We have always operated on this principle. And as we get older, our thinking is "buy one thing, donate two things" - that keeps the house from getting cluttered and keeps our closets fresh while supporting our community thrift store.
Oooooh, thank you for sharing this concept! I've heard the one in, one out, but I can see the real way is 2 or 3 items out. Thank you, thank you for this comment🕊️
I’m so glad my boyfriend had that same idea. Worked great, but I only had to get rid of one thing, my boyfriend. Wow so much more space, and no wet towels on the bathroom floor. The best idea, thanks again.
For an added bonus to this awesome video’s advice… I turned off one click shopping on Amazon. Next step, only have one day a month for amazon purchase. I can shop… fill up my cart, BUT only on day a month shipping / spending and keeping in my budget. 2025 Goal! Only 12 amazon charges to my card 😉. Less junk in the trunk also means more money in my account! 😂
One Amazon order per month seems already a lot to me: I may be making a couple of orders per year. Not a good customer 😂 What I wanted to say is that you can totally achieve your goal and hopefully even better than this 😊
What’s funny is that just this morning I looked around my apartment and said out loud to my old cat Socrates, “I have more stuff than I have room for!” Like it was a revelation 😂 Glad to hear this from you, new subscriber
My daughter and I adopted a cat at the shelter who they said was 7-9 yrs old- a beautiful big majestic, calm gray cat. I was thinking Gandalf but my daughter, 15 at the time, thought Socrates was a good name and I agreed! This was almost 14 years ago, so Socrates is at least 21 years old. He’s slowing down, but still seems healthy and happy ♥️Yes, he is very intelligent and looks like he’s asking questions and ready to speak at any moment.
You're absolutely right. My parents intentionally limit the size of their storage capacity thinking that it would cause them to declutter their things but they never did. After my parents passed away, it took me close to two years to go through and declutter my parents 60 years worth of stuff. I gotta say some of the things made back then are so durable compared to how its made now that I still keep and use them.
Realising that most of your stuff will get chucked when you die is a useful reality check. I can't bear to chuck good stuff in the rubbish, and it's harder than it sounds to find someone who wants it, especially old computers etc. BUT it will just end up in the dumpster when I die....
I watch a lot of videos on this subject because this is a serious issue in my life. Sometimes it really helps to hear it formulated just a little differently or presented in a new way. I feel like watching this just brought me a step closer after having stagnated a while back. Thank you!😊
And if you can’t find a place for it, it can’t be in your life. Period. My mum taught me the saying in your original comment when I was just a little girl. She was taught it as a little girl by her grandmother.
I was dreading the purge necessary for downsizing. Some of the clothing pieces I'd designed and made that would never fit. It was my art and it hurt to let it go. The products and tools of my creativity. About 100 pounds of used denim. All those vintage patterns. Gone. My son had passed so there was no one to save things to hand down to him. As the pile of stuff grew it began to feel kinda good to not have the burden of it anymore. I took some photos of the things I'd done in my son's little boy room, saved the quilt and left the rest for the estate sale. I was told that was the most noisy room of the sale. Knowing others were tickled by my treasures (those vintage patterns) made me feel even better about unburdening. I'll be in a 1 bdrm apt soon and with holiday decor, my sewing/crafting stuff and my clothing it will be a tight squeeze closet-wise. Hopefully patio storage behind a door.
I'm so pleased you are offering advice that only one other person to my knowledge explains in this succinct & logical way. Although TH-camr & author of several books on the subject Dana K. White, terms her explanation "The Container Concept", she reminds us that houses, rooms, closets, and shelves are all fundamentally forms of container which can only hold a finite amount of stuff. More stuff than container space = clutter. As someone who does not part with belongings easily, I appreciate your focus on monitoring & moderating what enters your home in the first place rather than having to address massive decluttering and vetting of items after the fact. Thank you for an enjoyable and useful video.
Peter Walsh preached this on Clean Sweep, many years ago. A room was cleared out and 3 tarps were placed on the front lawn for keep, throw away, se!l. The keep items could not exceed the area of the tarp. This was before Dana K. White. I wish they would show episodes again.
I got turned off by some of Welsh's comments to people and I do not know if the show would play well to audiences now., however it did inspire at th time.
So true! After 30+ years, we are moving out of a large house with lots and lots of storage space to one about the same size with almost no storage space. What a huge job! I sure wish we’d started practicing this when we were younger!! 😢
Very straightforward, thank you! ❤ The fact of the matter is if I want to have my peace of mind again-a clean and organized space again, I need to have less stuff in my space.
Giving to the poor, as in Salvation Army or Goodwill, is a good thing to do. It fulfills the command to give to the poor and it helps make room for new stuff. Easiest “I help you -you help me” ever.
I wanna be organized so bad but before I even get started, I get overwhelmed and I’m right back on the couch with the remote trying to find a feel good movie😔
Set a timer for 5 mins, you can do anything for 5 mins. The second easiest Ive heard is grab a bag and dispose of 10 items or 20 items. Pick a number...its Progress!!
On day one you take one thing and decide: Keep it? Donate it? Discard it? Then you do this. On day two you take two items... Try to increase the number, if it feels overwhelming, take one item less.
Not sure if this will help, but try the 3 X 3 square method, measure out a 3X3 square in one room, using painter tape if it will help, Clean that area only, then go out to the next 3X3 square, if you want to put something in the square you just finished, then put it exactly where you want it to go, if you want to put an item in an area that is not done just put the item in that general area. Also have an area set up for items to be donated, or trashed. Also note it does not have to be 3X3, the key is to focus on one small area only that you can handle., and not the entire room.
Exactly. And even if you're planning on getting rid of stuff, you need to embrace this rule. Getting rid of 10 dresses if you have 100 might not get you to where you want. You'll still have clutter.
I reorganized my bookshelf and now I see clearly, that I don't have room for more books 😟 so now I go to the local library - perfect 🥳 reading is the coolest hobby of all 😅
Absolutely true!! Key principle of why we even try to declutter......space! Room to move and breathe! The visual relief is what we are going for here. Very good.
OMG 😂😂😂😂😂 You nailed it and this is my new goal. I am actively working on Putting Away this week and this month!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ TYSM PS Mom's rule: something comes into the house, something leaves the house.
I don't care about clothes or decorator items. I care about things that I *do.* Piano sheet music to play, craft supplies for making things, yarn for knitting, kitchen items for making bread, etc. I can quit buying clothes easily, but I doubt anyone's going to convince me to stop buying things that keep me busy.
This is my issue. I've got beautiful fabric and wonderful tools. I'm constantly finding new projects amongst my hobby clutter. Fabric makes me happy, but I'm not buying anymore just now.
I have a full old suitcase and like 7 bags with scraps and old clothes (and lots of little boxes with other little things I might need for crafting). I can't get to them and make use of it. I consider sorting it for stuff that can be sewed into clothe pieces and scraps I will make a carpet from. (• ▽ •;)@@ghengis430
For instance if you are a quilter or use fabric as your medium, you need a lot of fabric to choose from to fill your pallette as needed for each project. Creating is so important to our mental health and well being. So a certain amount of "clutter" is part of the deal. What I am striving for is to store the supplies in an efficient manner so that I can find them when needed. My mom used bookshelves to stack her folded fabric on so you could see the colors and patterns easily.
Thank you for telling me I don't have to do it today. You are nice. It took me (and my family) 27 years to mess it up. I almost feel that I just need to wait until they are all moved on somewhere else to even try. .. But I can work on a corner of my room. ❤️
Thank you for fostering this mindset of buying what you truly need, which should be a rule of thumb. Online shopping and overconsumption are more than a "tidy" place; they should be the fundamental individual values that encourage global social responsibility. "Decluttering" only sends garbage to dumpsters all over the world. It does not magically disappear.
So true !!!!! I live in a small home and need to remove/declutter about40-50% of all items.. .. then it will be lots easier to 1. organize , 2. keep tidy. Thanks for the inspiration!!! Especially for the wisdom that we can't erase 10 yrs of accumulating ( or 30-40 yrs or more) in just 2 days'effort.!!!!....We need patience, baby steps, perseverance, going into change for the long haul. :)
Thank you for this video! The realest advice is about how long it took us to accumulate the junk so it’s not gonna get gone in a day. That statement brought my stress down😅
i am like that. i reached that point where every room of my home, every shelf, every cabinet, every cupboard is full. there is no space for anything more. for something to come in something needs to go out. buying stuff has become a bit stressful which is good, gives me also a sense of contentment. it is quite liberating and i totally recomend😊
Wow - I'm impressed. Such a good sentiment. By the way, I heard that in Japanese culture they often seek to have less space because for them more space doesn't necessarily mean better.
@ I did not know that about Japanese culture. Thank you for teaching me! For us, our children are grown, we knew what elder care space we will need so we got exactly that. I’ve had big houses and acres. It’s lots of work. I want just enough now.
First Video about organizing which I have seen, that does it tell you to throw away the things you don’t need to buy more things you don’t need. That’s is great!
You hit the nail, right on the head. Yes, I’m completely overwhelmed. I have ideas how I want to organize. When I make moves towards those ideas, I get interrupted and the job(s) are not done. Or I hit a stumbling block: “I don’t want to get rid of this, because …” I need miracles. Oh but I did like and subscribed. 😊🙃
What a fantastic video. Short, direct to the point😊I totally love this video. That is my problem. I moved into a smaller place. Mother kept giving me more of her junk. I was frecking out. Where i am i going to put it. Of course nothing has changed. Keep donating items. Still full. 😢 More than 1/2 way. This is the only video that has registered. Other videos i just basically ran. I have never ever lived like this. It has actually depressed me for years😢True story. Thanks again. From Australia ❤️ 🇦🇺
Nice video I can relate 100%. Going through this right now. My wife gets overwhelmed and she is scared of doing this. I work FT and she works FT and PT and we have two kids. So I having to lead the effort and push her to do this. I am doing all the lifting moving and I just need to her to agree help with the keep, sell, donate or trash. Something’s I’m going to have to veto her on likely 😂 But when we get to the finished product I know she will like it I just have to remind her we have to maintain this and follow the don’t buy no space mentality. If she agrees to rid something to make the space then maybe okay while not wasting money.
It's sometimes harder to do when you do it with someone else who also have a say. When I need to organize something with my wife it's 5 times harder...
I agree wholeheartedly with this concept, to me its absolutely foundational but I also feel like we can be creative and maximize our space. You my friend can get the shirt if you change the hangers to slimline ones 😜I think most people see something they love and don’t even stop to think where it’s going to go. I can’t think straight in mess or clutter so I have to be intentional. Great video
Thank you very much for the thoughtful comment :) and thank you for the permission to buy the shirt! My main reason for making this video is my experience as a professional organizer - so many clients have way way too much stuff and expect that some bins and a label maker would make a significant difference.
I’m a shopaholic, at the same time it’s difficult to throw away good old stuff, and I suffer well from decluttering, cos it takes loads of my time. Tnx, this video gonna help me
I’ve known that for quite some time. However my ADHD brain doesn’t work like that. Yes, I have an actual diagnosis. Working at not buying things because a I think I need, like, or just plain want it is not so easy. What I have been trying to do since being diagnosed is to put in my shopping cart while I shop for the things I actually came for. Once that is accomplished I walk around the store asking myself if that purchase is more of a want than a need. If I decide it’s a want or a perceived need then I put it back on the shelf or race it came from. Sometimes I falter but I’m getting better.
A place for everything and everything in its place. Being able to find anything in my home in the pitch dark without barking shins or toes. Plus there's that 'do I need it or do I want it' that some folks never quite seem to understand
When I saw this video on my feed I was like "It's probably gonna be 'everything needs a dedicated space'", and I guess it's pretty much that. And if you own more stuff than you have space, there are gonna be things without a dedicated space. Sometimes it's not because the rooms are too small, it's because your storage system has its weaknesses. It's kinda ridiculous how much storage space some people create in a way you'd never think about. There are rooms that are more complicated to re-assort and set up solutions for your stuff, but overall, often times it's not fully using the potential of a room due to not "seeing" it. But yah, if your belongings, no matter what they are, all have a dedicated space of their own, it's VERY easy to keep the space tidy, it's also crazy easy to tidy it up, even if you've neglected it for a while. Just one example: Our bedroom was bugging me ever since my boyfriend moved in. Because it was really only offering enough storage for my own clothes. With another person living there, you could probably guess that it wasn't gonna work out. I did many declutters, even gave away stuff I liked wearing but it was never working out. There's a part of the room that's a bit harder to use because it's behind vertical and diagonal beams and the roof slope in the entire room also makes it a bit harder to put up furniture. While you can get furniture built that's specifically tailored to such rooms, that option was too expensive for our budget, so I was looking for budget friendly options and solutions. My way of doing it? I bought affordable clothing racks and put them into that smaller part of the room, made sure they'd fit perfectly, used the spaces with less height for smaller pieces of furniture in which I could store clothes/shoes/bags and we're also gonna put a wall where those beams are, so everything looks more neat and tidy plus creates a walk-in closet. I was able to remove one of our closets and fully re-arrange the bedroom to make it not only look cozy and comforting, but also easy to clean and for once the bed is accessible from both sides. That "removed" closet will go to the basement where our washing machine and dryer are and create storage for workwear and tools (which were lying around down there for the most part). We now have much more storage space, it looks way better, is easier to take care of and even allows me to store some hobby related items in there neatly. But getting there to even think of doing something like that, for some reason wasn't the easiest. I don't know why it took me so long to realize this was a possibility. Sometimes the best solutions just don't pop up in your mind, but they do exist. You don't always have to move into a bigger apartment or house, you don't always have to throw away/declutter everything, you don't always have to chew on your frustration. It could just be that your systems don't work for your needs anymore and should be updated. I'm going to tackle our kitchen next, because that's another area of those that is not used to its full potential. Once you get the hang of it, you may perceive a room entirely different and you can learn to see possibilities and solutions where you previously saw only problems.
@OyveyOrganizing... first time watching and am subscribing... Your practicality spoke to me...where am I going 2 put it?? Plus the junk in the trunk was funny and hyperventilating image REAL!
Love all of your thoughts .. I like the idea of where am I going to put it ? .. I’m trying to keep my cupboard uncluttered . Also .. yes ! Use the things you have , I try to. 😊merry Christmas love what you say about kids toys
It took me decades to eventually becomin overwhelmed by my own stuff. Then an adult child moved in - with hìs stuff - taking much of my "extra space" for needlework and office. Then another adult child came with all his belongings - most functionally intergrated into general furnishing at least. Now. I also don't have a guest room. My house and sheds ànd garage are now filled with everybodies "stuff". Tis quite overwhelming. I have no choice but nòt to purchase ànything. But I still have a lot of personal stuff.
I need an outdoor storage area to free up inside. How many people have a weedeater and buckets of yard tools accessories hammers spools of wire, clippers sawzall battery powered tools assorted tire repair products..... Things we consider necessities. Along with all the crafting stuff. Sewing stuff. 😮😮
I've tried organization multiple times, something never works out right at the end and I have to start all over again. But the process is fun, so I do it multiple times a day.
Being organized enough to have a ‘dress shirt’ section of your closet also helps. You can put the shirt back on the rack because you confidently know you already have a good amount for your needs. You know that owning any more would start to smoosh them together and wrinkle them and make you less happy with All of them. People often re-buy because they completely forgot that they already own 2 😂 and just put it in a stupid place. If you don’t know what you own, you shouldn’t be shopping.
@@juanpolakovic3076 My point was, if a messy desk does not necessarily indicate a messy mind, a tidy desk might not indicate anything of special merit either. Sometimes “truisms” do not stand up to significant analysis.
@@jamescrydeman540 Agreed. However, a tidy desk definitely helps for a better work atmosphere around it, regardless of what is in the mind of the desk's owner (that sometimes can be quite messy indeed)
Your #1 rule is absolutely correct! I'm there with you and I'm also at the overwhelm/paralysis stage. I have ADHD so getting the motivation to start is a challenge, understanding how things don't magically disappear when you put them in a closed container is a challenge (especially my craft and office supplies though cleaning off the counter can be a challenge). and the container concept itself is a brand new concept that I am embracing later in life so I'm way behind traditional home upkeep skills.
Try using clear containers so you can still see the things and they don't just 'disappear'. Getting started can be a challenge when it looks like a mountain. All you can do is chose a spot and start. One way that works well is to have 'keep' and 'donate' boxes. Begin by just sorting into those two boxes. Once the donate box is full take it and DONATE it, then get another 'donate' box. Homeless and women's shelters will take a lot of items and they are needed. Now that you have removed the things you aren't keeping, it's easier to organize what you have left. I also craft, but I often can still par back the things I have by thinking in terms of how long have I had it and have I used it since. Same for office supplies. I also like clear containers as I can what is in the container and I don't have label everything. I hope that gives you a bit of help to get started. 🙂
I've been organising since childhood, but I still have too much staff. This video is the most important one after you decide to start. You don't need to put things into small boxes, if you don't have anything to put into them. How I do it is I change spaces, like I would place something to one drawer. If I don't open the draw in half a year, I don't really need any of that staff.
Excellent! I can use this as it is a system, not an exercise--you won't solve it in two days--less overwhelmed already 🙂 (Of course, UPS just stopped at in front of my house as I'm writing this. Good, they went across the street 😀)
The problem I have is that I have some stuff I want but not the home I’d like to place it in. Do I get rid of everything that doesn’t currently fit, and live without home or happiness? Or keep hoping?
@@OyveyOrganizing No harm in repeating it. I cannot be the only person who starts to sort - or plan to - then lose the ooomph! Simple messages seem to sink in better.
I have a problem because there’s things I need that come in big packages. Right now I am looking at an unopened packet of puppy pads. They will get used up, but meanwhile I live in a very small, very old, 2 up, 2 down, house in England and can’t think where to put the packet out of sight!
Do I need a coat/hat/bag hanger with boot rack for dirty shoes? Or just lay them on the floor? Or do I have to many coats and bags? This is what conflicts me. I could probably do without the rack. But then the shoes would just be on the floor. Also my microwave doesn't fit in my kitchen but I can have a cart for it? 😭 it's so hard to declutter, I feel like I make no progress I got rid of my side table, coffee table, and like 10bags of stuff! And still.... there's so much!!
I could not buy anything for years but my husband on the other hand goes to thrift stores. He comes home with little Rubbermaid containers. Then he gets mad because he can't close the drawer that they're kept in. So much money wasted on stupid things that we don't need.
Realised this long ago. Recently extended the kitchen adding room for a second enlarged pantry, a large central island and extra cabinets. Also extended the downstairs meaning 2 walk in closets and an extra bedroom as a study. Currently building a second double garage and plans for a separate small building which will be either a gym, art studio or move the work study outside. More space, more closet, more trunk. Not less, MORE!
That's just a sad solution for your problem. And you DO have a problem. Acquisition Addiction. I bet you don't even use or know what you have in your "first" pantry. There is so much need in the world, and you are hoarding so much that could probably be donated to those who are needy. What a waste of money.
@@kathrynwebster6307Haha I know exactly what’s in the pantry and every kitchen cabinet. As a 110 year old 3 bedroom house it had inadequate storage space and none of the bedrooms had built in closets. It’s called house extensions. And currently have 5 vehicles and 3 trailers including ones for my construction work. You’re partially correct though - I may have a powertool acquisition addiction.
LOL, I always tell myself, is this a need or a want. If it is a want I usually do not buy it. And if I need I ask myself where am I going to put it. Great work!
" The more you have , the more have to take care of !" this is my personal quote.
Yes. My mom said it's just more to dust!
We have always operated on this principle. And as we get older, our thinking is "buy one thing, donate two things" - that keeps the house from getting cluttered and keeps our closets fresh while supporting our community thrift store.
Oooooh, thank you for sharing this concept! I've heard the one in, one out, but I can see the real way is 2 or 3 items out. Thank you, thank you for this comment🕊️
I like that. Going to start that soon. Thanks.
This is what I tell my girlfriend when she wants a new pair of shoes. She can’t have them unless she gets rid of two pairs.
I’m so glad my boyfriend had that same idea. Worked great, but I only had to get rid of one thing, my boyfriend. Wow so much more space, and no wet towels on the bathroom floor. The best idea, thanks again.
@@LauraLetz-pu6rd 🤣😂🤣
Space, the final frontier
Oh man - I wish I had thought about that!
Ha ha, stacked boxes go where no closet has gone before.
😂
“The things you own end up owning you.” - Tyler Durden (Chuck Palahniuk)
Man, I love that film!! So cool to see someone quoting it 👍👍
“More junk than trunk”. OMG, that makes so much sense on this topic!!!
Thank you!!!!
For an added bonus to this awesome video’s advice… I turned off one click shopping on Amazon. Next step, only have one day a month for amazon purchase. I can shop… fill up my cart, BUT only on day a month shipping / spending and keeping in my budget. 2025 Goal! Only 12 amazon charges to my card 😉. Less junk in the trunk also means more money in my account! 😂
One Amazon order per month seems already a lot to me: I may be making a couple of orders per year. Not a good customer 😂
What I wanted to say is that you can totally achieve your goal and hopefully even better than this 😊
After putting in your cart, move it to memory list : )
I have over 400 items in my "save for later" lol
Now I have a whole new thing to declutter 😅
What’s funny is that just this morning I looked around my apartment and said out loud to my old cat Socrates, “I have more stuff than I have room for!” Like it was a revelation 😂 Glad to hear this from you, new subscriber
I wish I had a cat called Socrates :)
Google heard you and served you this video.
Tell us a bit more about Socrates! An awesome name. Does he ask you questions all day long?
My daughter and I adopted a cat at the shelter who they said was 7-9 yrs old- a beautiful big majestic, calm gray cat. I was thinking Gandalf but my daughter, 15 at the time, thought Socrates was a good name and I agreed! This was almost 14 years ago, so Socrates is at least 21 years old. He’s slowing down, but still seems healthy and happy ♥️Yes, he is very intelligent and looks like he’s asking questions and ready to speak at any moment.
@@DChristina it's great to have such a companion!
You're absolutely right. My parents intentionally limit the size of their storage capacity thinking that it would cause them to declutter their things but they never did.
After my parents passed away, it took me close to two years to go through and declutter my parents 60 years worth of stuff. I gotta say some of the things made back then are so durable compared to how its made now that I still keep and use them.
Point being, you use them🙂..so, decluttering something less useful would be the way to go
Realising that most of your stuff will get chucked when you die is a useful reality check. I can't bear to chuck good stuff in the rubbish, and it's harder than it sounds to find someone who wants it, especially old computers etc. BUT it will just end up in the dumpster when I die....
I watch a lot of videos on this subject because this is a serious issue in my life. Sometimes it really helps to hear it formulated just a little differently or presented in a new way. I feel like watching this just brought me a step closer after having stagnated a while back. Thank you!😊
I'm glad my take on it helped a little.
A place for everything, and everything in its place!
And if you can’t find a place for it, it can’t be in your life. Period. My mum taught me the saying in your original comment when I was just a little girl. She was taught it as a little girl by her grandmother.
@@luns486 Oh how I agree!!!! Your mum and grandmother were very right! SO true. I guess my age showed in my comment :)
mise en place
@@potapotapotapotapotapota Exactly!
I was dreading the purge necessary for downsizing. Some of the clothing pieces I'd designed and made that would never fit. It was my art and it hurt to let it go. The products and tools of my creativity. About 100 pounds of used denim. All those vintage patterns. Gone. My son had passed so there was no one to save things to hand down to him. As the pile of stuff grew it began to feel kinda good to not have the burden of it anymore. I took some photos of the things I'd done in my son's little boy room, saved the quilt and left the rest for the estate sale. I was told that was the most noisy room of the sale. Knowing others were tickled by my treasures (those vintage patterns) made me feel even better about unburdening. I'll be in a 1 bdrm apt soon and with holiday decor, my sewing/crafting stuff and my clothing it will be a tight squeeze closet-wise. Hopefully patio storage behind a door.
I cannot function in untidiness. I think a lot of folks don't realize that being surrounded by disorder can affect your mind in very negative ways.
So sorry to hear about your son's passing. So hard.
Thank you for keeping it short and simple, this I feel I can accomplish. 👍
I'm so pleased you are offering advice that only one other person to my knowledge explains in this succinct & logical way.
Although TH-camr & author of several books on the subject Dana K. White, terms her explanation "The Container Concept", she reminds us that houses, rooms, closets, and shelves are all fundamentally forms of container which can only hold a finite amount of stuff.
More stuff than container space = clutter.
As someone who does not part with belongings easily, I appreciate your focus on monitoring & moderating what enters your home in the first place rather than having to address massive decluttering and vetting of items after the fact.
Thank you for an enjoyable and useful video.
Peter Walsh preached this on Clean Sweep, many years ago. A room was cleared out and 3 tarps were placed on the front lawn for keep, throw away, se!l. The keep items could not exceed the area of the tarp. This was before Dana K. White. I wish they would show episodes again.
I got turned off by some of Welsh's comments to people and I do not know if the show would play well to audiences now., however it did inspire at th time.
Dana White turned me off once and I never listed again.
@@ilax4244 What a shame, I'm finding some of her videos pretty helpful, maybe try her again if you haven't made progress since that time.
So true! After 30+ years, we are moving out of a large house with lots and lots of storage space to one about the same size with almost no storage space. What a huge job! I sure wish we’d started practicing this when we were younger!! 😢
Very straightforward, thank you! ❤
The fact of the matter is if I want to have my peace of mind again-a clean and organized space again, I need to have less stuff in my space.
That’s exactly right. I’ve seen too many people struggle with getting organized because they simply have too much stuff.
Giving to the poor, as in Salvation Army or Goodwill, is a good thing to do. It fulfills the command to give to the poor and it helps make room for new stuff. Easiest “I help you -you help me” ever.
Some people have talked about this; it's called the 'container rule'.
Very important step one - thank you!
I wanna be organized so bad but before I even get started, I get overwhelmed and I’m right back on the couch with the remote trying to find a feel good movie😔
It is not easy. Trust me, I understand. I'm a professional organizer and it's hard work. Don't dispair :)
Or back on Amazon choosing something new and exciting :)
Set a timer for 5 mins, you can do anything for 5 mins. The second easiest Ive heard is grab a bag and dispose of 10 items or 20 items. Pick a number...its Progress!!
On day one you take one thing and decide: Keep it? Donate it? Discard it? Then you do this.
On day two you take two items...
Try to increase the number, if it feels overwhelming, take one item less.
Not sure if this will help, but try the 3 X 3 square method, measure out a 3X3 square in one room, using painter tape if it will help, Clean that area only, then go out to the next 3X3 square, if you want to put something in the square you just finished, then put it exactly where you want it to go, if you want to put an item in an area that is not done just put the item in that general area. Also have an area set up for items to be donated, or trashed. Also note it does not have to be 3X3, the key is to focus on one small area only that you can handle., and not the entire room.
I have a Swiss friend that has a rule ….one thing in one thing out ….So when she bought something new something had to go ..It works very well …..
lot of advice on how to get rid of stuff but your're right not many out there helping us to avoid the problem in the first place.
Exactly. And even if you're planning on getting rid of stuff, you need to embrace this rule. Getting rid of 10 dresses if you have 100 might not get you to where you want. You'll still have clutter.
I reorganized my bookshelf and now I see clearly, that I don't have room for more books 😟 so now I go to the local library - perfect 🥳 reading is the coolest hobby of all 😅
Reading is so wonderful
Reading books on Kindle also avoids the need to store physical books 😊
'I like them all and they all make me happy ' 😂😂😂 hahaha, that was gold❤ best advice in this vid, great guy!
Glad you enjoyed!
Absolutely true!! Key principle of why we even try to declutter......space! Room to move and breathe! The visual relief is what we are going for here. Very good.
Thank you. This happens to be exactly the way I think! I enjoy getting rid of things. Too much stuff drives me nuts! 😊
OMG 😂😂😂😂😂 You nailed it and this is my new goal. I am actively working on Putting Away this week and this month!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ TYSM PS Mom's rule: something comes into the house, something leaves the house.
You got this! 💪
Love your personality and your ability to teach a phenomenal lesson in a short amount of time!
I don't care about clothes or decorator items. I care about things that I *do.* Piano sheet music to play, craft supplies for making things, yarn for knitting, kitchen items for making bread, etc. I can quit buying clothes easily, but I doubt anyone's going to convince me to stop buying things that keep me busy.
That is a wonderful point. If your life is full of wonderful hobbies and activities, those are much more important than worrying about clutter :)
This is my issue. I've got beautiful fabric and wonderful tools. I'm constantly finding new projects amongst my hobby clutter. Fabric makes me happy, but I'm not buying anymore just now.
I have a full old suitcase and like 7 bags with scraps and old clothes (and lots of little boxes with other little things I might need for crafting). I can't get to them and make use of it. I consider sorting it for stuff that can be sewed into clothe pieces and scraps I will make a carpet from. (• ▽ •;)@@ghengis430
For instance if you are a quilter or use fabric as your medium, you need a lot of fabric to choose from to fill your pallette as needed for each project. Creating is so important to our mental health and well being. So a certain amount of "clutter" is part of the deal. What I am striving for is to store the supplies in an efficient manner so that I can find them when needed. My mom used bookshelves to stack her folded fabric on so you could see the colors and patterns easily.
I saw a quote once, "I'm creative; you can't expect me to be neat too." I think there is a happy medium.
Thank you for telling me I don't have to do it today.
You are nice.
It took me (and my family) 27 years to mess it up. I almost feel that I just need to wait until they are all moved on somewhere else to even try. .. But I can work on a corner of my room. ❤️
Trust me, I know how hard it is... It's a big project.
Thank you for fostering this mindset of buying what you truly need, which should be a rule of thumb. Online shopping and overconsumption are more than a "tidy" place; they should be the fundamental individual values that encourage global social responsibility. "Decluttering" only sends garbage to dumpsters all over the world. It does not magically disappear.
Well said! I'm putting together another video about buying less. I hope you'll like it.
@@OyveyOrganizing That would be great! I look forward watching it. I'm glad you use your platform for raising awareness about this pressing concern.
So true !!!!! I live in a small home and need to remove/declutter about40-50% of all items.. .. then it will be lots easier to 1. organize , 2. keep tidy. Thanks for the inspiration!!! Especially for the wisdom that we can't erase 10 yrs of accumulating ( or 30-40 yrs or more) in just 2 days'effort.!!!!....We need patience, baby steps, perseverance, going into change for the long haul. :)
Thank you for this video! The realest advice is about how long it took us to accumulate the junk so it’s not gonna get gone in a day. That statement brought my stress down😅
Glad I could help with the stress levels!
BEST tips this year! STOP ✋️ no more stuff than you have room for. Before you buy, Think where are you going to put it. 🤔 AMAZING 👏. 😊
It's simple and true. Anyone who wants a clutter free house needs to do this. Thanks for watching :)
i am like that. i reached that point where every room of my home, every shelf, every cabinet, every cupboard is full. there is no space for anything more. for something to come in something needs to go out. buying stuff has become a bit stressful which is good, gives me also a sense of contentment. it is quite liberating and i totally recomend😊
I think limits are so helpful. We bought a smaller house on purpose. I prefer less but nicer things. Things that work great instead of close enough.
Wow - I'm impressed. Such a good sentiment. By the way, I heard that in Japanese culture they often seek to have less space because for them more space doesn't necessarily mean better.
@ I did not know that about Japanese culture. Thank you for teaching me! For us, our children are grown, we knew what elder care space we will need so we got exactly that. I’ve had big houses and acres. It’s lots of work. I want just enough now.
First Video about organizing which I have seen, that does it tell you to throw away the things you don’t need to buy more things you don’t need. That’s is great!
Yes! Thank you!
You hit the nail, right on the head. Yes, I’m completely overwhelmed. I have ideas how I want to organize. When I make moves towards those ideas, I get interrupted and the job(s) are not done. Or I hit a stumbling block: “I don’t want to get rid of this, because …” I need miracles.
Oh but I did like and subscribed. 😊🙃
Thank you for the like and subscribe :) Yes - it's incredibly difficult to tackle years of clutter. Good luck!
What a fantastic video. Short, direct to the point😊I totally love this video. That is my problem. I moved into a smaller place. Mother kept giving me more of her junk. I was frecking out. Where i am i going to put it. Of course nothing has changed. Keep donating items. Still full. 😢 More than 1/2 way. This is the only video that has registered. Other videos i just basically ran. I have never ever lived like this. It has actually depressed me for years😢True story.
Thanks again. From Australia ❤️ 🇦🇺
Nice video I can relate 100%. Going through this right now. My wife gets overwhelmed and she is scared of doing this. I work FT and she works FT and PT and we have two kids. So I having to lead the effort and push her to do this. I am doing all the lifting moving and I just need to her to agree help with the keep, sell, donate or trash. Something’s I’m going to have to veto her on likely 😂 But when we get to the finished product I know she will like it I just have to remind her we have to maintain this and follow the don’t buy no space mentality. If she agrees to rid something to make the space then maybe okay while not wasting money.
It's sometimes harder to do when you do it with someone else who also have a say. When I need to organize something with my wife it's 5 times harder...
Thank you. I liked the advice near the end too about addressing feelings of overwhelm.
I agree wholeheartedly with this concept, to me its absolutely foundational but I also feel like we can be creative and maximize our space. You my friend can get the shirt if you change the hangers to slimline ones 😜I think most people see something they love and don’t even stop to think where it’s going to go. I can’t think straight in mess or clutter so I have to be intentional. Great video
Thank you very much for the thoughtful comment :) and thank you for the permission to buy the shirt! My main reason for making this video is my experience as a professional organizer - so many clients have way way too much stuff and expect that some bins and a label maker would make a significant difference.
Short and sweet. Thanks
Glad you liked it.
I’m a shopaholic, at the same time it’s difficult to throw away good old stuff, and I suffer well from decluttering, cos it takes loads of my time. Tnx, this video gonna help me
I’ve known that for quite some time. However my ADHD brain doesn’t work like that. Yes, I have an actual diagnosis. Working at not buying things because a I think I need, like, or just plain want it is not so easy. What I have been trying to do since being diagnosed is to put in my shopping cart while I shop for the things I actually came for. Once that is accomplished I walk around the store asking myself if that purchase is more of a want than a need. If I decide it’s a want or a perceived need then I put it back on the shelf or race it came from. Sometimes I falter but I’m getting better.
you can also tell yourself it's ok you can buy it next week or next month. You'll see in a couple of days that you'll probably forget about the thing.
Preach! Been saying this for years, thank you.
A place for everything and everything in its place. Being able to find anything in my home in the pitch dark without barking shins or toes.
Plus there's that 'do I need it or do I want it' that some folks never quite seem to understand
Stay tuned for a video on the topic of need vs want!
When I saw this video on my feed I was like "It's probably gonna be 'everything needs a dedicated space'", and I guess it's pretty much that. And if you own more stuff than you have space, there are gonna be things without a dedicated space. Sometimes it's not because the rooms are too small, it's because your storage system has its weaknesses. It's kinda ridiculous how much storage space some people create in a way you'd never think about. There are rooms that are more complicated to re-assort and set up solutions for your stuff, but overall, often times it's not fully using the potential of a room due to not "seeing" it.
But yah, if your belongings, no matter what they are, all have a dedicated space of their own, it's VERY easy to keep the space tidy, it's also crazy easy to tidy it up, even if you've neglected it for a while.
Just one example: Our bedroom was bugging me ever since my boyfriend moved in. Because it was really only offering enough storage for my own clothes. With another person living there, you could probably guess that it wasn't gonna work out. I did many declutters, even gave away stuff I liked wearing but it was never working out. There's a part of the room that's a bit harder to use because it's behind vertical and diagonal beams and the roof slope in the entire room also makes it a bit harder to put up furniture. While you can get furniture built that's specifically tailored to such rooms, that option was too expensive for our budget, so I was looking for budget friendly options and solutions.
My way of doing it? I bought affordable clothing racks and put them into that smaller part of the room, made sure they'd fit perfectly, used the spaces with less height for smaller pieces of furniture in which I could store clothes/shoes/bags and we're also gonna put a wall where those beams are, so everything looks more neat and tidy plus creates a walk-in closet. I was able to remove one of our closets and fully re-arrange the bedroom to make it not only look cozy and comforting, but also easy to clean and for once the bed is accessible from both sides. That "removed" closet will go to the basement where our washing machine and dryer are and create storage for workwear and tools (which were lying around down there for the most part).
We now have much more storage space, it looks way better, is easier to take care of and even allows me to store some hobby related items in there neatly. But getting there to even think of doing something like that, for some reason wasn't the easiest. I don't know why it took me so long to realize this was a possibility. Sometimes the best solutions just don't pop up in your mind, but they do exist. You don't always have to move into a bigger apartment or house, you don't always have to throw away/declutter everything, you don't always have to chew on your frustration. It could just be that your systems don't work for your needs anymore and should be updated.
I'm going to tackle our kitchen next, because that's another area of those that is not used to its full potential. Once you get the hang of it, you may perceive a room entirely different and you can learn to see possibilities and solutions where you previously saw only problems.
I Enjoyed the Straightforwardness. 🎉 new sub
Awesome! Thank you!
lol everyone is talking about it and everyone knows it just consumerism !
Love the way you put it !!!
Yes exactly! It's too easy to buy stuff these days which makes consumerism even worse :(
It's the way I am living - simplicity is the key - clutter down & get head-space!
Liked & subbed 😊
Simple idea but totally true. Thank you
You ARE a genius. This gets missed all the time!!! Thank you 🎉
Best comment ever. Thank you :)
Very well put!! I'm going to look at my home with fresh eyes now. :)
Let me know how it goes
Short and effective, great! And so true! --> 1. I subscribed 2. I got up and went to my bookshelf which I was just decluttering to go on with it!
woohoo!!!
Easy, brilliant! I subscribed! Thanks.
@OyveyOrganizing... first time watching and am subscribing... Your practicality spoke to me...where am I going 2 put it?? Plus the junk in the trunk was funny and hyperventilating image REAL!
THANK YOU!! I'm so glad subscribed. Watch some of my funny shorts as well :)
Love all of your thoughts .. I like the idea of where am I going to put it ? .. I’m trying to keep my cupboard uncluttered . Also .. yes ! Use the things you have , I try to. 😊merry Christmas love what you say about kids toys
I like them and they all make me happy. -- I LOVE that. Thanks so much for the video that is encouraging and to the point
Thanks so much! I'm glad it was helpful
Good rule, thanks for saying it out loud! I liked your style of video, so I'm subscribing to see what else you have to tell us!
Thank you for subscribing! ❤️
It took me decades to eventually becomin overwhelmed by my own stuff. Then an adult child moved in - with hìs stuff - taking much of my "extra space" for needlework and office. Then another adult child came with all his belongings - most functionally intergrated into general furnishing at least. Now. I also don't have a guest room. My house and sheds ànd garage are now filled with everybodies "stuff". Tis quite overwhelming. I have no choice but nòt to purchase ànything. But I still have a lot of personal stuff.
I love transforming their energy by utilizing or converting them into something useful :)
I need an outdoor storage area to free up inside. How many people have a weedeater and buckets of yard tools accessories hammers spools of wire, clippers sawzall battery powered tools assorted tire repair products..... Things we consider necessities. Along with all the crafting stuff. Sewing stuff. 😮😮
Thank you , thank you ,Thank you !
You're welcome! So glad you liked it :)
I've tried organization multiple times, something never works out right at the end and I have to start all over again. But the process is fun, so I do it multiple times a day.
Being organized enough to have a ‘dress shirt’ section of your closet also helps. You can put the shirt back on the rack because you confidently know you already have a good amount for your needs. You know that owning any more would start to smoosh them together and wrinkle them and make you less happy with All of them.
People often re-buy because they completely forgot that they already own 2 😂 and just put it in a stupid place. If you don’t know what you own, you shouldn’t be shopping.
I agree! I'm a professional organizer and I've seen that so many times.
Thank you, very reasonable and clear.
Great advice. So simple, so obvious! Thanks 🙂
Glad it was helpful!
Great video! Lots of common sense.
Always wondered about the expression ‘messy desk messy mind’ and how that might relate to “empty desk empty mind”?
"Empty" is not the opposite of "Messy"
@@juanpolakovic3076 My point was, if a messy desk does not necessarily indicate a messy mind, a tidy desk might not indicate anything of special merit either. Sometimes “truisms” do not stand up to significant analysis.
@@jamescrydeman540 Agreed.
However, a tidy desk definitely helps for a better work atmosphere around it, regardless of what is in the mind of the desk's owner (that sometimes can be quite messy indeed)
@@juanpolakovic3076 My desk/space is usually messy but most would consider me unconventional if not weird.
@jamescrydeman540 If that helps you to do the best possible job, why not?
Leonardo Da Vinci's atelier looked messy and yet he was a genius.
Your #1 rule is absolutely correct! I'm there with you and I'm also at the overwhelm/paralysis stage. I have ADHD so getting the motivation to start is a challenge, understanding how things don't magically disappear when you put them in a closed container is a challenge (especially my craft and office supplies though cleaning off the counter can be a challenge). and the container concept itself is a brand new concept that I am embracing later in life so I'm way behind traditional home upkeep skills.
Try using clear containers so you can still see the things and they don't just 'disappear'. Getting started can be a challenge when it looks like a mountain. All you can do is chose a spot and start. One way that works well is to have 'keep' and 'donate' boxes. Begin by just sorting into those two boxes. Once the donate box is full take it and DONATE it, then get another 'donate' box. Homeless and women's shelters will take a lot of items and they are needed. Now that you have removed the things you aren't keeping, it's easier to organize what you have left. I also craft, but I often can still par back the things I have by thinking in terms of how long have I had it and have I used it since. Same for office supplies. I also like clear containers as I can what is in the container and I don't have label everything. I hope that gives you a bit of help to get started. 🙂
Excellent! I totally agree with this video!
Thanks for watching!
I have a set number of hangers so clothes are accessible and not crushed. If I need something new, something old has to go.
I agree. And I hate shopping, so I tend not to overbuy. I do need shelves and irganizing. syggestions?
You've described my problems in a funny way. 😃
Glad it made you laugh! 😁
Love it! Clear and simple!
Thank you!
Simply superb. How to buy non tarnish chain?
Thank you 🙏
I'm glad you found it helpful!
❤ you are absolutely right Sir.
I'm overwhelmed. Do the next video
I just discovered your videos. I like you and I subscribed!
Very helpful! Thank you.
I'm so glad you found it helpful!
I've been organising since childhood, but I still have too much staff. This video is the most important one after you decide to start. You don't need to put things into small boxes, if you don't have anything to put into them. How I do it is I change spaces, like I would place something to one drawer. If I don't open the draw in half a year, I don't really need any of that staff.
Great advice! 🏆
Excellent! I can use this as it is a system, not an exercise--you won't solve it in two days--less overwhelmed already 🙂 (Of course, UPS just stopped at in front of my house as I'm writing this. Good, they went across the street 😀)
I was just telling a client that she should exercise the same logic when she gets something for free. Don’t take it unless you know where it’ll go.
Good
BTW, awesome video, very well done.
Thank you so much!y
Such a simple concept!
The problem I have is that I have some stuff I want but not the home I’d like to place it in.
Do I get rid of everything that doesn’t currently fit, and live without home or happiness? Or keep hoping?
Thanks a lot. This tip ist so simple, but so helpful. 😮👍🏼
Thank you 🙏🏼
Ermmm, Dana K White, the container concept.
Glad you said this! She's been talking about the container concept for longer than the age of this channel 😂
I know.. I took some liberty here saying that nobody is talking about it :)
@@OyveyOrganizing No harm in repeating it. I cannot be the only person who starts to sort - or plan to - then lose the ooomph! Simple messages seem to sink in better.
@@OyveyOrganizingLiberty? More like stealing ideas without giving proper credit.
@username00009 it's just logic. Dana does talk about it, but it's possible this man realized the concept and didn't steal. unkind remark!!!
I have a problem because there’s things I need that come in big packages. Right now I am looking at an unopened packet of puppy pads. They will get used up, but meanwhile I live in a very small, very old, 2 up, 2 down, house in England and can’t think where to put the packet out of sight!
Do I need a coat/hat/bag hanger with boot rack for dirty shoes? Or just lay them on the floor? Or do I have to many coats and bags? This is what conflicts me. I could probably do without the rack. But then the shoes would just be on the floor. Also my microwave doesn't fit in my kitchen but I can have a cart for it? 😭 it's so hard to declutter, I feel like I make no progress I got rid of my side table, coffee table, and like 10bags of stuff! And still.... there's so much!!
Sounds like great ideas!
Love this.. sraight to the point !
Thank you!
I bought a big suitcase of clothing items from my 6-week vacation overseas. I knew I have no room in my bedroom for more clothes but I bought anyway.
That's totally normal :) Time to declutter!
I could not buy anything for years but my husband on the other hand goes to thrift stores. He comes home with little Rubbermaid containers. Then he gets mad because he can't close the drawer that they're kept in. So much money wasted on stupid things that we don't need.
Realised this long ago. Recently extended the kitchen adding room for a second enlarged pantry, a large central island and extra cabinets. Also extended the downstairs meaning 2 walk in closets and an extra bedroom as a study. Currently building a second double garage and plans for a separate small building which will be either a gym, art studio or move the work study outside. More space, more closet, more trunk. Not less, MORE!
That's just a sad solution for your problem. And you DO have a problem. Acquisition Addiction. I bet you don't even use or know what you have in your "first" pantry. There is so much need in the world, and you are hoarding so much that could probably be donated to those who are needy. What a waste of money.
@@kathrynwebster6307Haha I know exactly what’s in the pantry and every kitchen cabinet. As a 110 year old 3 bedroom house it had inadequate storage space and none of the bedrooms had built in closets. It’s called house extensions.
And currently have 5 vehicles and 3 trailers including ones for my construction work. You’re partially correct though - I may have a powertool acquisition addiction.
LOL, I always tell myself, is this a need or a want. If it is a want I usually do not buy it. And if I need I ask myself where am I going to put it. Great work!
I'm working on a video about need vs want. Stay tuned!
Good video, this is now one of my new 2025 resolutions. Thanks.
"The things you own, end up owning you"
- Tyler Durden.
So true. I wish I could reduce the stuff I have even further.
Thank you, thank you this is just what I needed to hear but never knew it 😂 brilliant I’m starting tomorrow as it’s 11pm just now
Good luck!!!
Great advice and just what I needed before hitting the purchase button :)
I have another video coming up and it's all about hitting the 'buy now' button. Stay tuned.