7 Steps to Declutter Your Wordrobe

To Marie Kondo, a woman of few words

Illustration @go.nima

This exercise will help you let go of words that no longer serve you, create space for new ones, and offer you a new wordrobe that best reflects your current self.

A word of advice: the exercise is planned for three days, yet depending on the size of your wordrobe, it may take a bit longer. During the exercise, you will not have access to your words; you will be wordless. It is recommended that you do this practice alone, reserving at least three days in which you will not need words. Please also note that, during this time, you will not be able to use your bed. Plan another place to sleep, such as a couch.

Day One

1. Remove all the words from your head, and spread them out on your bed. Leave none inside.
2. Create three piles, label them: ‘Keep’, ‘Give Away’, and ‘Discard’. The Keep and Give Away piles will remain on the bed. The Discard pile is on the floor.

Pick one word at a time, bring it to your heart, close your eyes and pronounce it aloud three times. Ask yourself, “Do I still need you?” If you respond, “Yes,” place the word in the Keep pile. If it belongs to your past, but you still like it, drop it in the Give Away pile on the bed. If you don’t want anyone to use it, throw it in the Discard pile on the floor.