Neuroscience can make decluttering easier

nytimes.com

35 points·gumby··12 comments

> "Ask yourself 'would I buy this today?'"

How would I buy a notebook filled with my thoughts from 20 years ago, today?

It's phrased "would you." I would definitely buy a notebook filled with my thoughts from 20 years ago today.

I agree. Besides, one is really not 'buying' - just holding on, with no immediate 'expense'.

If someone kidnapped it and you where asked to pay 400$ to get it back. Would you pay the ransom?

I maintain a nostalgia budget. That is, I allow myself to keep a certain amount or mass or volume of items that are valuable to me (old photos, T-shirts, mementos from my family). This has made it far easier to get rid of things (especially things where I could just go buy another if I truly needed it).

>Objects can also become cues that activate memories, momentarily bringing them back into focus.

Which is why we don't throw them away!

ask, “Would I buy this today?”

A related approach I use with 'gear' is "can I buy another one if I really want one again?" (because I have a bit of GAS).

Of course I am economically privileged for being able approach the problem that way. Not everyone is.

Screw that! Ask: "if I found this today, would I bring it home? Hell f'n yeah!"

Get around paywall: https://archive.li/VGOaH

> Still, my research told me that holding on to objects like my old notebooks was the wrong approach.

Second most important link missing - how did research determine that?

The first was about the title - a proper test that it can make it easier

Does it spark joy, though?

The best tidying method imo

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