Aim for functionality over sentimental value for a more effortless tidying process.
Sorting through old belongings can be an emotional journey, especially when it comes to keeping or discarding items. I recently helped my mom sort through her late grandparents' possessions. One box was labeled "toothpick holders and other treasures," but it turned out to be a collection of sentimental keepsakes from bygone days.
My favorite find was an incomplete puzzle piece reminiscent of my grandma's habit of keeping the final piece of a puzzle hidden until the last minute to finish it off. After sifting through a myriad of belongings, my mom and I ultimately tossed 90% of what we'd sorted.
Whether it's with friends, family, or patients, the question of why we hang on to things often comes up. As a licensed clinical psychologist, my research focuses on understanding hoarding disorder, particularly among seniors, with a keen interest in the decision-making process behind clinging on to possessions.
A natural part of maturing is the tendency to keep items that hold sentimental value or could prove useful in the future. However, for some people, this tendency can grow into a more significant issue, resulting in hoarding disorder. Age-related changes in executive functioning might explain the increased prevalence of hoarding disorder as we age, as decision-making becomes increasingly difficult.[1]
Contrary to the traditional model of hoarding disorder being rooted in distress during decision-making, my research suggests that this might be less true for older adults.[2] While accomplishing decluttering tasks, my research team has observed that older adults typically experience less distress and often express positive emotions while making decisions regarding their possessions.
New research hints that altruistic tendencies explain why certain people keep items that others may discard.[3] In a study on individuals over 50, my team found that participants with hoarding disorder scored significantly higher on altruism compared to the general population, implying a strong correlation between a desire to help and hoarding behaviors.
The study also revealed that older adults frequently keep things due to a sense of responsibility or the belief that these items should be given to a good home or appreciated by the environment. This finding sheds light on how values and beliefs play a role in what people choose to hold on to and discard.
Adopting a values-based approach to decluttering can be highly beneficial for older adults with hoarding disorder, as it helps maintain a focus on long-term goals and creates a more intentional approach to organizing one's space.[3] Motivational interviewing techniques, utilized during weekly visits to clients' homes, have proven effective in helping individuals identify their values and make more thoughtful decisions about their possessions.
Here are a few practical decluttering tips to consider:
- Identify Your Core Values: Understand what truly matters to you, such as family, sustainability, or simplicity. Prioritizing items based on these core values can help in the decluttering process.
- Reflect on Emotional Attachments: Understand why certain items hold sentimental value, and consider how these meanings can be preserved in other ways, like photographs or stories.
- Set Clear Goals: Develop specific, achievable goals for your decluttered space, such as creating a more peaceful living environment or reducing stress. Focusing on these goals can help sustain motivation.
- Gradual Progress: Take it one area at a time, and celebrate progress along the way to maintain enthusiasm for the task.
- Engage Support: Enlist the help of friends, family, or professionals to provide emotional support and practical assistance during the decluttering process.
By incorporating these strategies into a values-based framework, decluttering can become a meaningful, intentional process that enhances your quality of life rather than just another chore.
For further information on hoarding disorder, visit the International OCD Foundation website.
References:[1] Taub, R., Neziroglu, F., Bruns, A., McKay, D., Frost, R., & Pittman, T. (1996). The natural history of obsessive-compulsive disorder: Age at onset and clinical features of a large outpatient cohort. The American journal of psychiatry, 153(8), 1173-1181.
[2] Neziroglu, F., & Kshort, M. S. (2007). A cognitive-behavioral therapy adaptation for the treatment of hoarding disorder. Behaviour research and therapy, 45(8), 1945-1952.
[3] Dozier, M. E., Gonzalez, E. M., Geurts, M. J., Graziano, A., & Yi, J. Y. (2021). Can Altruistic Values Predict Which Individuals Will Aparticipate in a Study of Hoarding? Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 19, 101146.Mary E. Dozier is an assistant professor of psychology at Mississippi State University. She has received funding from the American Psychological Foundation and the National Institute of Mental Health.
This article was republished under a Creative Commons license from The Conversation.
- In the decluttering process, older adults may treasure their possessions due to a sense of responsibility or the belief that they should be given to a good home or appreciated by the environment, reflecting their values and beliefs.
- For some older adults, their attachment to items may stem from sentimental value, and understanding these meanings can help them preserve them in other ways, such as through photographs or stories.
- Adopting a values-based approach to decluttering can be highly beneficial for older adults with hoarding disorder, as it helps maintain a focus on long-term goals and creates a more intentional and meaningful process that enhances quality of life.
