Decluttering is not for the fainthearted. It takes a lot of strength physically, mentally, and emotionally, to go through what is in your living spaces.

Physically, it can be demanding as you go through boxes, bags, furniture, clothes, and oh, so many other things. It might require kneeling in crawl spaces or bending over to get things out of the attic. Even going up and down stairs can be demanding. Then, the hours of sorting can get physically challenging. Many days you would rather choose to not exert yourself that much.

Mentally, you are making hundreds of decisions. Everything you touch requires a decision, even if you decide to put it in the “to be decided later” pile. Some things may bring up stories you need to tell or remind you of other things that need doing. Everything you touch goes into categories you need to decide on: Keep, Donate, Toss, Give to someone else, Decide later. You may be afraid to even get started.

Emotionally, letting go of things that belonged to loved ones who are no longer living can be very emotional. You have to separate the fact that you are not throwing away your love for that person. Your own things can be very difficult to let go of even if you are no longer using them. They bring back memories, good and bad, of past times in your life. It is difficult to toss those, even if you may not see them again for another 10 years!

You also might save things that you might need someday. Emotionally, you just don’t want to see them go, in case you need them later.

When clients thank me for helping them, I remind them that they are the ones that made all of the decisions — hundreds of them, sometimes. Anyone that takes the time and effort to go through years of accumulation deserves to give themselves a pat on the back dealing with them.

Decluttering is not for the weak physically (without help), mentally, or emotionally. It requires strength to deal with stuff from our past or from those we love. We may not be ready at times to deal with some of those past memories. It may be okay to not open certain chapters of our lives and wait until the time is right.

When you are ready to declutter, and have made many decisions, you will feel strong with what you have accomplished. It may even inspire you to declutter other areas of your life.

Doris Puls, of D & O Decluttering and Organizing, is a professional organizer whose mission is to make a difference in the lives of the people she works with in homes and businesses. Contact her at organizealpena@gmail.com or at 989-356-9545.