Not a Maximalist- Not a minimalist

 Minimalism while beautiful was never going to be a thing for me- I struggle with object permanence- aka if I cannot see it, it doesn't exist.  This is clear if you open my fridge- or cupboards- I need items I use and eat to be on my sight line. My husband gives me a hard time - and rightfully so for buying food I never end up eating. It's not that I am trying to be wasteful I just completely forget that I've purchased it and put it there.   This also impacts the clothing I choose to wear being whats on top of the pile over anything else resulting in me wearing many of the same items over and over again. 

When I was a kid and had a bad day- my mom would take me to target.  While not a bad thing I did build some unhealthy habits related to shopping as a way to gratify mental health issues.  I've spent the last several years working on the makeup obsession that was a result of some of that and while I will continue to work on using up products rather than buying more in that department I'd now like to go in to my closet and dressers that are bursting at the seams often with things I don't wear.  I also struggle with only keeping things that fit me now.  As someone who has struggled with food and disordered eating for the majority of my life I'm finally learning to love my body as it is and dress for the way I look today.  But I have a lot of decluttering and letting go to do and I know it's going to take time.

I am ending 2022 with a closet clean out, things I have no personal attachment to that are the "easy" things to let go of, mostly because I've found better options for those items in my closet (dresses I like more, pants that fit better, things that aren't scratchy) and making a plan for determining what I do and don't use so I can declutter this aspect of my life.  So while I will likely never be a minimalist, I can streamline for myself so I get use out of what I have and only keep what I actually enjoy wearing. 

I also want to reduce what I am bringing into my home and set aside my normal shopping habit money for a longer term goal of a sauna. Which is something that could actually bring me joy every day. 

If you have any recommendations for how you figure out what can stay and what can go I'd happily take the feedback and recommendations. 

Claire