Word: This can be a visitor publish from Julia Ubbenga of Wealthy in What Issues.

On a grey morning final month, I stepped out of my bed room, dressed and prepared for the day. 

“Mother, why do you’ve that once more?” Requested my four-year-old daughter between bites of breakfast cereal.

Have what? I questioned.

Scanning my empty palms, my eyes landed on my yellow, graphic “Hey Sunshine” tee. She’s speaking about my outfit, I noticed. I’d worn the shirt the day earlier than yesterday, however it was clear once more, so on it went.

She’s noticing my tendency to repeat garments, I believed. 

“Do you imply, why am I sporting this shirt once more?” I requested, to make sure.

“You’ve it on once more since you need the clouds to go away right now?” She mentioned thoughtfully.

I smiled. Whereas I hadn’t been that intentional and chosen my outfit in an try affect the climate that day, dwelling a minimalist way of life has unearthed an excessive intentionality round my wardrobe.

Why?

As a result of proudly owning a repeatable, sustainable wardrobe that displays your private type is without doubt one of the strongest methods to simplify your life. 

In 1930, the common American girl owned 9 outfits. Right this moment, that determine is 30 outfits—one for day-after-day of the month.

Earlier than minimalism, I lived the “extra outfits the higher” mindset. In highschool, I documented clothes pairings each day in order to not put on the identical factor twice in the identical month. In my first job out of school, I’d rummage by my roommates’ closets usually, making an attempt to piece collectively a “new” outfit earlier than sliding into my cubicle. 

Lastly, I discovered this outfit preoccupation made life extra sophisticated. In truth, many individuals are realizing the advantages of turning into outfit repeaters.

Listed here are 10 causes I really like sporting the identical issues usually (and suppose you’ll too):

1. Elevated presence 

Clothes can contribute to psychological muddle. You resolve to put on one thing, however two hours later you’re caught wishing you’d worn one thing completely different. Perhaps it’s confirmed to be uncomfortable. Or, turns outs, it wasn’t a terrific match for the event. That inside voice can nag you all through the day, stealing your peace and presence.

Simplifying my wardrobe and sporting solely what I really like has been mentally releasing. I don’t get caught questioning if I wore the proper factor or wishing I’d worn one thing completely different. I put on what I really like. Every single day. And I’m extra current for it.

2. Get monetary savings 

The typical individual spends round $160 per 30 days on garments, which is sort of $2,000 a 12 months. Many of those purchases land in already full closets and are not often worn.

In penning this, I noticed I’ve purchased 4 new clothes objects this previous 12 months, two of which have been wanted maternity shirts. Minimalist dwelling has proven me I don’t must chase the most recent pattern to be ok with myself. Searching for garments is not a pastime, which saves me cash.

3. Much less resolution fatigue

We make a mean of 35,000 selections a day. Our mind’s each day decision-making energy is finite, which means the extra selections we make, the more durable it turns into to make one other one.

Sporting the identical factor repeatedly saves your decision-making energy. I’ve discovered my thoughts is sharper all through the day when it’s not slowed down within the morning making an attempt to resolve what to put on.

4. Much less comparability 

Getting caught up in comparability is a assured option to drain your pleasure. In the event you’re distracted by different folks’s outfits, wishing your wardrobe resembled theirs, you’re lacking out by yourself life. Buying one other pair of sneakers isn’t going to make you content (properly, possibly briefly, till you see one other pair you want you had… and the cycle of discontentment continues).

Earlier than minimalism, I’d see different folks’s outfits and work to duplicate them. I believed I wanted sure items of clothes to slot in (like these fake leather-based sneakers I purchased earlier than transferring to Spain as a result of I believed they’d make me look extra European. Or the over-priced heels I purchased—and fortunately returned—earlier than my brother’s wedding ceremony as a result of I believed they’d assist me match into the L.A. crowd).

Now, I’m assured in my private type and joyful to put on my outfits time and again. I’ve discovered I can nonetheless admire another person’s type, however haven’t any want to personal garments like them myself.

5. Extra self-confidence 

What you put on tasks a message to the world about what you consider your self. While you put on what you’re keen on and really feel finest in, you radiate extra confidence. Why not do that day-after-day?

I’ve realized what outfits make me really feel assured and most authentically myself and which of them don’t. I put on the keepers usually. And the remaining, I let go.

6. Simplified laundry routine (much less clothes muddle)

When you’ve only a few favourite outfits you put on usually, you’re extra motivated to look after them. You don’t allow them to pile up within the hamper for per week—you want them before that! This motivates you to remain on prime of laundry so that you’ll at all times have your favourite outfits able to go.

Earlier than minimalism, I’d put on one thing and throw it within the hamper till I acquired round to washing it. Generally I’d even overlook I owned it! Piles of soiled laundry created muddle piles all through our residence. 

Now I do know the place garments are always—hanging in my closet or within the washer (we don’t use a hamper). Our laundry routine has been drastically simplified by proudly owning fewer, extra cherished outfits. And spending much less time on laundry means extra time spent on different, extra fulfilling, issues.

7. Assist the atmosphere

North Individuals ship 12 million tons of clothes to landfills yearly, 95 p.c of which might have been reused or recycled. Due to quick style, we now view garments as disposable. 

Shopping for outfits with longevity and repeatability in thoughts is sweet for the atmosphere. While you put on the identical factor usually, you do that. Constructing a extra sustainable wardrobe doesn’t have to interrupt the financial institution. My favourite place to buy is a Savers thrift retailer in a well-off space of our metropolis the place I discover high quality items for half the value. 

8. You’re feeling higher

A visit to your closet can considerably affect how you are feeling. Seeing garments you want you match into can set off frustration. Proudly owning garments with the value tags nonetheless hooked up can set off guilt. Seeing garments inherited from a cherished one who has handed away can set off unhappiness.

I want to really feel joyful after I peer into my closet every morning. Proudly owning solely repeatable outfits that I really like does this and might set a optimistic tone for the day.

9. Extra reminders of how little you could be joyful

Proudly owning a repeatable, small wardrobe always sends you the message that contentment will be present in much less. A look at your curated closet prompts ideas like: “I would like a lot lower than I believed I did to be joyful.”

I’m a lot much less doubtless to purchase on impulse or waste time scrolling looking for my subsequent buy when these ideas infiltrate my thoughts each morning. My sense of gratitude additionally will increase the extra I keep in mind life actually is best with much less.

10. Extra self-love

While you’re within the behavior of sporting repeatable outfits you’re keen on, you’re within the behavior of seeing, accepting and supporting your self precisely as you’re.

Within the phrases of Mel Robbins, “Holding garments in sizes that don’t suit you will not be a type of motivation. It causes stress, nervousness, and triggers detrimental self-talk, all which makes you are feeling much less motivated and it makes it unimaginable to like and settle for your physique as you’re.”

In my expertise, eradicating clothes objects just like the “purpose gown” or pair of denims I haven’t match into in 10 years additionally removes the “I must be completely different” message. Repeatable outfits assist who you’re right now, which is the model of you the world wants most.

An unknown quote I really like goes like this:

“It’s okay to… repeat garments, not improve your cellphone, purchase second-hand objects, dwell in a easy residence. It’s okay to dwell a easy life.”

If life feels sophisticated, take into account your wardrobe. Might proudly owning a repeatable wardrobe that displays your private type create a ripple impact of simplicity all through your life? In my expertise, it completely can.

Why not give it a attempt?

It’s greater than okay to grow to be an outfit repeater. 

Your life will grow to be less complicated and extra significant for it.

***

Julia Ubbenga is a contract journalist and mother of 4 who paperwork her household’s journey into minimalism on her weblog, Wealthy in What Issues. Her teachings on simplicity and intentional dwelling assist others dwell a extra significant life with much less stuff. You could find her on Instagram or take a look at her free decluttering information.