Minimalism is a special way of life. It involves not only the absence of unnecessary things, it also creates the conditions for getting rid of unnecessary clothes. And the last thing is very important: the reluctance or inability to part with old clothes clutters up the living space more than constant purchases. Each thing has its own active life span, and it is important not to miss when it expires.

How to part with unnecessary things correctly? How to get rid of junk that takes up space but will never serve its intended purpose? I have my own algorithm.

Step 1. Winter or summer?

Initially, all things in the house are divided into two large groups:

"Summer",
"Winter".

In the summer I work with the first, in the winter, respectively, with the second. This is important because in hot weather it’s hard for me to appreciate the relevance, warmth and quality of a sweater, and in the terrible cold it’s sometimes impossible to understand the beauty of a sundress. Therefore, here and now we subject clothes that are about to be worn to critical analysis, because the season is conducive to this.

Step 2. Ideal or not?

Things for the season are divided into three more groups:

1. Ideal.
They're trendy, they suit your personal style, they fit great, they're high quality.

2. Good, but...
Overall they are not bad, but there is something wrong with them. Wrong length, wrong volume, wrong parameters. They can make you a little fatter, a little outdated, put pressure on your stomach, or bunch up on your back.

2. Bad.
They went out of fashion, lost quality, stretched, and faded from washing. They may be beloved, but the critical eye is unmistakable: these clothes have lost their original charm.

Step 3. Throw it away or keep it?

Three groups lie in front of you (you can even dump them carelessly). And here everything is easy:

Ideal things stay in the closet and are actively worn,
Things “Good, but...” are transformed - they can be altered, cut, changed with the help of accessories (for example, a belt). If there is no desire or ability to do something with them, you will have to part with them.
Bad things are thrown away without regret. These are definitely the clothes that will never be worn.

A little more about "bad" things

If you have gained weight, you can return to your previous figure, but you are unlikely to want to return to your previous wardrobe, which has lost its relevance during the “downtime”;
Lost weight - your favorite things turn into shapeless bags, and you can wear them with a belt, but it will simply be ugly;
We changed the style - your favorite midi skirt cannot be made mini by simply rolling it up at the waist;
Growing up is especially important: 5 years ago, stupid glasses, creepy plush platform sandals and an infantile denim overalls looked fresh on you, but today, alas, these are the same things from the past as rompers. They just don't suit you.

How to throw it away correctly?

There is just a sweater in pills, and you can use it for rags. But there is also a skirt bought with my first salary. There is a sundress in which you met your love. There is a lucky dress that I wore to pass my driving test (second time!). How to throw them away? How do I put them in the trash can?

Therefore, I do not suggest throwing away clothes or simply damaging them (for example, making a car cover out of a coat, which will be as frankly scary as the coat itself). To me, this is vandalism.

Clothes leave our lives like this:

Given to friends or sold - the best things that have retained their quality and may attract someone else,
Changes - you can exchange things with friends or other like-minded people, which will allow you to refresh your wardrobe for free,
It is altered - for those who know how to do it, or know who to ask,
Gives to those in need (there are a lot of families like this, if you set a goal, you can easily find someone who will be happy to wear your old jeans),
It is given to those who can make something special out of it.

The last one is very interesting. There are companies that make bags from old leather jackets. There are also craftsmen who remake old denim items into bags. And finally, there are families (not many of them) who make wonderful toys or accessories out of old clothes. I sent a whole package of my things to one such family, and I admire what they turned into. And most importantly, things did not disappear, they simply transformed.

Giving away clothes is easy and pleasant if it allows you to extend their life - just no longer in your closet or in your house dust. And most importantly, sold or given away items free up space and provide wide scope for choosing something new. When you only have clothes you like in your closet, it’s very easy to determine what’s still missing and buy exactly that.

A minimal wardrobe is a little creativity. You are not just creating your own set of clothes. And not even your style. You create a living space whose details delight you, because they simply cannot be boring. Oh no,

minimalism is very inspiring and interesting!

Why? More about this next time.

In the meantime, what do you think of the idea? Do you agree? Have you ever thrown things away?

Many people simply physically cannot part with junk that is dear to their hearts. We don’t condemn the attachment to pearls that remind us of our grandmother, but much more often our closets are filled with truly monstrous things. There is the blouse that you were wearing on the day of your first kiss, and a rabbit sheepskin coat mortally wounded by moths (how can you throw away furs!), and stripper shoes, given by witty friends and since then awaiting your moral decline.

If you feel bad about throwing away unnecessary things

Psychologists, of course, have an explanation for why people have such a pure love for garbage. Listen to experts - so things become for us powerful symbols of the years we have lived, reminding us of who we are, where we came from and how we achieved everything we have. All these cassettes with Stashevsky, size zero jeans, a double-glued cup with kittens are part of our personal history, which is difficult to throw away.

There is another reason: if property emphasizes your status and success (for example, things from designer, albeit outdated, collections), then in today’s precarious economic climate it gives a certain illusion of security. And throwing away such an expensive amulet, even if it objectively asks for the trash, is doubly difficult.

Be that as it may, it is necessary to clear out your living space from time to time - because hoarding weighs heavily not only on your shelves, but also on your physical and emotional state. “An overabundance of things doesn’t just clutter your apartment, it also steals energy,” says Tim Kasser, Ph.D., professor and author of The High Cost of Materialism. – Research has shown that The more people focus on possessions, the lower their level of personal well-being, the less satisfied they are with their lives and the more often they are addicted to cigarettes, alcohol and headache pills.” You don't need it, right? Then get rid of unnecessary things.

Throw away unnecessary things: step 1

Recognize the problem

The mountain does not appear in the house overnight. Usually it accumulates for years, like dust under a refrigerator, and in the same way does not attract attention at first. But by some signs you can understand that things are planning to take over your rightful square meters.

You are always planning to “deal with it later” with items that require repair, dry cleaning, or fit. Therefore, your closets are full of shoes without heels and shirts without buttons - and, of course, there is nothing to wear. A rule that will help resolve this chaos: never put away out of sight an item that needs repairing or washing, and don’t be shy about giving your friends a book that you haven’t been able to finish reading for more than a year.
You're always late, and it's not because of traffic jams - you just have too many clothes and accessories. When there are a lot of options, you spend too much time thinking through the image, which, firstly, throws you off schedule, and secondly, tires you.
You have three bottles of your favorite nail polish - and you just bought another one. We hope that you don’t have any real memory problems, which means that you have emotional shopping syndrome (I saw an old friend in the window - how can I pass it up?) or an irrational fear that your favorite product may disappear from the shelves, so you need to have a supply.

Throw away unnecessary things: step 2

Change your approach

There are three ways to take control of your own greed/shopaholism/addiction.

Focus on your emotions. Spending money on fun experiences - like island vacations or dining out - rather than on material possessions makes people happier in the long run, says a study by psychologists from the University of San Francisco. And to make it easier for you to part with cash without getting anything real in return, try to think of it as an investment in the bank of happiness. Everything that brings pleasure (we’re talking about lying under palm trees and gatherings with friends) is valuable, because you will experience pleasant emotions again and again, just remembering this event. And things, as a rule, lose their attractiveness over time, and in general they become boring.
Remember that sometimes less really is more. Clutter in the home often stems from the misconception that the variety of things is more important than their quality. When you own an industrial stock of roughly identical white T-shirts, you stop appreciating each specific one and are likely to buy more and more in the hope that one of them will seem special to you. Instead, try to buy only what you really like.
Ask for advice. When you decide to do some spring cleaning, invite a friend or sister to act as the arbiter of destinies. A person who is not as emotionally tied to what he has acquired through backbreaking labor as you are, is able to give objective advice on what is high time to scrap it.

What unnecessary/damaged/old things are most difficult for you to throw away?

Clothes, shoes, underwear......27%
Household appliances, electronics......4%
Books, CDs, magazines......4%
Memorabilia......4%
Accessories, jewelry, watches......2%
Furniture, decorative items.........2%
Children's things......2%
I don't feel sorry for anything......12%
It's all a pity......13%
Other.........17%
Difficult to answer.........13%

According to the research center of the portal Superjob.ru.

Throw away unnecessary things: step 3

Weed out everything unnecessary

Even in nuns’ cells there is rubbish that just begs to be thrown into the trash, let alone your mansions. But if you can't decide right away whether something deserves to be banished, read on. We will help you.

Do you use this item often or do you have a better item with the same functionality? It may be a decent sweater, but if you can't remember the last time you wore it, don't hesitate to donate it to someone in need. The same goes for a toaster that has been gathering dust without use for more than six months.
An exception should be made for items intended for special occasions. An evening clutch, feathered underwear and a pot for boiling lobster can hardly be called essential items, but if your life involves at least rare use of them, so be it, let them remain.
Is this item associated with sentimental memories? As practice shows, even among ancient crones, memorable artifacts about the best moments of life easily fit into two boxes. The wedding album and the first drawing of the heir will definitely fit there. But keeping every plane boarding pass from every trip you've ever taken? Come to your senses.
Are you afraid of losing it? According to the law of meanness, exactly what went to the landfill yesterday will turn out to be urgently needed today. But if that's the only reason to keep the Strawberry costume from the school play, it's clearly not enough.

Throw away unnecessary things: step 4

Clear the space

Ready to start clearing the area? Wait, we have some more tips.

Do not move things from place to place. Every item you pick up must be put back in its place or thrown away (recycled, donated, finally returned to the library, or donated). And don’t try to deceive yourself by saying: “I’ll think about it later.” Now or never.
One in the house, one out. When buying a new thing (say, a mixer), please throw away the old one, which “can still be repaired.” Well, or throw it to the craftsmen in the garages.
Count and think. In your head, figure out what the quantitative indicators of your mess are: in numbers (five pairs of jeans), volumes (a basket of lipstick) and time (“I haven’t been able to leaf through this magazine for six months”). The more items you have in one category and the less often you use them, the more diligently you should work to reduce their number.

Is there at least one Russian family whose bins will not contain old furniture, stacks of Soviet magazines tied with ropes, old shoes “for the dacha” and other things that require urgent evacuation to the trash heap? Probably not. We are all Plyushkins in some way, and on every balcony, in the pantry, on mezzanines and cabinets, “sources of mites, allergens, mold and moths” have been stored for decades.

Do you need to get rid of old stuff, and how to do it wisely?

Why do you need to throw away the old?

Old things clutter up space in the house and prevent not only the free circulation of clean air, but also (according to Feng Shui) the energy of qi (life). One can approach the philosophy of Feng Shui in different ways, but one cannot deny the negative impact of old things in the house on the health of household members. Old things bring us old energy, dust, mites, etc., responding with poor health, laziness, apathy, and, as a result, negative thoughts and projecting them onto our lives.
If you want to change anything in your life, start small. There will be no order in your life and in your head if there is no order in your home. Any changes are good. And as a rule, just by getting rid of the junk in your apartment, you begin to feel changes for the better.
Old things in the house and attachment to them are programming oneself for poverty. We say to ourselves: “what if I throw away this sofa now and can’t buy a new one?”, projecting our pessimism in advance onto our well-being.
According to a Chinese proverb, the new will not appear in life until the old is gone. Junk and old things are the main obstacle to vital energy. That is, until you make room for the “new”, you will have to live with the “old” (with all the ensuing consequences).
The most negative energy accumulates in those corners of the apartment where old things have been lying around for years., and where the hands of the owners do not reach. Old, out-of-fashion boots with worn-out heels, boxes with old dishes, skis and skates from childhood and especially chipped cups, clothes that have become unusable, broken radios and other things that are “a pity to throw away” are a source of negative energy. By clearing our home of such energy and junk, we open the doors to happiness, abundance and harmony.

Of course, throwing away family jewelry and antiques from your great-grandmothers makes no sense. But if these items evoke unpleasant emotions or memories in you, you also need to get rid of them (give them away, sell them, take them to a salon, etc.). Any antique thing is a powerful energy. If you are not sure of its origin and positive history, you should not keep such an item in your home.
A fact established by experts: old, unnecessary things in the house also negatively affect the psyche of household members. Getting rid of junk is tantamount to effective “psychotherapy” that helps relieve stress and protect against depression.
Carpets are warm, soft and beautiful. We won't argue. But old carpets in the house (and new ones too) are a source of dust, mites, etc. There are few people who regularly take their carpets to the dry cleaner, and home cleaning (even the most thorough) does not clean the base of the carpet 100 percent. What can we say about the walls covered with Soviet carpets - the toxins of modern cities are absorbed into them for years. Get rid of dust collectors! To make it warm, soft and beautiful, today there are heated floors, cork floors and other non-hazardous coatings.
Old books. Well, of course it's a pity. Stacks of magazines, fiction, newspapers, books accumulated over decades, which were once “with fire”, and in general “throwing away books is a sin.” But! “Library” dust is a strong allergen, the quality of paper leaves much to be desired, cheap paints and the lead content in them (in newspapers, magazines) are poison for the body. If there is no safe, separate place in the house to store such things, take them to the country, give them away or hand them over to old book stores.
If you have allergies or asthma in your family, getting rid of old things is your top priority.

"Sentimental" item in memory of the past – this is understandable and explainable. A figurine in memory of my grandmother, an antique coffee table or a sugar bowl are things that we attach special importance to. Well, don’t part with them - that’s all.

But when these memorable “sentimental” things begin to surround you from all sides, fill closets and suitcases, crawl across kitchen shelves and cabinets, interfering with your desires to “live in your own way” (many people know the feeling of guilt - they say, when you throw away a box of grandma’s cards, you throw away “grandmother herself”) - means It's time to change something in your mind and in your life.

How to properly throw away old things - learn how to get rid of trash for good

We are sorting out the shelves with books. We leave those books that have any value (old ones, simply dear to our hearts). We sort the rest based on the situation: children's books, science fiction, detective stories and other readable literature we donate to libraries, books from the Soviet era we sell or hand over for sale (today there are many opportunities for such a “maneuver” and lovers of old books), cookbooks from the “take it” category meat for 2 rubles..." we give it away or boldly put it in a box near the trash heap.
Family archive. Well, what mother would raise her hand to throw away her child’s old drawings, letters, manuscripts and notes? Preserving such a legacy (for future generations) is not difficult - it is enough to modernize the archive by digitizing all memorial papers and drawings. The same can be done with boxes of “ancient” videotapes that capture weddings, birthdays and simply memorable events - digitize and free up space.
Old furniture. There are not so many options: place advertisements for sale on the Internet, take it to the country, give it to those in need, update it in a workshop or do it yourself and give an old chair (for example) a new life.
Before throwing something into the trash, ask about its value. Perhaps this chest of drawers from your grandmother will bring you money for a new refrigerator, and the collection of old stamps will contain rare “papers with original glue”, which collectors have been chasing for many years.
Buy new things only after getting rid of old ones. There is no need to store a dozen new sets of bed linen in the closet if you still have two dozen old ones there. Or buying a new refrigerator when you have a whole labyrinth of old ones in your hallway.
Place all things from the mezzanine(from the closet, from the pantry) into one pile and sort it into “can’t do without this”, “useful”, “well, why do I need this” and “urgently in the trash”. Get rid of unnecessary junk without hesitation - discipline yourself.
Lots of old clothes, which has long gone out of fashion, has become too big/small, is a little worn, has defects? Wash it, iron it, remove defects and take it to a second-hand store (second-hand store, online flea market, etc.). Still, the money was spent, and it’s stupid to just throw away things that can still serve someone, and that can still bring in a pretty penny.
Please note - is it possible to renew the things you decide to throw away? For example, make fashionable shorts from old jeans, a decorative item from an old jacket, a masterpiece of painting from an old flowerpot, or a hand-made bedspread from a blanket that your mother gave you?

Many people try to throw out the trash bag in the morning or afternoon. Why are they doing the right thing? Why can't you take out the trash in the evening?– read below. And also, if you read the article to the end, you will find out how to properly throw away old things. Well... so as not to spoil anything for yourself.

This sign has roots in the distant past, but is nevertheless popular today even among those who consider themselves materialists. But still, whether you believe in omens or not, it is better not to take the trash out of the house after sunset.

What you will learn from the article:

Why can't you take out the trash in the evening?

1. So that money does not stop flowing

All Feng Shui masters recommend taking out the trash only before sunset. And they associate this with wealth in the house.
The fact is that the energies of day and night have polar meanings - yang and yin. By taking out the trash in the dark, we touch Yin energy, which in itself is a state of peace, silence, decline. But the garbage itself is the yang remains from the master’s table . Thus, the energies enter into dissonance, disrupting the natural flow of qi.
The night has its own tasks, and this is not taking out the trash.

2. To prevent gossip from spreading

This is what grandmothers who were far from Feng Shui said. But this theory also has its share of truth. He who is clean in his hands has no need to hide his dirty laundry under the cover of darkness.

3.To protect yourself and your loved ones

There is a very unpleasant type of people who practice black magic. As you know, objects take on part of the energy of their owners. And through these objects you can influence a person. When taken out in the dark, discarded items can play a cruel joke on their recent owner. It’s not that someone is specifically hunting for your things (but it happens – believe me!), but even things that accidentally fall into the wrong hands can have unpleasant consequences.

How to properly throw away old things

It is important to remember that even if you throw away personal items during the day, it is better to wash them first (if you think that they may still serve someone). If these are clothes or dishes, then it would also be a good idea to keep them in salt water for at least a couple of hours (just add table salt or sea salt to the water). Of course, hardly anyone wants to tinker with garbage, but this will significantly protect you from outside energy influences.
Another option is to tear and cut clothes, break cups and plates (this is if you do not leave your things for those who may still need them).

So, you've collected a bunch of old things, decided to clean out your space and make room for new things. Sort things out - clothes for clothes, dishes for dishes, newspapers and books, we throw them away without thinking.
Clothes - wash, keep in salt water
Dishes - keep in salt water
Jewelry and accessories MUST be kept in salt water.

Not everyone is used to getting rid of old ones, unnecessary things. It happens that a person’s apartment is filled to the brim with rubbish, but it doesn’t even occur to him to throw something away - maybe it will come in handy, just in case. The accumulation of various objects in the house is a serious psychological problem, called Plyushkin syndrome in honor of the unfortunate hero of the famous work.

By collecting everything in his house, a person thus tries to protect himself, barricade yourself from reality. However, this action only exacerbates his confusion in life, while littering his home with unnecessary things and never-ending dust.

Why do you need to get rid of old things and stop bringing random things into the house? Here a few reasons, with which it is difficult to argue. Perhaps this will change your opinion about your usual way of life, maybe, with the help of these arguments, you will convince one of your relatives to stop collecting.

Why you need to get rid of junk

Throw old things and thoughts into the trash without any regret! If you really hate to throw it away, give it away. , it must be harmonious and constantly updated.

Living your life surrounded by rubbish is a sad prospect, as is living, always being in the past, remembering what has already happened and will never return. You may not have so many things, but they will all be of high quality, updated, and functionally justified. This is a guarantee that the world around you will help you and not pull you back. Why do you need an anchor if you have a sail?

Weight loss