Maybe One Day

Breaking Free from "Maybe One Day"

As a professional organizer, I've heard these three words more times than I can count: "Maybe one day." Maybe one day I'll fit into those jeans again. Maybe one day I'll take up painting and use those art supplies. Maybe one day I'll need this collection of plastic containers. These words, while spoken with hope, often become the invisible chains that bind us to our possessions and prevent us from creating the organized, peaceful homes we truly desire.

The Hidden Weight of "Maybe One Day"

The "maybe one day" mindset seems harmless on the surface. After all, isn't it prudent to keep things we might need later? However, what I've observed in countless home organizing sessions is that this thinking pattern carries a significant emotional cost that extends far beyond cluttered closets and overflowing drawers.

When we hold onto items for an indefinite "someday," we're actually holding onto multiple versions of ourselves – past selves who purchased these items with good intentions, and imaginary future selves who might use them. This creates a mental burden that many of my clients don't recognize until we begin the decluttering process together. Each unused item becomes a small reminder of unfulfilled plans or unchanged circumstances, subtly undermining our sense of contentment with who we are right now.

The psychological weight of these possessions often manifests as decision fatigue, feelings of guilt or failure, and a persistent sense of being overwhelmed by our own belongings. We've seen clients experience genuine relief when they finally release items they've been storing "just in case."

The Reality Check: When One Day Never Comes

In our years as professional organizers, we've developed what we call the "honest timeline assessment." When a client says "maybe one day," we gently ask: "If you haven't used this item in the past two years, what would realistically need to change in your life for you to use it in the next two years?"

This question isn't meant to be harsh – it's designed to bring clarity. Often, the answer reveals that "maybe one day" is actually "probably never," and that's okay. It's not a failure; it's simply a recognition that our lives have taken different directions than we once imagined.

The craft supplies gathering dust? Perhaps your creative energy now flows through different channels. The exercise equipment serving as a clothing rack? Maybe your fitness routine has evolved to include activities you actually enjoy. Acknowledging these shifts isn't giving up on dreams – it's honoring the person you've become.

A Compassionate Approach to Letting Go

Professional organizing isn't about forcing anyone to discard cherished belongings. Instead, it's about creating space for what truly serves your current life while approaching the process with self-compassion. Here are the gentle strategies we use with clients to overcome the "maybe one day" mindset:

The Permission Practice: We remind clients that letting go of unused items doesn't diminish their worth as people or invalidate past decisions. Every purchase was made with the best intentions at that moment. Granting yourself permission to change your mind is an act of self-kindness, not failure.

The Joy Test: Rather than focusing on potential future use, we examine present emotions. Does keeping this item bring you joy, peace, or genuine comfort? Or does it create anxiety, guilt, or visual chaos? Your emotional response in the present moment often provides clearer guidance than hypothetical future scenarios.

The Personalized Approach Timeline: Everyone's timeline is different, and we work with each client to establish their own realistic parameters. Some people might keep items for six months, others for two years. The key is setting intentional limits rather than leaving things open-ended.

Practical Tools for Moving Forward

The Trial Separation: For items clients struggle to release, I suggest a trial separation. Box up questionable items and store them out of sight. If you don't retrieve anything from the box within your chosen timeframe, you have your answer about their true importance.

The One-Year Rule: If you haven't used something in a full year (accounting for seasonal items), it's likely safe to let it go. This rule provides a concrete timeline that removes emotion from the decision-making process.

The Replacement Reality: Ask yourself honestly: if I needed this item tomorrow, could I reasonably replace it? Often, the answer is yes, and the cost of replacement is less than the cost of storage – both physical and emotional.

Creating Space for What Matters

Home organizing isn't ultimately about having less stuff – it's about making room for more life. When we release items we're keeping for "maybe one day," we create physical space, mental clarity, and emotional freedom. We honor our present selves instead of living in service to hypothetical future needs.

The most beautiful transformation I witness as a professional organizer isn't just the organized closets or streamlined kitchens – it's watching clients reconnect with their spaces and themselves. When "maybe one day" becomes "today I choose what serves me now," that's when real transformation begins.

Your home should support the life you're actually living, not the life you think you should be living. Sometimes, the most loving thing we can do is let go.

Jessica is the founder of Signature Organizing, a Professional Home Organizing Business in Washington (servicing the greater Eastside and Seattle area). She loves transforming chaos into functional spaces and is known for bringing creative solutions to improve the quality of life for her clients. She shares her tips and tricks on Instagram @signatureorganizing