Welcome back to Part 3 of my Wellness Tips Series. We’ve discussed how we can start our days with purpose and peace and how to declutter our tech spaces, but something I don’t see too often is how we can declutter and organize our inner world - this is what I refer to as our heart and soul. 

Our metaphorical heart and soul is made up of countless things that bring us happiness and sentimental value, but also things that are tucked away in the recesses of our minds trying to stay hidden. Whilst isolating difficult memories or experiences can help us survive, when those memories creep into our daily life it’s time to acknowledge them, confront them, and let them move on as they no longer serve their purpose. 

Today we’ll dive in deep into the good, the bad, and the ugly and how we can make changes to our daily life to help us navigate all these things in the future. 

Why Organizing Sentimental Things Matters

Clutter can have a significant emotional and mental toll, creating feelings of stress, anxiety, and even guilt. When surrounded by excessive items or disorganized spaces, we may often feel overwhelmed and like we have a lack of control, which can drain mental energy and contribute to stress. This kind of sensory overload can make it challenging for our brain to process information effectively, leading to a constant state of low-level anxiety. 

Additionally, clutter can trigger feelings of shame or guilt, especially if there’s a sense that items should be organized or discarded but haven’t been. Studies show that living in cluttered spaces can elevate cortisol levels, which, over time, can affect mood, cognitive function, and overall mental well-being. Clutter is also tied to emotional attachment, making it difficult to let go of items connected to the past, relationships, or experiences. While some people may find organizing therapeutic, excessive accumulation often leaves others feeling weighed down and emotionally burdened by a desire to declutter yet unable to take action. 

Decluttering your Mind

We all have things that are occurring in our lives or have occurred, that we keep on the back burner and these thoughts can have a negative impact on our mental state. I call this mental clutter. Mental clutter can be anything from negative experiences in childhood, difficulties in our relationships with friends/family, work stress, etc. These are all things we need to work through but may not know how, or where to start. 

When dealing with mental clutter, or more serious problems like mental health, I always recommend therapy. Therapy is a valuable resource for gaining insight, emotional support, and practical tools to manage life’s challenges. It allows individuals to explore their thoughts and feelings in a safe and non-judgmental space, helping them better understand their personal struggles and patterns. 

Seeking therapy can be an empowering step, as educated and trained therapists are able to provide coping strategies tailored to one’s needs, whether for managing stress, processing trauma, or improving relationships. Prioritizing your mental health is essential, and seeking help when needed will improve your life tenfold. 

Sometimes we don’t always have access to therapy, or we may find that the mental clutter we’re experiencing is something we can cope with, but need an outlet. My favorite way to cope with this type of clutter is through journaling. I find that writing down my thoughts, feelings, and experiences helps me let go of these cluttered thoughts. When you put it on paper it’s as if you’re allowing yourself to feel and release the tension that’s held in your mind. It’s also an incredibly useful way to track things that have happened and look back on - you can notice behavioral patterns, repetitive thoughts, or feelings; you can also use this as a verification of your own experience. 

We’ve all had relationships, whether romantic, platonic, or familial, that have made us feel crazy. Writing down your experience when going through difficult times can be used as evidence of your experience - not legally of course - but for your own piece of mind. I find it comforting to write down past negative experiences I’ve had as I have developed a bad habit of questioning myself and thinking “Were things really that bad, or am I making it up?”. Putting these experiences into my journal and expressing my thoughts and feelings on the matter helps keep me sane and prevents me from ruminating on the topic further. It’s sort of like, “Yes this happened, here’s what happened from my point of view, here are my thoughts and how it made me feel. Done.”. 

Organizing Sentimental Items

Intentionally organizing personal and emotional items can be a powerful step toward achieving emotional clarity, balance, and fulfillment. When you mindfully sort through sentimental belongings, past journals, and meaningful photographs, you’re not only creating a more organized physical space but also engaging in a process of emotional release and self-reflection. This deliberate organization allows you to acknowledge your experiences and memories in a structured way, helping to reduce feelings of overwhelm and making it easier to focus on the present. As you create intentional spaces for these items, you’re also making room for positive energy and mental clarity, which can enhance your sense of purpose and provide greater emotional balance. 

If you don’t know where to start, try these tips: 

• Identifying Meaningful Items: Find items, such as letters, keepsakes, and old journals, that hold personal value. Do they bring back good memories? Do they make you feel good, nostalgic, or joyful? Do they remind you of a loved one? Was the item a memento from a special occasion or a once-in-a-lifetime experience? Does the item unlock a memory you forgot you had? 

• Organizing with Purpose: To store these special items, you can use decorative boxes for tangible objects, digital keepsake albums or USBs for photos and videos, physical photo albums, safes or lock boxes for valuable items, etc. 

• Displaying Special Items: If you want to incorporate your sentimental items into your home decor, try a rotating display, so you enjoy them without overwhelming your space. You could also use a decorative cabinet display or a shelving unit dedicated for these items. 

Here are some other ways to store and organize your photos:

• Streamlining Digital Photos: Introduce tools like Google Photos to back up, organize, and sort photos. This service allows you to create albums by themes or years to make memories easy to access.

• Traditional Photo Albums and Scrapbooks: You could introduce yourself to a new hobby by creating physical photo albums or scrapbooks. 

Getting to Know You

Often times we are so busy we lose our own understanding of ourselves. Have you ever been asked, “Tell me about you. What hobbies do you have? What do you like to do?” and have had that awkward moment of going completely blank? I certainly have. I realized that over the years I had lost time for myself and the things that made me happy. It wasn’t until I began making Pinterest boards dedicated to my hobbies and interests that I began to feel reconnected to myself and interests. 

These days on my Pinterest board titled ‘Hobbies’, I have a wide-range of arts and crafts projects I enjoy doing in my spare time, as well as others I have a keen interest in trying! Pinning projects you’d like to try in the future is a great way to find new activities and an easy catalog to look back at in times of boredom! 

Organizing for Peace and Clarity

Organizing your heart and soul is about more than just clearing clutter; it's about intentionally creating space for clarity, peace, and joy. By sorting through sentimental items, reflecting on memories through journaling, and reconnecting with your hobbies and passions, you take active steps toward emotional wellness. This part of the journey focuses on understanding what truly matters to you and letting go of what no longer serves you, paving the way for a balanced and fulfilled life. 

Stay tuned for Part 4: The Ultimate Night-In, where we’ll explore how to craft a restorative evening that rejuvenates both mind and body, helping you unwind and recharge in the most luxurious way.