Source
r/simpleliving•
LoveMyLibrary

Dealing with too much Memorabilia

I have way too many old photos, videos, family-related documents, journals, writings, etc. It's so overwhelming.

If I had tons of money to do it, I'd pay someone or a company to digitize it for me. But I don't. So I won't.

Due to factors I don't want to post publicly, I am very proactive about protecting my mental health....in other words, not letting such issues cause me to worry, fret, ruminate, etc.

I have recently been moving my perspective towards this:

  1. Digitize whatever I keep, with the expectation of ending up with keepsakes totally no more than ONE plastic storage tub. Objects not saved, but important enough to warrant it, will be photographed (digitally).
  2. Strive for digitizing ONLY 20% (maximum) of the stuff. This will involve being very realistic with myself about the importance (and lack thereof) of memorabilia.
  3. Keep uppermost in my mind that my motivation is to end up with a life that is primarily focused on the present, not the past, AND that without the mental "heaviness" of this stuff weighing me down, I will be freer to take on new ideas, tasks, people, situations without feeling like I'm just adding to the clutter in my life and mind.

I would appreciate any feedback on my plans, critical or otherwise. And thank you in advance!

Posted Oct 21, 2019, 10:58 PM UTC

66
[deleted]•

[deleted]

10
human_duvet•

Sounds reductive, but just start. Get rid of or give away one thing that feels comfortable to remove from your life. As someone who has a tendency to overthink and plan sometimes at the expense of starting things like this I often find just beginning very liberating. Often after that first step the ‘right way’ to go about it becomes clear. Good luck OP!!

5
iluvtravel•

I purchased a scanner app for my phone for less than $4. Wouldn’t take long to scan in a journal, especially while time-sharing with TV. It’s been great for retaining those scraps of paper or notes we want to save, but have trouble finding.

4
Frenchbulldog716•

Came here to say exactly this! I scanned 20+ years of journals with my phone while I watched TV. Took me several nights, but what a freeing feeling when I could clear my space of this stuff.

3
NullableThought•

Is your end goal to become less sentimental?

I'd honestly trash the journals unless you have stuff like poetry in them (and then just save the important things) And really just trash anything that you don't actually want (or offload to other family members for things like family photos).

I honestly don't like the idea of digitizing photos, videos, etc because I find that it's easier to accumulate things because they aren't taking up physical space and I'm personally less likely to look at digital versions of photos etc.

I like the idea of a single physical photo album. That way you're actually limited to what you can keep.

4
sas317•

I dislike digitizing because it ruins the original item. I would put all those photos, journals, etc. in a plastic container and store it in the back of your closet or garage. Documents, I would have a filing cabinet or filing storage you'd find at an office store and put them there. That's where I put all my bills and check stubs.

1
Giggles46•

Please don’t get rid of them, as someone who would love to have other people’s pictures journals and the other stuff, it would kill me to know someone just threw them out or burned them. Donate them! Ask family members!

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