How clearing out my closet changed my life
Now, I know the title of this blog seems dramatic, but doing a spring clean of my wardrobe has made me money, saved me time and given me mental clarity.
Don’t believe me? Keep reading…
For months (read years) I’ve been putting off clearing out my closet. The endless expanse of unworn, unloved clothing, most of which with the label still on having never seen the light of day, has been weighing on my mind like a looming cloud of guilt and indecision.
And still, with all these items of clothing hanging unworn in my wardrobe, I found myself constantly searching for more, spending countless lunchtimes and evenings scrolling through Vinted looking for the next item of clothing to rehome.
Even with all these clothes, I felt as though I had nothing to wear. I’d search for hours to find the ‘perfect outfit’ amongst the vast amount of clothing I had acquired and still could never find exactly what I was looking for. Instead, I was rotating between the same 10-15 key items of clothing.
Then, one day, something snapped. And by something, I do literally mean the clothing rail in my closet holding up my clothes. It had become so weighed down with clothes that it physically broke, spilling everything into a huge pile on the floor that could no longer be ignored. And this is when I knew something had to change.
Armed with my phone, some bin liners and sheer determination, I picked up the masses of clothing from the floor and started sorting. My goal was simply to reduce my clothing collection so that it would fit on a rail without breaking, however once I started my clear-out, I couldn’t stop.
Money savings
First, I sifted out anything with a tag still on it and started snapping pics to sell these items on Vinted. I also separated out anything from popular brands, such as Zara, to post on Vinted, as these items are often highly sought after. Whilst I didn’t sell these clothes for much, a £5 dress here and £3 top there all adds up, and I was able to make a decent amount of money for clothes that were only going to remain unworn in my wardrobe.
Anything that didn’t make the cut for Vinted, I neatly folded into bin liners to be donated to local charity shops, to ensure they get as much wear out of their lifetime as possible.
What I was left with was a wardrobe of staple items that I knew I would actually wear. Gone were the fad items I had bought on a whim because they were in for 5 minutes after an influencer was seen sporting the trend. And finally, my clothes rail was no longer buckling under the weight of excessive clothing!
Time savings
I sorted my wardrobe even further into categories, such as gymwear, workwear and going out clothes. By keeping the same type of clothes together, I have saved SO much time when it comes to picking out an outfit!
For example, when I wake up in the morning for work, I head straight over to the workwear section of my closet and piece together some staple items to create an outfit I feel comfortable and stylish in. Simply decluttering and sorting my wardrobe into sections has taken the stress out of having endless options but not being able to pick out anything I actually want to wear. Now, I’m just left with pieces I know I love and am eager to wear.
Mental clarity
For the first time, it is no longer an overwhelming experience looking at my wardrobe and seeing a number of colours, patterns and styles looking back at me.
It felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
No longer did I enter my closest with the dread of having to sort through hundreds of clothes and still having nothing to wear. Now when I look at my closet, I see the infinite possibilities I can create with the clothes I know suit me and reflect my personal style.
By decluttering and organising my wardrobe, I’ve successfully removed the visual chaos I was faced with on a daily basis, contributing to a clearer mindset. It has also made me be a lot more intentional with my purchasing habits since, only buying things that I am missing or know will go with the items I already have.
Final thoughts
The financial gains from selling unworn items and the time saved from having a staple wardrobe are significant bonuses, but perhaps the most profound reward from this experience has been the mental clarity it has afforded me.
No longer do I feel overwhelmed by the sight of cluttered racks or the burden of endless choices. Instead, my closet stands as a reflection of my personal style and I can say I truly love every piece of clothing hanging up in it.
So, if you're hesitating to tackle that overflowing closet, take the leap—your future self will thank you for it.
