I have hoarding tendencies due to a history of poverty. Not poor any more, at least not grindingly poor, but the trauma remains.

As a result, over the last two decades I have built up a rather brutally pragmatic system of “does it have long-term utility” style of purging and standardization that allows me to let go of a lot of junk.

For example, we have standardized on six different box configurations, starting with avocado boxes from Costco (the more square kind without the access dip on the one long side) as the physically largest ones, due to their high utility and frequent likelihood of being used. All other box styles get tossed unless we have an immediate use for it, whereupon it gets tossed into the recycling as soon as that use is over.

Is it perfect? No. But it’s effective and the simplicity lowers decision-based stress.