Start the year right by minimizing clutter

Did you get to do any clutter clearing at the end of the year?

If not, and it’s been weighing on you, then what about just focusing on your closet, a square footage that’s much easier to manage than your whole home?

I find that having a clear closet contributes to starting the day with a clear mind.

Here are some of the principles that I follow:

1. If you haven’t worn it in the last two years and do not absolutely love it, let it go. If you have not worn something for a long time, you intuitively recognize that you no longer align with it.

Ask yourself what each old item does for you. “Does it lift my energy, or does my energy drop when I think about, look at it or put it on?”

2. Never keep anything for “just in case.” Abundance thinking belongs in your closet, too. Saving the clothes you wore 10 years ago, when you were 10 pounds lighter, “just in case” will not bring back your youthful figure.

3. When something new comes in, make sure something old goes out. I have a bag that lives in the closet.

If I put something new in my closet, something must go into the bag which eventually gets donated.

Avoid belongings buildup at all costs. The more clothes you have, the more your energy is tied up in mundane matters.

4. Avoid “historical” wardrobe syndrome. When I worked as a feng shui consultant I noticed that many closets showed the history of the owner.

Present-tense clothes, ones that mirror who you are today, belong in your closet.

Past-tense garments anchor you to your past because of the energy of the memories and associations attached to them.

5. Discard “expired” garments. Clean out your closet the same way you do your refrigerator — by checking for expiration dates.

Did you know that clothes expire just like food does? Clothes lose their energy when they are worn-out, ill-fitting or don’t match who you are today.

6. Just say, “No, thank you” when someone tries to give you clothes that they don’t want. If you do not love them or wear them, you are not fully honoring the giver.

Prevent your closet from becoming a catch-basin for other people’s cast-offs.

7. When you think you can’t afford not to buy something, don’t. I’ve seen many closets that are full of unworn “bargains.” In these cases, price has overruled promise.

Even if something is on sale, make sure that it fits you, flatters you and is something that you will wear.

Start saying good-bye to good buys that don’t align with your clothing criteria, otherwise, you’ll not only lose money, you’ll take up valuable space in your closet.

Alice Inoue is the founder of Happiness U. Visit yourhappinessu.com.