Over time, we all collect a large number of material items in our homes. If your home is overflowing with belongings to the point where you may be hoarding, it might be time to consider a serious declutter. Overcoming hoarding junk in your home can be a challenge, but is possible when approached with self-compassion and support from others.
Is Hoarding a Serious Problem?
Hoarding can become a serious problem, but it’s important to remember that everyone is capable of overcoming hoarding junk and decluttering their homes. One of the reasons it can be so challenging to break habits of hoarding is because of the emotional attachments many people hold to their items. Removing junk may be a difficult because it means parting with possessions you’ve had for years, even if they no longer serve a purpose or you aren’t using them on a regular basis.
Being a hoarder can make you feel trapped and claustrophobic in your own home. Additionally, hoarding can have a huge impact on the people around you. Friends and family may even feel uncomfortable in your living space.
Signs You May Be Hoarding
What sets hoarding apart from usual clutter is primarily the depth of emotions involved. If the clutter in your living space starts to affect your day-to-day life, this may be an indicator that it’s time to make a change. Feeling claustrophobic in your space but not having the emotional capacity to do something about it is typically a sign you may be hoarding.
Other signs you are a hoarder or have hoarding tendencies can include any of the following:
- Constant Clutter in Your Home: Most people will have clutter in their homes at some point or another, but items are typically cleaned up on a regular basis. For a hoarder, the clutter is not temporary and will continue to accumulate over time, creating an even bigger mess.
- Feelings of Emotional Distress: Reflect on how you would feel if you were to let go of various items. Do you find yourself experiencing emotional unease when you consider letting go of these possessions? If the idea of letting go feels emotionally challenging, it may be a sign that you’re dealing with some level of hoarding tendencies.
- Feelings of Isolation: Some hoarders may feel self-conscious and, therefore, avoid having others over in their living space. In these instances, you may experience loneliness and isolation.
- Active Shopping Addiction: Hoarders will often discuss their collection of items in everyday conversation, and may continue to feed the habit of hoarding by buying more things they don’t need.
- Over-Protection of Your Belongings: You may have a hard time letting others use or even touch your belongings. Because there is a larger emotional attachment to your possessions, it may be difficult to share, leading to feelings of overprotectiveness and even hostility.
Fortunately, overcoming hoarding junk is really about breaking the habit. With the support of friends and family, it is possible to overcome hoarding and learn how to effectively purge unnecessary items from your home.
5 Decluttering Tips Overcoming Hoarding Junk
Keep in mind that it does take a certain level of self-awareness to do a total cleanout of your home. Figuring out how to stop being a hoarder requires an investment of time, energy, and a strong commitment. But, any step taken to break the habit of hoarding is a step in the right direction.
It’s okay to recognize that delving into your clutter may bring up emotional challenges. During this process, having the support of close friends or family members can make a huge difference, as they can offer both encouragement and assistance as you part with items.
As you begin this process, set rules and goals you can realistically accomplish. Be kind to yourself by setting reasonable timeframes, and acknowledge that the initial steps are often the toughest and most time-consuming.
Consider the following decluttering tips to learn how to overcome hoarding.
1. Do a Daily Declutter
Decluttering every corner of your home as a whole can be incredibly overwhelming, especially if you aren’t used to getting rid of things. Instead, consider starting a daily declutter. This is a great way to slowly purge items you don’t need without putting too much emotional stress on yourself all at one time. Even setting aside five minutes each day to declutter can make a huge difference.
It’s easier to do things in smaller batches and increments, especially when it involves a high level of emotion. Having a short daily declutter is also a great way to part quickly with your items. Setting a time limit gives you a limited amount of time to decide what you should keep versus let go of. In many ways, this can be beneficial as it allows you to make decisions on the fly without putting too much thought into whether you need to keep something or not.
Additionally, consider doing your daily declutter at the same time each day to slowly build the habit over time. If you need more motivation, try creating a reward system that allows you to push yourself through the decluttering process and reward yourself when you’re done.
2. Keep Your Home Organized and Clean
Once you’ve cleaned up and organized a section of your home, it’s important to keep it clean moving forward. When you reach the end of a decluttering session, store and organize items you plan to keep, throw out any trash, and take donations to a donation center. Keeping already cleaned spaces organized is an important step to learning how not to be a hoarder.
3. Throw Away What You Haven’t Used in the Past Year
Many of us hold onto things with the notion that we might use them someday. However, if you haven’t used an item in more than a year, you probably won’t anytime in the future.
As a general rule, throw away or get rid of anything that you haven’t used in the last year or so. Did you wear that outfit in the last year? If not, toss it. Did you actually use your sports equipment? Did you even put up your holiday decorations? When was the last time you went camping?
Answering these questions in a realistic manner can help you quickly help you overcoming hoarding junk and eliminate the junk in your home.
4. Use the OHIO Rule
Getting rid of items can be emotionally draining. Similar to multiple choice questions, stick with your gut instinct when choosing whether an item goes in the “keep”, “trash”, or “donate” piles.
The OHIO rule—Only Handle It Once—is a great tool to use when dehoarding your home. This means that no matter where you place an item, don’t second guess any gut feelings about it. Once you’ve placed items in your “throw away” and “donate” piles, move on and don’t touch the item again. Otherwise, you may be tempted to second-guess your initial decision.
5. Hire a Junk Removal Service
It can be difficult overcoming hoarding junk if you’re not sure how to dispose of your belongings. Instead of renting a truck and figuring out where to take your possessions, consider hiring a junk removal service instead. These companies specialize in removing hoarded junk and will take it where it needs to go, giving you peace of mind that everything is handled properly.
Our committed team at SGT Haul provides junk removal services in Southeast Wisconsin and the Green Bay Area. No matter your situation, we are here to help. Contact us today to request an estimate.
