The Five Benefits of a Minimalist's Wardrobe
I became a minimalist in progress about a year ago and I still feel as if I have a long way to go. It hasn't been easy, but I've been persistent about the lifestyle I want to live. One area where I can really have my own minimalist's domain and keep things neat and organized is my closet. That is my space. It is my sanctuary and I just wanted to share with you the five benefits of having a minimalist's closet that I've discovered within the past year.
It Saves You Time
The first benefit of having a minimalist's closet is that it's a time saver. After my son was born I went from being a size 0 to a size 10 and had all different sizes of clothing in my closet, until I became so frustrated that I started from scratch and created my own capsule wardrobe. When I need to look for something quick, I know that there's only a few options and I don't get frustrated with how many options I have, or things that could possibly be out of season. I used to not think about how something could save me minutes, but it's so important just to even have that extra time. Anything that saves time is worth it for me.
It Saves You Space
For all you city dwellers, this is your time to pay attention. Having a minimal closet is a game changer and if you're not doing it already, you should really give it a try. If you plan to stay in your urban community and you do not have not plans of moving to the suburbs any time soon, get rid of all your sh*t. That's right, I said it. Sell it on Craig's List, Letgo or one of your favorite community based Facebook buy, sell and trade groups. The only things you need are the items you currently use on a daily basis. I'm serious, check out my posts about the capsule wardrobe and downsize your closet, and then get rid of all the random things in the rest of your urban space, and you will feel so much better.
If you're not living in an urban space, you could still get rid of some things because you'll feel organized and more refreshed after doing so. Haven't you ever gotten rid of a bunch of items that you didn't need in your closet or house and felt exhilarated afterwards? There is some science behind this because having a clutter free living space does so much for the psyche by improving your mental health. It reduces stress, and helps speed up your productivity, which improves so many other aspects of your life.
It Saves You Money
Because you're being conscious about not having a lot of junk, you'll purchase higher quality items which will last longer. You won't buy a bunch of cheap crap that only lasts a few months whether it be clothes or household items, and you'll be more conscious about where your money goes because you won't be buying things you don't need.
You'll be More Creative
When you have less in your closet, or less in general, you'll actually be more creative when you are curating outfits. You'll know that there is more than one top that goes with a certain pair of pants because you'll experiment more. And that's the fun part about everything because experimenting, stepping out of your usual box and then feeling comfortable in what you're wearing is such an incredible feeling. It's even better when someone compliments you in it. Being conscious of how many outfits you can create is great too because then you don't have to go out and buy another clothing item because you have no idea. You could also check out the Cladwell Outfits' app to help you coordinate your outfits if you're having a creativity block.
It's Better for the Environment
When you focus more on minimalism and less on consumerism, less goes into our landfills. Obviously you can recycle, sell your clothes or donate them, but to be honest, a lot of people still don't. In addition, you're reducing the demand for products as well. Ultimately, you can do this in every aspect of your life including your kitchen, your refrigerator and for all other household items.
Conclusion
When minimalism becomes a way of life, everything has a special space and you'll have a different relationship with possessions, with money, but most importantly, in your life in general. Making conscious decisions about bringing meaningful things into our life rather than meaningless junk has really been a game changer for me. As I mentioned, it's still a work in progress, but my values have shifted and I'm enjoying my space more than ever.
If you'd like to build your own minimalist closet or tiny wardrobe, check out my guide on how to kickstart your own capsule wardrobe. It's the basic steps on how to get started.
In addition, if you have any other suggestions about any other benefits of having a minimalist's wardrobe, or how being a minimalist in general has benefited your life, please add them in the comments below, I would love to see your response!
And if you like this post, please feel free to share it. Until next time my friends!
Cheers! Shelbi