the Informed Life ♥

After one too may days of being stressed out while getting dressed, it is time to clean out my closet. I have heaps of clothing to my name but can never find anything to wear. It’s too overwhelming to look through my closet each morning, finding one reason or another why certain items will not do. Don’t get me wrong, organizing your closet and building a satisfying wardrobe is a several step process that doesn’t happen overnight. It may even be refered to as a journey (one that I have recently embarked on). To make anything more manageable, it must start with a first step. My first step: Purging. In my quest for smoother mornings, lower stress and organization, these simple activities have recently helped me shed the clothes weight:

What to remove? Anything that falls into the following three categories:

• Anything Stained, Torn or Faded: These decisions should be the easiest to make. Unless they are useful for your job, items with holes, tears or stains should probably should go. Of course you haven’t sewed up the hole in your shirt yet, and that once vibrant blue sweater looks gray and wornout. Don’t think twice about these items, and throw them in the pile. Don’t look back, and it will make you feel lighter already.
• Too small, Too big: The pants from college and that dress you swear you’ll fit in by summer must go, to0. I’ve found when I keep too many of these “I’ll wear it when XYZ happens…”, I’m never be satisfied when getting ready every morning. Goal: Be present in the moment! Have a closet full of items that you enjoy looking at and love wearing NOW (not that you used to like five years ago or give you an anxiety attack when holding up in front of the mirror).
• Multiples: Five pairs of black pants probably aren’t necessary unless you’re a waitress. Pick your favorite or highest quality item from multiples, and throw the rest in the pile. This will help cut down the mass of your closet.

What to do with that “stuff”? Sort it into three piles:

• Sell: For higher end items in good condition that you just never wear, it may be worth it to try to earn a few bucks. Lord knows you paid more than a few $$ for the item! Sites like Poshmark give you the opportunity to post your items to a “virtual closet” that others can browse and purchase from. You can easily manage the whole process from your smart phone. When it’s time to build up your wardrobe again, the site is a great place to find deals on the hottest trends.
• Donate: The more philanthropic option is donating items that are in good condition to a local charity, shelter, or church of your choice. Our neighborhood has large bins to drop off clothes in. It gives no one an excuse for not donating;  it is so easy. If you’re lost in this category, simply search the net for your city + clothes donation. A list of options that may interest you will be at your finger tips.
• Trash: And sometimes, it’s just time to throw things away (think: stained, holes, faded).

This can be an exhausting task, and this first step can be the hardest. You must be emotionally ready to take part. Just like any lifestyle change (i.e., losing weight, quitting smoking, etc), you need to be ready to shed the extra “clothing” baggage. If not, you’ll regret the items you lose and continue to bog down your closet with stress. If you do feel ready, it is a great first step to discover what you actually have and move forward confidently.

~J