Living With Intention

The average American household has 300,000 things, according to Becoming Minimalist.

I was drinking my daily morning coffee and listening to Matt D'Avella's podcast called "Ground Up." I nearly chocked on my coffee when he stated this statistic. I was in complete shock and looked around my apartment in disgust. Not because I was living in filth, but because I definitely was one of those people who fell under that statistic.

Not only is my apartment stuffed with random things, but I also have two storage spaces full of extra things. Oh and don't quiz me on what's in them because I wouldn't have the slightest idea.

It finally dawned on me that I had some serious cleaning up to do. I decided that 2021 was the year for me to start living with intention and to stop being another consumer of stuff that, deep down, I knew I didn't need. It was time to let go of the many pots and pans that all did the same thing and the many, MANY clothes stuffed away in my closet.

MY CLOSET

I knew that I should tackle the hardest thing first. You see, I rarely throw away or give away my clothes. In my mind, I think that I might as well keep them because I'll be wearing them again someday. The problem is, I tend to where the same articles of clothing multiple times, while the other clothes just sit in my closet collecting dust.

I realized then that "my stuff" had taken full control of me. I realized that it would be really hard to let these clothes go, but I knew it was neccessary. After hearing that statistic, it just kept playing in my mind over and over again. I couldn't shake it and I was tired of being a household with 300,000 things.

I decided that every month of 2021 would be dedicated to clearing up a space in my apartment and that I would spend the last three months focusing on my storage spaces.

JANUARY

January was the month I focused on cleaning out my closet. I literally took everything out of my closet and started sifting through the many articles of clothing I owned. I knew it was bad when I didn't even recognize some of the clothing I had. It was like shopping in a completely different closet.

I laid three trash bags on the floor. One trashbag was for the clothes that were too old and worn out. The second trash bag was for the clothes I would give to the Goodwill. The third trashbag was for the clothes I would be selling on Poshmark.

I started with my dresses, then moved onto my shirts, and then my pants. When I finally finished sorting out all of my clothes, I felt lighter. Going through my closet helped me to face the fact that I was a serious consumer and that I had way too many clothes than the average person needs.

CAPSULE WARDROBE

My current closet is not only a lot lighter, but it ONLY includes pieces that can be worn in multiple ways. So while I might where the same shirt over and over again, it will be worn in different, creative ways. This not only saves me a ton of time getting ready, but I no longer struggle with trying to find something to wear.

All the pieces of clothing I currently have are clothes that are flattering to me and that I really like wearing. I no longer have clothes that I think I will wear one day. I also gave away all the clothes that I kept just in case I lost a few pounds. I decided that I needed to be present and not living in a future that doesn't exist yet.

This was an experience I desperately needed. It taught me that letting go is sometimes the healthiest thing you can do. By decluttering my closet, I was on the right path to decluttering my whole life.

Next month, I will be focused on my kitchen, but since I tackled the hardest part first, the rest honestly feels like a piece of cake.