07 Oct Lose Weight in Your Closet
We all have it. That section in our closet or some bags or containers stashed in the corner of the closet with “those clothes”. You know the ones we can’t wear anymore, for any number of reasons. Maybe clothes you bought that were too snug, but you promised yourself you’d lose weight and fit into them as a weight loss goal. Or maybe you bought it, loved it, but it somehow it shrunk in the wash or at the dry cleaner. How do you let go? How do you help your closet lose the extra weight?
There’s actually some psychology around the “just in case“ clothes. For many, they symbolize a safety net, for others a self esteem issue. Let’s explore. When you see the bags full of “goal weight” clothes tucked away in the closet it’s a reminder to yourself that your current weight is temporary and before you know it, you’ll get back into those ‘skinny jeans’. No matter the reason, it’s emotional rather than practical.
There is even a psychology concept called enclothed cognition which examines why certain clothes can make us feel more confident or creative. For so many of us, the clothing we own reflects who we are or who we strive to be. The reality is, it can be very satisfying to de-clutter, leaving only the clothes that make you feel best or fit well in your closet. If you feel like you are ready, it may be time to let go of those clothes you don’t wear and purge.
There’s no magic number about the amount of clothing in your closet, but a recent report indicates that most people don’t use 50-percent of what is stored in their closet. That is valuable storage space being wasted on clothes you don’t like or don’t fit anymore.
Organizational experts say if you have something in your closet that you haven’t worn in a year, it’s time to let it go. Or you can take the advice of renowned organizer, Marie Kondo. She is best known for her books, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy, which also inspired her Netflix series. Her mission is to get rid of the things in your life that don’t bring you joy. No matter how you approach this, it’s time to get it busy and lighten your load. And while it can be emotional, there is a great sense of peace when your life is organized, less cluttered and everything has its place.
Begin by making two piles: clothes to keep and clothes to discard. Be honest with yourself, if you haven’t worn an article of clothing in a year and it doesn’t fit…it’s time to let it go. Or if it is not bringing you joy and it’s not making your life better, it’s just clutter. But for those who have a really hard time parting with items, place your discard items in a bin or box and label it with the date. If after 6 months, you haven’t gone back in the box to retrieve something you placed in there, you can feel confident you won’t miss it went it’s gone.
Those discarded clothes can be put to good use. You could take them to a consignment shop or donate them to the charity of your choice. There are always people in need of gently used clothing in all sizes. The end results? You now have a thinner closet with only the clothes you really wear and fit you well.
Since you’ve done all this great work, this is an opportunity to truly organize your new wardrobe. Consider a custom-built closet with the capability to arrange all your clothes just the way you like them. At Closets by Design®, we’re passionate about revolutionizing the modern closet so you’re always organized without sacrificing style. Schedule a free in-home design consultation.
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