We are now officially in Spring here in Europe, so it’s the perfect time to “Spring Clean your Life”. If you’re reading this in the Southern hemisphere then you can “Autumn Clean your life”.
Admittedly, it doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, but I follow these same processes at each change of season, and so I am going to take you through a simple “Spring Clean your life” formula that you can apply at all times of the year.
Spring Clean your Closet/ Wardrobe
As we are changing from Winter to Spring or Summer to Autumn, this is a great time to review your wardrobe and decide what clothes still flatter you and make you feel good.
Secondly, decluttering your wardrobe is very therapeutic and a good distraction, and thirdly, it’s a great way to generate a little extra income!
So, let’s get started, and if the thought of decluttering an entire wardrobe is a little overwhelming, I’ve broken the process down into five simple steps.
Step 1 – Take everything out of your wardrobe!
I mean everything – everything that’s hanging in your closet, folded in drawers, stacked on shelves.
Yes, it will be a huge mess, but that’s OK – it’s only temporary and it’s the only way you can really sort all your clothes and take account of everything you own (I bet you had forgotten about some things!)
If this is really just too overwhelming, you can tackle it by one CATEGORY of clothing at a time (eg all the dresses one day, all the tops another etc.) but eventually, it ALL has to be tackled!
Step 2 – Sort into categories and try on every item
I like to sort my clothes into piles when I take them out. For now, I’m not making any value judgment about whether to keep them, but I like to have all the T-shirts together, all the skirts together, all the jeans together ….. (or you could just tackle one category at a time).
The reason for this is to avoid ending up with 15 almost identical white tees, 12 black pencil skirts… When I evaluate, I can then choose my 3 favourite in each sub-category (am I really going to wear all 15 white tees?), and a spare.
If you are totally sure (and I mean 110%!!) that you want to either keep something or remove it (for example, you wore it recently) then you can skip the trying on process! (This dress from my last post is definitely a keeper and doesn’t need trying on!)
Step 3 – Evaluate the piles
So, now we have the piles we can start to go through them, and this is what you should be removing from your closet!
i) Get rid of anything that doesn’t fit you.
If it’s too big, then either have it altered to fit, or if you can’t get it altered, then just sell or donate it!
If it’s too small and you are genuinely motivated to lose weight and you really LOVE the clothes, then take them out of your wardrobe and put them in a suitcase or a storage box. I call this creating a “time capsule” wardrobe, and when you have achieved your target weight you can revisit and decide if you still like the clothes.
ii) Remove anything that doesn’t flatter you (doesn’t suit your body shape or your colouring)
If something doesn’t make you feel great, then don’t keep it!
iii) Get rid of emotional “baggage” items
Remove any items that have a sentimental value, but that you will never wear. Hanging onto items that are no longer serving you can feel like a burden.
If you’re prone to regret – think about will you regret it more if you keep it?
iv) Remove anything that is torn, damaged or stained
My advice is to follow one of the three R’s – Renew (ie. restyle – transform a dress into a skirt, for example)- Repair or- Reject (throw away)
v) Remove any items you haven’t worn in the last year
If you haven’t worn something in the last year then you’re probably not going to!
Even, if it was really expensive, if you’re not wearing it, then it has to go! You can sell it on a designer sale site or a preloved store and you will at least get some of your money back!
vi) Get rid of anything that doesn’t align with your lifestyle or your goals
We are all constantly changing and something that was perfect when you were a student is not necessarily a good fit now you are a professional “girl boss”. Similarly, something that looked great when you were a “girl boss” might not look great now you’re retired and playing golf!
Step 4 – Put away the “Keep” pile
The ‘keep’ pile now has to be put away, but we’re not just going to throw it all randomly back in the closet!
The key to having a wardrobe you love and to being able to find clothes easily, create beautiful outfits and feel inspired is to organise all these pieces.
I like to organise my wardrobe by type of clothing, (so all the tops together, all the skirts together, all the trousers together ….etc.), and then within the types I like to organise by colour, going from light to dark.
I also create subcategories (so my tops are sorted by spaghettis strap, short sleeved, and then long sleeved to make choosing for the weather that day much easier.).
Have a look here for some closet organisation inspiration.
Step 5 – List the “Sell” pile or take it to a consignment store.
You can sell your used clothes a few different ways.
i) Consignment/ Second hand / Preloved Shop.
Most places now have a consignment or preloved store, and this is the quickest and easiest way to sell your clothes and make some money. The disadvantage is that the store will take a commision for their service and this can be quite pricy
There are also online consignments stores (such as ThredUp) that will ship you a pre-paid bag to fill with clothes to send back to them.
ii) Host a garage sale
This is a fun way to make some money and meet people! You can do this on your own or with a group of friends. You set the price yourself and of course, you get to keep all the profits.
However, the rules differ depending on your local area, and the lockdown rules, so make sure to check these before you set a date!
iii) Sell on Facebook
Facebook Marketplace is a great way to sell too, and you can specify your shipping/ collection area if you want to save on shipping costs.
iv) Use Specialised websites and apps
There are now a wide range of webites and apps which make it super easy to sell your used clothing.
You just take photos of your clothing and then follow the step by step instructions to list your items in just a couple of minutes.
A few you might like to check out are Poshmark, Vinted, Tradesy and of course, eBay.
Spring Clean your Mind
The most precious resource we have is our time and we need to be really careful how we choose to spend it.
We need to make a conscious choice how we spend our time, as we can never get it back!
There are lots of tips and advice I could give you on this subject, but the most important is that you need to “spring clean” or declutter your “to do” list and schedule your priorities.
It’s time to take a hard look at the things you are prioritizing in your day-to-day life. Are they essential to the future you envision for yourself? Or are they distracting you and preventing your progression?
Here’s my simple 4 step process to help you declutter your “to do” list.
Step One – Start by reviewing your to-do list and allocating each task to a “basket”.
I do this weekly on a Sunday for the week ahead and the “baskets” I use are
- goal 1
- goal 2
- goal 3
- other
- NO
But, you could also use the following baskets
- Completely essential
- Secondary tasks
- Other
- NO
Step Two – Schedule your appointments and your priorities
Now, you need to schedule these, and make sure, that you are scheduling your priorities first.
“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
Stephen Covey
Start by blocking out all your appointments, as these are difficult to move, as they impact other people. Then, schedule the most important tasks relating to your goals or your completely essential tasks.
Moving on, schedule your secondary tasks, then “fill in the gaps” with “other” tasks. And, I think you can guess what to do with the “NO” basket!
Decluttering your priority list is key to achieving focus, and building routines and habits around those priorities will give you the consistency and discipline that you need to achieve your goals/ the life you want to be living.
Step Three – Determine your “glass balls”
When juggling the balls of life, some are plastic and some are glass.
It’s inevitable that you are going to drop some balls, so when that happens, make sure you let the right one hit the ground!
Make a list of which are YOUR glass balls, so you know which things are non negotiable.
Step Four – Be fully “in” or fully “out”
When you’re concentrating on one priority, give it your FULL attention.
You may need to set boundaries in order to achieve this, both external (eg closed office door) and internal (eg turning off phone notifications).
When you’re with your family, make sure that you are fully present with them, turn off phone notifications, avoid checking e-mails etc.
Spring Clean your Environment/ Surroundings
When we live in a state of clutter, we feel demotivated and demoralised. So, if we want to make a start on spring cleaning your life, we have to start to declutter our environment.
But, out environment is both physical (the places we are) and emotional (the people we surround ourselves with), and we need to tackle both.
Step One – Declutter your Physical Environment
Unless you have identified this as one of your key goals, then this is not a top priority and should be on your secondary task list. Nonetheless, decluttering your home and work space is therapeutic and will make you feel more inspired and motivated.
But, it can be very overwhelming, so we need to “chunk it down”. If this is one of your goals, then I recommend tackling one room/ area at a time.
However, if it’s not a top priority, then it’s best to schedule just one small thing, such as decluttering ONE drawer or ONE cupboard CONSISTENTLY.
Tackling one small area won’t occupy too much of your time each week, and yet if you do it consistently, you will get great results!
Step Two – Declutter your Emotional Environment
Finally, it’s time to take a look at WHO you are spending your time with. As I mentioned earlier, time is your most precious resource, so do you want to be spending it with people who inspire you and make you feel amazing, or with negative people who drag you down and make you feel miserable and depressed?
You simply can’t spend your time around negative people and expect to lead a positive life, so you need to create boundaries between you and the people who drag you down.
Obviously, we can’t (or don’t want to) completely eliminate the “Negative Nancies” from our life (especially if they are family), but try to limit the amount of time you spend with negative people who drag you down, and focus more on spending time with people who will extend a hand to help lift you up.
Maximise your time with “Positive Pennies”, who inspire you, who encourage you and who make you feel amazing!
I hope you enjoyed this feature about How to Spring Clean Your Life, and you can have a look here for more of our lifestyle features.
I adore this post, friend! I just pinned it, and will definitely be coming back to visit this post from time to time. I love that you included the section for spring cleaning your mind – so important!
Make Life Marvelous
Thank you so much Ashley! I’m so glad you liked the post x
Oh I so need to do this. I am going to be moving so I am doing this big time. I will have to reference this when the time comes.
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
Thank you Allie! That’s great news that you’re moving soon – I can’t wait to find out more x
I like Spring Cleaning because after it I have feeling that I know what is my next step. Thank you for this detail post with guidelines for spring cleaning in different categories.
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I’m so glad that you found the post helpful x
The right and smart steps to clean up everything that is no longer useful. Starting spring with renewed vigor …, I am amazed that in your country there is a thrift consignment shop, in my country there is no such shop. Hopefully this great post inspires many readers, including me.
Welcome to spring with renewed energy and enthusiasm, Julia.
Cheers.
Thank you! I’m so glad you found the post useful! We have thrift shops here both online and physical stores! x
I love how you broke this down into different areas of closet, mind, and environment! Such a good tip about the glass balls!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thank you Jill! So glad you liked it x
So many great tips for a spring wardrobe refresh! Your last point about decluttering your emotional environment is a big one for all women!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you! I think that decluttering your emotional environment is so important, but also so difficult x
Love those quotes.
Bernie,
The Style Fanatic
So glad you do x
I love how you include the emotional environment Julia!! It’s amazing how that can hold us back otherwise. And I think it’s the hardest to do. I’m still working on it.
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thank you Jodie! I agree that it’s the hardest to do, but it’s also so important! I’m still working on it too! xoxo
These are amazing suggestions! I just finished cleaning and sorting my wardrobe and it feels really nice!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
So glad you found the suggestions useful, Lovely xoxo
I like the black and white checked top you’re wearing.
Thank you x
I like the black and white checked top you’re wearing. It looks good. It suits you very well.
Thank you!
these are good tips! I find a big wardrobe clear out is too taxing, so I try just to remove things as I go when I don’t enjoy wearing them or find they don’t work for me any more. I’d like to do the “haven’t worn it in a year” test but it’s been a lot of change and flux, even before the pandemic, so I don’t think I’ll get to try that for a while yet haha!
Hope you are having a good Easter weekend 🙂
Thank you Mica! Removing things one step at a time is great too! It’s just that many of us often forget to do that!
These tips are so helpful, Julia! It’s amazing how therapeutic decluttering and going through your closet can be. It can feel a little crazy in the moment, haha, but once you’re all finished up, you feel a ton better!
Make Life Marvelous
Thank you Ashley! I’m so glad that you found the tips helpful! x
Love your steps in cleaning out your closet for the season! It’s always so refreshing after getting rid of what not is working.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you Kathrine! I agree – I feel more energised after clearing out my closet x