If It's So Easy, Why Is It Making Our Lives Harder?

I was driving to a client's house recently for a decluttering session and was listening to NPR on the radio. They were discussing the amount of clothes the average person consumes in a year and how that has dramatically increased in the past 10 years.

Consuming has become so easy and accessible. If you want a new sweater, you can probably order it online and have it within a few days. We get instant gratification at our fingertips.

Fast fashion continues to hit us over the head with “new trends” that we “must have”. We see it on social media on the daily – we are reminded of it almost anywhere we go, from the grocery store to the dry cleaners.

“New fall fashion is here! Buy it now before it’s gone!”. —We are constantly being tempted to buy more stuff. We now have many options to shop online, try on our new clothes in the comfort of our own bedroom, and return anything we don’t like. You don’t even have to package your returns anymore; just drop them off and someone will print the label and package it for you.

It’s too easy.

I see firsthand how mindless consumerism is affecting my client’s wellbeing. The overconsumption is causing clutter to build up because they have run out of room to fit what they own in their closet. The return piles are ever present, nagging at them (another thing on their to-do list), which just adds to the visual clutter in their home.

This clutter is causing anxiety and overwhelm because there is no process for letting go, only for letting in.

One of the habit tools we discuss during our decluttering sessions is how to maintain a closet after we have decluttered it. The client always feels so relieved and calm after this process. We want to help them continue to feel that way every day.

The first step is to practice conscious consumption: The next time you go to buy something new, stop yourself and ask, “do I really need this thing”?, “Is this going to add value to my life”? If you are on the fence or unsure, and not a 100% yes, then I recommend you wait 24 hours to make the purchase. Revisit it in the morning and see how you feel about it.

The second step is to consider what you will be letting go of, in order to make room for the new item you are purchasing. The one-in/one-out rule is a great place to start. If you just ordered a new pair of pants, what pair are you willing to donate or consign to make space for the new one? If you don’t want to do this in the moment, then make a habit of having quarterly editing sessions to go through your closet and make room for the new.

Staying organized is a journey, not a one time event. It requires constant attention to what you are allowing to come into your home and what you are willing to say goodbye to.

Happy decluttering!

Be well,

Meghan LeBaudour, CPO®