When I hear the word “vacation,” I think of visiting my son’s family or my best friend, and I need to board a plane for both. So, traveling light is important and getting away from it all includes the burdens of “stuff.” Vacations and traveling usually involve buying souvenirs and it can be hard to resist bringing a bit of your memories home. When I travel, I sometimes want to buy an item that reminds me of my trip, but I still ask myself:
- Do I have a place for this?
- Can I let go of something else if I buy this?
- Will this become clutter?
- Do I like this item better than something I already have?
To have no regrets about bringing stuff home from your travels, here are some tips:
- Bought new clothing? Try to let go of something that you’ll no longer wear.
- Go clutter-free by taking pictures or by getting a tattoo to commemorate your trip if it’s especially important to you.
- Paint or decorate your home to remind you of your trip (a friend of mine stenciled her outside fencing to look like a backyard in Charleston, S.C.).
Finally, memories can be just as good as souvenirs. My husband and I traveled to Mickey’s house many years ago and our favorite “souvenirs” are the memories we had eating with our son in the different countries in Epcot and Walt Disney World. Full disclosure, I traveled to Mexico more than 10 years ago with a friend and I brought home three suitcases full of Mexican Talavera dishes and handmade glassware. I had been on the hunt for new dishes for many years so when I came home, I let go of boxes of old dinnerware and glassware and replaced it with my new treasures. Each time I use them I am transported back to Mexico and I enjoy them with no regrets.
Finally, when you’re vacationing, take note of how much “stuff” you can do without and what is non-negotiable when it comes to the things that are precious and important in your life. It doesn’t take long to realize that it’s not the stuff in your life that is important, but the people and the experiences that make it richer.
“Everything in my home is a reminder of a place I’ve been or someone I love,” — Nate Berkus, designer guru
Vali G. Heist, M.Ed. is a Certified Professional Organizer® and Owner of The Clutter Crew. She is the author of Organize This! Practical Tips, Green Ideas, and Ruminations about your CRAP.
