Designate “purgatory” for a Less Stressful Decluttering Experience.
Getting rid of things can be difficult, even if you’re not exactly a hoarder. In fact, it’s so difficult for many of us in our consumer society that scientists have studied why it is , and are always finding ways to overcome our aversion to decluttering our lives. Just in time for spring cleaning season , check out a study published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology that suggests there’s a way to make it easier for yourself to part with your old items: Instead of throwing them all out at once, banish them to purgatory first.
What does it mean to make a mess in “purgatory”
The researchers, Matthew S. Isaac and Purnima Vinu, began their paper by explaining that people who struggle to part with their possessions tend to struggle to avoid doing so, and can only achieve this by using “ various behavioral strategies” to ease the psychological stress. The researchers note that one such strategy, which has proven useful for some, is to relegate items that are unwanted but difficult to part with to an “out of sight” status in the hope that they will then fall out of memory and can be disposed of later without hand-wringing. “According to ethnographic research, one such strategy is to move food into purgatories or temporary liminal spaces,” they write.
In other words: Before you throw away old photos, books, receipts, mementos or trinkets forever , place them somewhere between your everyday furnishings and the trash. Essentially, relegate the things you think you should probably get rid of to a box or junk drawer where you won’t have access to them, but you’ll know they’re still there. Once you no longer have to look at them every day, you’ll hopefully realize how little you actually need them when it’s time for some serious cleaning, and they’ll be easier to donate, sell , or throw away.
Why does the purgatory method help you get rid of garbage?
Isaac and Vinu reviewed three existing studies that showed that moving items into “purgatories” helps people prepare for the inevitability of recycling. However, their study revealed a new reason why it works, and it has nothing to do with decreased attachment. “Specifically, purgatories are shown to trigger a mental simulation of the process of disposing of a product, thereby helping product owners prepare for the impending loss of their product,” they write.
Simply put, when you send an item to purgatory, it is the practice of truly throwing it away. Not only will you gradually reduce your attachment to physical objects by removing them from your everyday environment, but you will also be rehearsing the moment when you actually throw them away for good.
How to Start Sending Extra Stuff to Purgatory
When you’re decluttering , make a separate pile of things you think you can get rid of, even if you’re not quite ready to pull the trigger, in addition to clearly defined piles of things you can toss, sell, donate, and keep. You don’t have to commit to throwing them all away, but it will make you think about the possibility. Outdated clothes you no longer wear, disposable kitchen tools you haven’t picked up in ages, and toys your kids have long since outlived—basically, all the things you keep in your hands for sentimental reasons or “just in case”—can end up in purgatory.
Make sure “purgatory” is a place you don’t have to look at every day. The idea is to forget what’s there and see how unimportant it really is. Place the box deep in a closet, basement, or on a shelf in the garage. For maximum efficiency, use separate boxes for items that no one else will use and items that could reasonably be gifted. This way, when it’s time for them to go to their final resting place, you can bring one box to the donation center and throw away another without going through them again, reducing the likelihood of you discarding everything in there. Challenge yourself to not go to purgatory other than to put more stuff there, but take heart knowing that research shows you probably won’t even want to do that. Set a reminder in your phone a month in advance and on that day, deliver the items to their final destination, be it the trash or a donation center. If you find that you really need to use something from the box during that month, you can take it as a sign that the item was needed. (By the way, this is very unlikely.)
Other ways to let go of things you’re not sure about
I know better than anyone how easy it is to make excuses for not getting rid of clutter. I’m a queen regnant who holds on to something “just in case” I need it in the future. But the thing is, you can justify everything you have. A purgatory drawer is a great way to bridge the gap between realizing something is probably trash and actually throwing it away, which is why I have a purgatory shelf for old clothes. But there are other methods designed to make it easier for you to throw things out on the spot, and they provide even faster results than having to wait a month to throw out a box.
I recommend that you familiarize yourself with these guiding questions . Whether you’re rummaging through a closet, closet, booze drawer, or anywhere else, asking objective, intelligent questions is one of the easiest ways to cut through sentimentality and excuses. Some of the questions include: “Would I know I had it if I needed it?” and “When was the last time I used this?” Rethinking your opinion about a particular item and its usefulness can help you part ways with it. I used to be completely committed to the KonMari method , which forces you to ask yourself whether every item you pick up sparks joy in you, but the problem was that I could do enough mental and emotional gymnastics to claim that everything I owned sparked joy. If you’re like me, taking a tougher (and admittedly harsher) line of questioning may be the push you need.
If, after answering questions about a certain item, you are still not sure whether you can give it up, throw it in the purgatory box. Combining methods is completely fine if you’re looking to ultimately get rid of something that doesn’t serve you and is essentially just cluttering your space.