What does it feel like when you go into your closet or dresser? Is it easy to find what you’re looking for? Can you see all your clothes and have an inventory of what you own? Most people would say no. That their closet feels stressful, chaotic and disorganized. We live in a culture that promotes consumption and at the same time we have 24 hour access to compare ourselves to others. Decluttering your closet brings contentment, ease and peace and it can be simple. So I am sharing five simple ways to declutter your closet and reduce stress, overwhelm and frustration.
Why It’s Hard
Clothes are a tricky thing to declutter. We have big feelings about our wardrobes. We use clothes to feel better about ourselves or project an image. Or we can use them as part of our identity, for status or to hold onto the past. So when it comes to letting go, it’s hard. Can you relate?
- Having memories of wearing a certain outfit, so you can’t let go
- You attach feelings about your body to them
- That pair of jeans you can’t let go of because it’s a gauge of a size you used to be
- They were expensive and it’s wasteful to get rid of them
- You want to be the kind of person who wears that kind of clothing
But the reality is holding onto excess clothing we don’t wear, reminds us of who we used to be or who we want to be is taking us out of the present moment and filling our lives with unnecessary stress and clutter. So take a moment and imagine opening your closet or your dresser and easily being able to see and find what you’re looking for. Imagine only having a few choices so getting dressed in the morning is easy. Imagine doing less laundry! Now let’s get started!
1. Take It All Out
Take everything out of your closet. All of it. If you are familiar with Project 333 or Marie Kondo, then you know they both advocate this move. And it’s very helpful. It allows you to really see how much you have, get a bit overwhelmed and realize you don’t need it all. You can see duplicates and similar items as well as the things you forgot you owned! You can also appreciate the empty space in your dresser and closet, which is really motivating. Who wants to go back to jam packed drawers and overflowing closets?
2. Do a Quick Edit
This is your chance to get some quick wins. Eliminate all those duplicates, overly worn or ripped items and things you forgot about! Make three piles; keep, maybe and donate or garbage. Then do a fast sort and make quick decisions. It’s okay if your keep pile is big because you’ll go through those items again. Also, this isn’t a one-and-done process. It will likely take you several passes at slimming down your wardrobe until it’s a more manageable size. And then what you’ll discover is it’s easier and easier to let go of what isn’t adding value. So just enjoy making the easy decisions first.
3. Actually Wear Everything
This is one of my most successful strategies; making myself wear it all! And do so with a critical eye. There is no shortage of clothing in our lives, so if it doesn’t make you feel great – let it go. Is it itchy, too tight or uncomfortable? Don’t love the colour, shape or constantly pulling them up? Stop holding onto clothes that you don’t love. There is no better test than wearing them for a day.
4. Stop Storing Special Items
Everyone has those items in their closet that are hard to let go of because they were worn somewhere special, are highly sentimental or were really expensive (like your wedding dress). Maybe you shudder at the thought of getting rid of that designer blouse but you’ve never worn it. Perhaps it’s a set of clothes that don’t suit your lifestyle anymore or were gifted by a loved one. So here’s the thing, you could be wearing stuff you actually love so sell those pricey items and buy a great pair of jeans or socks. Socks are highly underrated and pricey but what a great idea to spoil yourself with. There is no guilt in letting go of things you don’t actually wear and are just taking up space – physical and emotional.
5. Do It Again
Okay remember how I said it will take several rounds? It’s true. But you don’t have to do it all at once. Real, lasting change takes time and the more you practice the better you’ll get. Just maintain that mindfulness and intention with what you’re wearing. Pay attention and let go of what doesn’t feel good. Then when it feels right, pull everything out again and get rid of more. And I can tell you each time, those things that felt hard, won’t anymore because you’ll be more attune to what you actually want. It’s like ripping off a band-aid, once you’ve done it it feels easier. Just keep going, paying attention and appreciating the space created from what you’ve let go.
Just Start and Keep Going
Decluttering is not a one-and-done process and neither is building a wardrobe you love. You get to set the pace and you get to choose because it’s your life. Enjoy it all and that includes how you feel about your clothes. If excess clothing is an area of struggle for you, you are not alone. Do yourself a favour, just start and then keep going. Saying goodbye to overstuffed drawers and closets reduces is life-changing.
