The One Type of Clutter You Should Get Rid of Before the End of Winter

Ever since my school-supply shopping days in Lisa Frank folder-filled aisles in the ’90s, I’ve been a sucker for pretty notebook patterns, crisp blank pages, and the overall excitement of a year ahead. So, each January, I find myself buying an aesthetic paper planner that I picture myself filling up with deadlines, appointment reminders, and dates for fun nights out with friends.

But I realized that over the past several years, I’ve stopped using said planner within the first couple of months. It sits blank while appointments and invitations sync to my Google Calendar. There’s no point in managing two planners, and I’ve come to realize the disconnect between my idealistic version of organizing and the system that actually works best for me.

As it turns out, professional organizers say that a lot of the stuff you buy to try to achieve your best self doesn’t actually fit into your routine and can translate to clutter. Unlike other forms of clutter, aspirational clutter — think: the sock organizer you bought after seeing an organizational video or the walking pad that helps others exercise more but just takes up too much space in your apartment — doesn’t just take up space, but can also make you feel like you’re falling short of your goals (even if that’s not true and they’re just not a fit for you!).

What Is Aspirational Clutter?

“I’ve noticed a clear pattern in what I call ‘aspirational clutter’ — items people purchase with the best intentions but often end up as expensive reminders of unfulfilled goals,” says professional organizer Cara Palmer, founder of Organize Every Room. “These purchases become clutter because people often buy into an idealized version of themselves without considering their current lifestyle and habits.”

Aspirational clutter might look like resistance bands still in the packaging or mini trampolines and walking pads taking up valuable square footage, she says. On the productivity front, Palmer sees planners (like mine) abandoned by February, collections of beautiful notebooks deemed “too nice” to use, and complex filing systems people never fully implement.

Oftentimes, people have a hard time getting rid of this type of clutter because they don’t want to feel like they’re “giving up on their goal,” says Melissa Legere, LMFT, clinical director and cofounder of California Behavioral Health. But the truth is, maybe you just got excited about a goal and the item didn’t work out for you — and that’s okay, she says.

“What matters is recognizing that it’s not serving you anymore,” Legere says. “Now you can clear the clutter and make space for things that really fit where you are and what you need right now.”

The key to achieving goals, Legere says, is to focus on progress, not perfection and not getting too caught up in picturing your ideal result. Think about achieving your goals step by step, and maybe one of those steps is incorporating a tool or item to help build upon your existing habits.

Questions to Ask Before Donating Aspirational Items

If you’re trying to determine what resolution-related items you should get rid of this month, Palmer suggests asking yourself these five questions:

1. Have I used this item in the last 30 days?
2. Does this item fit my current lifestyle, not just my ideal one?
3. Is this item causing stress or guilt when I look at it?
4. Would someone else benefit more from this item right now?
5. If I got rid of this, would I replace it within the next month?

Going forward, before you buy items to support your goals, she recommends considering whether you have the space to store and use the item properly and whether the product is essential to a specific habit you’re trying to build. Could you borrow or rent the item first before making a commitment to buying it?

“Remember, the goal isn’t to eliminate aspirations but to ensure our physical space supports realistic, sustainable change rather than overwhelming us with reminders of incomplete transformations,” she says.

Further Reading

I Tried the 90/90 Rule and My Closet Is Now Fully Decluttered

We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Pottery Barn — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need

We Asked 8 Pro Travelers What They Never Pack in Their Carry-On, and Here’s What They Said