Mindful May: To Store or Not to Store?
This Summer, the professional organizers at Organized For Good want to bring to you the full scoop on a popular summer activity–moving! Okay, so moving homes isn’t an activity as much as a chore, but even more reason to have some resources handy! Earlier this month, we explored the idea of mindfulness in the context of moving. (Check out the full post here!).
As professional organizers, we are all about mindfulness, the practice of paying nonjudgmental attention to the present moment, here at Organized For Good.
Why mindfulness? Because the ability to stay in the present moment and silence our inner critic is a key principle not only for good organization, but for life itself.
This week, we are examining the power of mindfulness in another area related to moving: self-storage. Our friends at storagecafe.com recently brought some fascinating new stats to our attention, so we will graciously be referring to their data.
A significant takeaway is the increasing demand for self-storage units, driven by various factors. With more people living in urban areas where living spaces are smaller, the need for additional storage outside the home has surged. The self-storage trend is particularly evident among millennials and Gen Z, who are more likely to live in apartments and homes that have decreased in average square footage over the last decade. Additionally, the rise of climate-controlled storage units allows people to store more valuable and sensitive items, like electronics, documents, clothing, and even motor vehicles. Minimalism also plays a small role: many people seek a simplified, peaceful style in their homes these days which often calls for “downsizing.” (Let’s note here that professional organizers have a very different definition of what downsizing means.)
For professional organizers, downsizing means examining your belongings and deciding what to keep and what to let go.
In the article we are referring to, it seems their definition of downsizing means removing possessions from the home without disowning them entirely. That’s not to say professional organizers are against self-storage– oh no! We recognize that there is a time and place for storing belongings for a predetermined period of time, and we have firsthand experience helping our clients accomplish their storage goals.
After all, Margaret Magnusson, author of the bestselling book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning acknowledges that there are times during life that call for more belongings. (Our clients and readers who are parents will know this to be true!)
When you have multiple people’s stuff in your home, you know there’s a need for space in order to store items for everyone’s varying interests and pastimes.
When you are young and/or capable, the types of hobbies and interests you have will not be hindered by your ability to perform them. Magnusson’s observations go hand-in-hand with StorageCafe.com’s data: right now, millennials and Gen Z are the younger adult generations, and they have stuff!
We have seen the advantages to self-storage with many of our clients.
For some, it is necessary to make room for an additional family member temporarily. For others, it might be that they are temporarily with less space while waiting for their new home to be built or their remodeled. And for others, it’s the addition of items through inheritance (without inheriting a larger home). There are indeed times when temporary circumstances are at odds with the amount of belongings we decide to keep permanently (or for the longer circumstances of sentimentality or necessity).
However, there are many circumstances where self-storage acts only as a band-aid for a larger problem. This is where mindfulness comes in handy. While we always support anyone looking to make their space harmonious through self-storage, we also recommend mindful discarding and mindful storage first.
A mindful approach to storage involves being intentional about what we store.
This means taking the time to assess the necessity and value of items before deciding to keep them. Mindfulness in storage also involves considering the long-term implications of storing items, such as the costs and environmental impact.
Before using self-storage we encourage using the following questions to assess your storage needs:
What has changed in your life recently that is making you consider self-storage?
If this change does not involve moving to a new home or adding someone else to your household, could it be addressed first by mindful decluttering and taking a break from any regular consumption that you participate in?
Is there one specific category (think your encyclopedia collection or your ceramics hobby) taking up a lot of space in your home, or is it a mixed category (think unopened boxes in a room or banker’s boxes of paper files)?
Are you looking to store items that are precious, sentimental, or valuable (grandma’s quilt collection from the 60s)? Or are they simply unidentified boxes taking up room (–no one’s opened that opaque rubbermaid in years!)
Would you rather pay money to store these specific items, or could you donate these items, store them in the world for free, and then maybe have to pay for them again at a later date (emphasis on the maybe, y’all!)
As you can see, our philosophy of mindfulness encourages a more deliberate approach to storage. Instead of using storage as a dumping ground for excess items, ensure the necessity of self-storage first.
As professional organizers, we are always happy to help assess personal storage needs. We also love a satisfying storage project that involves categorizing collections and labeling boxes with QR codes for easy retrieval. If you are looking for expertise and experience to help you manage your storage needs effectively, our services include personalized consultations to assess your unique storage requirements and develop tailored solutions that fit your lifestyle.
Whether you're looking to declutter your home, organize a storage unit, or simply need advice on how to store items properly, our team of professional organizers are here to assist.
By choosing our services, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your items are stored safely and efficiently. We help take the stress out of organizing and maintaining your storage spaces, allowing you to focus on what matters most.
Contact us or schedule a free phone consultation today to learn more about how we can help you achieve a more organized and clutter-free life.
