One of my 101 goals to complete in 1001 days is to spend concentrated time each month on organization. I feel this unusual need to organize and simplify my life. I am not a domesticated housewife by any means, but perhaps because I spend so much time here now I feel like I want control over my space. Additionally, I think I have learned to live on a whole lot less and I don’t have the need for the excess purchases from years ago.
Along with being an organizational project this will also be an emotional project for me. I grew up with parents with a net worth over $1M, but we lived like paupers. I bet I wore the same hand-me-down-shirt to school 2 out of 5 days because I didn’t have other options. My jeans (as in singular pair of jeans) were always several inches too short. I was lucky if I had one decent pair of sneakers. My winter coat was always 5-10 years old, as most of my clothing options were because those were the cousins I would get hand-me-downs from. When I was very young I didn’t know the difference. But it is not a good thing to be different in anyway when you are an elementary aged child.
I can remember in about fifth grade being teased about my clothing by sixth graders in the hallways. It made me conscious of the fact that my coat was ugly, my pants were ready for the flood, or that we were supposedly poor.
I began babysitting and most of my money went toward either clothing or shoes. My first real job was when I was a sophomore in high school at a clothing store. Do you see where there may have been some security issues with clothing? Letting go of excess clothing will restore some balance to my life. I can contribute my “letting go” of objects such as clothing due to finally feeling comfortable in my lifestyle. I think I can let go of a lot because I know that if I really want or need something I am financially secure enough to be able to purchase it or that I am smart enough to “make it work” as Tim Gunn from Project Runway would say.
Through a wordpress.com blog that I randomly happened upon a few nights ago I ran across a book review that subsequently resulted in a purchase from Barnes and Noble. In the book Unclutter Your Life in One Week (2009), Erin Rooney Doland suggests starting your home organization projects in areas that you will see on a regular daily basis so can immediately appreciate the benefits of organization. She suggests areas such as bedroom closets, work desks, or home entrances as great first organization projects. If there is one major downfall of our home, it is the lack of adequate storage space. Being truthful, it is also my lack of utilizing the space we currently have as efficiently as possible.
I am choosing to tackle my husband and my closet, clothing, and shoes as my first project. Now that I no longer work outside of the home, I have a wordrobe of used clothing that could be donated to Goodwill or Salvation Army for someone who will use it, rather than it sit in a storage tote under my bed. I will keep several key pieces of work clothing such as three suits, 3 shells, and maybe an expensive piece or two that I am not willing to part with. Other than that, it is my goal to donate the rest of my work clothing. Wish me luck! This will be very difficult for me to let such a huge part of my wardrobe (and former life) go.
Casual clothing is another area that needs to be reevaluated. I consider casual clothing as articles that are everyday or out to see friends or dinner. Basically non-work clothing. This area seems to be out of control because I have not changed sized since I stopped growing in high school. That means I haven’t grown out of anything unless I have grown out of the style. I am also sentimental and some outfits trigger memories of where I wore it or where I’ve been in the article of clothing. Author Erin Rooney Doland made a great suggestion for letting go of emotional pieces. She recommends taking a digital picture (and backing that up) of the emotional object. It is true that what I like the most about certain pieces is the memories that they trigger and the same effect could be achieved by an electronic album especially when it comes to clothing.
Another note about my casual clothing is that I almost always go for key pieces or newer pieces. There are so many old outfits I will never wear again simply because I know I have a better option. It is time to let all those extra pieces go! I also hope to maintain a streamlined closet by following the one in, one out rule. If I make a purchase of a new casual piece I expect to get rid of a piece in my closet. That will be a toughie and I know I won’t always follow the rule, but I am going to give it a go!
I haven’t decided about workout clothing. Here is a fact: I rarely work out. But sometimes I do get on a health kick and give it a go for a week to a month. This is an area I can’t make any promises. But what I will do is take all keepers out of my main closet and move those to the tote under the bed. That seems like a reasonable compromise, right?
Shoes will be the hardest of all. Almost all of my shoes are at the very least $100+ investments and it will be so difficult to part with those I haven’t worn in the past year. Plus I have so many colors and styles that I don’t want to purge any pair that I feel I may regret. There is something about a fabulous pair of heels that makes me feel like a million bucks, probably psychologically linked to my semi-damaged childhood. Shallow, I know, but the truth none the less. My goal is small but something I hope to acheive. I want to part with 10 pairs tomorrow. My first thought was I would be lucky if I could get rid of 5. But I thought back to my casual clothing; there is always a newer pair or a key pair that I almost always go for. I need to let go of some of my shoes. This will be hard but it will significantly organize and unclutter my home.
Now it is time for a good night’s sleep because I’ve quite the emotional task tomorrow. I hope to report to you with news of success, and maybe even a downloaded photo of my new organized closet.
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