Separating Memories from Clutter
You know that point in life when you start looking at your accumulated “treasures” and thinking, “Wow, I have a lot of stuff”? For those of us in midlife, the idea of legacy becomes very real. We still have much life ahead, but we’re also the ones who need to get thoughtful about what we’re leaving behind.
We hang onto those tubs of loose photos and fading videotapes because we want to pass those over to our kids. But I’ve learned that legacy isn’t built in storage bins—it’s built in connection, and connection only happens when memories are accessible. I am committed to making my story easy to find and share, and it starts with digitizing.
The key to this stage of life is simple: we need to separate legacy from leftovers by getting our memories out of boxes and into the cloud.
When your kids are going to be looking back at all your great memories, are they looking at slides, photos in boxes, or in a photo album or digital? The memory is what counts that we captured it, and our job is to preserve the story of our life, not every single piece of paper attached to it.
I try to dedicate 2–5 hours a week to this because our photos and videos are the largest hurdle. I challenge you to become a curator, not a manager of your memories.
My Digital Action Plan
The biggest advantage we have today is the power to digitize. It means we can keep the memory without keeping the clutter.
1. Photos: From Tubs to Tap
The problem is those tubs of loose photos and albums are vulnerable to damage, and no one ever looks at them. My solution is to use an Epson photo scanner for large batches. I also use Photomyne. Yes, the $119 fee for three years is hefty, but it makes organizing and labeling simple. Once they’re digital, I can share them instantly.
2. Videos: Saving the Fading Tapes
Those old VHS, mini DV, VHS-C, and DVDs are fading. Convert them now before they are lost forever. We used Legacybox for a “trunk” of 40 tapes for about $625. Now those old memories are safe and instantly watchable. We are working on digitizing them ourselves now, but taking our old video camera and recording it directly to the computer as I am sorry to say, but I have a lot of video tapes to go through,
3. Documents: Clearing the Paper Piles
Old awards, special letters, or career milestones are often stored in boxes or filing cabinets, taking up unnecessary space. I scan them, store them safely in the cloud (I use a structured folder system), and then toss the paper.
Digitizing gives us the amazing freedom to hold onto our memories without drowning in boxes.
Working Backwards for Peace of Mind
Here’s the mindset I have been working on that provides powerful motivation: start backwards.
Imagine your children having to clean out your home years from now. My siblings spent weeks dealing with my dad’s house after he passed away. It was exhausting, heartbreaking, and challenging for all of them. That experience is my motivation to not leave that burden or emotional pain for my family.
Decluttering the paper and media isn’t just a kindness to them; it’s a gift to yourself. You create mental and physical space for hobbies and peace of mind.
The truth is, your kids don’t need the clutter to remember you. They just need the thoughtful, beautiful story you chose to preserve and pass on. Let’s make that story one of freedom and joy—and make sure it is digitized and backed up in the cloud!
To learn about decluttering your objects in your home check out my article on Your Kids Don’t Want Your Junk.
