Last night, I found myself struggling to choose a shirt to wear yet again. That’s when I decided to give The Minimalists’ “1-in-10-out” rule a shot. This simple decluttering technique involves getting rid of 10 items for every new one brought in. Since I had recently acquired a new shirt, I decided to apply this rule to my closet and part ways with 10 of my current shirts.
My Experience with the “1-in-10-out” Rule in My Closet
The process seemed straightforward at first. I sifted through my shirts and set aside the ones I no longer wanted. However, as I delved deeper into the task, I realized it was more challenging than I anticipated.
Discarding the initial few shirts was easy—they were seldom worn or promotional items. But as I progressed, I faced tough decisions. Should I keep the shirt from my husband that I never wear? What about the shirt that no longer fits but holds sentimental value? Making these choices was difficult, but eventually, I had a stack of 10 shirts ready for donation. Although I wanted to continue, the emotional attachment to many of my clothes made me pause.
Upon completion, I felt somewhat underwhelmed. The closet space freed up by removing shirts was minimal. While I was proud of finishing the task, I wished for a more noticeable impact. For a greater sense of achievement, I believe this rule is better suited for bulkier items or a cluttered drawer.
My Experiment with the “1-in-10-out” Rule in My Office
With this in mind, I turned to my office to declutter my sticky notes and notepads. Having recently added two more to the collection, I looked forward to purging 20 pieces.
This time, adhering to the rule was a breeze. I had plenty of items I disliked due to branding or being freebies from places I’d never visited.
After discarding the initial 10, I continued decluttering without keeping count. The decluttering process became addictive, and now, my paper stash is significantly reduced.
Next on my decluttering list: the candle collection.