Maybe the idea of a minimalist wardrobe sounds daunting to you. Or maybe it simply fails to appeal. You may well argue that you have plenty of space in your closet to store all the clothing you currently own — with room to spare! Taking the time and effort to purge just seems, well, pointless.
Would you think differently, though, if I told you that purging your closet could help you decrease your stress levels? While the clothing you choose to wear can certainly influence your anxiety levels, so can the state of your closet.
Among the many theories about why anxiety disorders are running rampant these days is the fact that choices add stress to our lives. And while we Americans sure love our freedoms, the sheer number of decisions we’re forced to make in our daily lives is bound to add to our burden of anxiety — starting when we stand in front of the closet each morning.
Making Difficult Decisions Quickly
Of course, before you can reduce your choices on the daily, you’ll have to make some tough decisions today. As one psychologist and wardrobe consultant recommends, don’t get “sucked into the paralysis of analysis.” Instead, she recommends a simple approach: “Pretend your closet is about to catch fire. What would you save?” Her advice can be summed up in a simple phrase: “Don’t think — just dump.” As you perform the initial “power-sort” step, put any items you know you won’t wear again and which aren’t worth consigning into a recycle bag. Then either put them in your trash can or take them to your car, making sure to drop them off within the week.
Considering Your Feelings & Counting to Three
If you’re not sure about a piece, think about how it makes you feel. Do you get compliments when you wear it? Or do you feel self-conscious and unsure of yourself? If you answered “yes” to the latter question, it needs to go. There are plenty of ways for that burden to weigh on you without choosing to wear clothes that add to it.
Even if a piece passes the confidence test, it needs to coordinate with other items that you currently own. Unless a piece is particularly great as a stand-alone item or part of an outfit that simply makes you feel so great that it’s still worth keeping, a general rule of thumb is to count to three: each piece worth keeping should be able to be paired with at least three other pieces in your closet in order to be a “keeper.” Consider this: “A streamlined wardrobe is like a symphony, with pieces that work together harmoniously in many combinations.”
Continue reading with Part 2.
Penny Pincher Boutique
We’re Westchester’s luxury consignment shop offering women’s designer clothing, jewelry, shoes, handbags and much more. Visit our shop at 184 Harris Road in Bedford Hills, New York or visit us online at www.pennypincherboutique.com. You can also find a selection of our items on sale on eBay. We ship throughout the United States.
Images are from the Penny Pincher Boutique Instagram Page. Images may portray consigned items which have already been sold.
Source cited: https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/organizing/closets/closet-purge
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