Manage the Fear of Future Regret

This is part of Stewie's Guide to Ruthlessly Declutter Your Clothes Today.

Many of us hesitate to declutter because of one nagging fear: what if I regret it later?

Not now. Not tomorrow. But someday—some unknown moment in the future—what if I suddenly wish I had kept that book, that sweater, that old gadget collecting dust in the back of a drawer?

It sounds ridiculous when you say it out loud, but it’s a powerful fear.

Let me give you an example.

The Fear of Future Regret

In high school, I took a Japanese class and convinced myself I was going to become fluent. So I bought a grammar book and a kanji guide from Barnes & Noble.

But I didn’t stick with it. Life moved on. The books sat untouched for years. Years later, I donated them to a charity shop.

And now? I have zero interest in learning Japanese. No regrets. No second thoughts. Just relief that I no longer have shelves filled with books I wasn’t using.

But here’s where it gets weird.

I don’t regret donating my Japanese books, yet somehow, I still worry that future-me might regret it. What if, in five years, I suddenly became interested in Japanese, and I wish I’d kept those books?

It sounds silly, right?

But it doesn’t stop there. I’ve donated books on numerous other topics and worry about future regrets:

It’s absurd when I lay it all out, but that little voice in my head insists I should keep everything, just in case.

Because you never know.

Calling the Fear’s Bluff

So what do I do with this fear?

I ask myself a simple question: Is this fear justified?

Is this a fear that’s protecting me? Will my life be better if I obey it and keep 1,000 books on topics I’ve lost interest in?

The answer is a clear and resounding no.

A home full of clutter and unused books wouldn’t make my life better. It would make it worse—messier, more overwhelming, harder to navigate.

And when I really think about it, I realize something even deeper: I’m terrible at predicting my future interests.

High school me was convinced he’d grow up to be a linguist, speaking Japanese fluently. That didn’t happen.

I had no idea that, instead, I’d be reading books about minimalism and decluttering in 2025.

Likewise, I have no clue what future-me will be interested in. And if I can’t predict it, what sense does it make to hoard things on the off chance I’ll want them later?

This Applies to Clothes, Too

This same fear of future regret shows up when decluttering clothes.

You might hesitate over an old jacket, a dress you never wear, or jeans that haven’t fit in years.

But what if I want it later? What if I regret getting rid of it?

When that fear creeps in, ask yourself:

If you’re anything like me, the answer will be no.

And once you realize that, letting go becomes so much easier.

Trust Yourself. Let Go. Move Forward.

Yes, you might regret one or two things you declutter. But will you regret making your home lighter, calmer, and more livable?

Not a chance.

So trust yourself. Let go. And move forward with a home that feels like a place you want to live—not a storage unit for fears that never come true.

Next steps…