Channel Your Inner Marie Kondo

I swear, I’ve been “Spring Cleaning” every couple of months ever since I moved to the Bay Area from AZ, and it truly shocks me how much shit I still have! Back in AZ I went from hoarding everything at my parents to hoarding everything at my first 900 sqft one bedroom apartment. I know, “One Bedroom” and “900 sqft” is unheard of for SF and NY - you’re probably wondering how I allowed myself to even own that much stuff. 

My mom is a minimalist, she’s never had much. However, everyone on my dad’s side of the family is/was a hoarder. Not sure if it’s genetic or something that is learned. My grandma (may she rest in peace) felt the need to buy two of everything. I remember cleaning her house after she passed and I was throwing stuff out that I swear I had already thrown out. And none of this stuff was useful. You don’t need 10 bottles of Windex at any given point in time living alone with occasional visitors. My dad is no different, he had multiple of the same or similar electronics and random gadgets. One of the worst hoarders of my family was my uncle. Pretty sure a cat died in his house and he didn’t find it until weeks later. 

I remember my first tendencies of hoarding (or what I used to refer to as “collecting”) started with Disney pins. You know those pins that people trade at the parks? I had 2-3 of each…you know, just in case. I also had a collection of Hard Rock shirts, band shirts, music memorabilia, school work, free stuff I got at events, and childhood memories (like a pair of Heelys, pogs, Jurassic Park action figures, you name it) that exploded out of my closet. Ultimately, I had an issue parting ways with things I never ever ever used, but kept because they were important to me at some point in time and I maybe even spent my hard earned dollars on. I have a feeling people a lot of people relate to this problem.

While I think the way Marie Kondo lives her life is a bit extreme, I do think that we all need to remind ourselves to declutter our lives every few months or so. Every time I do this I feel re-energized and inspired to be more productive. It helps clear my mind. In a thoughtfully organized and decluttered space my stress and anxiety levels go down, and I even sleep better knowing that I’m not living in chaotic mess. I think that having to live in NY half my time also was a wake up call to me realizing what was really important in my life. If it couldn’t fit in my carry-on and backpack, I probably don’t need it.

Below are some things I consistently do every time I’m back at my home base in SF to keep me feeling good about my space:

1. Sell Stuff: If you have trouble letting go of something because it has “value”, sell it! Over the last few months I’ve sold a few grand worth of things that again, were “important to me at some point in time”, but no longer served any purpose. For high value, easy to ship items, I suggest eBay. This is how I got rid of a ton of vinyl records from bands I no longer listened to, Pokémon cards, video games, CDs, music memorabilia, etc. As you can see, I got a good amount for things that were once considered junk in boxes. For furniture and other large items I use Nextdoor or Facebook Marketplace. You’re much more likely to get hits than Craigslist, which I see as a marketplace of the past that our parents used. Now, it is possible that Craigslist may be more optimal for cities in which these platforms aren’t used as heavily by an older population. From my experience I can usually get rid of things within a week. Be prepared for people to barter down the price anywhere from 75-90% of your asking price, so don’t expect to hit what you think the value of the item is. After all this person is also helping you remove the large item from your house and that means they also have to transport it on their own. Lastly, there’s clothes. We all have too many of them. Lately I’ve realized sometimes it’s good to let go of some of your favorites, because let’s be honest, you don’t need to be seen in the same sparkly jacket in every picture for 5 years straight. Load up a bag of stuff you are 90% sure will sell and take it to the ferocious buyers of second-hand stores like Buffalo Exchange, Wasteland, Crossroads, etc. Just to preface - if you don’t want it and it’s not “on trend” or “in-season” they likely don’t want it either. The stuff I try to sell to these stores are typically items that I have worn too much or don’t fit me anymore, but are still good pieces. You can also try selling online through sites like Poshmark, but if you’re trying to get rid of something quick this can become a burden as you continue to hold onto the stuff until it sells. 

2. Give Away Stuff: Sometimes you have stuff you need to get rid of, but simply no one will buy it. Nextdoor and Facebook Marketplace work wonders for this as you can post something for FREE and it’s likely someone will claim it within a week. I have also given much of my stuff away to friends I think can get better use out of it. For example, I have a friend who’s family and extended family doesn’t mind hand-me-downs. Every time I see him I give him a load of items that he can take to them.

3. Donate Stuff: The last resort I always use is donation. It seem counterintuitive, but in my case many of the donation centers in SF are often too full and it’s not exactly easy to lug around stuff in the city. The good thing about donating is that you can use it as a tax write-off if you manage to keep track of everything you donate. Recently I donated my car to Wheels For Wishes. If you can use public transportation, ride share, and car rental to get around, by all means do! Personally I was racking up a ton of tickets in SF and incurring more maintenance costs on my car than the car was worth. Plus, I barely drove the thing since parking was horrendous. My car had effectively became the car that all of my friends borrowed so that I could avoid parking tickets. Getting rid of this nuisance was the biggest “declutter” in my life I ever made. It makes me a lot happier that my car donation can go towards granting a kid’s wish.

The moment that you can tell yourself that memories do not have to be attached to objects, the practice of decluttering your life becomes easier and easier. Getting rid of these once “sentimental objects” in my life has allowed me to live more in the moment and appreciate the people around me.