Hung Up on Hanging Around

By Sue West –

You’ve decided your closet is too full.

Or you can’t buy clothes because you’re not honestly sure what you already have.

Or you renovated the bedroom, so clothes are here, there and everywhere.

Or your closet has become the “I don’t know what to do with this. So I’ll put it in the closet … for now” place. But you never quite get back to it for whatever reason.

Need a reason to start. Here are several.

You really want to get a new outfit for that business event in two weeks. But buy something new when you don’t know what’s already in your closet – Nope. Too much guilt.

You’ve been going to the gym are you’re noticing a difference. Reward your good work and clear out the old size.

You’ll be happier when you get up in the morning and when you go to sleep at night; your closet is how you want it to be and that’s lifted your mood.

And now: how to let go easily

Decide first who you’ll donate or give your clothes to. It’s far easier to let go of belongings if can picture who benefits.

Next time you hang up something, decide whether to keep the item to the right and the item to the left of it. This is a bit-by-bit way to get through your closet.

Which friend will tell you honestly how your clothing looks on you? Invite her over and get a glass of wine.

Not sure if you want to give it up? Put it on “probation.” This is a separate part of your closet or different colored hangers. See if you wear it now that you can find it.

Turn the hangers. The idea here is that at the end of the season, you’ll quickly see what you have not worn.

Does it still fit and look good? If the answer is that it will fit when you lose weight, if you’re actively involved in weight loss or exercise today, then keep it. If this is a future plan, balance the space with how easy it is to find what you wear daily. At least move those clothes out of your everyday space.

How long as this item been in the mending pile? If it’s been there for more than a month or two, do you wear it often enough to keep it? If you do love it, time to find someone for repairs.

How many items have only one other item they go together with? Are you keeping them because you paid good money? But you’re not getting the value from them if you’re not wearing them. Who else might love them as much as you thought you would?

Have you changed jobs or lifestyle recently? I worked in corporate for years, wearing suits, then dresses, then we went business casual. Now I work on my own and I’m often in even more casual clothing. I kept a few suits and dresses for presentations or conference wear. I kept most of the business casual/casual because that’s what I wear most. But I didn’t need to keep the closetful of suits and dresses because if I ever them again, styles will have changed.

Keep a “donate” bag on your closet floor. When you try on something in the future and don’t like it as much anymore, drop it into the bag. We  normally hang the item right back on the rack!

Go buy that new outfit – ten out and one in is a fine ratio!

In her early 40’s, more than10 years ago now, Sue lived through lots of change and came out happy on the other side as she headed into her next life chapter! In 2004, one of those changes was starting her organizing & coaching business, which has also lived through some changes over the years – most recently to include her new book. She has achieved several certifications – as a professional organizer, as an organizing coach – and has specialty certificates in AD/HD, life transitions, and chronic disorganization. She releases her first book, Organized for A Fresh Start: Embrace Your Next Chapter in Life this October – and is thrilled to share the education and experiences about working through life changes, with even more people. You can visit her and learn more about her at: http://organizenh.com/about.htm.