The Mysterious Key, Unused Cables, Relationships Out of Inertia: What These Things We Can't Let Go of Have in Common - The Deep Psychology of Human Relationships

Why Do We Keep Keys When We Don't Know What They Open?

At the back of the drawer, there's a key that I can't remember what it's for.

Next to it is a charging cable for a smartphone I no longer use. There's also a manual for an appliance I no longer have. Every time I tidy up, I see them, yet I close the drawer again thinking, "I might need it someday."

Many people can probably relate to such a scene.

A survey introduced by the British paper Sunderland Echo on October 21, 2026, addresses this familiar "inability to let go." The survey targeted 2,000 adults in the UK, with 63% admitting they held onto belongings, habits, or commitments longer than necessary after their roles diminished.

Interestingly, the subjects are not limited to old household items. Work, friendships, and romantic relationships are also included.

Of course, disposing of a key and ending a human relationship are not the same. Still, there seems to be an overlap in the feeling of being unable to act despite thinking "maybe I should change."

Things We Can't Let Go Of: Love, Work, and Old Underwear

The top 10 things "Brits tend to hold onto longer than necessary," as introduced in the article, are as follows:

1. Romantic relationships
2. Jobs/Careers
3. Worn-out underwear
4. Friendships
5. Manuals for products no longer owned
6. Keys with unknown purposes
7. Living arrangements
8. Mobile phones
9. Subscriptions and memberships
10. Chipped mugs

What is striking about this survey is that major life choices and small drawer items appear on the same list.

The article notes that 40% said they stayed in a job or career too long, 36% in friendships, and 47% in romantic relationships. Additionally, 56% have a dedicated drawer for old mobile phones, tablets, and charging cables.

Even when translated to Japanese life, there are likely scenarios that come to mind, such as cables with unknown purposes, unused membership services, or relationships that missed the timing to end. However, these figures are from a UK survey and do not necessarily apply to the same proportion of Japanese people.

How Long Should We Wait for "Someday"?

The most common reason for holding onto things for a long time was "I might need it someday," at 52%. This was followed by "It's still usable" at 47% and "It has sentimental value" at 40%.

None of these reasons can be easily dismissed.

Spare cables can sometimes be useful. It's rational to cherish tools that are old but still functional. Items with sentimental value have worth beyond their frequency of use.

The problem arises when the reason for keeping something is not verified, and the decision itself is postponed.

Cables that connect to existing devices and those whose purpose is unknown. Items kept for cherished memories and those kept because disposing of them is bothersome. Although they may look similar, the meaning of holding onto them differs.

The survey found that 42% continued their current situation longer than desired because "doing nothing is easier," and 41% postponed decisions.

What accumulates in the drawer may not just be things, but also small decisions yet to be made.

Voices on Social Media: "What If It's an Important Key?"

This sentiment is also reflected in social media posts about decluttering.

The following is not a direct response to this article but a summary of experiences shared on the overseas forum Reddit on the same theme. These are individual posts and do not represent the entire public opinion.

In a thread about cable organization from February 2026, there was a comment about disposing of a key that didn't fit any lock at home. Meanwhile, another user who collects similar keys in a container wrote that they hesitate, fearing they might discard an important key.

It's precisely because the purpose is unknown that it can't be declared unnecessary. The mysterious key symbolizes that hesitation.

A post from June shared an experience of sorting cables by type and organizing excess or broken electronic devices. In the comments, some expressed not knowing what the many cables they have were for.

On the other hand, there are posts about accumulating electronic devices because they don't know how to dispose of them. Sometimes the obstacle is not "I can't bring myself to throw it away," but "I don't know how to let it go."

In another thread from 2022, in response to a query about being unable to let go of things that still work, suggestions included that storage and management require effort and proposing to give them away.

From these exchanges, it becomes clear that simply throwing things away is not the only solution. Confirming the purpose, distinguishing what to keep, and researching where to give or recycle them can make the next steps easier.

Is "Someday It Will Change" the Only Reason to Continue a Relationship?

Human relationships are more complex than things.

In the survey, when asked why they stayed in romantic relationships longer than desired, 46% said they "hoped the situation would improve." "It felt harder to leave than to continue" was cited by 35%, and comfort or familiarity was also a reason for 35%.

Relationship coach Nicole Everingham, featured in the article, explains that change involves uncertainty, effort, and the possibility of regret, making staying in a familiar state feel safer.

What's important here is not to interpret this as "If you're dissatisfied, you should immediately break up."

In relationships, there are issues that can be improved through discussion and time. When changing jobs or homes, there are conditions like living expenses and family circumstances that are not easily altered.

Even so, it is meaningful to separate the wish for improvement from the actual fact of improvement.

Are the same complaints being repeated? Was there any change after discussions? Can you explain in your own words why you still want to continue?

These questions should be helpful whether you choose to continue or distance yourself.

43% Who Made Changes Wished They Had Acted Sooner

Regarding those who eventually made the changes they had been postponing, the article reports the following results:

• 43% felt they should have changed sooner
• 38% felt relieved
• 36% wondered why they waited so long
• 30% were more satisfied with their decision than expected
• 7% regretted the change

There seems to be a difference between the anxiety felt before the change and the perception after the change.

However, from these results, one cannot conclude that "there's a 93% chance of success if you change." The responses are reflections from those who experienced change and do not indicate that any decision will yield the same result.

Whether organizing small items, changing jobs, or reassessing romantic relationships, the necessary preparation and impact vary. The numbers should be read as material to consider what one is anxious about, not as a prompt to act hastily.

The Survey's Background Includes Smartphone Promotion

There is another point to note when reading this survey. It was commissioned by Samsung and conducted by OnePoll.

In Samsung's official announcement, the survey results are linked to the introduction of foldable smartphones and encouraging switching to different brands or models. Thus, while addressing consumer awareness, it also serves a promotional purpose.

Therefore, the discussion of "being unable to change familiar things" does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that "you should buy something new."

If your current smartphone meets your needs and you're satisfied with its usability, there is a reason to continue using it. Long-term use and being unable to reassess despite difficulties should be considered separately.

This survey is not a study that experimentally proves the effects of change. It should be received as a questionnaire that shows one aspect of "difficulty in letting go" through respondents' reflections.

In Japanese Life, Start with One Drawer

To apply this discussion to your own life, there's no need to make a big decision from the start.

First, open one drawer. Then, review the items there with the following three questions.

What are you using it for now?

List specific uses, not "someday." For family belongings or keys with unknown purposes, confirm without deciding alone.

What is the reason you want to keep it?

Is it necessary as a practical item, or is it cherished as a memory? Both are reasons to keep it. Knowing the reason makes it easier to decide where and how to store it.

What is missing to make a decision?

For cables, it might be checking compatible devices; for unused contracts, reviewing usage history; for old devices, organizing data or finding a recycling location. By specifying the reason for hesitation, the next steps become clearer.

In the case of work or relationships, ending them immediately is not the only action. Start by listing concerns, communicating them to the other party, or exploring other options.

The issue is not the act of keeping a mysterious key itself.

It's whether you're choosing to keep it because you think it's necessary or just leaving it without making a decision. Reviewing what's in the drawer can also be a time to confirm what you currently value.

Sources

1. Sunderland Echo: Referenced for survey figures, top 10 hard-to-let-go items, and coach's explanation.
   https://www.sunderlandecho.com/read-this/mystery-keys-and-failing-relationships-are-the-things-brits-hold-onto-for-too-long-9301879

2. Samsung Newsroom UK: Official announcement by the survey's commissioner. Confirmed that OnePoll conducted it in October 2026 and the promotional context for smartphones.
   https://news.samsung.com/uk/the-itch-to-switch-why-now-is-the-time-to-try-something-newnews.samsung.com

3. Reddit "Very very minor declutter": Related post from February 2026. Referenced for experiences of disposing of keys with unknown purposes, fears of discarding important keys, and cable organization topics.
   https://www.reddit.com/r/declutter/comments/1qtv02s/very_very_minor_declutter/reddit.com

4. Reddit "Decluttered my cords": Related post from June 2026. Referenced for organizing cables and electronic devices, and the dilemma of keeping items due to unknown purposes or disposal methods.
   https://www.reddit.com/r/declutter/comments/1u5xvhn/decluttered_my_cords/reddit.com

5. Reddit "How to throw things that technically still work?": Related post from May 2022. Referenced for discussions on being unable to let go of items that still work, and opinions on storage, management burdens, and giving them away.
   https://www.reddit.com/r/declutter/comments/unt2ju/