Keeping a narrow assortment of clothing has psychological benefits, decreasing decision fatigue — the concept that people make worse choices after having to make a lot of decisions — for some. “It starts in the closet,” said Baumgartner. “But then they apply it to other things in their home, and then they can start removing unnecessary people or activities and obligations.”

Making it work

It can take some trial and error to find the right mix. Becker said he has had to experiment with finding high-quality clothing capable of withstanding constant churns in the washer and dryer and constant wear. While he didn’t pay much attention to quality in the past, he does now. Recently, he stopped buying his favourite brand of pants because he discovered that the pockets rip more easily now that he wears them several times per week. And he’s invested in better quality t-shirts that keep their shape after dozens of washes.