How to declutter your closet and why it will make you feel better?
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
Is your closet cluttered, cramped, and overflowing? Clutter causes unnecessary stress on your mental wellbeing and can just make you feel overwhelmed. If you’re like most people, you probably work and have a spouse and children to take care of, so decluttering your closet isn’t at the top of your “to-do” list… but for your own sanity, you really need to take the time to at least put it near the top of your “to-do” list.
It’s pretty easy to declutter your home and keep it tidy, for the most part… You can store blankets or your children’s toys in decorative handwoven baskets and use wall space for nice shelving to cut back on “things” being set on coffee tables. It’s easier to declutter your actual living space because there’s just simply more storage solutions, in general, but when it comes to your closet, you can only work with the space you have, and for lots of people, that space is very small.
So now, you’re probably wondering how cutting down on clutter in your closet actually improves your life… Well, take a look at the top ways you can cut back on your wardrobe and see how you can apply it to your closet… but be sure to pay attention to how it makes you feel.
How to cut back on your own wardrobe (and some other stuff)?
In the words of Marie Kondo, “Discard everything that does not spark your joy.” This sounds simple enough but where should you start and how will you know if something sparks joy for you?
Release the sea of clother from your closet!
This step often makes those faint-of-heart turn back, but be brave. Find a place where you can pile up all of your clothes and shoes (and whatever else you have in the closet) into one area. Once you see the mound of belongings, you will feel anxious–that’s normal. Let the anxiety motivate you to start… keep working and finish the process.
Let the clothes in your closet meet the clothes in your dresser
After you’ve completely emptied the closet, decide if it makes sense to empty your dresser, too. You can sort them together if you want to get a better idea of how many shirts you have in total or if you’re better off keeping hanging items in a different category.
Sorta sort your belongings
Now, sort your items into groups. You probably want to group ‘bottoms” altogether, but then separate them out even more like sorting shorts, from pants, from jeans, from skirts, and those miscellaneous items like rompers or leggings.
Be methodical in your own way
If you want to follow Kondo’s method, you can pick up each article of clothing, hold it tightly, and let yourself feel the spark of joy, or thank the possession for existing in your life before donating it. How will you know if something sparks joy? You just will. In fact, the sensation is kind of magical. This method is more about heart and will ensure you feel good about what you keep and what you donate.
Your other option is to take a logical approach and evaluate how often you wear an item, what condition it is in, or if you need to keep the garment for a special occasion. It is fair to keep some sentimental items, but only keep those that are truly meaningful. You may want to decide on how many pairs of pants you need and how many socks you need and try to stick to your quota.
Donate or sell your discards
Many of us don’t’ like to let go of what we’ve spent money on or formed fond memories in (yes, I’m referring to that shirt your best friend threw up on at the Maroon 5 concert). You will probably feel more comfortable with decluttering if you know your beloved belongings will go to good homes. *Sidenote: the vomit shirt should probably just be thrown away if you’re not going to wear it anymore… no need to donate that one!*
So, why does decluttering make you feel like a million bucks?
The simple answer is decluttering your space declutters your mind. You’ll find this notion across many different design philosophies, from Feng Shui to Hygge, because it really works. There’s a mental connection between the physical things you have around you and your emotional state and thought clarity.
Some suggest that holding onto too much from the past can reduce our forward momentum in life. Getting rid of belongings we’re holding onto can also create a mindful state in the present without being anchored to the past.
Having a cleared closet will also make your life easier. You can find what you need quickly without sorting through sixteen green sweaters. These small struggles in the morning can really drag your mood down and seeing clutter first thing when you wake up can subconsciously make you feel burdened.
Paring back helps you drop the notion that you are your possessions. Once you free yourself from this idea, you may feel your self-esteem improve and enjoy a more content state-of-mind. You can also accomplish a complete house declutter in small incremental steps which can help with your confidence.
So, take the time to take care of your clutter, and you will probably notice your disposition improving along with your bank account. When you have less, you appreciate what you keep even more, and you don’t’ feel the need to hit the sales racks while racking up your credit card balance. If you want to go above and beyond, try organizing your kitchen or color-coding your closet.