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5 Things I Regret Decluttering From My Home

  • Zak 
items i regret throwing away, Items I regret decluttering

I was so excited when I began my journey into minimalism. It presented an opportunity for me to start over and unburden myself of all the clutter from my past. But my overeagerness didn’t take practicality into account. I got rid of some stuff that I actually needed, and it stinks because a little research and planning could have prevented this. So I thought about sharing my list of things I regret decluttering in hopes of helping you avoid the same regret I have.

Related article: Extreme decluttering (what is it and should you try it?)

5 Items I Regret Throwing Away

1. Exercise equipment

I don’t know why I didn’t consider the possibility that I would need to hold onto one or two items of exercise equipment in the event that I could not visit the gym or suffered an injury.

During a flare-up of my autoimmune condition, I couldn’t lift weights or walk much. It would have been amazing if I still held onto my exercise bike, but I got rid of it!

Also, they’re getting more expensive to purchase, and I don’t know if I’m willing to spend the money on them right now.

2. Paperwork

Most paperwork should be decluttered, but only after you have gone through it. I was impulsive and assumed that the paperwork stored in boxes must have been stuff I didn’t need anymore.

Unfortunately, I was wrong. I had some business letters, mockups, and account information that I hadn’t transferred onto my computer.

I’ve had to make personal visits to establishments to reacquire certain particulars and resolve account issues, which could have been avoided if I held onto the paperwork.

Related article: The 6 types of clutter to minimize in your life

3. Old Notebooks

I love collecting notebooks and bottles (a little strange, I know).

Journaling and tracking are hobbies that I’ve fallen in love with since 2017, but I was so wrapped up in the “out-with-the-old” mindset that I got rid of them.

Now, when I want to look back on some of the personal notes I made years ago, I can’t!

Sometimes I just want to see how I dealt with a similar event or made progress on a personal goal, but I can’t do that anymore, and it upsets me.

4. Old Photos

I’m working on my self-esteem, but there have been moments when I just got rid of a photograph because I thought I looked cringeworthy or dressed too weirdly at the time.

But as I age, I realize how fleeting youth can be. I want to look back on myself and see how I’ve grown or developed over the years in a non-judgmental way.

Getting rid of old photographs under the guise of decluttering when it’s actually insecurity acting up is a recipe for regret.

Take it from someone who literally made this mistake.

You’ll want to see old photographs someday, regardless of how cringe-worthy you think they look right now.

5. Chargers

Did you also know that companies no longer supply chargers with their smartphones?

I didn’t, and it turns out that chargers are quite expensive these days.

I’m trying to be frugal, and this is a little annoying because I got rid of my old chargers under my usual assumption that they were packaged with a phone.

I also have this massage gun that I wanted to use for my lower back pain, but I couldn’t because I threw away the charger that it came with.

Related article: Decluttering mistakes (what are they and how to avoid them)

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