Ugh, packing and leaving, depressed

[Alcemeg]

Packing up for a move, bit overwhelmed by not knowing where to start. So much stuff! So much stuff I bought with every intention of doing, and never did (abandoned/half-hearted hobbies all over the place)!

So much stuff representing delusions about how I imagined living my life and spending my time. It's not just the stupid waste of money, it's the endless and constantly astonishing proof of my own profligate, aimless impulses.

Internet shopping probably doesn't help, it's easy to get carried away with an idea that in bygone days would have started off with joining a local club to see if you really enjoyed the activity, before investing more into it.

I fantasise about a house like my grandparents had -- a simple home, with a place for everything and everything in its place, instead of all scattered evidence of a random approach to life.

Just wondered if anyone can relate. I'm finding it tough.

Yes I think you are my twin separated at birth!!

Be kind to yourself. We all bought weird stuff during lockdown. I moved last year and have gone for the minimalist look no w (not as much to clean) with a colour scheme. This is a great time to streamline

Oh OP, it's completely overwhelming, isn't it? We've just moved and I felt the same but now's your chance to take control and have the type of house you want. My advice is to be ruthless! Have bin liners for charity, recycle and rubbish. We had dozens of trips to charity shops and the recycling centre. It was insane how much stuff we'd accumulated over the years. I'd say we got rid of about 50% of our stuff before we moved! You want to only take stuff you'll really need or use. Start small - one drawer, one shelf at a time until you've done a cupboard, then move on to the next area. It takes ages but it's totally worth it if you can move to your new home with less clutter. You'll feel a million times better.

Thank you all, glad it's not just me.

It's not just the mess and the task at hand, it's the feeling a failure at things. It all looks horribly like a life half abandoned. But it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one to find (at least!) 50% of my stuff totally pointless.

It's like clothes you buy with the promise that you will fit into them one day, only in my case it's not just clothes but entire lifestyles! Watercolour painting! Camping! Embroidery! Languages to learn! Health and fitness products galore!

I will be ruthless... Why oh why did I buy all this crap in the first place?!?!??

New start ahoy! I have a kind of vision of rooms as empty as a shoebox, and will try to keep it all that way.