My friends are all practicing minimalism, trying every possible way to clean their lives, empty their rooms, and get rid of all the “unnecessary things.” They believe that the less stuff, the better their life. But Shushu discovered that there’s another option: the reverse of “decluttering”! And as a person with a lot of things, Shushu prefers this lifestyle!
1. What is reverse decluttering?
If minimalism means “throwing away everything you don’t need,” then the reverse, decluttering, is allowing yourself to keep those little things that are “useless but meaningful.” It’s not about pursuing a bare home, but about acknowledging that some of this “junk” is actually filled with my stories. What others see as clutter, you see as “my life archive.”
Have you ever encountered this kind of scenario?
While tidying up my room, I found a pile of unused bookmarks, small cards, and yellowed photos. I wanted to throw them away, but I couldn’t.
Graduation yearbooks, childhood toys, expired concert bracelets…each one seemed like a small piece of evidence of a certain time.
Some people even can’t bear to throw away notes from their first loves or funny test score sheets.
2. Why is reverse decluttering also reasonable?
Psychologists say that when we keep small things, we are actually keeping our emotions. Minimalism makes life simpler, but the opposite of letting go is giving ourselves permission to be gentle:
️Miss that youth : I don’t want to forget the innocence and second-year mentality of my childhood;
Commemorate precious relationships : An old card may be the last contact between you and an old friend;
Witness your self-growth : Even the small things you mess up are a testament to your efforts and courage.
Shushu thinks that minimalist life is cool, but “reverse decluttering” is equally meaningful – it allows us to embrace our complete selves, including those seemingly “useless” stories.
3. How to do reverse decluttering?
You don’t have to force yourself to be a tidying freak. You can:
Give important small items a dedicated storage box, and occasionally flip through it to reflect on your past self;
Don’t throw away everything, be kind and keep some of the most interesting little things.
️Accepting a “room with clutter” is also a sign of a warm life.
Shushu Interactive: Do you have a habit of “reverse decluttering”? What’s the thing you’re most reluctant to throw away?
A. Childhood items
B. Small gifts from exes/good friends
C. Weird ticket stubs, class notes
D. Other (Feel free to leave a comment!)
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