What Should You Wear on Vacation?

When we got a vacation place in the Colorado mountains, I decided to leave some clothes there. This would allow me to pack lighter when we took trips, and if I needed to fly out at a moment’s notice, with no time to pack, I would be able to do so.

[Note: In all the years since then, this has never happened, and doesn’t seem likely in my future. Still … something in me loves the possibility of jumping on a plane, at the last minute, without luggage … but, I digress.]

I had several near-duplicate items. One of each became the start of my “Colorado wardrobe.”

Next, I found several worn T-shirts, and a few that were no longer my favorites:

“I won’t miss these.”

Into the vacation wardrobe pile.

Other items, clearly dated and not worn recently:

“Still usable, even if not my first choice.”

Jeans that didn’t quite fit:

“Good enough for hiking in the mountains.”

And so on.

Most of the items I chose to take were usable. They still had wear left in them. They “would do.” They were second tier items.

In other words, items that did not spark joy.

When we were in the mountains, I passed over these less-desirable items in favor of pieces I’d packed and brought. The duplicates, the basics—like pajamas or a sweatshirt—were items I used, whether at home or away. But the rest of them? I ended up discarding in the end.

Turns out, even on vacation,

I want to wear clothing that feels good and looks good.

Don’t you?

When you keep something iffy, you aren’t doing yourself any favors. Much better to let it go than take up space, sitting there unused.

I’ve seen my clients learn this lesson too. Not willing to consistently apply the spark joy criteria, they fall back on potential usefulness or supposed value of these things.

Inevitably, a few weeks or months later, they release these pieces as well, never having used them.

My clothing in Colorado now is just as joy-sparking as what I have in Minnesota. Fewer pieces I enjoy and wear, rather than a bunch I sort of like and don’t use.

“Does this Spark Joy?”

is a dramatically different standard

from which to evaluate your possessions.

This is why it’s so transforming.

Tell me:

Have you experienced the difference a completely new approach can make?

Are you willing to try it?