Getting Rid of Old Clothes is an Act of Self-Love
Let me start by saying that this was not what I intended to write for Sprout’s weekly newsletter or blog. However, I spent a good chunk of time on Friday going through my closet and getting rid of clothes. There were a few items I generally didn’t want, but I mostly sorted through clothes that were too small, didn’t look right on me, and made me feel uncomfortable.
It was hard.
I mentioned previously that spring cleaning your closet is important and now that I got a refresher on the process, I want to take some time to talk about why this process can be difficult but is so important for your well-being.
Why Cleaning out Your Closet is Important
Let’s start with the obvious: If you continue to buy clothes but never get rid of any, you’re going to run out of room. It’s important to tidy up and clear out the things you no longer need or wear.
Now for one of the more specific reasons that may or may not apply to you: holding onto clothes that no longer fit, don’t fit right, or are uncomfortable is doing much more harm than good.
Everyone has those few items they’re hanging onto for “when they fit back in” or “when they reach their goal weight.” These intentions aren’t necessarily unhealthy or harmful, but what can happen from here is unhealthy and harmful. These articles of clothing don’t motivate or encourage us to reach our goals. They do, however, make us feel depressed and bad about ourselves.
I haven’t been feeling great about the clothes in my wardrobe recently. Some were the right size but I hated the way they looked, some were just a smidge too tight, and some didn’t fit at all. A few items I’ve been hanging onto for nearly two years in the hopes that one day they would fit again. But opening my closet never “inspired” me to lose weight. It made me feel ashamed, upset, and defeated.
The realistic solution is to get rid of these stressors that clearly aren’t helping, and here’s how to do that!
Getting Into the Right Mindset
This part might sound a little goofy, but getting yourself into the right headspace before cleaning out your closet can help save you a lot of stress, tears, and negative feelings.
Start with a little bit of self-love. Do a facemask, make yourself tea or coffee, take a few minutes to read, or enjoy another activity that focuses on being kind to yourself and helps you relax.
Next, take a few moments to go through some body-neutral affirmations, such as these:
“I am more than just my appearance, weight, and shape.”
“It’s okay for my body image to change throughout my life.”
“I deserve to wear clothes I like.”
“I will respect my body.”
“I don’t need to feel attractive in my own skin all the time to enjoy my life and relationships.”
The goal is to focus on the way you value and appreciate your body regardless of its size and the clothes you wear. In a way, we want to empower and support the decisions we’re making while cleaning out the closet.
We’re getting rid of clothes that don’t fit because our bodies have changed, but that doesn’t make our bodies any less worthy of love and respect.
We’re getting rid of clothes that make us feel uncomfortable because we deserve to wear clothes we like and feel good about.
If we don’t give ourselves this foundation of support and respect, it’s easy to give into negative self-talk and feelings. “I can’t believe I let myself get this way,” “why doesn’t this look right on me,” and so on until we’re too miserable to properly finish cleaning the closet.
Starting Small
If the whole closet sounds like a lot to tackle, break it into smaller steps. Start with the items you just don’t like or haven’t worn in a while. Most of these clothes can be removed without a lot of thought or emotion, helping ease you into the process without a lot of stress.
You can also include clothes that you know are the wrong size in this first step. If you know something doesn’t fit or doesn’t fit right, don’t give yourself the opportunity to try it on and get more upset. Accept that it isn’t the right item for you anymore and let it go.
Trying Things on With Less Stress
If there are items you’re not sure about and need to try on, make sure you’re back in the right headspace. It’s important to accept that not everything will fit, or will not fit the way it used to, and that’s okay.
This process might take more than a few days depending on how much you can handle at a time, but it’s well worth the feeling of relief and freedom felt once these stressors are gone.
I like to recommend starting this process away from a mirror so we can focus on how the clothes make us feel. We don’t need to watch ourselves struggle into something that we end up hating anyway. Don’t give yourself time to dwell on something that used to fit, “should” fit, or doesn’t look as good as you’d like.
What to do With Your Old Clothes
From here, you can decide what to do with the items you’re not keeping.
Though it takes more time and effort, selling your gently used items online or to places like Plato’s Closet can put a little extra cash in your pocket.
Donating is also an ideal option, but remember to be mindful about what you’re donating. Don’t just throw in things that you know won’t be accepted.
For items that can’t or shouldn’t be sold or donated, textile recycling is a great option! This also takes a little more time and effort but is worth keeping more fabric and clothing out of landfills.
What’s Easy for One Person Isn’t Easy for Another
I’m sure that this post seems to make a big deal out of nothing. I’m happy that plenty of people have no problem cleaning out their closets.
However, to many of us, such tasks are a big deal. In an environment that continues to champion thinness and idealize unrealistic body shapes, having to reckon with a body that doesn’t meet the ideal is hard. Looking at yourself in front of a mirror in jeans that don’t fit or a top that just doesn't look right can feel like losing. In actuality, our bodies changing and aging is just a part of life and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Be gentle with yourself. If loving and accepting your body feels too difficult, start with those body-neutral affirmations I mentioned above. Work to consciously eliminate negative self-talk and thoughts by refocusing on the amazing things your body does regardless of how you look or weigh.
I don’t think the tips and ideas in this post are necessarily sustainable, but they can help get you one step closer to self-acceptance and love.
If these are topics or ideas you want to explore more, let me know! I would love to chat about how to make these little changes to improve how you feel about yourself.
Photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash