Is your wardrobe overcrowded or tidy and organized? Do you sometimes go through it with a big broom and clean it out thoroughly? Or do you recognize all of this: your closet is overflowing, you have clothes that you will wear again someday, shirts that you actually forgot about, items that need to be made, pants that are now too big or too small and that you think you will fit into again later. And then there’s the “DIY clothes.” And oh, when you buy something new, do you also get rid of something?
Getting rid of clothes has many positive effects on you. Now, this idea might seem more stressful than it will make you happy, but it’s true: space in your closet frees up your mind as well.
In recent years, tidying / cleaning coaches and similar professionals have become increasingly popular, and I’m beginning to understand that more and more, because a tidy house also provides inner peace. Although those minimalist homes aren’t really my style, and empty tables aren’t my thing; I love color and a sense of organized clutter. Some people experience the latter a little differently, but everyone has their own taste. And that’s perfectly fine.
I’m certainly not a tidying coach, but I do like to inspire people, and in this article, I’ll specifically discuss why it’s good for you to regularly clean out your wardrobe and why it’s good for you to get rid of things.
Do you really need all the clothes in your closet?
You might have things in your closet you haven’t worn or used in over a year.
I certainly do. I’ve had some clothes for over 10 years. Others are unique and I wear them every now and then. Nothing wrong with that. But at some point, I had quite a few clothes that fell under the heading of “DIY clothes,” or “something still needs to be made,” or do you recognize this: “fond memories of.” And then there are clothes that are actually worn out, shapeless, but oh so comfortable.
Cleaning up, donating or throwing away clothes.
It turns out that tidying up has a positive effect on your mood and well-being.
Some positive things about tidying your closet include:
– A tidy closet is organized and gives you peace of mind.
– Giving clothes away to others makes you feel good.
– You can earn some extra money by selling them.
– You practice detachment and letting go.
– You gain more insight into your preferences and (re)discover your own style.
– You save money.
Regularly clearing out your closet will give you a better idea of what you have, what you might actually need, but also what suits you best, what you really like and what you consciously or unconsciously choose to wear.
Insight: What clothes do you have now and do they really suit you?
When you look in your closet, what kind of clothes do you mostly have? And does this match what you’d most like?
Regularly clearing out your closet helps you gain insight into your preferences and makes clear choices when getting rid of things, as well as when buying new things in the future.
Effect of cleaning out your wardrobe:
Your clothes will be carefully chosen, fit you well, and you’ll feel good in them. You’ll have a good understanding of which colors suit you best, which styles work best, which patterns you like, and whether you might want to change your style.
Personally, I’m not always very good at getting rid of things. That’s why tidying up clothes is also a great exercise in detachment and letting go. A friend once made me a bunting from clothes I no longer fit into but that held many memories. A very nice idea and a lovely gift.
Due to several moves, I also had to get rid of quite a bit of clothing, and when a lot of clothing went to refugees, making choices became a lot easier. This gave me an interesting insight. Another insight that tidying up gave me is that I have a strong preference for comfortable clothing: wide trousers, shirts, and skirts. Simply nice and practical. Handy for my work, too. But that could use some improvement in balance. At times it was a bit too shapeless or no longer fitting.
Tips on how to clean out and declutter your closet:
– Take everything out of the closet
– Clean the shelves, doors, and floor
– Put the items you definitely want to keep in one pile. The “maybe” items in another. And the third pile: what you want to sell, trade, or donate.
– Hang or fold all the clothes you want to keep and put them back in the closet.
Tip: Hang and sort by color, with the most worn items at the front.
– Try on any clothes you haven’t decided on yet. It might be easier if someone comes to help you see if something still fits and looks good.
– Items that need repairing: are you really going to do this? Will it cost you money? Decide whether to keep them and repair them this week, or to throw them away.
– Clothes you want to sell: take pictures of them and post them online right away, or take them to a store or, if you’re going to a market, put them in bags and put them away.
– All clothing you wish to donate: put everything in bags and arrange for collection/delivery.
How often should you clear out your wardrobe?
You can do this as often as you like, of course, but try to thoroughly clean out your wardrobe twice a year.
For example, you could get rid of a certain number of clothes, say 10 items, each time.
And see if you can make it a habit to get rid of an item every time you buy something new.
Tip: There are several clothing swap initiatives. You can also organize something yourself and invite friends to a swap night. They can also advise you on whether something still suits you or not. If not, get rid of it.
Buying new clothes also can make you happy
Of course, we sometimes need new clothes, and sometimes we just fancy something nice even if we don’t really need it. There’s nothing wrong with that. But remember, treating yourself to something gives us in general, a temporary sense of happiness. The positive effect, and what makes you happy on the long run, is that you have items that really suits you!
And secondhand clothing stores, outlets, vintage apps… Recycling is all the rage. And of course, you save money and you’re recycling!
Hi, my name is Jolinda, and I work as a holistic health practitioner. I provide yoga and meditation classes and massage and Reiki treatments, mindfulness training and happiness coaching,.
With my blogs I hope to inspire you to make positive changes into your life. For more ideas and tips check out my page Jolindas inspiration. Free trainings and videos you can find at free downloads and videos
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