I have very little closet space, so I have to be pretty ruthless when I get new clothes, something in something out, or at least that's the plan.
When I'm culling, I try to be very detached and say, "Do I wear this, does it look good, etc.?" When the emotions start creeping in, I recall that I am giving serviceable clothes to Goodwill or other charity and I picture a homeless person, dressed in rags of course, who is just thrilled beyond belief that my particular castoff sweater, T-shirt, jacket was there for them to find because it is PERFECT for them and will make their life meaningful and get them a good job and health insurance and a place to live. (My emotional self is pretty gullible.)
When I am decluttering non-clothing stuff, I ask myself have I gotten my $$ worth of enjoyment out of said item? (The answer is usually yes, because I usually get that immediately upon obtaining stuff.) Then I ask myself if I am done with it? If it's at least a maybe, I will put the item inside a box or bag, where I can't see it any more, and remove it to another clutter staging place (the inside porch), not a storage area. Then I wait about 2 weeks. If I haven't had the "must have/use/put back" feelings for it I then put it in the donate pile. The important thing is not to look at the stuff again. It has less power if you can't see it. That 1 or 2 week cooling off period allows my psyche to get used to the idea of letting go, and then it's not as big a problem taking the final give away step.
>>I picture a homeless person, dressed in rags of course, who is just thrilled beyond belief that my particular castoff sweater, T-shirt, jacket was there for them to find because it is PERFECT for them and will make their life meaningful and get them a good job and health insurance and a place to live. (My emotional self is pretty gullible.)<<
I like this scenario a lot for cutting through the clothes sorting emotional baggage. Am imagining my waifish orphan right now looking longingly through the stacks of hideous 60's polyester reject clothes to spy my one good, clean item in the stack.
Putting no and maybe stuff, er, acquaintances and strangers, into the bag/box that you can't see into is extremely helpful in reducing the sad-puppy eyes effect of rejected clothing.
When I'm culling, I try to be very detached and say, "Do I wear this, does it look good, etc.?" When the emotions start creeping in, I recall that I am giving serviceable clothes to Goodwill or other charity and I picture a homeless person, dressed in rags of course, who is just thrilled beyond belief that my particular castoff sweater, T-shirt, jacket was there for them to find because it is PERFECT for them and will make their life meaningful and get them a good job and health insurance and a place to live. (My emotional self is pretty gullible.)
When I am decluttering non-clothing stuff, I ask myself have I gotten my $$ worth of enjoyment out of said item? (The answer is usually yes, because I usually get that immediately upon obtaining stuff.) Then I ask myself if I am done with it? If it's at least a maybe, I will put the item inside a box or bag, where I can't see it any more, and remove it to another clutter staging place (the inside porch), not a storage area. Then I wait about 2 weeks. If I haven't had the "must have/use/put back" feelings for it I then put it in the donate pile. The important thing is not to look at the stuff again. It has less power if you can't see it. That 1 or 2 week cooling off period allows my psyche to get used to the idea of letting go, and then it's not as big a problem taking the final give away step.
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I like this scenario a lot for cutting through the clothes sorting emotional baggage. Am imagining my waifish orphan right now looking longingly through the stacks of hideous 60's polyester reject clothes to spy my one good, clean item in the stack.
Will apply directly to my closet this weekend.
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