An organized closet profoundly affects one’s ability to have an organized mind. Trust me, I now know.

Being a creative person, I needed the guidance of other women to help me simplify and organize a part of my life.

I pride myself on being a good picker of people, places, and things! Therefore, I immediately knew two women who could assist me in revolutionizing and organizing some of my closets. Marie Kondo and my mother, Elaine Lang. As I often express in my musings, women need women.

We all know that after age 50, we have the time to organize our closets. I have found that organizing, though challenging, is worthwhile.

Clearing away clutter and organizing what you love feels like a personal cleansing. My organized closets spark joy in me.

MARIE KONDO – MY ORGANIZATION GURU

Allow me to introduce you, if you have not had the pleasure, to Marie Kondo, the author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Marie is beyond an ordinary organized woman — she is perfection to a tee. If you follow her advice on tidying and discarding the unnecessary, even your files will have style!

You will no longer feel scattered when you follow her directions to create an organized closet. I found it amazing that when I tidied up my wardrobe, my thoughts tidied up, too. A sense of peace and pride cascades over me, like a Hawaiian waterfall, when I walk into my Marie Kondo organized closet.

Marie’s words, “Why spend your money on an organizer? They don’t organize you; they reorganize what you have!” Her philosophy is to discard possessions that do not reflect your passion; that do not spark joy.

If you are truly interested in organizing your closet — organize your mind by buying her book. You will thank me. It is a keeper. Buy it for gifts, too. I do.

 

 

ELAINE LANG – MY MOTHER – STYLISH INSPIRATION

My mother has an elegant style based on simplicity and a defined sense of organization.

Growing up, I noticed her closet was small but organized, without the help of Marie Kondo! I believe my mom’s mind was and is mathematical. 2+2 is always 4. Maybe that was why everything about her was organized; her closet and her sense of style.

Her palette of colors was also small but carefully chosen. Her fabrics and accessories were stunning. One accessory could change her outfit from casual to elegant, from daytime to evening. Consider adding more accessories to your collection and pairing down your choices of colors in your wardrobe.

THE ART OF ‘LESS IS MORE’

I learned the art of ‘less is more’ from observing my mother. In her, I saw the whole of elegance.

My eye did not dart from a jacket in navy to a multicolored scarf wrapped around shoulders. Then to a pair of white slacks, a red blouse, and an armload of cluttered bracelets! Marie would have a panic attack and say, “Take it off, take it off! How utterly exhausting!”

An exhausted and disorganized woman definitely does not exhibit organization or style.

My mother’s style was quiet, uncluttered. It looked easy. When she walked into any room, she turned heads. She is still a knockout in her wheelchair; everything about her outer look has a sense of discipline. Her inner look is something else. A perfect combination.

My mother created an all-encompassing outer look; she preferred to exhibit a palette of outerwear in the same color tones. She brought her personality into ‘her look’ with her inner style of warmth and gaiety, red lipstick, and a beautiful smile.

In the evening, she would wear a simple dress of fine fabric and accessories that set a mood. Her style set her apart from the crowd because her outerwear gave the appearance of an organized and self-assured woman. She is both to this day.

TWO FUNNY VIGNETTES

Marie’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, should be a staple in your library. Her philosophy is that organization creates an organized mind. Her theory: When you lose passion for an object, toss it! Marie’s opinion on organization is forever in my thoughts, even outside our home!

Last week I was in an eyeglass shop to pick up my Ultimate Concierge’s new glasses. The woman asked, “Would you like to keep the old glass from your last prescription?”

I said, “Have you heard of Marie Kondo?”

She looked at me startled and then replied with a big laugh, “Of course. Who hasn’t?” Without a word, she tossed the old glasses into the waste basket. We both laughed while my Ultimate Concierge looked puzzled.

Tidying the Marie Kondo way is the perfect example of intertwining organization with style.

On another occasion, my Ultimate Concierge and I drove to the print shop to have some of our photos reframed. The man asked if we wanted to keep the old frames. Again Marie came to my mind! “Have you heard of Marie Kondo?”

“Yes, of course!” I was shocked he knew of her. When he held up an old frame and tossed it we laughed. My Ultimate Concierge again looked puzzled.

 

 

ORGANIZING OTHER CLOSETS

With my Marie Kondo attitude, I became consumed with organizing other closets, drawers, clothing, files, and memories throughout our condo! It has taken over a year of tidying (discarding), and I am not done yet.

Every time I open the closet doors of my small organized wardrobe closet, I feel so peaceful, like the sensation of a cool wave cascading over me. I am physically and emotionally at peace. I am proud of my due diligence. After tidying up, I am glad I feel passionate about everything I have. My newly organized closet helps organize my thoughts while I dress in a style that now takes half the time.

Ultimately, I continued my quest using Marie’s theory that an organized closet creates an organized mind. I redid our storage room and turned a large kitchen closet into an entertainment center!

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF ORGANIZATION

When you understand the meaning and see the results that – less is more – you will appreciate that having ‘less’ is highly beneficial, especially for your sanity! When you declutter your closets, you unclutter your mind. Your stress level lessons. Everything about your inner beauty begins to shine because you smile more often. This is a style for every woman after 50.

Unlike my mom and Marie, I have a creative mind. I am organized with a flair, so to speak. I needed both of these women to get me where I knew I wanted to be …organized! Now my comfort level has been defined to perfection.

 

 

 

SELF-CARE AND MINDSET

Self-care is an act of self-respect. The feeling of being ‘rung out’ because you are disorganized is no way to live life. You have the time to organize now that you are a woman after 50. Don’t dream. Do.

In order to begin any new project, a change in your mindset must be made. If you have time to go on FaceBook or Instagram, you have time to tidy up your closets and organize your mind. That is style.

YOUR ORGANIZATION PLAN

1. Start getting organized by creating a plan. That is the first step. 
2. Give yourself a time limit. A month, a year to achieve what you desire.
3. Buy Marie Kondo’s book on Amazon. She will help you decide which elements to toss and how to discover what you want to keep. As I wrote above, her book will change your style of living. You will learn how to declutter, delete, cancel, recycle, unsubscribe and breathe. I call this change in my life the art of simplification.
4. The more time you have to care for your immediate surroundings, the more content you will feel. Organization provides time.
5.  Discarding unnecessary possessions in your closet and throughout your home will allow you time to be curious and grow.  
6. Shedding unnecessary objects will give you the freedom to do what you need to do.  
7. Your emotional and physical health will benefit from an organized closet. Trust me, I know the feeling of joy and relief that having an organized closet has brought me. 
8. The embodiment of style is simplicity. A day with zero organization is havoc, not simplicity. A closet filled with too much is just clutter for every woman after 50.

MY NEXT ORGANIZATION PROJECT

Now that I have completed organizing two closets and a storage room, I am on a roll. Something I’ve come to realize is that I love being organized. It fills me with a feeling of accomplishment. I am not as stressed. Nothing is hidden any longer, so I see what I have. I am more disciplined, and that gives me a sense of fulfillment. 

I am still in the process of tidying up! Discarding things that no longer bring me passion. This will take at least another year, but I know it will happen. That is what counts. 

My 4th project starts on September 21, 2022. My office closet. Then my Ultimate Concierge’s closet and on and on and on. Never a dull moment. La De Da.

Have you attempted to complete a major organization project? How did it make you feel? Please share your story in the comments!

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