01/23/2026
This is such a juicy article about aspirational clutter that hit a little close to home. (Yes, even Professional Organizers can go through decluttering challenges. We're human too, and it helps us understand where our clients may be struggling.)
“Aspirational clutter is the collection of items we keep because they represent who we hope to be, (or who we once were, and) not who we realistically are right now. These items aren’t useless - they’re tied to goals, identity and good intentions - but they quietly create guilt and overwhelm, and stall progress when they pile up.”
"Let go of the person you thought you were. It’s not a failure. Holding on to items that don’t serve the person you are now, adds unnecessary pressure to do things that you don’t have the time or skills for, or actual interest in doing.
"Saying goodbye to these emotionally charged items can also provide closure around old chapters, an acceptance of life transitions and even a feeling of accomplishment rather than loss. People realize they didn’t fail, they simply evolved.”
What aspirational clutter are you holding on to?
Clutter, it may surprise you to learn, isn’t a monolith. There are all different kinds: visual clutter, digital clutter, easy-to-part-with clutter. Distinct types of clutter call for different approaches to controlling them, and one of the trickiest sorts to contend with is what’s known as aspir...
