Spring Into Organization
It’s that time of year again. The days are finally starting to get longer, the weather in Chicago is fluctuating wildly as it settles into spring and you’re looking around your home wondering if it might be time for a seasonal refresh. If your closets are packed full of puffy coats and winter boots or there’s accumulated clutter from cold days spent inside, the answer just might be “yes”.
Spring, in particular, is a time of renewal so it’s not surprising that most people use this time to reset and refresh their living spaces. It’s a perfect opportunity to throw open those windows and take stock of what you have versus what you need for the upcoming months. Here are two ways to really spring into organization.
Reevaluate and Replace- The process of switching out cold weather clothing for lighter garb presents a great opportunity to doubly declutter. Before you put that wool sweater away, ask yourself, has this piece seen better days? Do I see myself wearing it next season? If the answer is yes or I’m not sure, that’s great. Hang onto it and see how you feel about it in the winter. You may find, however, boots that won’t survive another winter or a coat that really didn’t end up being as warm as you thought and those are the items you no longer need taking up space. As you bring out your warmer weather wardrobe, be on the look out for pieces that no longer represent your style or no longer fit in a way that makes you feel good.
Actual versus Aspirational- I want to start by saying, I think it’s important for people to try new things and have hobbies. However, this doesn’t mean going out and purchasing every item or tool available to pursue it. Often times, these purchases go unopened or barely used because we realize we didn’t have the time or dedication needed to make this worthwhile. When decluttering, it’s important to be honest with yourself. People get caught up in the idea that they paid a lot of money for these items and are therefore reluctant to give them away. Having them and not using them is still a waste of money as well as a waste of space. It is aspirational clutter, items that you hold onto because you think you will eventually do this thing. If it really is a struggle to let something go, give yourself a deadline. If I don’t use these in one month, I have to give them away.
