#111 Do you have spares of your spares? Do you have backups of your backups?

09/29/23 • 43 min

That Hoarder: Overcome Compulsive Hoarding

Today, I'm delving into the world of excess and overstocked items. I have some insights on how to navigate the clutter of spares and backups that can often accumulate in our lives and explore the challenges of hoarding spares, the fear of running out, and the art of letting go. It's time to take action and make space for what truly matters. Let's dive in!

Too many backups, no space for essentials
Too many spares hinder finding things
Hoarders stock up, but it's problematic
Keeping spares, especially when on sale
Overbuying and hoarding wastes time and money
Allocating space reduces overstocking, prompts evaluation
Consider cost, availability, and ease of replacement. Assess necessity based on these factors
Evaluate spare items for necessary maintenance
Risk and fear limit our daily lives
Consider reasonable quantity and necessity, not excess
We accumulate unnecessary backups, making it difficult to organize and discard unused items
Keeping too many unnecessary items makes it hard to find what we really want
Letting go takes faith but leads to easier access
Buying in bulk is cheaper
Overbuying and hoarding leads to an unmanageable situation, preventing you from enjoying life
Fear of running out is understandable but excessive stockpiling is not helpful or cost-effective
Dispose of obsolete tech and excess items, donate or discard thoughtfully
Allocating a specific space for overstock might help control it
Consider limiting the number of spares and keeping track of inventory
Consider the cost and availability of replacing items. If easy and affordable, no spares may be needed. If costly or hard to find, consider quantity and storage
Check if your spare items need maintenance. Don't keep duplicates if they don't work. Consider safety and cost when replacing items
Balancing risk and spares in daily life, reassess as needed
The waste feels horrible, but you can learn from it and make more conscious decisions about buying
Don't beat yourself up, instead turn discomfort into determination to avoid future waste
Think before buying unnecessary items
Assess the importance and potential consequences of running out
Balance the need for preparedness with space and cost
Proportionality is key
The concept of overstocking and hoarding spares
Keeping a record of the quantity of spare items to alleviate anxiety about running out
Difficulty of finding desired items among a clutter of unused items
Taking Action to Get Out of Clutter
Importance of taking action to declutter and organise
Acknowledge fear of being without certain items, but encourage letting go of unused items to make space for what truly matters
Donating unwanted items can make it easier to access needed items
Availability of replacements locally or online
Considerations like expiration dates and proper storage
Fear of running out and hoarding as a response
Balancing the benefits of buying in bulk with the negative impact on daily life and family dynamics
Keeping old appliances as backups even if they are no longer functional
Using discomfort as motivation to avoid overstocking and waste
Reassessing judgments about spares over time as anxiety levels change
Futility of hoarding obsolete tech
Space, cost, and compatibility issues
Reflect on own overstocking habits and take steps to overcome compulsive hoarding

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Subscribe to the podcast

Too many backups, no space for essentials
Too many spares hinder finding things
Hoarders stock up, but it's problematic
Keeping spares, especially when on sale
Overbuying and hoarding wastes time and money
Allocating space reduces overstocking, prompts evaluation
Consider cost, availability, and ease of replacement. Assess necessity based on these factors
Evaluate spare items for necessary maintenance
Risk and fear limit our daily lives
Consider reasonable quantity and necessity, not excess
We accumulate unnecessary backups, making it difficult to organize and discard unused items
Keeping too many unnecessary items makes it hard to find what we really want
Letting go takes faith but leads to easier access
Buying in bulk is cheaper
Overbuying and hoarding leads to an unmanageable situation, preventing you from enjoying life
Fear of running out is understandable but excessive stockpiling is not helpful or cost-effective
Dispose of obsolete tech and excess items, donate or discard thoughtfully
Allocating a specific space for overstock might help control it
Consider limiting the number of spares and keeping track of inventory
Consider the cost and availability of replacing items. If easy and affordable, no spares may be needed. If costly or hard to find, consider quantity and storage
Check if your spare items need maintenance. Don't keep duplicates if they don't work. Consider safety and cost when replacing items
Balancing risk and spares in daily life, reassess as needed
The waste feels horrible, but you can learn from it and make more conscious decisions about buying
Don't beat yourself up, instead turn discomfort into determination to avoid future waste
Think before buying unnecessary items
Assess the importance and potential consequences of running out
Balance the need for preparedness with space and cost
Proportionality is key
The concept of overstocking and hoarding spares
Keeping a record of the quantity of spare items to alleviate anxiety about running out
Difficulty of finding desired items among a clutter of unused items
Taking Action to Get Out of Clutter
Importance of taking action to declutter and organise
Acknowledge fear of being without certain items, but encourage letting go of unused items to make space for what truly matters
Donating unwanted items can make it easier to access needed items
Availability of replacements locally or online
Considerations like expiration dates and proper storage
Fear of running out and hoarding as a response
Balancing the benefits of buying in bulk with the negative impact on daily life and family dynamics
Keeping old appliances as backups even if they are no longer functional
Using discomfort as motivation to avoid overstocking and waste
Reassessing judgments about spares over time as anxiety levels change
Futility of hoarding obsolete tech
Space, cost, and compatibility issues
Reflect on own overstocking habits and take steps to overcome compulsive hoarding

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

#110 Do you own your stuff or does it own you? Freeing yourself and your home with Jasmine Sleigh, author of Being Owned

For the transcript for this episode, visit http://www.overcomecompulsivehoarding.co.uk

Subscribe to the podcast

Jasmine Sleigh is a professional declutterer and has spent the past decade helping people to free up space. She focuses not only on physical belongings but also on the emotional and psychological aspects of decluttering. In today's episode, Jasmine likens her role to a dance, where she carefully navigates through uncertainties and potential triggers for her clients and stresses the importance of providing support and encouragement throughout the decluttering process.

We also discuss Jasmine's book, Being Owned: A Decade in Professional Decluttering, where she expands on the concepts discussed in this episode. Let's dive into the world of decluttering with Jasmine Sleigh.

Facilitating crafts and donating unused items.
Professional decluttering: a personal and people-centric approach
Handling belongings requires adaptability and improvisation
Sort out space, prioritise essentials, declutter
Understanding lives through belongings; an intimate job
Stuff has power, can be moved
Keep belongings accessible for ease of use
Helping people achieve their goals is the key
Positive actions in a cost of living crisis
Jasmine wanted to write a book about her experiences as a professional declutterer, focusing on the poignant stories of her clients and celebrating her achievements
She also felt frustrated by people's misconceptions about the job
The importance of using and sharing possessions, especially in the context of crafting and hobbies.
Jasmine can only go as far as clients are willing to let her
Training others has further shaped her understanding
Emotional attachments and recent purchases may require more distance
The power of belongings and the impact they can have
Ensuring easy access and a comfortable living environment for individuals is the main priority
Goal is to make people happier in their homes
Using resources for good and the availability of second-hand items in a crisis
Sorting through belongings and determining their importance in one's life narrative
The Unpredictability of the Job
Need for adaptability in dealing with unexpected situations
Describing the job as a "dance" due to uncertainties and triggers
Being present and flexible in the moment, avoiding over-preparation
Ineffectiveness of threats and negative consequences
The Process of Decluttering
Recognising that there is no quick fix or magic solution
Examples of finding forgotten items
Belongings becoming overwhelming and causing a burden
The ability to move and rearrange belongings to improve the situation
Different levels of difficulty in letting go of different types of items
Sorting out keepsakes at different life stages
Importance of having hobbies and engaging in creative activities
Creating a space to pursue hobbies and finish projects
Passing on unused items for sustainability and resource usage
Power dynamics surrounding objects
Giving individuals agency to make choices about possessions
Stories of reengagement and finding joy in personal belongings
Being attuned to people and focused on their well-being
Maturation and increased understanding after 10 years of working
Importance of the home as a sanctuary for wellbeing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

#112 Executive function, executive dysfunction and hoarding with Dr Jan Eppingstall

Subscribe to the podcast

Today, Dr. Jan Eppingstall is here to shed light on the connection between executive function, executive dysfunction, and hoarding behaviour. We explore how executive function impacts our ability to organise and declutter our living spaces and uncover the challenges individuals face when it comes to decision-making, mental flexibility, and working memory. We'll also discuss strategies for improving executive function and overcoming the obstacles that hoarding behaviour presents.

Depression and health conditions can impair focus
Nervous shutdown and self-compassion during stress
Trick yourself into starting
Network atrophies when not engaged
Issue with sticking to tasks due to desire for novelty
Reducing food shops, using what's in cupboards
Procrastination hinders progress, but changing behaviours helps
Mental flexibility essential
Flexible thinking in shopping, problem solving, creativity
Executive dysfunction hinders organisation; hoarding makes it harder
Lack of experience in decision-making, cutting corners
Perspective and help are important when organising
Lack of space hinders planning
Executive functions affects losing things
Fear of loss worsens clutter
See-through boxes and labels
Mindset affects executive function, self-care is crucial
Many conditions cause brain fog and difficulty focusing
Understanding our executive functions helps us manage stress, improve awareness, and leverage strengths
Reflection can inform future behaviour
Nervous system shuts down, could be triggered by dissociation
Engaging in tasks helps people focus and enter a flow state
Perfectionism = rigid thinking, efforts towards being more flexible
Trying to organise a hoard is destined to fail
Can we reassure ourselves when we put things away?
Minimise visual distractions, motivation to improve surroundings
Take care of your mind, believe in yourself, and prioritie self-care for better executive function
Is difficulty organising due to executive function issues or the sheer quantity of items?
Difficulty getting rid of things once they are brought into the home due to the endowment effect
Suggestions for improving working memory through mental maths and storytelling memory games
Identifying triggers and strategies for preventing or dealing with shutdowns
Practicing self-compassion and reducing stress for better action-taking
Introduction of the task positive network (TPN) and flow state during tasks
Downsides of hyperfocus and its impact on cognitive attention
Weakening or atrophy of the TPN due to lack of exercise
How depression, autoimmune diseases, and long COVID can impact executive functioning
Unique perception and organization of belongings for individuals on the autism spectrum
Planning skills and lack of space as potential barriers