SLT 003: Why We Can’t Let Go of Our Clutter, Backing Up Your Digital Information, and A Little About Dropbox Simple Life Together

Why We Can't Let Go of Our Clutter, Backing Up Your Digital Information, & A Little About Dropbox

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In Episode 3 we discuss reasons why some people can't seem to let go of clutter and some tips that may help you decide what to keep and what to let go.  We also talk about some lessons learned from a catastrophic hard drive crash which sparked the "Your Backup Strategy' strategy segment, and we wanted to sing a few praises for Dropbox. Dropbox is one way to save documents to the cloud and sync them across all your devices simply.

Main Topics:  

Vanessa's Topic: Why We Can't Let Go of Our Clutter



We feel the need for abundance. We are a consumer-driven society and conditioned to think more is better...it's all about quantity over quality.





We've lived a life "without" and find security with having more. Living through the Depression, growing up in a modest or poor  household, or surviving a rough financial patch can play a huge role in why folk don’t ever want to “live without” again.





Forget Justin Bieber...we're more influenced by Justin Case.  You know, "I might need this someday...just in case." Some folks want to be ultra-prepared for any scenario. It's ok to be prepared, but try to be realistic...especially if all that stuff is getting in the way.





We feel a sense of obligation. Many feel a sense of obligation to keep every gift. It's ok to hold on to things but you do have the ability to say no.





We fear losing the memory if we get rid of something. Many of us have had wonderful and meaningful experiences throughout our lifetime but we fear that if we get rid of a gift, we’ll forget that person, experience or important time in our life.





We want to pay tribute to our past experiences.  Like from our childhood, past careers or travels.  It’s easy to go overboard on collections but try to be mindful of collecting too much.





We've spent too much money and feel like it's a waste if we give it away. Let's face it. We've all probably spend a good fortune on things that we never used or never really liked. Boy does that sting! Chalk it up as a lesson learn, be more frugal and research before purchasing another product and find comfort in donating your goods to folks who are less fortunate.





We're holding on to the past. We tend to keep things that remind us of times when we were happy, the most confident, or the most successful.





And sometimes we hold on for a deeper reason...like allowing our things to define our self-worth...or define our happiness.  Many folks believe that shopping and having more makes them happier but often times it’s just a temporary fix to “fill the void” of something else that’s missing in their lives.



 Simple Steps to Help You Let Go:



 Start with the space that's causing you the most grief or anxiety. This could be the home office, the kitchen, the laundry room, the bedroom etc.





Then start small. Pick a small area to work on like a drawer, a shelf, a cabinet, one spot on the kitchen counter, one filing drawer.  You wouldn't eat an elephant in one sitting right?  You'd take small bites and eat a little at a time.  (Not sure I like that analogy...the thought of eating an elephant is stomach wrenching but you get the point right!)





Then ask yourself these questions when deciding what to keep or not to keep:



Do I love it?

Do I need it?

Do I use it?

When was the last time I used it?

When do I plan on using it?

Can I borrow it?

Can I rent it?

What's the worst that will happen if I got rid of it?