Decluttering the Fantasy Life: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Keep Anything By Fullerton’s Professional Organizing | Rio Grande Valley

We don’t just declutter things—we declutter expectations.

Many of us hold onto items not for the life we’re living, but for a version of ourselves we imagined we would become. That “fantasy life” quietly fills our closets, kitchens, and calendars—and often leaves us feeling overwhelmed rather than inspired.

Before you keep another item “just in case,” ask yourself these ten questions.

1. Who am I right now?

Not who you were five years ago.

Not who you hope to be someday.

Design your space for the season you are actually living in.

2. Do I truly want to be this fantasy version of myself?

Some identities look good on paper—but don’t fit your real values, energy, or priorities.

3. Are these clothes for my real life—or an imagined one?

If your calendar doesn’t support the outfit, the outfit may not deserve the closet space.

4. Am I keeping this hobby because I enjoy it—or because I admire people who do it?

Appreciation doesn’t require ownership.

5. Is this the parent I am—or the parent I feel I should be?

Your home should support your family, not compete with an idealized version of motherhood.

6. Do I actually cook this way—or do I like the idea of cooking this way?

Specialty tools for meals you don’t make create friction, not function.

7. Am I holding onto this because I spent money on it?

Past spending doesn’t require future storage.

8. Does this item support my current routines—or interrupt them?

If it complicates your day, it’s not serving you.

9. Would I choose this again today?

If the answer is no, it’s information—not failure.

10. What would my space feel like if it reflected who I am now?

Less maintenance.

More ease.

More alignment.

Final Thought

Letting go of the fantasy life doesn’t mean giving up on growth.

It means making room for a life that actually fits.

Your home doesn’t need to prove your potential—it needs to support your peace.

Fullerton’s Professional Organizing serves the Rio Grande Valley, helping women and families create homes that work for real life, not imagined ones.