more by clicking this link  http://bit.ly/2020RightsizeYourLife to purchase your copy of Rightsize Your Life!: The Balanced Approach to Living Better with Your Belongings

Our LEGACY objects are physical belongings that provide an example of our individual triumphs. These items are tokens we intend to hand down to our next generation. They represent our personal history by way of something we have been recognised for, excelled in, earned or created. Sporting trophies or medals awarded to us for outstanding results in a particular area. Artistic accomplishments in our chosen medium that can be bequeathed to relatives as a memento of our talents. Other examples of our accomplishments throughout our lives can be curated in advance to be passed to their new custodians when the time is deemed appropriate. Ted, a To Keep or Not To Keep supporter, had this to say about his LEGACY items: ‘I wanted to pass down to my son the trophies I had won from my cricket days. I dusted them off and my son chose a select few to keep and the rest we donated to my cricket club to be displayed in their trophy cabinet.’

Learn more by clicking this link  http://bit.ly/2020RightsizeYourLife to purchase your copy of Rightsize Your Life!: The Balanced Approach to Living Better with Your Belongings

We all own objects that are used only at particular times of the year. Our SEASONAL objects are used frequently during the season they are needed, then typically packed away and stored when the season is over. SEASONAL items add great value when being used but can encroach upon valuable space when not in use. Christmas decorations add to the festive spirit in our homes whilst we are celebrating. This is a great example of a lot of items that need to be stored away during the year and brought out once the season had commenced. Activities we engage in such as sports and outdoor pastimes are season dependent. The clothing we own can be reflective of where we live and the time of the year that we wear these items. Curating these assortments of items, at either the start or the end of the season, will assist you in keeping your seasonal belongings balanced. To Keep Or Not To Keep supporter Alanna has this to say about her SEASONAL items: ‘My tree ornaments for Christmas time were growing in number every year. Last Christmas I limited myself to only hang the ones that had special meaning and I donated the rest!’

Learn more by clicking this link  http://bit.ly/2020RightsizeYourLife to purchase your copy of Rightsize Your Life!: The Balanced Approach to Living Better with Your Belongings

What we do in our spare time can be a symbol of our status, identity and our interests. When we partake in something that is ‘recreational’ it is typically after hours when we are not working. Participation in our interests adds quality to our overall life satisfaction and gives us an outlet for competence, entertainment and/or amusement. These may include sports, camping, creative pursuits, exercise and hobbies. The RECREATIONAL items are the objects, equipment or ensembles associated with our chosen leisure activities. These are crucial to the endeavour and are used in conjunction with the activity to enhance the experience. To Keep or Not To Keep supporter Dylan had this to say about his RECREATIONAL objects: ‘As a surfer I have multiple boards and wetsuits to choose from when it comes to catching waves. They are important and valuable so they are always stored in my spare room inside my home. They all add value to my life for my physical health and its always a lot of fun.’

Learn more at our website and purchase your copy of Rightsize Your Life!: The Balanced Approach to Living Better with Your Belongings https://keepnotkeepcluttersolutions.com/

A gift is something we receive voluntarily without payment in return. We give gifts to honour an occasion like a birthday or as a token to show our appreciation to someone. When we receive a gift it is usually a physical something that is bestowed upon us without us contributing any effort to acquire it. Items that we have been GIVEN are the objects that are the toughest to part with. There are many justifications for keeping these items even when the owner is not using it or doesn’t particularly care for it! How we feel about gifts we are given tend to be associated with the person whom you received it from and less about the intrinsic value we have for the item. Our fixed mindset is activated when it comes to letting go of our GIVEN objects. To Keep or Not To Keep client Margaret had this to say about how she felt about parting with some of her gifts: ‘I felt that letting go of gifts I had received were tied up with thinking how the person who gave it to me would feel if I didn’t want it anymore. Once I thought about it, I decided that this person would not want me to keep something that no longer brought me joy. The real gift was in the moment when it was given to me.’

Learn more by clicking this link  http://bit.ly/2020RightsizeYourLife to purchase your copy of Rightsize Your Life!: The Balanced Approach to Living Better with Your Belongings