I have a confession: I used to be a “just in case” hoarder. Not the extreme kind with floor-to-ceiling stacks of newspapers, but I definitely kept things way past their expiration date (and I don’t mean food—although, let’s not check the back of my fridge).
Old clothes? Might wear them someday.
Unused gifts? But someone gave this to me!
Receipts from five years ago? What if I need to return something?
Sound familiar? If you, like me, find it painfully difficult to part with things, you’re in for a treat. A psychologist-backed trick completely changed how I declutter—and no, it doesn’t involve forcing myself to hold every item and whispering, “Do you spark joy?”
The Trick? “Close the Chapter”
Dr. Ariane Ling, a clinical psychologist, says the reason we struggle to let go of things isn’t just about the object itself. It’s about what the object represents—money spent, memories made, or even a potential future where we might need it.
Her solution? Stop seeing decluttering as losing something and start seeing it as closing a chapter.
Instead of thinking, “If I get rid of this, I’m wasting it,” tell yourself: “This item served its purpose. That chapter is closed, and I’m making space for the next.”
Sounds simple, right? That’s because it is. And trust me, it works.
I Put It to the Test—and Wow
I decided to try this on my personal clutter battlefield: my closet.
First up—an old concert T-shirt from a band I loved in college but haven’t listened to in years. Instead of feeling guilty for letting it go, I told myself: That T-shirt had its moment. I wore it, I loved it, and now it’s time to close that chapter. Into the donation pile it went.
Next—a pile of notebooks filled with half-baked ideas, random to-do lists, and what I thought were genius business plans (turns out, “A laundromat-slash-coffee shop” is not as original as I once believed). I flipped through them, laughed at my past self, and realized—if I haven’t looked at these in years, I probably never will. Chapter closed.
And then there were the guilt gifts—you know, the ones from people you no longer talk to but feel bad throwing away. A candle, a random picture frame, a scarf I never wore. Instead of keeping them out of obligation, I reframed my thinking: These gifts served their purpose when they were given. That moment is over. Time to move on.
Why This Works So Well
This trick isn’t just about organizing your space—it’s about freeing yourself. Science backs it up too. Psychologists say we’re prone to the endowment effect, which means we overvalue things just because they belong to us. By changing our mindset and viewing decluttering as a natural progression rather than a loss, we hack our brains into making the process easier.
And here’s the best part—once you start applying this, you don’t just declutter your home. You declutter your life.
- That toxic friendship you’ve been holding onto out of guilt? Chapter closed.
- That job you’ve outgrown but feel stuck in? Chapter closed.
- That outdated self-image that no longer serves you? Chapter closed.
Decluttering isn’t just about stuff—it’s about letting go of everything that no longer fits your current or future self.
Your Turn!
The next time you hesitate to toss, donate, or delete something, try this:
- Acknowledge its role – What purpose did this item serve in your life?
- Accept its expiration – Has it outlived its usefulness to you?
- Close the chapter – Thank it (if you’re feeling sentimental), let it go, and move forward.
Give it a shot! You might just find yourself feeling lighter, freer, and ready for whatever new chapters await.
So, what’s the first thing you’re going to let go of? Let me know—I love hearing decluttering success stories!
