How to Clear Out Your Storage Unit
It may be the last thing you want to think about…but maybe you’re starting to feel sick and tired of this unfinished business nagging at the back of your psyche.
If so, this is great because you’re starting to realize the impact this type of clutter, i.e. unfinished personal business, has on your energy reserves.
Maybe you’re sick and tired of spending hundreds of dollars a month on a storage unit.
Maybe you’ve got the willpower, but you get stuck and don’t know how to proceed.
When you have a big unfinished project to do like going through a storage unit, how do you begin? How do you do it most efficiently?
The best advice I can give, from going through too many storage units to count, is to first and foremost get in the right mindset. Once you know what to really expect when you roll up your sleeves and dive in, you’ll be mentally and emotionally prepared to successfully sort through all this stuff. Once you’ve achieved a prepared mindset, which I’ll explain further, actually doing it will be easier than you thought possible! At least that is what client after client has reported.
The thing is, sorting through things really means making decisions on each and every item.
Do I keep it or do I let it go? Do I need this anymore? Where will I put it in my house?
How will I dispose of this big heavy item I don’t want anymore?
I always recommend scheduling time to tackle your unit when you’re rested and feeling mentally strong, because you will need that mental energy. Know when to start and also, know when to stop. Nobody clears out their full storage unit in a day or two. Nobody. Break it down into chunks of productive time - and when your brain can’t make decisions as easily anymore it’s time to close up shop for the day. It’s not worth it to push yourself, because at a certain point you can’t make sound decisions anyway.
The other thing about sorting through your stuff is this: you’re processing memories and feelings. It’s not just robotic black and white thinking, like, “I need this and I don’t need that.” Going through your stuff is emotional. We are creatures of the Earth and we like things - we get attached. The reason to clutter-clear is, by recollecting past times and coming to terms with your current life, you are completing your past and opening up clear space for your future. Clutter-clearing is actually a very natural vital process of life. So be kind to yourself and clear out that unit when your emotional reserves are filled, and expect this work to affect you at the emotional level.
So now you know what’s really going on, or rather, the whole picture. Sorting through storage units can become difficult because what you’re really asking yourself is, “Is this furniture or art a current reflection of who I am now?” You're asking yourself, “Have I outgrown these books?” You have to truly confront where you are in life and who you are becoming. THAT’s what makes clearing out a storage unit easy to procrastinate on; the process is mentally and emotionally depleting. Conversely, but also undoubtedly true is that it’s also a potent exercise to uncover clarity, presence, and growth
A clear example of emotion tied in with sorting through physical stuff is if it belonged to a passed loved one. Processing through these belongings equates to grieving. To go in there to review and make decisions on their belongings is in itself a huge part of the grieving process in our current day and age. Grieving loss - of a person or a past version of yourself - is painful and deserves gentleness, patience, and the utmost support along the way.
So why complete this unfinished project besides the obvious reason of saving money? Do it for your mental and emotional health. The connection may not be so obvious, but holding onto a whole room’s worth of things that had meaning in the past will hinder your ability to find mental and emotional clarity in the present. Everyone deserves the freedom to honor their past and grow fully into who they are yet to become.
Key Takeaways:
When you are ready to clear out your storage unit, expect to make a lot of decisions, and be emotionally prepared to process memories and emotions.
Holding onto a whole room’s worth of things that had meaning in the past will hinder your ability to find mental and emotional clarity in the present.
It is your birthright to grow as a person. Processing through memories and emotions as you clutter-clear is a powerful way to come to completion with who you were and open up space for who you are becoming.
Do you want some professional guidance?
Reach out to me! I love to shed some light on what you’re struggling with. Book a free 30 minute chat below.
