What to keep and what to let go

What sorting items out is for

The point of sorting is often misunderstood. It is not about throwing items away. It is about keeping what adds value to your life, whether that is usefulness, money value, a special memory or simply a good feeling.

There are benefits: less time spent searching for items, a calmer home, the satisfaction of passing something on to someone else, a feeling of freedom, more space, and a home that is easier to clean.

To decide which items stay and which go, ask yourself the questions below. A set of questions is a framework to lean on, so you avoid putting it off and can judge those special belongings fairly.

Does it still mean something, and how does it make you feel?

Does it have true sentimental value now? Something that once seemed to matter may not always do so. Take greetings cards. A card's job is to send a greeting, and once it has done that it has usually served its purpose. The more cards you keep, the less time you have to enjoy the few really special ones. Keep those that are memorable, carry a personal message from the sender, and mark a unique occasion.

How does it make you feel? Notice the first feeling that comes when you pick an item up. You may have mixed feelings, but one will win out, and that is the one to notice. Do you like it? You are the one who has to store it and look after it. Go by how you really feel, not how you think you should feel. If an item brings up negative feelings, there may be no value in keeping it.

Do you have something that does the same job?

It is natural to want to keep something to remind you of a memory. But do you need fifty of them? Do you need the whole collection, or could one item stand for it? Keeping many items linked to the same person or time in your life can take meaning away from each one.

Could it do something different?

Could the item be changed, to bring it back into the present? Some ideas:

A ring from a grandmother that is too small could be melted down and made into a necklace. A grown-up child's old baby suit can be made into a cushion cover. A wedding dress might become a christening outfit. A coin collection could be framed and hung on the wall.

Can you look after it, and do you have room?

Can you store and maintain it? Items deteriorate over time, so ask whether you can keep them well. There is no point in owning something meaningful if it is buried at the bottom of a box and forgotten. Where you can, display your sentimental items at home, so they can give you joy every day.

Do you have room? Property prices in the UK mean many people have to give up space. A room packed with too much furniture can feel dark and oppressive, and the more you own, the more there is to clean and care for. It is tempting to put sentimental items in a loft or basement, but would you or your family gain more if that space became living space?

Many people feel they need permission to let go and still struggle with guilt. They can feel disloyal or cold at the thought of parting with extra photographs of relatives or the belongings of someone who has died. Please remember that the memories are not inside the items. They are inside us.