The Retirement Newsletter: Don’t allow the reclutter?
Issue Number: 192 (45) — watch out, watch out, there’s clutter about
Welcome
Welcome to issue 192 (45) — this week, preventing the return of the clutter.
Weirdly, my spell check doesn’t like the word ‘reclutter’, and when I searched for the word ‘reclutter’ online, it showed it is a word that is used, but not how I thought. It was not all negative.
Anyway, this week, recluttering.
Decluttering
I have written quite a bit about decluttering, as I have a problem with clutter — I can be a bit of a packrat.
My problem is that my brain works like this:
Objects costs money
Therefore an object has monetary value
Throwing objects away equals throwing money away
Throwing money away is not good
Therefore, keep object
I view throwing stuff out (decluttering) as problematic after I finish using it. I see it as throwing away money. I see each item is a small pile of cash. Even if an item is broken, I look at it and think, “I’ll keep that, as I can repurpose it,” or “It may be handy for spare parts.” Neither statements tend to be true for me.
If the item was a gift from someone, I struggle to throw it out as it was a gift. Some thought (hopefully) went into picking it out, and it cost money. Hence back to the money problem outlined above.
Then, there are emotional or memory attachments to objects and those can be tough to break.
Anyway, I have previously written all about decluttering, and you can read about my attempts in the following newsletters:
Issue Number: 167 (20) — Sixty-plus tips to help you declutter — part 1 of 2
Issue Number: 168 (21) — Sixty-plus tips to help you declutter — part 2 of 2
Issue Number: 169 (22) — Ten things I have learned about decluttering
And, of course, I have decluttering on my 2025 New Year Resolution list:
So, what about “recluttering” and why, or why not, it may be an issue?
What is recluttering?
When I started writing this issue, I viewed “recluttering” as letting the clutter back into the house after you had decluttered. That is, not applying the “one thing in, one thing out” rule. However, after my spellchecker complained that “recluttering” wasn’t a word (and it doesn’t seem to be in the Oxford English Dictionary), I checked online, and I found that there is more to “recluttering” than I first thought. And as I thought about it, I realised that recluttering can take many forms.
There are different types of recluttering, often tied to habits, mindsets, and specific circumstances. Here are some common types:
1. Physical — This can take three forms:
Rebuying: Buying items previously thrown away, thinking you need them again when you don’t.
Impulse: Impulse shopping or accepting freebies. You don’t think through your purchases or take something you really don’t need just because it is free.
Unintentional or Unexpected Gifts: Receiving items from others you don’t want or need but keep out of guilt.
2. Digital — This comes down to poor management of your digital devices. Examples include:
File Overload: Re-accumulating unnecessary files, photos, or documents on your computer or phone.
Email Inbox Overflow: Letting emails pile up again after clearing your inbox and not removing emails no longer needed.
App Hoarding: I am so guilty of this one. Every day, I read about new apps and programs, download them, use them once, and never touch them again. Luckily, my phone offloads some apps, but sadly, my computer doesn’t. They rapidly accumulate.
Link Hoarding — I am very guilty of doing this — I see something online, save the link, and never go back to it.
3. Emotional — This is to do with sentimental Items. After our initial declutter, we save similar items again because of emotional attachment. Part of this is the “Just in Case” mindset; we keep things because we might need them one day, even though we didn’t use similar items before.
4. Lifestyle — Two forms here. First, we have cleared our life of activities we no longer wish to do, and we get sucked back in and overcommit. We say yes to too many activities or obligations. Second, we have cleared physical space in our house/garage/shed and are urged to refill it. For example, an urge to refill a self we have cleared (e.g., a clean shelf suddenly looks like it “needs” more decor).
5. Information — After clearing out old books, magazines, or articles, we gather a new stack we never get around to reading. This is one of my biggest problems. I have piles of books and articles that I will read one day, but that day never arrives. Other examples are subscribing to too many social media feeds and hoarding links (see number 2 above).
6. Time — We clear our lives of unproductive habits and distractions, but we let them creep back into our day. A similar problem is over-scheduling — filling up your calendar with activities, meetings, or events after intentionally leaving space for downtime.
While all the above are negative, there are some positive aspects to recluttering if it is done intentionally. It is positive if the recluttering brings back added value rather than mindless accumulation. The key is recognising whether the new items serve a purpose, bring joy, or enhance our lives rather than creating unnecessary clutter.
Some examples of positive recluttering are:
Evolving Needs and Interests — in our retirement lifestyle, and hobbies change. Recluttering can be a sign of growth as we bring in items that better suit our current situation.
Creative Expression and Comfort — a minimalist/empty space can feel cold and impersonal. Adding meaningful or aesthetically pleasing items can make a space more comfortable and inviting and more us. It gives it character.
Functional Replenishment — we bring back something we accidentally threw out, which improved convenience and functionality.
Social and Emotional Benefits — gifts, souvenirs, or sentimental items from loved ones can bring happiness and connection. Treasured memories. This helps our mental health.
Changing Life Phases — Some forms of recluttering are life-stage dependent. Something we threw away years ago, we may now need as we age.
The Key? We need to practice mindful recluttering. We need to watch out for recluttering constantly. Yes, there can be positive benefits to recluttering, but we must avoid the trivial and take a mindful approach to the clutter we accumulate.
What do you think? Is recluttering a word? Is it a problem? How are you dealing with it?
Nick’s Wanderings — The Grey Wagtail
Do I get cold on my narrowboat? How do I get heat onboard?
Next week
Next week, in issue 193 (46) — taking on too much in retirement. Do we need to be careful?
Thanks
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Until next time,
Nick
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