Happier with Gretchen Rubin Ep. 583: Too Much Clutter? Searching for Lost Items? Try These Hacks. Plus a Self-Knowledge Question.
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Apr 22, 2026 They share a simple system for paring down pants and other unworn clothes. Practical hacks for avoiding lost items, like emptying pockets and a “look behind you” habit, get covered. They explore whether you tend toward nostalgia or expectation and how that shapes your choices. Quick lifestyle wins and a bit of self-knowledge.
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Try On Every Pair Of Pants
- Try on every pair of pants to decide what you actually wear and donate the rest.
- Gretchen and Elizabeth recommend pulling stacks, trying jeans on, and letting go of unworn pairs even if you think you'll regain weight.
Ask If It's Your Fifth Favorite
- Ask whether an item is your fifth favorite; if so, you probably won't wear it.
- Gretchen suggests treating categories separately (e.g., white jeans vs blue) to avoid false redundancy.
Label Close Call Clothing Items
- Label similar basics with tags to reduce decision fatigue and surface favorites.
- Gretchen buys blank coat-check tags and Sharpies to note fit details like "needs boot" or "boxy" on shirts and pants.
