Decluttering can be stressful − a clinical psychologist explains how personal values can make it easier

Assessing how well items align with your core beliefs may make it easier to let them go.

By: Mary E. Dozier, Mississippi State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 14, 2026

Words: 1,364

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By Mary E. Dozier, Mississippi State University

When I helped my mom sort through boxes she inherited when my grandparents passed away, one box was labeled – either ironically or genuinely – “toothpick holders and other treasures.” Inside were many keepsakes from moments now lost to history – although we found no toothpick holders.

My favorite of the items we sorted through was a solitary puzzle piece, an artifact reflecting my late grandmother’s penchant for …

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