4 ways to move forward from hoarding tendencies
Recently my daughter had on the TV and was watching a show she had recorded. It was Honey Boo Boo. I have to admit, I have never seen a full episode of Honey Boo Boo so I’m not 100% familiar with all of the characters. While making dinner, my daughter had the TV on so I had a chance to watch the show while making dinner. For those of you who don’t know, Mama June is the mother who is an extreme couponer. During this one episode, they were showing the inside of their home with ALL of their ‘deals’.
Take a look at ALL the laundry detergent! I count at least 21 bottles! And then there’s this one:
Watching this episode lead to an interesting conversation with my daughter and hoarding. You see, a while back, I had made the comment (and I will admit it was not a ‘Mother of the Year’ comment) to my daughter about having hoarding tendencies. Oh boy – was she angry with me. She did not like to be called a hoarder. I made it clear to her that I didn’t think she was a hoarder BUT rather, had hoarding tendencies.
Hoarding Tendencies
According to Dr. Robin Zasio, author of ‘The Hoarder in You’, there are some common tendencies that are common with people who struggle with holding on. Gaiam Life wrote an article on this exact topic including a quiz you can take. Here are some of the questions taken from their article:
Read the questions below and note how many of these feelings resonate with you.1. Do you have a hard time parting with items, even if you never use them or they’re broken?2. Do you have many items around your house that don’t have a permanent home?3. Do you save things often because you are concerned about how you will feel if you need them in the future and no longer have them?4. Do you often save things without a clear idea of how you’ll use them in the future?5. Are you helpless when faced with a “good deal,” even if it’s a good deal on something you don’t need?
More of the quiz can be found here.
Moving Forward
So how does one move forward with moving away from the ‘what if I’ll need it’ syndrome? Here are my own personal tips:
- If you don't use it, get rid of it. That doesn’t mean throwing it out. That may mean donating it, passing it on to someone who may need it, selling it, etc.
- Stop being the dumping ground. By that I mean stop taking everything and anything people will give you. If you have no need for it, then do not let it come through your door.
- Just because it is on sale does not mean you need to buy it. It’s only a good deal if you need it and will use it. One might argue that Mama June will eventually use the laundry detergent and I will argue that until she has used ALL of the detergent she currently has, she is only wasting money she does not need to.
- Live in the present. I really encourage you to stop the thinking of ‘some day' and ask yourself, “What is the absolute worst thing that would happen if you didn’t have ________.” I'll tell you, the sun will most likely come up the next day and life will go on.
I'm the first to admit that I am no psychologist. What I do know is what I see with working with so many clients. Whether they are getting ready to move or downsize or just in need of getting control of their spaces, I see individuals with hoarding tendencies all the time. It’s very liberating to let things go; to allow yourself to open up for new and to live in the present and not the past.
If you would like to fall in love with your home
become a client today!
Related Posts:
Are You Ready To Shed This Spring?
Three Reasons That Are Keeping You From Getting It Together
What You Can Do About Sentimental Clutter Right Now