Latest / More Organised Less Clutter / 266. The Fits App A Digital Wardrobe for Neurodivergent Brains
Transcript
- E266 Final: Welcome to More Organized Less Clutter, a podcast to empower individuals and neurodivergent families with practical, realistic tools to create a more organized, sensory-friendly, clutter-free, and intentional home that works with your lifestyle and brain, not against it. I'm Norelle King, a professional organizer and neurodivergent mum who understands the unique challenges of family life. I help people just like you simplify your space. Build sustainable organizational systems and create more breathing room physically and mentally. Every fortnight you'll hear solo episodes and guest conversations filled with practical strategies on decluttering, home organization, routines for neurodivergent families, mindful living, and how to build a home that feels safe, calm, and functional. You'll walk away with actionable takeaways you can implement even if you only have 10 minutes to spare. What if the hardest part of your morning isn't the school run, the emails, or the traffic, but simply deciding what to wear? Today I'm more organized, less clutter. I'm joined by Claudia Wolf from Wolf Therapy. She's a trauma therapist, business owner, mum, and proudly neurodivergent. She first joined me back in episode 246 this year on why you can't stay organized and it's not about laziness. But she's back sharing how she uses the FITS app to plan her outfits ahead of time to reduce decision fatigue. This is not a paid promotion for the FITS app. When Claudia shared how she was using the app to create collections based on her needs, I invited her back to inspire you. Let's jump into this more organized Les Clutter conversation with Claudia about planning your outfits to reduce decision fatigue using the FITS app. Today, a more organized Les Clutter. I'm joined by Claudia from Wolf Therapy. She was on the podcast earlier this year on episode 246 and why you can't stay organized and it's not laziness. So you can always go back and listen. Claudia is a mum and she is also a therapist and a neurodivergent. And she has been trialing the FITS app. And so when she was telling me about some of the benefits, I asked her, Would you like to come on the podcast and share the benefits and how it's helped you in particularly with your decision making around your wardrobe. So welcome, Claudia. Thank you. Yes. And I'm glad that you got me in touch with this app, even if it took me at least a month to get around to doing it. That's a longer month. That's yeah. Because I think it took me maybe four months to do it properly when a client shared it with me in the first place. So yeah, one month, that's amazing. Yeah. So for the app, how did you use that? like to plan your outfits ahead of time. So what have you found at the moment? Yeah, so I guess the reason I wanted to download it, obviously just, you know, I'm always trying to get on top of clutter and I like to have free space and and c you know, send things out into the world that I'm not using. But I decided to download it because I really felt like I wasn't wearing you know, I I always felt like I had no clothes, but also I'm wearing the same things all the time and I've got too many things in my wardrobe. So yeah, I downloaded it hoping to cut down that mental load every morning of all what do I wear? And also, yeah, remembering what I own. Previously I had these clear tubs in the top of my wardrobe for things that were like things I didn't wear much or they weren't seasonal. And I had to layer them in clear tubs so I didn't forget what they were. So I thought, yeah, I'll I'll try and get everything on this app and then train myself in the mornings to check the app so that I'm utilizing everything. And I'm not spending money on clothes I already have some yeah connection to or already in my wardrobe and to just, yeah, utilise what I've got. Do you find that you would always pull the same thing, the predictable thing that you know what it feels like, what it looks like together? And it's maybe only I don't know, like for me, if I see a photo on on my Instagram again, I'm like, I wore that again. Like I know that I just go for those same predictable, you know, outfits that I know looks good. When there's probably other good ones there too though. Yeah, for sure. I always joke on my business Instagram that I look like I'm just doing I post on the same day 'cause I rotate between like three outfits. But yeah, it that was a big part of it was, you know, remembering what I own, getting you know, utilizing what I already had and reducing that fatigue of what to wear, what to think about, stopping myself spending money for the dopamine hit. Cause really you can just go into the app and create a new outfit w with what's already there and it gives me almost as much of that. hit and I also just found it a lot more streamlined because what I used to do when I was trying to utilize my clothes, I've tried this a few different options. So I used to go on Pinterest and I'd find pins of similar outfits of things that I own and then I'd put them in a yeah in a board and then I'd try but those just really clunky. You've got to go through your boards. You've got to find that outfit is was it the dress or the yellow cardigan that was part of that outfit. So it was just too much friction and I would I just wasn't able to build a routine around that. And I'm still using the Pinterest to get ideas of what outfits can go together. But for the most part, well now, I'm using fits literally every day. Yeah, amazing. So what would you say then the features are the ones that you've really enjoyed using? Is it like that visual planning, the tagging, or is it the outfit history? Yeah, so I know that I haven't fully explored it to its complete extent yet. I've been using it to collate everything so I can easily scroll through, see what's already in my wardrobe. The cost per wear really interests me. I haven't set it up fully yet, but I'm someone who likes to invest in quality things. So I've always got a little bit of a mental tally running of, what my cost per wear of things that I've invested in is. So that's that's one I'd really like to deep dive into every time I bring in something new from here onwards. I really prefer, like I really the the collections as well. So not only do you put in your individual outfits, sorry, individual pieces of clothing, then you do the outfits, which really cuts down the mental thinking for me, but then you can put it into collections. So I've been in quite a significant pain flare for the last three weeks or so. And when I'm in a pain flare, my whole body's sore. It's almost like having the flu. So I don't like things touching me. I don't like tight waistbands or tight cuffs or things like that. So I've actually put some of my outfits in high pain day category. And I know this is not going to be s you you know how everyone's going to use it. But for me, I suppose a bit of a niche use. I've also got one where I've got like low Brain energy day. So they're the things it's like a dress. it's one piece of outfit and then just some shoes, shoe options and hat options and things like that. So when I don't have a lot of mental energy, it's like one and done. And then I've got one for very hot weather. So I my brain, I have pots. So my brain gets a bit fried when the weather gets hot. So for me to be better go, it's really hot today. Here's outfits that I know I can cope in. So it sounds silly. No, that's what I loved. That's that was the thing that when you shared that, I was like, my gosh, I love this that the the different categories that you're using for your collections. It's not just packing to go for a weekend away. It's really specific to you and your needs, isn't it? Yeah, exactly. And look, I am going away next week, so I am gonna have a go at utilizing that and I think that'll be really exciting, even building those capsule wardrobe sort of ideas. but as I said Yeah, I'm yet to fully deep dive into all of the features. But the ones I've used so far have been so helpful. And again, quite niche to me, but everyone is going to come to it with a different, a different reason. And I think it's quite a, as a neurodivergent person, as a having lived experience of chronic illness and invisible disability and things like that, I think it's just been will be a game changer. And it's the days that my brain just isn't firing on all cylinders that I actually need that cognitive structuring and support. So that's super useful. And the bonus is my daughter, my youngest, aware of things like she's aware from her sister, things like dress to impress and and games, but she's not allowed any of that. So she's been getting on every day and making some outfits together. And she thinks it's a game. She thinks it's wonderful. So we're both sort of bonding over that as well. Yeah, that is so cute. I love that. Cause that was the person who recommended to me, was like, it's just gamified my getting dressed in the mornings and planning my outfits. And that's what drew her to it, which she said, then I'm not standing there trying on all the different outfits, having piles of outfits going, No, I didn't want that, no, I don't want that. Or that bodysuit isn't the one that goes under that. It was supposed to be this one. And then there's a pile of clothes that she's like, I don't have the time to put away all the energy now. So yeah, no, I really I completely resonate with what you're saying about the different different groups and categories, collections, sorry, that you can that you can create with it. As you know, my oldest, she's pretty Spiv adolescence, you've seen her wardrobe. There's a lot of clothes in there. She wears a lot of them, but I'm really excited to introduce this to her to to get some routines happening and for s for her to know what's in the wardrobe. But also when she's inevitably like, I need this latest thing or I need that latest thing, we can go to that app and be like, Look, you've already got yeah. Similar I don't know how successful that will be, but I'll I'm gonna give it a red hot go. It's it's worth trying though, isn't it? Yeah. Sh I think she'll find it fun. When I first heard about it, I was like, What a huge job taking photos. And I don't even have a huge wardrobe, but I was still really resistant. But eventually I came around. So what about for you? What was it? What was the process for you for actually getting all those clothes onto your actual phone? Yeah. And look, I was the same to be honest. I'm like, you told me about the app. I'm like, yeah, but that's gonna be so much, you know, so much work. And I was like, Well, maybe you'll help me with it. But it sort of fortuitous that I've been quite bedbound between work and Parenting lately because it's actually given me some space and time. And I like to feel productive. I hate when my health slows me down. So I was able, my wardrobe's right next to my bed. So I was actually able to tackle quite a bit of it while I and then lie down and then stand up and then lie down. So it's sort of like a little period of time I had up my sleeve that I wouldn't have otherwise had. So I'd saved my free trial for when I knew I had like a good week to tackle. The job and really it's been so much easier than I thought because yes, you can upload photos, but you can also Google in the and you can also search what other people have uploaded. So if it's just a generic item, I just put in like white t-shirt or white blade or etc., it doesn't really matter. But for the branded items, I've either just searched it through the app for the internet. Or yeah, I've uploaded the pictures and because on the trial you can you can do the AI bit so it cleans up really well. And I actually found that so motivating when it cleaned up the the pictures and made it nice and neat and everything was quite orderly. So yeah, I think because there's the three different options of of how to get all your clothes into it. And then once I started I was like on a roll. I was really hooked. Same. So you know, I might be like, a black lace mini dress, fine, that's that's close enough, but with the with the s specific items and like, yes, like here's the brand or here's the photo they've uploaded. And yeah, I I did it mainly in one session when the mood was right, but I've also just over time added to it bit by bit. Yeah. That was the same. So I think I started in the afternoon, it was one afternoon and I was a bit like, I'm really exhausted. Might just trial this. But then the sun was going down. I was like, my gosh, I can't take the photos. They're not turning out as well. And that's when I went Maybe I'll just Google search them in there and I was surprised how some of the things are exactly the same and probably looked better than my photos anyway. And yeah, that's how I did it. But I also didn't do the cost per wear at that time. I did it another time and I was just sitting and yeah, and just added them in and just put rough dates or years. I just put a rough year of each one. And I'm surprised how well it still already calculates that cost per wear for you. Yeah. Yeah, I think it's a really good. thing to approach, you don't want to use it to justify spending money that you wouldn't otherwise spend, or just because something's unsafe, you don't just buy it just because. But for me, if I were to buy good quality, I like hiking, good quality hiking boots, for example, just helps me go, you what, I've worn those so much since I got them. Yeah, I I just I think it's it helps us make really good decisions about what to invest in and and maybe move away from impulse buys or things that might not hold up over time. Definitely. And I think it's things like jackets and belts and bags and things like that that you use all the time that you may be a bit like resistant and go, I'll just get that cheaper one. Yeah, it actually makes you go, no, look at the cost per wear that it's, you know, down to ten cents or something. There was a few of my items are like down to negative. One of them's down to negative now. And it's just like this is ridiculous. Yeah. Priced at all. Yeah, yeah. And just even secondhand. So buying things off Depop and buying things off of Vintage, when I've put those prices in, that's the ones that I've been like, my gosh, they've just come down really quickly in cost per wear too. Exactly. And yeah, this is why this app's good too, is so rather than just searching aimlessly for things you might want to add to your wardrobe, you you can look through it and then I'm like, you know what, I I really like the look of these certain sandals I keep seeing popping up. So I was able to go through all my shoes and be like, No, I don't have anything like it. I was able to then get them second hand, brand new, basically, and then put them in the app. And then it's really satisfying to put them with all the clothes that maybe I haven't been wearing 'cause I didn't quite have the right thing. Yes. And I like how it makes suggestions and then you could go, I actually, yeah, I hadn't thought about that. I'll try that on and see if it does and then add it to your collection. So that yeah, I've actually liked it making some some are ridiculous. I'm like, no, that doesn't work when I've put it on. But others have been like, I I wouldn't have thought of that. So that was really good. Especially the shoes. I like how it sometimes swaps your shoes around and and so it is about putting everything in, isn't it? Like even down to, you know, shoes, belts, little accessories to get that whole look. Yeah. Absolutely. But it's worth the time. And as I said, it's way less painful than I expected. And yeah, I think I did the the trial and I will actually pay to continue with that. It just removed a lot of the friction. But I think even if it was just while you're establishing the app, yeah, it's well worth it because it yeah, removes that friction and it became, yeah, quite addictive. I think I spent a good part of of a day just building outfits and then being like, Wait, I remembered, I've got something else. And then like, you know, rustling around. And then as I was putting everything back in my wardrobe too, I I, reorganise things a little bit too. Yeah. Did you put some of your collections then together as how you would wear them rather than maybe like all pants together and all skirts together? 'Cause that's what I found I did. Yeah, no, I saw a post on that the other day and I think that's of valued. I'm definitely gonna try that if I come unstuck with the way I'm using Apple. No, I just I flipped some things around so I could see everything 'cause all my black I've got so many black clothes and all different textures and sheer and lace and jumpsuits and dresses and then I lose them in my wardrobe. So another reason why the app is good. But yeah, I just moved stuff around to keep them in, all pants, all bottoms, etcetera. But I'm I'm really, yeah, keen now to force myself to plan seven days of different outfits in advance. Can just put your week's worth of outfits and that's what's gonna get me using the clothes I don't wear, I think. Yeah, that's a great idea. obviously I wear the same thing for work. Mine's a that's that's maybe why I like having a uniform for work, like you know, the same style t shirt, pants or shorts. But yeah, I like that idea 'cause the weekends when I get unstuck or holidays when I'm like, Now I've got to think of things to wear. Yeah. And and I get really in my comfort zone and really in my routine. I'd like to be utilizing everything that I've purchased and invested in. And I have clothes that I've had for ten, fifteen years. I really do hold on to things. Thank you so much for your time, Claudia. Is there anything else you wanted to share about the app that you think people need to know? No, I just I think yeah, it was really wonderful I shared about it on my page. And just in terms of that executive functioning and things like that, I I think it's definitely worth a try any support that we can have. And I think just a range of different people. You don't have to be neurodivergent. I think making sure we we're wearing everything that we've got's really good sustainably and for our teenagers. And yeah, I think give it a go. Thanks for the recommendation. I definitely think that a younger generation is something that they'll definitely get on board with as well. I can see that sort of future way of dressing. Yes. And I won't go on my soapbox, but you go to the op shop now and it's all full of like Timu and Sheen and all that sort of stuff. And it's just horrifying me. So I think if we can, you know, get our young people going for quality and and sustainable things and that will be, yeah, all the better. Definitely, definitely. Well thanks so much, Claudia, for your time. Thanks so much for having me. Do you have nothing to wear but a wardrobe full of clothes? Imagine mornings when you jump up, choose outfits that reflect your best self. A comprehensive guide walks you through each step to help you create a wardrobe that's both functional, organized, and full of clothes you love. Head to simply happy.com.au to the resources tab to get instant access today. I'd like to acknowledge the Wotherong people of the Coolin Nation on which this podcast is recorded as the traditional custodians of the land. I pay my respects to their elders, past, present and emerging.