Spring Cleaning and Fighting Grief

Spring cleaning is a good way to refresh your home after the winter. It can also be a good time to address your house after a grieving period. After a loved one passes, sorting through and dealing with their belongings can be daunting. It can be a challenging part of the grieving process to let go of personal items and cherished memories. It is important to take the time to go through the belongings and decide on the best course of action for you and your family. This article will explore tips for sorting through and deciding what to do with your deceased loved one's belongings. 

Make a Plan to Tackle Your Spring Cleaning

Work with your family to create and execute a plan for your spring cleaning. This should include tackling your loved one’s belongings and personal effects. This can help make this less stressful. Consider categorizing items for donation, selling, keeping, and giving to other loved ones. You may also want to plan out what you are going through first. Don’t be afraid to start small, such as with a closet or dresser. 

Taking Your Time

Don’t rush this process. Grief can make it very difficult at times to sort through your loved one's belongings. Memories and feelings of grief can overwhelm you at times. It is OK to take a breather if needed. Pace yourself and take time to process. Don’t rush. Take the time to make decisions that you will feel comfortable with, and take it one room at a time. 

Letting Their Items Go

It can be hard to part with many of your loved one’s possessions. There may be memories attached to everything. While it can be comforting to keep some mementos, it is neither practical nor healthy to hoard all of their belongings. If you feel uncomfortable with throwing away their belongings, start by giving items to loved ones, or making donations. Clothing donations are a great way to make meaningful progress. Try to avoid keeping too many items, or those that you have no space for. 
It is important to understand that cleaning out these unneeded items is not throwing away your loved one or discarding memories. Overall, this spring cleaning process can be a healing journey. And it can help you prepare for life without your loved one. Sharing your loved one's possessions with other family members, donating them to those in need, or even having a yard sale can give new life to your loved one's belongings.

It’s OK to Ask For Help

You don’t have to do this alone. Whether you need a voice of reason to help you sort items, or help move furniture; don’t be afraid to reach out to your loved ones. Friends and family can help make the process faster and easier. It can be comforting to do this with a loved one. Even if they didn’t know the deceased, they can still provide a helping hand and emotional support.

The author of this post is not a professional therapist or counselor. For more personalized grief care, find a grief counselor that is right for you. For our Grief Resource Center, written by Dr. Bill Webster, click here. 
For over 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.