Sentimental paper...what do I do with it all?

Do you have boxes, folders, and bins of all sorts of sentimental papers?  I bet you do! This is its own project!  After you have organized all of your actionable and reference paper, this is the third big project I want to address.

Sentimental papers can include photos, brochures from vacations, memorabilia, event programs, letters, kids art projects, and more.

Sentimental papers and memorabilia can be a hard thing to sort through.  Our memories connect us to events and feelings.  In no way would I ever suggest you get rid of something that is important to you.  You need to figure out the best way to store and keep your memories.  As you sort through them, you may find things that are no longer important.  The goal is to keep the things that are meaningful to us.  Imagine if you needed to downsize, what could you take with you?   What good are memories if you can't enjoy them if they are stored in a box under the stairs?  Think about why you are keeping them and come up with the best storage solution for you.

If you have kids, you may have all kinds of kids art and school projects as well as anything else they may have created.  Do you keep the brochures from vacations, printed programs from events, letters from your great Aunt Bertha?  Not to mention, all. the. photos.

Tips for photos:

• eliminate duplicates, blurry, people you don't know, places you can't remember
• if you don't want some, gift them to people who might enjoy them
• create albums or photo boxes to store them

Kids papers:

• you don't have to keep everything! (I have six kids, they don't want much when they are older)
• Keep a few samples writing, math, artwork, report cards from each grade
• take photos of the artwork, and create photo books to remember (you will still have the same "feeling" if you look at the original or photos)
• ask your kids what they want to keep, you may be surprised at what they are willing to part with
• kids artwork binder  (check out this binder here, and email me if you are interested in  getting one)

Vacation, letters, programs, etc.

• photo album or scrapbook
• shadow box 
• online photo book
• give items to people who may enjoy them

Sentimental papers and memorabilia can be a hard thing to sort through.  Our memories connect us to events and feelings.  In no way would I ever suggest you get rid of something that is important to you.  You need to figure out the best way to store and keep your memories.  As you sort through them, you may find things that are no longer important.  The goal is to keep the things that are meaningful to us.  Imagine if you needed to downsize, what could you take with you?   What good are memories if you can't enjoy them if they are stored in a box under the stairs?  Think about why you are keeping them and come up with the best storage solution for you.

Enjoy your walk down memory lane!I'll be back tomorrow to talk about what's next!  

Grab a friend and gather up your paper. Now, it's time to take some action!

Let's Do It Together!

Part 5 in a 5 part series