Decluttering is usually easy enough until you get to the sentimental stuff.
That’s when you start second-guessing every decision. An old birthday card, a box of childhood keepsakes, or a stack of things you haven’t touched in years can stop the whole process because each item reminds you of someone, somewhere, or a time in your life you don’t want to forget.
But keeping every object isn’t the only way to hold on to a memory. You can take photos, scan old papers, or save only the pieces that mean the most to you.
If sentimental belongings have been taking up space in your home, consider letting go of these eight things without feeling like you’re throwing away part of your past.
Old Love Letters
Old love letters can be difficult to sort through, especially if they remind you of a relationship or a younger version of yourself. If reading them brings back more sadness than happiness, you don’t have to keep an entire box just because those moments once mattered.
Choose one or two letters that still hold a special place in your heart and let the rest go. The relationship and the memories will still be part of your story, even without the paper to prove it.
Children’s Artwork
Parents can collect an incredible amount of artwork over the years, from crayon drawings and handprint crafts to school projects and little notes written in uneven handwriting. Saving every single piece may seem like a good idea at first, but those papers can quickly fill drawers, closets, and storage boxes.
Pick the drawings that make you smile or remind you of a particular stage in your child’s life. Take photos of the others before letting them go, so you can look back without keeping piles of paper.
Wedding Keepsakes From a Past Relationship
Wedding invitations, photo albums, dried flowers, programs, and other keepsakes can be difficult to sort through after a relationship ends. They may remind you of an important chapter in your life, but that doesn’t mean every item needs to stay in your home.
Keep a few photographs or one meaningful keepsake if you’d like, then let go of the rest. No rule says you have to hold on to every reminder of a relationship that’s already in the past.
Related: 18 Things Goodwill Gets Way Too Many Of
School Yearbooks
Yearbooks are full of old classmates, handwritten messages, school events, and photos that can bring back memories you haven’t thought about in years. Still, if your collection has been sitting untouched in a closet for decades, ask yourself whether you really need every volume.
You can photograph favorite pages, save a few messages, or keep the yearbook from the school year that meant the most to you. There’s no need to store an entire collection if you rarely look through it.
Travel Souvenirs
A small magnet, figurine, postcard, or souvenir from a favorite vacation can bring back memories of a wonderful trip. But if you’ve collected something from every place you’ve visited, those little reminders can eventually take over shelves and storage boxes.
Choose souvenirs that bring back your favorite memories, like something from your first big vacation or a trip you still talk about. Let go of the less meaningful items because you don’t need a house full of souvenirs to remember where you’ve been.
Childhood Stuffed Animals
Some stuffed animals stay with people well into adulthood because they were once bedtime companions, birthday gifts, or favorite childhood toys. It’s understandable to feel attached to them, especially if they’ve been around for most of your life.
If you have several packed away in a closet, choose the one or two that mean the most to you. A favorite childhood toy may be worth keeping, but there’s little reason to hold on to a whole collection of worn-out stuffed animals you’ve forgotten about.
Trophies and Awards
Old trophies, medals, plaques, and certificates can remind you of accomplishments you’re still proud of. But some may be participation awards or school prizes you haven’t thought about since the day you received them.
Take photos of the awards that hold special meaning before donating or discarding the physical items. Keep the ones you genuinely want to display and let go of the rest, knowing that getting rid of a trophy doesn’t erase what you accomplished.
Handwritten Family Recipes
Family recipes can be some of the hardest papers to sort through, especially if a parent or grandparent wrote them. The handwriting, food stains, crossed-out ingredients, and little notes in the margins can make an old recipe card feel like a piece of family history.
You don’t have to keep every recipe card, especially if your recipe box is full of dishes you never make. Scan or photograph the cards you want to preserve, then keep the original handwritten recipes that mean the most to you.
