How Trying to Be Prepared for Anything Might Make You Less Prepared for Life

Most of think we're being practical when we hang on to extras "just in case."  The spare cables, extra towels, surplus mugs and all of those canned green beans we got cheap are tucked away for the future when they might come in handy.

It feels reasonable.  Farsighted.  Adult.  Certainly, we're trying to protect ourselves from future need or inconvenience.

But while all of this clutter might look like security, it could be stealing something we need more – the ability to adapt when life changes.

The burden of "just in case"

We might think that keeping all the extras makes life easier.  But if you've ever had to move house, or just search for something in an overcrowded drawer or closet, you know that more isn't always better.

Just imagine if you had to move within the next month for a new job or to care for a family member.  How much work would that entail?  How much more effort is required because you have to sort through and make decisions about stuff that you've been accumulating for years?  How much more difficult is it for you to pack up, load up, and move what you actually need because of all the other stuff that needs to be disposed of?

Maybe you believe you're going to stay put forever.  Fine.  You're still making it harder to access the items you actually use.  You still need to spend hours organizing and cleaning your stash.  You'll keep paying for a lot of space filled with unneeded extras.  And someday, your heirs are going to have to deal with everything.  Are they going to rejoice when they discover the hoard?

Now don't get huffy, because I'm not advocating that you throw everything extra out the window.  There's room for a certain amount of practicality.  I too have a few extra rolls of toilet paper, a couple of extra bowls and dinner plates, and some dressy clothes I only wear once or twice a year.

If you live in a rural area, or if money is extra tight, then keeping extras might be wisdom, not clutter.  You might be storing a box of clothes or toys for a younger child to grow into, or you might be ready for tornado season.

However, there's practical, and then there's something else.

When "be prepared" isn't our only motivation

If we're honest, much of our "just in case" stash isn't about being sensible.  It's about fear.

We accumulate all those extras because we're afraid of being caught off guard, afraid of being in need, afraid of making the wrong choice and regretting it later.

I understand why my grandparents kept so many extras.  They had raised six children through the Depression and World War II rationing.  I get it.  If you think Armageddon is just around the corner, you may have the same mindset.  It's fear, pure and simple.

Or maybe we keep things because they meant something to us in the past.  We pretend to ourselves that they may be useful again someday, but those boxes of baby shoes, old manuals and textbooks, and high school trophies just languish in storage.  Yet we resist getting rid of them because they represent memories we fear to lose.

Making a decision can be uncomfortable – even scary.  It's easier to shove something into the back of a cupboard than it is to decide "Will I really use this?" or to answer "Why am I holding on to this?"

The irony is that avoiding those decisions now will add up to hundreds of decisions that have to be made later.  My husband Jon and his brothers spent more than a year clearing out their parents' home after my father-in-law passed away and my mother-in-law moved to Arizona to be near her oldest son.  They didn't accumulate the stuff (including over 60 boxes of old paperwork and more than 25 boxes full of ancient and newer paints, solvents, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, WD-40, and other hazardous wastes), but the responsibility fell to them.

Too many backups, spares, and boxes of things meant to be helpful can become a great burden.  All those good intentions turn into a weight that someone else has to carry.

What real preparedness looks like

Having a few extra essentials on hand is probably a good idea, and certainly a means of reducing anxiety in the event of a likely scenario, such as a power outage.

However, I've known several people – not hoarders, just normal people worried about "just in case" – who would hang on to extras, only to have difficulty finding them later because they had too much clutter!  Even more interesting are those who don't even remember they have extras stashed somewhere because there are so many, or they've been in storage for so long.

Instead, let's try to be thoughtful instead of fearful.  Before you keep something extra, pause and ask, "Am I keeping this because it genuinely supports my life?  Or am I holding on because I'm uncomfortable about the future or afraid I'll forget my past?"

Jennifer Burger at simplyfiercely.com makes a smart observation:

True preparedness isn't about having everything – it's about having enough, and knowing you could adapt if life changed tomorrow.

Letting go of some of those extras – and donating or sharing them with those who have real needs – shows strength.  You get to trust that you can figure things out if your situation changes.

Instead of trying to prepare for every eventuality, try asking yourself, "If I needed this at some point, and didn't have it, what could I do instead?"  You're resourceful.  Boost your ability to adapt and make do.  It's how to prepare for life.

Related article:  How to Build a Hedge for More Security in Hard Times

This post is a reprint of one of the chapters in my newest book, The 4-Hour Declutter (part of my Minimalist Basics series).* 

Decluttering a packed and messy house is like running a marathon – not quick, but steady, ongoing, determined.  But what if I told you that you could cheat a little and speed up the process?  Instead of the perfectly decluttered space featured on a social media post, would you be happy with something a little less pristine that could be achieved in a few hours?

You can get a jumpstart on a more spacious and comfortable home with the indispensable tools in The 4-Hour Declutter.  You don't need to be perfect, you just need to show up.  Take the first step today!  

* This blog is supported by readers, not ads.  If you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission.