With the popularity of the new Netflix show Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, getting rid of clutter is on the top of everyone’s minds. Even for the generally neat people, she walks you through the process of purging more possessions than you ever thought possible. Based around the idea of items ‘sparking joy,’ her method digs further into the boxes filled with stressful items you’ve been dragging around for years. We’ve pulled together some tips specifically for millennials to get rid of their clutter.
Your First _________
Chances are good that you’re still hanging on to the very first version of something that you bought. Whether it’s your (full-sized) bed frame or books you had to read in college, do these things still serve a purpose? It can be tough saying goodbye to the first signs of your adulthood, but they’re likely not serving their original purpose quite so well.
Hobby Gear
Millennials have likely gone through a few phases of hobbies in their younger years. Dance leotards, bouldering shoes, brewing jugs and backpacking tents take up space in closets and basements. It’s okay to recognize that these weren’t for you — regardless of how much money you spent on those items.
The Emergency Underthings
In their younger years, millennials often had less access to laundry machines. Whether it’s in a 3 story walk-up apartment with the machines in the basement, the perpetually full dorm laundry or just the inability to remember to do that chore on a Sunday, emergency underthings came in handy. Now that you’ve settled into a routine, those have been sitting in your drawer untouched with no job to perform. Be merciful and get rid of them once and for all.
Self-Care
Charcoal face masks. Scented bubble bath soap. Mushroom powder. Whatever your self-care supplies were at one point, they’re likely just taking up precious medicine cabinet or kitchen space. Purge the bath salts and rejoice in feeling less stressed about not spending enough time on these things.
Expensive Trash
If you’ve received expensive gifts over the years from family members or significant others, it can be difficult to let go of them — regardless of how much you never use them. Recognize that the true value of an item can be separate from the price tag. Technically ‘cheap’ things can be terribly meaningful while expensive luxuries may as well be an unnecessary doorstop.
Millennials can set themselves up for slightly less anxiety by getting rid of things that cause stress. Don’t feel bad about what you choose to keep in your life and what you’re ready to say goodbye to.
