Tossing possessions may spark regret instead of Marie Kondo 'joy'

So you watched a few episodes from Marie Kondo's Netflix special, then tossed a bunch of stuff.

Those extra shirts, the duplicated kitchen appliances, that blue wig you're not sure why you had in the first place.

But it's possible that a few short weeks later, the regret is already starting to kick in.

I have a few examples of throwing out things I later wished I'd kept: letters from an ex-boyfriend, a part to an Instant Pot unrecognized as being a part to an Instant Pot, maps from travels we could've framed. And yes, one of my children wanted to wear that blue wig for crazy hair day at school.

Perhaps lost in the conversation of the amount of joy sparked by decluttering is the very real regret many people feel after losing items forever.

The regret of tossing things is just as much an emotion as sparked joy, said Joseph Ferrari, a professor of general psychology and community psychology at DePaul University.

"Regret focuses on a variety of domains — jobs I didn't take, relationships I had, things I got rid of," he said. "Regret is also an emotion. It's more of a depressive."

For this reason, he suggests not immediately purging. Instead, stop and think about what you have.

"Don't jump in and get rid of it right away," he said. "Sort, strategize and then purge."

Ferrari said the recommendations of decluttering experts he has worked with are not necessarily what Kondo suggests. For example, she says to hold the object and see if it sparks joy.

But he suggests the opposite. Don't hold items, because touching something makes you want to keep it.

"There's this attachment of the fond memories," he said. "Get a friend to come and hold the items, to say, 'Do you want this?' "

That pair of jeans likely exists elsewhere, in a worst-case scenario of clothing regret. As far as more personal items, he said, many decluttering experts feel kindly toward keeping them.

"If it is sentimental, then hold onto it," he said.

For items like appliances (or that part of the Instant Pot), those are likely things you can purchase again. The sentimental ones — the letters, the vacation mementos — are things that might be harder to replace.

When you're giving up something that has sentimental value attached, consider donating it, so it at least goes to a good cause.

Or offer it to a family member, who might appreciate it. That way, you'll still have access to the item.