The Emotional Wellbeing Benefits of a Wardrobe Clear-out

It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a lot more intense than any of us could have expected. The fear, uncertainty and trepidation surrounding COVID-19 has led to a huge increase in stress and anxiety levels even among the most stoic of us with the impact of lockdown taking its toll on our health and happiness.

Clearing out the Clutter

During such difficult and unprecedented times, it’s more important than ever to do all that we can to protect and nurture our state of mind. We know that it’s not always easy to prioritise self-care but with more and more of us working from home, one of the best ways we can do so is to ensure that our living space is calm and peaceful. Mess and clutter are triggering at the best of times which is why we are channelling Marie Kondo now more than ever. A clearer home means a clearer mind and the benefits of clearing out old or unworn items from our closets is essential for our emotional wellbeing.

It can sometimes feel daunting even knowing where and how to start. As champions of the uncluttered wardrobe-uncluttered mind movement, our team at Shush would suggest first and foremost to set aside a clear chunk of time to start your decluttering. If you try and do bits here and there then the whole process will end up feeling stressful and rushed – you risk it being entirely counterproductive or making decisions without a clear head.

Choose a time when you know you have at least an hour free to focus on the task – that might be your lunch hour on a quieter work day, during the baby’s nap or in the evenings when it’s calmer and the chores of the day are done.

Approach the task with a positive mindset – clearing clutter from our lives is hugely beneficial for our emotional health and will make sure that you feel calm and collected every time you go to get dressed in the morning. We’ve all been in that place where you’re rifling through pieces of clothing that no longer deserve a space in your cupboard whether it be that they no long fit due to size, our personal evolving style or our lifestyle itself. Now is the time to put an end to those negative feelings.

Getting Started

So, where to begin? First, take absolutely everything out of the wardrobes and drawers and put it on the bed or the floor in one big pile. Then, group your items into sections and sub-sections so you can really see what you have – for shoes, that would mean high heels, low heels, flats, boots and so on. Group your tops by both style and function – day or evening tops, summer or winter, every day or special occasion. If you have items that could fall into two categories – e.g. an elegant dress that could work from day-to-evening, then put it in the category that you would more naturally associate with that item.

Once you have everything out in front of you, it’s time to get serious. While we don’t suggest being ruthless and clearing your wardrobe of items that you might wish you had kept in a few months’ time, it is important to be realistic.

For example, if there’s a piece you have never worn or that still has tags on, ask yourself - will you really wear it one day? Do you still like the style? Or was it an impulse purchase that you’re keeping out of guilt because you spent money on it at the time?

Any major lifestyle change will also often mean a style shift – perhaps working from home more means those pencil skirts and sharp blazers are no longer needed? Or if your nights out are now more casual restaurant or Netflix box sets than fancy club, it might be time to say goodbye to those killer mini dresses. 

Understanding Nostalgia

Clearing out our clothes is an effective way to get rid of emotional baggage because we attach so much feeling to what we wear. There is absolutely no value to keeping items out of duty or an unrealistic expectation that you will suddenly switch your style that you’ve had for years.

This is also an important point to consider when it comes to sizing. If an item of clothing doesn’t fit you right now, we would usually recommend clearing it out as you will likely associate it with negative feelings.

Then there’s the big one – nostalgia. This might be for those items that we associate with a certain person who gave it to us as a gift or a hand me down. We also might feel sentimental about an item of clothing that we wore a lot during one time in our lives but simply no longer has a purpose in the present day, or a statement piece of occasion wear that we wore once and will likely never wear again. Make sure to separate authentic nostalgia with hoarding or keeping items out of guilt during your clear-out, as these are the pieces that often take up all the space in your wardrobe – and your mind.

Emotional Cleansing

We all know that feeling of flipping through the cupboard and seeing those pieces that you always brush past. They will have far more value - and it will really help to clear your emotional mind – if you remove those pieces from your wardrobe and make more space for items that make you feel good. Keeping clothing that no longer fits in with our (life)style can hold us back emotionally as we are leaving a part of ourselves in the past when it’s important to let go.

 A wardrobe clear-out is such a cathartic process and making space in your life for best-loved basics and statement items that fit beautifully and make you feel good is invaluable for our emotional health – and style! What’s more, when you have finished the cleansing process, selling on your preloved items is a wonderful way to make the most of the pieces that once brought you joy and give them a new lease of life with someone else who will treasure them. Here at Shush, we are welcoming exciting new stock to our collections every single day and we would love to help you sell your preloved designer items. Contact us today to find out more.