Life is noisy. Inboxes are overflowing. To-Do Lists are three pages long. Time flies. We run late. We catch up. We fall behind. We never finish.

All of those things leave us exhausted and uninspired. How can we keep up and slow down at the same time? How can build in more time, space, and resources for health and happiness?

The answer is simple … use less, do less, need less, spend less. Sure, the answer is simple, but where do you start?

Simplicity can start anywhere, but it can’t start everywhere. Beginning a journey into a new way of life in the same you we ran our old way of life doesn’t make sense. Complicating simplicity by trying to do it all at once defeats the purpose. Instead, start small and start in one place.

What do you think when you look in your closet?

I asked this question on Facebook and here were a few of the responses …

• I’m tired of these clothes…
• oh no, not again…
• Help…
• I have a lot of clothes!
• Ugh-I hate my clothing options.

The closet is likely one of the most overcrowded, noisy, complicated spaces in your home. When you start there, the momentum you build from experiencing the benefits of dressing with less spills over into every drawer and cabinet and room in your home.

Words from quiet closets

These are the words from people who have participated in the Dress with Less Course.

• “This has been a wonderful exercise. It seemed overwhelming in the beginning, but with the mindset I already had, I was able to quickly pare down my closet and feel good about it. Thanks for your help and support!”

• “I loved the simplicity of the instructions and the step by step process. I definitely learned a lot about myself during the past two weeks. I’ve let go of a lot of apparel baggage both literally and figuratively. I don’t miss any of the stuff that I donated. And I’m ready for a fresh start with a practical, realistic wardrobe.”

• “The methodology and pacing has been a big help. I attempted this by myself last spring which probably helped this go round but I didn’t ‘get it’ like I do now. I also like the camaraderie with the Facebook group. This has already carried over into other parts of my life.”

• “I had a simple wardrobe at the start of this but WOW! I am amazed at how eye-opening the process has been!”

• “Getting dressed in the morning is a snap.”

• “Courtney, I love your vision and course. Thank you so much for your work!”

• “I knew I wanted to do something to declutter and this was the perfect starting point. I was ruthless getting rid of stuff that was not at all relevant to my current life or style. I feel like this gave me the ok and the courage to get rid of those things. The support of the others in the group has been tremendous.”

• “I am not alone! I am not the only one to think this or that. Courtney Carver, a million thanks to you, for helping me start my simplicity journey with me and my closet. I just hung up a load of laundry…and did a little happy dance at how awesome my closet looks!”

I know how powerful dressing with less can be by how it continues to fuel my desire to live more simply each day. The people who commented above with the hundreds participating and supporting each other make this process more fun and approachable. Suddenly, the idea of dressing with 33 items or less isn’t drastic or extreme.

If simplicity is what you crave, start somewhere, but not everywhere. If you start with your closet and want a great plan and support team, learn more about the Dress with Less Course or get started right now.