Monday, May 18, 2020

10 Lessons I Learned from Being a Hoarder

I used to be a hoarder.

In fact, I talked about my multiple efforts to minimize my things here, here, and here. It took me 3 years to actually let go of about 60% of my stuff and another year to get rid of 20% more. Now, I have about 20% of the amount of stuff that I used to own and I have never felt better.

To help someone out there who may be having a hard time letting go, here are 10 lessons / tips / thoughts that I have about being an ex-hoarder.

LifeisKulayful_Hoarder

1. You hoard because you are actually filling up an emotional void. Hoarding makes you feel like you are in control of things and that the more stuff you have, the more you have in life. This is not the case.

People who hoard will never stop hoarding until they actually address the real issue that they are hiding from or running away from.

2. Hoarding is an addiction. It's hard to stop and your mind is always on default between the following:
  • but I might need this someday ... 
  • I'll use this one day.
  • What if it runs out of stock?
  • It's on sale!
  • It was really expensive. I can't just let it go.
3. Hoarding wastes a lot of resources. I used to have too much of everything. Make up, skin care, clothes, bags, shoes, arts and crafts. I had too much of everything.

Since I had too much of things, I ended up not using a lot of them. I wasted so much make up, skincare items, bath essentials, and even bags and shoes.

Makeup expires within 6 months to 24 months. Please don't hoard this. It is the same with lotion and moisturizers. The temptation to try so may things is great but try to use up what you have first before buying another. There's this wonderful sense when you empty a bottle or pan.

4. Hoarding does not just take up physical space. It takes up mental space and that affects your overall psyche. You might think it's just physical space but our physical space has a lot of effect on our mental health.

When a house is too crowded, there's not enough air or light that gets in. You also need to always navigate around your clutter and the possibility of constantly looking for things is huge. This causes more stress.

5. When you have too many clutter around you, things that you don't use, love, or want, it lowers your creativity as well as your productivity. When there's less distraction around you, you can channel your energy on things that actually matter.

6. When you hoard, you spend money on things that you will never use, never enjoy for more than a moment, and will only add to the clutter in your home. When you finally learn to stop hoarding and just buy what you need or truly love AND will use, you will be able to save money.

7. When you stop being a hoarder, your entire well being improves. You will find that you will smile more, sleep better, and overall feel better.

8. You realize how much you really have the moment you de-clutter and stop hoarding. I recommend shopping your stash. I promise that the amount of items you have will blow your mind.

9. You gain more time. Now that you don't need to navigate your way around your clutter or spend time looking for lost treasures or items, you will have more time doing things that you actually love.

10. You learn to let go. When you de-clutter your hoarded stuff, you learn to let go. It will be really hard in the beginning but eventually, you learn to let go of the following:
  • things that belong in the past
  • things that have no real value
  • things that someone gave you but you don't really love
  • things that were handed down to you but you don't really want
  • things that you have outgrown
  • things that no longer matter
  • things that are in excess 
  • things that are just there because it's expensive 
Even if you have a mansion, hoarding is not a good thing to do. It affects your physical space by causing more dust, dirt, and insects to house in your place. It affects your mental health because it adds more stress and wasted time. It affects the Earth because you will waste more than 80% of what you have. You should buy only what you need.

Lastly, it will affect your finances because you will buy and buy but not end up using things. Wasted resources, wasted money.

I hope that this helped someone choose to not hoard anymore.


22 comments:

  1. Well that helped me gain insights about people who hoard stuff. Thank you for sharing this! I'm pretty good at only keeping the things I need but have a couple friends that are definitely hoarders.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wooooowwww! You have done something that few people could ever do--you pulled yourself out of hoarding. My grandmother suffered this way her whole life. And good for you for doing the things to get yourself emotionally healthy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It definitely is an addiction! It's such a huge difference when you're not hoarding. Its so freeing, you realize how many unnecessary things you were keeping

    ReplyDelete
  4. These are great. in the last few years i have not been purchasing as many things and have been trying hard to live on a more minimal scale and let me tell you, it has been really great and i dont feel as stressed! Thanks for the great post.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think i am pretty much on the path of being a hoarder when it comes to clothes and beauty items hut after reading this, ohh godddd NOOOO!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am the opposite of a hoarder - I'm more of a purger. I have to get rid of stuff, it drives me insane.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My mom needs to see this. I don't know what's gotten into her, but she's been collecting things and filling up all the space in her living room area.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I prefer decluttering and take a minimalist approach to my belongings. Seeing everything in order is so pleasant. I also make sure I don't buy stuff that I don't need.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I agree that is somewhat an addiction, thank u for an interesting article!

    ReplyDelete
  10. The lesson shared are the great, what a wonderfully you have described number 10, the things that..... love to read meaningful article . (World in Eyes)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great pointers for anyone struggling with hoarding. I might have the opposite problem where I throw everything away and then need it later. Clutter makes it difficult for me to focus, so I'll go on cleaning binges before I can concentrate on the task at hand. It's not an addiction per se, but probably not too far from it.

    ReplyDelete
  12. This was a nice read. I've never been a hoarder but I know people who are and I think in a way, this has shed some light. I'm glad you've learned and as a result, you can help others.

    ReplyDelete
  13. These are some great reasons why things should be hoarded. I am a big time hoarder and hence I am trying so hard to not just pick up anything and everything that I see.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I didn't know hoarding goes as far as buying things and not use them.
    You've given me so much insight

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is a really informative post! I was once a hoarder when I realized some things were useless. However, it has lots of benefits too as you have disccused.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am quite an opposite of hoarder myself, it is very curious to read about your experience

    ReplyDelete
  17. I can feel your sentiments on being a hoarder because I was once like you too. hahaha. But yes, I totallly agree with you. This COVID season has taught us a lot to learn.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I use to hoard things before but during this pandemic days I stopped that habit. I think of others whoa re not able to buy.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh my god! this post really hit hard. Hoarding and de-cluttering are the two sides of the same coin - I am cyclically looking at one side or the other at a time! Beautiful post!

    ReplyDelete
  20. wow. i've learned new things from you today. having too much things can reduce the productivity. true, it applies to hoarding books. when you have too many, you end up not reading at all because you can't choose which one or you have the mindset that they are all just there so you can postpone reading. greaat article!

    ReplyDelete
  21. There are many lessons and realizations we can get during this crisis. It is not always about us. It's about humanity

    ReplyDelete
  22. I also used to be a hoarder, and my god, I wish I wasn't! I can't believe how much stuff I used to buy for the sake of buying it. I'm glad I managed to beat my addiction and live a much less clutter-free lifestyle now :)

    Louise x

    ReplyDelete

Hi! Let's all try to add more positivity in this world and adhere to the saying, "if you don't have anything nice to say, keep silent."

Showering you with unicorn poop so you'd always stay magical! Heart heart!