Spring Cleaning after Divorce

In early April, actor Russell Crowe and his soon-to-be-ex-wife Danielle Spencer will be celebrating the end of their 15-year marriage by hosting an auction at Sotheby’s called “The Art of Divorce.” The catalog for this public event features fine art, antiques, furniture, jewelry, and film paraphernalia—all being sold in an effort to “help create space for the future.”

While most people are not hosting auctions at Sotheby’s, the idea of letting go of items in order to “create space for the future” is one that can help sometimes. And, with spring cleaning season in full bloom, I thought I would share five things you might want to consider purging once the relationship has ended:

Jewelry

Jewelry represents a very personal connection and is often given in a very personal way. Start by purging yourself of items that were given to you as a gift from your ex replacing them with other baubles that bring you more joy. You can pick up a “fine and rare platinum” wristwatch from Russell Crowe for $50,000.

Sheets and Linens

These tend to be the most intimate of shared items and are found in the most intimate of shared spaces. Donate your items to a local nonprofit organization and splurge on some new bedding and towels for yourself. This is also a good time to consider rearranging the furniture in your bedroom or giving it a fresh coat of paint.

Mementoes

Although items may still be physically appealing (that great watercolor you purchased during a family vacation), they may not be emotionally healthy for you to keep. If the item represents memories you share with your children, give them the item to keep in their own personal space instead of getting rid of them entirely.

Clothing

This might seem like an unusual item to discard, but clothes often hold more emotional clout than we realize. Consignment shops are great places to purge upscale clothing that is bringing you emotional stress—the dress you wore on the night you were engaged, the shirts that were purchased for you after your last promotion, anything hanging in your closet that pulls you back to the past.

His/Her Clutter

This isn’t really about getting rid of an item as much as it is cleaning up the space where it lived. Once your personal property has been divided, go through your home and clean up shared spaces such as closets, bathroom drawers and kitchen cabinets. Organize them the way you would want them organized—getting rid of any “leftover” items such as razors, coffee mugs, or soaps.

There really is something to the idea of “creating space for the future” by purging items from your life after divorce. As Tiffany Beverlin writes, this process lets you “free space in your home, mind, heart, and soul for new to come into your life.”