More Than Just Tidying Up

In my wardrobe organization group, we often talk about not just tidying up but also about our relationship with things. One participant recently shared her story about shopping, the expectations vs. reality of decluttering, and how being honest with herself changed her approach.

Here’s what she said:

 “Today, I completely sorted out my bag category. Honestly, I didn't expect to be able to go through everything at once like that. It seemed like I had so much stuff that it would take a lot of time, but in reality, the whole process took just 30 minutes.

Before getting started, I packed all my bags, backpacks, and other items from this category into large bags in the morning and moved them to the living room. Since I have a small child and can mostly declutter when he is asleep, I decided to prepare everything for the process in advance. It turned out to be very convenient!

I noted how much shifting the focus to what I want to keep, rather than what I want to get rid of, changes everything. And having a ‘set aside for 6 months’ box really helps me be as honest with myself as possible. I realized that if I didn’t have it, I wouldn’t have been able to remove certain items from my active wardrobe—especially the ones I bought six months ago in a burst of compulsive shopping. Even though I didn’t like wearing them, I wouldn't have been able to give them away or throw them out simply because I had spent money on them and barely wore them.

But knowing I can put them away rather than making an irreversible decision allows me to honestly admit to myself that, yes, I bought some random stuff out of boredom and a desire for new experiences.

Being on maternity leave with a baby is tough, and I miss my previous, more eventful life. Interestingly, this realization is now helping me avoid buying unnecessary things for spring!”