Remember me, the rule follower? Well, I have another good one for you to implement in your life - the 90/90 rule. This is another rule I learned from The Minimalists when I heard them speak in Los Angeles at my annual organizers' conference.
For my clients to learn to shed excess items, they need little nuggets to stick in their brain, kind of like an ear worm. The last organizing ear worm I gave was the 20/20 rule - if you can replace something for less than $20 in less than 20 minutes, you can get rid of it - and it worked. Readers stopped me in coffee shops and told me that they have items ready to be donated.
Well, I think I love the 90/90 rule more than the 20/20 rule. The rule is simple. If you have not used an item in the past 90 days and you do not plan on using it in the next 90 days, get rid of it. Sounds easy doesn't it? Well it can be if you let go of all the preconceived notions that you have going on in your head.
Why does this 90/90 rule work? I used to tell people that in the upper Midwest we have seasonal clothes, and you really need to wait a full nine months to see what you wear. I am no longer a believer in that.
Truth be told, you may see me wear a maxi dress in the winter with boots and a sweater. The more organized my closet becomes, the less seasonal I am.
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Before I purchase items, I look at pieces and see if they can be year-round clothing. I must admit, I am not a snowflake sweater wearing type of girl, so you won't find those types of clothes in my closet. But you will find many neutral cardigan-type sweaters that I wear daily, even on cool, summer days.
But I know that even my closet has things in it that I have not worn in 90 days and I am not sure if I will wear in another 90 days, unless I magically lose that 20 pounds. A good way to chronicle what you wear in 90 days is the good, old-fashioned hanger trick.
Whenever I describe this trick, people all gasp like they had a light-bulb moment.
Simply take all your clothes that are hanging up, and turn the hangers so they are facing backwards on the rod. When you wear an item, put it back hanging forwards on the rod. You'll be able to easily see which clothes you wear, and which you don't. Here's a hint - if your clothes are dusty, just pull those clothes out now.
Where else can you use the 90/90 rule?
Jewelry: Not sure what you wear? Purchase a jewelry organizer, and as you wear the items, put it away in the organizer. This will help you determine what you are wearing on a daily basis.
Try to remember what you wore in the past 90 days, and put those items in there as well. After your 90 days is up, time to get rid of the excess.
Cooking items: For bigger items in your kitchen, I like to place Post-It notes on them with the date. So I would write the date 90 days from now on the notes and place them on the kitchen items I have not used in the past 90 days.
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I now have 90 days to use this item or guess what? It goes in the donation box. If you didn't use that gingerbread house mold last Christmas and you know you aren't going to use it this holiday season, donate it now. True story - had one, and now I don't.
Things you dust: Walk around and really "see" your items that you dust. Do you even see them anymore, or have they become mindless tchotchkes taking up space? Walk around your house and really notice what you have on display.
On the main floor of my house, I now only display things that bring me joy. Seeing my husband's patent cubes signifying the 10 patents he has makes me smile.
Things hanging on the walls: Walk around your home and "see" what you have hanging on your walls. Do you even notice what is there? Do you have a collage of mismatched photos? Or how about a hodgepodge of random prints?
I now hang things on my wall because they make sense to me, not just to fill a space. Ask yourself the question, would I buy this again? Look at your walls for the next 90 days and really see and appreciate what you have hanging on them.
If you find yourself in 90 days not enjoying what's on the walls, then time to donate.
