Moving Made Me Feel Like a Hoarder
By: Kristi Jacobsen
Tags: Minimalism, Self Improvement, Home Improvement, Moving, Personal Development

Things got shoved into the closet and under the bed. Our kitchen was huge, and I took advantage of that space to buy every kitchen gadget I could. I’m sentimental and held onto items given to me by my parents and grandparents, tucking them away where they would be safe. I figured I would reference college and grad school textbooks and notebooks. Then, there’s my preference for physical planners and journals over digital. And books — I’m not too fond of eBooks and prefer to buy physical copies.

As I packed and then schlepped items to the various storage locations around the city, I fully understood the Marie Kondo craze and why people spent quarantine purging their houses.

I didn’t have the time to sort through everything as I packed, but as I unpack and venture into a new place, here’s what I plan to do and ask myself:

When Did I Last Wear This?

In America, we’re obsessed with fast fashion. We buy cheap clothes and lots of them, instead of a few key, quality pieces. I started to put together capsule wardrobes, especially for travel, but family often gifted clothing, and my closet grew.

Working from home for more than nine months taught me I don’t need 90% of my clothes. And packing each piece into more than seven suitcases and duffle bags (plus extra grocery bags) only proved my point.

When I unpack at my next location, I will take a moment with each piece and ask myself, “When did I last wear this?” If the last time I wore it was more than a year ago, it goes into the donation pile.

Does This Make Me Happy?

Marie Kondo’s method involves asking if something sparks joy, and this idea is similar. We often collect things for status or to “have” things, but do they bring us happiness?

My books and records bring me happiness and contentment, but those knickknacks, other things gifted for the sole purpose of gifting, and items purchased on impulse, don’t necessarily bring me joy. Instead, it either clutters, which brings anxiety, or gets shoved into storage to get out of the way.

For each sentimental or decor item, I’ll ask if it makes me happy. Does it bring joy or contentment into my life? If not, then it goes.

Is This Useful?

There is a trick I successfully use with my anxiety and stress, but it can translate to clutter and stored items. When I feel anxiety or stress coming on, I always myself those feelings and thoughts are useful.

As I unpack adventure out into stores post-pandemic, I will ask myself if what I’m unpacking or buying is useful. If I don’t think it’s something I can use, it will either go into the donation pile or stay on the shelf in the store.

The results will be two-fold: less clutter and less spending.

Will This Promote Hygge?

As a half-Dane seeking to quiet my mind and find more contentment, I’m bringing hygge into my life.

Scandinavian design is “marked by a focus on clean, simple lines, minimalism, and functionality without sacrificing beauty” (Apartmenttherapy.com). It’s everything I’m looking for in my next home — a lack of clutter and functionality.

Now, I’m not going out and buying all kinds of decor to promote hygge, but I’m making use of what I already own to create a cozy feeling. If something I have in those boxes won’t contribute to hygge, then it’s not something I want to keep.