Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter and Organize to Make More Room for Happiness

by Gretchen Rubin

CONSIDER THIS CHECKLIST FOR A CLOTHES CLOSET. Take stock of the items in your closet. As you pull out each garment, ask: Does it currently fit? Do you actually wear it? Do you love it, or if not, is it truly useful? Even if you love it, is it in such bad shape that you ought to get rid of it? I struggle with this. How many interchangeable items do you own? If you have five pairs of khaki pants, you’re not likely to wear your two least favorite pairs. Is it uncomfortable? Have you worn it five times or fewer? It’s the rare item that’s worth keeping, even if it’s almost never been worn. Do you worry that it’s out of fashion? If you think it might be, it probably is. Can it only be worn in a limited way? Like a shirt that’s stained so it can only be worn under a sweater, or shoes that almost never work. If you’re keeping an item only because it was a gift, does the giver know that you have it? If you don’t need to make a show of using it, you don’t need to keep it. Does it work with other clothes that you have, or would you need to buy new items to make use of it? Do you keep this item merely to fill a category? If you never wear something, you don’t need it. You don’t need any turtlenecks if you hate to wear turtlenecks. Does it fill a need that no longer exists? This can be hard to admit, so press yourself. Does it need to be altered before you can wear it? If so, get it altered or get rid of it. Do you describe an item of clothing by saying, “I would wear that” or “I have ...