Sort Out Your Closet: The Three Pile Method
- Jeanine Scott
- May 4
- 3 min read
Hello friend,
How are you doing today? Today’s writing finds the calendar turning a page as it is a new month, yet still not quite to the middle of the year. I’ve got something for you today, so grab a cup of tea or coffee and settle in. It’s nothing overwhelming, just something that might help you open us some space…
I want to talk to you about your closet today. It’s not because I think it’s a mess, but because I know that when seasonal depression wraps around you like a heavy blanket, even opening your closet can feel like too much. So many decisions! So much visual noise! So many things that don’t serve you anymore!
The good news? You don’t need a whole weekend to transform your closet. You don’t need a professional organizer or complicated systems. You just need three piles and permission to take this one small step at a time.
Here’s how it works. I call it the three pile method, and honestly, it saved my sanity more than once.
Start by clearing a space. Maybe your bed would be a suitable place for this task. Or, if that feels too overwhelming, just a corner on your floor will do. You’re going to need room to move things around without pressure. That’s the whole point. This should feel manageable, not like a mountain of work. If it helps keep you focused as you sort your clothes, take three sheets of paper and label them: KEEP, GIVEAWAY and ALTER or MEND.
Now, go through your closet. Pick up one item at a time. Don’t overthink it. Just honestly ask yourself: Do I actually wear this? Does it make me feel good in my body? Is it something I generally reach for, or is it just taking of space?
Here’s where the three piles come in:
A. PILE ONE - KEEP: These are your friends. The sweaters that feel soft. The jeans that actually fit. The shirt you reach for again and again. Put these back on the rack or in your drawer. These deserve to stay.
B. PILE TWO - GIVEAWAY: These are items that don’t serve you anymore. Perhaps they don’t fit, maybe the color isn’t your thing anymore, maybe you just never wear them. No judgment. No guilt. These items might serve someone else beautifully. That’s a gift in itself. Set them aside to donate.
C. PILE THREE - ALTER OR MEND: This one’s tricky because it requires honesty. Is this something you’ll actually take to a tailor or that you’ll actually sew up? If you’re not going to do it, be honest with yourself. If you will; if there is a beloved piece that just needs a hem or a button, that’s reasonable. Put it in a separate bag and give yourself a deadline; maybe this weekend, maybe next month. Just be realistic.
Here’s what I want you to know: this isn’t about getting down to some perfect minimalist wardrobe. This is about creating a closet where the things you see are the things you actually love. And, getting dressed, doesn’t require you to weigh through pieces that don’t work for you. When seasonal depression makes every decision feel heavy, a closet that says “I believe in you” instead of “look at all these choices” becomes a sanctuary.
When you can open your closet and see mostly things that make you feel good, getting dressed, becomes easier. It’s smaller and less exhausting. And, on the days when just putting on clothes feels like a victory, that matters.
Take your time. You don’t have to do the whole closet in one day. Maybe just do one section: your sweaters, your jeans, your work clothes. Focus on one step at a time. There’s no pressure. And, it’s not about perfection.
When you’re done, take a breath and look at what you’ve created. You’ve just made space for yourself that feels a little lighter, a little kinder to yourself.
So, friend, give yourself time, either by scheduling it so you can consider your decisions thoughtfully or do this in smaller segments if it feels too much and overwhelming. For some, especially with more clothing to sort through, it may require several passes to get through your closet. To be transparent, I will be doing this as well. Here’s to us!!!
Until next time, take care, Jeanine
