We’ve all dealt with clutter: the junk drawer full of mystery cords, the receipts stuffed into bags, the pantry items past their prime.

But not all clutter is created equal. And some of the hardest things to part with are the objects tied to our hopes and dreams. Think “aspirational clutter.”

What exactly is aspirational clutter, and how does it impact our lives? Below, professional organisers break down this common phenomenon and ways to tackle these items to achieve actual happiness.

What is aspirational clutter?

“Aspirational clutter refers to possessions we hold onto for our ‘future self,’ or an idealised future lifestyle,” said Seana Turner, founder of The Seana Method. “Aspirational clutter can be anything, but some common examples include untouched hobby supplies, unused fitness equipment or clothing we hope to ‘fit into again someday.’”

As these items go unused, they simply become clutter in your home, as valuable kitchen cabinet space is devoted to highly specialised baking gadgets you’ve never used, and your closets fill up with fancy ball gowns that still have their tags on.

“These things tend to represent an idealised, unrealistic version of ourselves,” said Tova Weinstock, the professional organiser behind Tidy Tova. “That old, sentimental T-shirt collection ― ‘I’m going to turn them into a quilt.’ Painting supplies from the college years when you took a class ― ‘I’d love to start painting again!’ Cutouts from magazines of things that ‘inspired’ you at the time ― ‘One day I’m going to decorate my house and use them as inspo.’”

You might fantasise about making elaborate cakes, diving into cool crafting projects or reading all the Penguin Classics. But the reality doesn’t exactly match this vision. Still, the supplies sit there quietly, taking up space and reminding us of unmet goals.

The aspirational clutter problem extends beyond physical items to the time and energy we spend thinking about the life you could be living, rather than focusing on the one you actually have and taking action.

“There’s the gym equipment that never gets used, an expensive dress that’s too small, a pasta maker when you never make pasta ― but the worst aspirational clutter is social media,” said professional organiser Barbara Reich of Life Organised.

Why do people hold on to aspirational clutter?

“People keep aspirational clutter because it represents hope, identity and endless........

© HuffPost