I've always been fascinated by minimalism. If I didn't live with a partner who adores trinkets and decor, I'd probably inhabit a white box. I enjoy our characterful cottage and the eclectic interior, but it's within my nature to own less stuff.

When we think of a minimalist, we often picture a clean-cut individual with a black wardrobe amidst a sea of white walls. But minimalism takes many shapes. At its core, it seeks to rid us of societal pressures to amass material possessions that we don't like, use, or need.

Now, that's a mission I can get behind!

Since clearing up the clutter of my mind, it's time to take my first step on the journey of intentional living. I used to be driven by insecurity and ego, which led me to splurging on expensive stuff in an attempt to feel whole. ***link to amish

Nowadays, I feel content with my favourite shirt, favourite shoes, and favourite backpack. Everything else feels trivial and unnecessary. My first step on my minimalist journey was to clear out my closet, ridding myself of the useless junk I had accumulated over the years. For someone who wears the same shirt, jeans, and coat everyday… I sure have a lot of crap!

Here is the process I undertook as the first step to decluttering my life!

What do I actually use?

I pulled out every clothing item that I have used regularly within the past month. Like a cheesy talent show, everything left was up for elimination!

This is what my main closet looked before the cull (yes, I have more than one… Why?!)

Ridiculously, this wasn't the last of my clothing! I have a big cabinet with drawers full of shorts, trousers, and underwear… It felt liberating to clear out all the random junk that had been pushed to the back of those drawers!

After pulling out the stuff I actually use, this is what my closet looked like…

Deciding whether it goes or stays.

Once I had a pile of my frequently used stuff, it was crunch-time…

To tackle this step, I referred to some minimalist rules I had noted from my prior research: the '90/90' rule and the 'spontaneous combustion' rule. I got these rules from The Minimalists. They call them 'rules' but emphasise the fluidity of them. They're more like boundaries that are set when looking at our possessions.

For example, “Does this item serve this current version of me?” The rules are in their book, which I'm keen to get my hands on! For now, I have been pulling nuggets of wisdom from their YouTube channel.

The 90/90 Rule

Ask yourself, “Have I used this in the last 90 days?”

And, “Will I use it in the next 90 days?”

This rule can be applied to anything; household items, clothing, and even relationships! It can be shifted to a broader time frame to account for seasons - this is what I did. For my summer clothes, I applied the 90-day time frame (despite the weather being dreadful in the UK this summer!) I applied the yearly structure to my winter stuff.

“Did I use it last winter? Will I use it this coming winter?”

The Spontaneous Combustion Rule

If this item spontaneously combusted right now, would I...

a) replace it with an exact replica?

b) replace it with the same item, but a different version?

c) feel relieved and not replace it at all?

This one is pretty self explanatory. If you'd feel relieved at the loss of an item, it needs to GO! It's shocking how much weight material possessions can place on us. They don't just take up space in our homes, they occupy corners of our minds! If your answer is 'would replace with an exact replica,' this shows you hold the item in high regard. If you use it often and feel strongly about its particular features, then that's a good sign to keep it.

If your answer is 'would replace with a different version', this can lead into the 'just in case' rule…

The Just in Case Rule

Get rid of anything you could replace for less than £20 in less than 20 minutes from wherever you are. This rule is particularly useful to apply this to household items that feel essential, but can easily be replaced if you need them in the future.

If it goes, where does it go?

Branded items were photographed to be listed on Vinted. My partner is addicted to buying and selling on there, so I'll be using her highly-rated profile! From Lacoste to Tommy Hilfiger, it's shocking how much expensive stuff I had and never used… My everyday outfits are made up of thrifted finds that look like they've lived a full life. Clothing with a sense of history makes me feel whole. Sparkling fresh-out-the-box items just don't hold that same connection…

The decent-condition items without clear brands went in the charity shop pile.

During this process, I noted a useful tip for easing the pain of separation. My local charity shop is just down the road. Oftentimes, I have seen an item for sale that I previously donated. This thought allowed me to be more ruthless with my decisions; if I truly wanted it back, I could scope out the store every week and grab it again! This gives a nice buffer, as it becomes easier to break the attachments I've developed.

The end result

102 clothing items - GONE! Well, going…

There's a lot to sell and a lot to donate, but having all my junk organised and ready to go feels amazing. Going into this, I thought it would be easy to let go of all this stuff. For certain items, it was fairly straightforward. But with others, I got a physical reaction at the thought of parting with them. It's bizarre how we attach emotions to items as if they are human beings. When certain long-held items were folded and placed into the 'going' pile, I found myself actually saying “I'll miss you”.

How ridiculous!

Even the language we use when referring to our possessions is misguided. “I love these jeans.” No, you don't. You love your mother, your partner, your dog! These are your 'favourite' jeans. They're better than the other jeans. You 'extremely like' these jeans.

As The Minimalists say, 'Love people, use things. The opposite never works.'

I'm excited to continue stripping down my possessions to their bare bones. The more I drill into the things I like and the things I need, the more I learn about myself. Minimalism is deeply tied to your personal values.

During this first step, I learned that I value function over aesthetics and uniqueness over status. The pricey branded shirt doesn't hold the same magnetism as the second-hand flannel shirt I picked up five years ago.

Onwards and upwards, friends! This is just the beginning…