Feeling stressed by the mountain of old items in your home but finding it hard to part ways with those gifted by loved ones?
As millennials prepare to inherit the belongings of their baby boomer parents, many are facing the reality of sorting through an overwhelming amount of accumulated "junk."
Regina Lark, a certified professional organizer, spoke to Newsweek about why the generation has amassed so much stuff, explaining that a combination of factors has led to the vast accumulation.
"It's a combination of things-the influx of really inexpensive clothing, greater discretionary income, bigger homes, and the ability to acquire anything you want within days if not hours," said Lark, who is the owner of A Clear Path, a professional organizing business helping seniors downsize and organize estates after death.
This consumer culture, coupled with the emotional difficulty of letting go of possessions, especially things you've paid money for, has resulted in homes filled with items that were once valued but now serve little to no purpose, she said.
According to a December 2023 article by Stanford Medicine, one in 40 people in the United States has a hoarding disorder.
Those with a hoarding disorder have "persistent difficulty getting rid of or parting with possessions due to a perceived need to save the items," and "attempts to part with possessions create considerable distress and lead to decisions to save them," explains the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
The overall prevalence of hoarding disorder is around 2.6 percent, with higher rates reported for those over 60 years old and those with other psychiatric diagnoses, especially anxiety and depression.
"Boomers grew up in a time of economic prosperity by parents shaped by the Great Depression. They are also collectors, whether Hummel figurines (porcelain figurines) or a souvenir from every vacation," Lark told Newsweek.
Additionally, the trend of "aging in place" means boomers live in their homes longer, giving them more time to accumulate things, she said.
While millennials may be more inclined toward minimalism, they still face challenges in letting go of items.
"People in any generation with executive function challenges have a hard time letting go of stuff," Lark said. "Millennials may be afraid that they're going to miss out on something if they don't have it or that they're not gonna be living their best life if they don't have this thing."
What Counts as Junk?
Lark defines "junk" as anything that no longer serves a purpose or brings satisfaction.
"The stuff that I want in my space has to give me some sense of satisfaction or use. If it fails to serve one of those criteria, then I will label that as junk. So junk is in the eye of the beholder," she said.
Lark highlighted an amusing example of junk, noting that "one of the stupidest things" she'd ever seen was a desktop-sized putting green for golfing.
"Just a little thing that you put on your desk that has some sand and a tiny ball and club. It just had absolutely no use," she said.
However, the most challenging clutter often has sentimental value.
"Sentimental clutter can look different for many people-a concert T-shirt, a letter from someone important, or a child's doodles," Lark noted. Decluttering sentimental items can help people focus on present-day needs.
How to Manage Boomer Junk and Inherited Items
Lark advises baby boomers to proactively organize their homes to prevent accumulating junk.
"Make a list of all the areas in your home that you feel are too crowded and cluttered. Then pick one area and decide how much time you're going to devote to decluttering and organizing that one space," she said.
She also emphasizes the importance of not bringing unnecessary items into the home.
"To avoid accumulating junk is actually pretty easy-just don't bring anything home if you don't know exactly where it's going to live," she said, advising people to "make decisions about what you want your space to look and feel like and work toward making that happen."
Millennials and younger generations may struggle to manage inherited items without causing disappointment or friction with their parents or relatives. Lark suggests having open conversations about the significance of items and setting boundaries.
"If your parents and older relatives want to give you something, find out the story about it and understand why it's important to them," she said. Consider photographing sentimental items to keep memories without taking up physical space.
Ultimately, it is essential to respect older generations' emotional connections to their possessions while making practical decisions.
"You want to be kind and gentle, but you also need to have boundaries," Lark said.