{"id":2224,"date":"2025-08-12T17:23:33","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T22:23:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/?p=2224"},"modified":"2025-08-12T17:38:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T22:38:59","slug":"downsize-your-closet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/2025\/08\/12\/downsize-your-closet\/","title":{"rendered":"Downsize Your Closet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Downsizing our closets matters. Buy, why? Since wellness is a top priority in aging gracefully, this post will explain the often unknown, but the researched reality of a disorganized closet and its negative effects on our health and wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reasons Downsizing Closets Does Matter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Causes Stress<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cluttered closets equals stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Visual confusion causes stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Disorganization affects how your clothing works for you, which adds more stress!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Triggers Regrets<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hanging on to clothing from a former lifestyle is a sure way to bring us down emotionally. Let it go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lifestyle changes require changes in our clothing. So do it. Get with where you are at now\u2014in your current life stage or circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Calculate what you really need routinely. Make a list to avoid buying mistakes. A huge mistake: buying to feel better or because it\u2019s on sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Produces Shame or Guilt<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our excesses, never worn clothing, may act as a constant reminder of weight gain. These items just hang there screaming: \u201cWe no longer fit you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A job loss or a new change in life, that is drastically different, may cause the excess clothing to hang. This was my major dilemma, and oh boy, I struggled because I loved my former life a lot. I loved those clothes that came with it. Yet, I really don\u2019t need them anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Clothes that you do not wear, but keep hanging on to, can cause negative feelings of guilt from constant procrastination. You may ask yourself: \u201cWhy can\u2019t I get this done?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>OUT those clothes should go! No one needs this daily emotional hit?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Positive Rewards of Downsizing the Closet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Renewed Positive Outlook<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An organized closet requires continued effort to keep clothing, shoes, accessories, all organized. However, after I did another recent refresh of my downsized closet, I receive what I call a \u201cheart smile.\u201d This gives me my very own hug. It says: \u201cGood job Mitzi!\u201d This is an affirmation for me to, again, acknowledge how a messy closet does add to my stress levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Acceptance of A New Reality<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Okay, so this is my new life acceptance\u2014no matter my size, my lifestyle, or my space available. But wait, this is not so easy if it\u2019s the result of an unexpected major move or life change or losing one\u2019s spouse or partner. I, Mitzi Beach, took a major downward spiral into that, never comfortable, place of my own. I had to ask myself: \u201cWho am I now? What do I do with my new life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Admittedly, over a couple years, I did accept my new reality. I took the leap into downsizing. I finally donated my career clothes. And, in the end, it gave me a fresh re-start!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ok, I kept a few items that were timeless for any occasion, wink-wink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Now You Know<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most importantly, now you know that you are really ready to let go of those clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don\u2019t Forget Tips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If possible, move off-season or dressier items to another closet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As I say in my book, if it\u2019s stuff you don\u2019t wear \u201cit is actually cheating to merely delay downsizing to move to another closet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please remember, even after your closet re-organization is completed, changing out seasonal clothing, plus, maintaining the downsizing lifestyle will be a forever endeavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To continue reaping the rewards, maintain a closet that embraces who you are in the now. Maintain enjoying a stress-free, daily experience of easily finding what works for you and portrays the beautiful you\u2014that you are right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/i2ggeCJU5C4\">Take A Peak Into Mitzi&#8217;s Downsized Closet<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mitzibeach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/D3448935-75AB-4356-B4B2-852B75E2623A.mov\">Short Video of Finished, Installed Closet Units<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"289\" height=\"322\" src=\"http:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/68974800_3422733324419390_551799148874039296_n.jpg\" alt=\"Smiling mature woman in a white blouse\" class=\"wp-image-1946\" style=\"width:183px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/68974800_3422733324419390_551799148874039296_n.jpg 289w, https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/68974800_3422733324419390_551799148874039296_n-269x300.jpg 269w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 289px) 100vw, 289px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mitzi Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Mitzi Beach, A.S.I.D., C.A.P.S. is an award-winning interior designer, author of Design Smarts, and latest book, The Door to Restoration, a conference speaker, and 50+ marketing and interior design\/lifestyle specialist. Armed with 30 years of experience and a Master\u2019s Degree in Interior Design, she is one of Design Hounds\u2019s top 100 influencers.&nbsp;Quoted in Wall Street Journal, Women\u2019s Health Magazine, &amp; other periodicals on Aging-in Place trends. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mitzibeach.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/mitzibeach.com<\/a>.<a href=\"https:\/\/mitzibeach.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/mitzibeach.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maintain enjoying a stress-free, daily experience of easily finding what works for you and portrays the beautiful you\u2014that you are right now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":2227,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,6,16],"tags":[196],"class_list":["post-2224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beauty-fashion","category-health-wellness","category-organization","tag-closet-organization"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2224"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2224\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2231,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2224\/revisions\/2231"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2227"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}