As we meander through life, it’s nice to keep things that remind us of special times we don’t want to forget. Remember your friend who kept refrigerator magnets for everywhere she visited to play a college basketball game? Or that coworker whose home was filled with paintings that were purchased during his international travels? As great as it would be to save every memento we’ve ever accumulated, it’s not realistic. If your home is filled to the brim with sentimental items, it might be time to declutter. This doesn’t have to mean throwing away sacred memories. It just means you’re creating more space to live a better, brighter, and more meaningful life NOW. Here are some tips to get you started.

1. Start sorting.
Dig up your old treasures, and sort through them. Examine each item and determine which belongings still hold true sentimental value. Create a pile for things you want to save and things you want to toss. 

2. Organize keepsakes from your travels.
You probably have some really cool things from your travels. It’s normal to want to keep these items, but you can toss duplicates. If you want to hold onto airline tickets and photos, store them in a manila envelope and file them away. 

3. Organize trophies, trinkets, and other items.
If you want to hold onto your trophies but you know they take up way too much space, consider taking photos of them and storing them digitally instead. If this doesn’t feel like the right solution, consider renting a storage unit for all of these items. 

4. Organize things you’ve inherited.
Most people don’t want to toss special things they’ve inherited from family members and friends. For these items, a storage unit might be the best option. That way, you can free up space in your home while still holding onto items you may want to use at a later time or pass down to the next generation.