Random Things I Decluttered - Choosing to Be Glad Instead of Feeling Frustration
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.พ. 2022
- I uncovered some irritating clutter while I was packing to move. It's tempting to feel frustration, but that isn't helpful. I just embrace the opportunity
to get rid of these random things now.
Mentioned: www.aslobcomesclean.com/resto... - บันเทิง
I just decluttered a chocolate shaver I purchased in 1994 and never used. Fantasy me has been making cakes with beautiful chocolate curls for the past 28 years. 🤣 Not anymore!
What I did with my cookbooks was take pictures of the recipes I actually used out of the cookbook because typically I only use a few out of each cookbook. I then made an 8”x8” photo book; one for desserts and one for the rest. So now I only have 2 small cookbooks with my favorite recipes.
I have so many cookbooks but I keep going back to only 3, and the 3rd one only occasionally. I think I'm going to go through one book each day and find the recipes I like best, then toss 'em out.
I can let go of my Joy of Cooking. It fits both the cookbook decluttering and the aspirations segments. My cookbook shelf thanks Dana.
That is a great idea. I remember sitting with my older sister (she was 17 years older than me) around the kitchen table copying recipes onto recipe cards from my mom’s cookbooks!
I have SO many cookbooks! You are right about usually only using a couple of recipes out of each book.
Wonderful idea.
Right when the video started I thought, “Dana looks great! Her skin is glowing & her teeth are so white! That natural light in your new office is lovely!! I think you look wonderful 💕
I thought the same!
I was thinking that, too! Dana, you are a natural beauty!
Absolutely. Me too! Absolutely GORGEOUS and comfortable and real. She's a real person in a fake and plastic world. ♥️
Agreed!
She does glow, beauty from within shining outward.
My husband had boxes that he moved twice but never went through them so I made him go through them before we moved again. One box was at least 10 years old and had mostly candy in it 😂 and a bottle of Sunny D.
omg...lollll
😂
This made me laugh!!!
So funny 🤣
Oh my goodness I laughed so hard I choked on a corn chip 🤣🤣🤣
I found out last month that years ago, I actually decluttered/lost/threw away the paid off, mortgage-free DEED TO MY HOUSE. And you know what? I sold that house, final closing just last week, and no one needed to see that physical piece of paper. It seemed like the most important paper I could possibly own, and it wasn't that big a deal to not have it. Gave me some real perspective on paperwork.
I needed this!!! Paperwork hurts my head
So glad to hear that you donated those cheerleading items. When I
was much younger I found someone's old school majorette uniform at our goodwill store and Mom bought it for me.I spent so much time in our backyard playing, marching, and throwing a long stick around as a twirling wand. Thanks for the memories!!!! LOL
Don't cry over spilt milk or cow utter cutouts 🤣🥛🐄 thank you for the motivation.
It does my heart heavy to think that the 80s was 40 years ago lol
Look at it this way! I was a teenager in the 60s! I'm still hanging in there.
Omgosh just reading your comment killed me. I'm an 80s kid. Where did the time go.
I went through my kitchen drawer because it was getting so messy and I found THREE melon ballers. I've had them for decades. I have never balled melons in my life. I think I tried and was not successful. It's funny how some things just become invisible despite numerous decluttering attempts.
I used a melon ball once and it just took way too long. Whats wrong with cubes anyways😆
Melon ballers are amazing for scooping out the innards from pumpkins- if you haven't decluttered them yet, donate them to families that like carving pumpkins!
😁
😂
Here's an idea...My partner wanted to sell his coronet for years because it was so 'valuable' he said, but he never got around to it. I finally asked him what he thought it was worth. I bought it from him and donated it to our school music program. He was happy, I was glad and the students benefit - win-win-win. I have done this with only a few other things of his. Now that I have decluttered and continued on to minimalism he is now bit by bit doing the same! Yay! Less is more! You inspire Dana!
Genius idea!
Great solution. Smart thinking.
Thanks Dana...you are the only one who has EVER got me into decluttering in 69yrs. (Thank you Lord for introducing me to Dana)
You continue to encourage me without even knowing! I will keep going at my own speed 👍 Lvu mxxx
It's too bad we can't hit the Like button 10 times, because I'm with you!
Me too Mary, I'm 65 and from a family of hoarders. I am seeing results already from listening to Dana. I shared her to my 72 year old sister and she's already applying the concepts. I love this girl.
Thank you Dana for being you! For being so REAL… you really do GET it! When you speak it’s like you know me & I know & trust you. Thank you for not being judgmental.thank you for giving us all Hope & encouragement… even though you donated your cheerleading outfit you are still cheering on so many!!!! Thank you!
I told my husband today I don’t understand why it took me so long to declutter. We both realized Dana’s method is the first that has worked for me. We’ve been married 50 years!!
@@sandramickewicz4024 I feel the same way.
Last time I decluttered, I found a huge HUGE box of stationery. I probably haven’t written a letter since 1982, but it was in a nice, organized box so I moved it six times AND put it in long term storage when we lived overseas. 😳 I pulled out the one box of #10 envelopes, the only thing I ACTUALLY use, and donated the rest. It only took me 35 years. Btw, your skin is beautiful, Dana. You can pull off no makeup for sure.
Thank you for pointing out “things I missed my chance to use, that passed me by” as another category to give yourself permission to declutter- kind of like “your fantasy self items”!!!!!!!!
You without makeup shows me that you are beautiful and have an absolutely lovely, and I mean lovely, complexion. And I know you weren't fishing for a compliment. Thank you so much for your videos. They really do help me more than anything else.
Does anyone one else LOVE 💕 that Dana’s southern accent is STRONG in this video? No? Just me? Well someone needs to 😍😍
Moving gives great clarity! Before I got married I bought Christmas stocking kits to needlepoint. After 25 years of marriage I decided I wasn’t going to make them and it was time for them to quit mocking me ! You did great in your sorting! Congratulations on your new home !
Two years ago, I brought home 6- 120" round white tablecloths and a super-long white rectangular tablecloth from an event so I could wash them. Then COVID hit, and those tablecloths stayed in their black trash bag for all this time, occasionally getting moved from place to place in my house. This year, we were finally able to hold this event again, so I finally had a deadline for washing them. It took me three loads in my washing machine and dryer because they are so big and heavy but they were done in an afternoon. They were taken to the venue for the event, and I have vowed that they will never come home with me again. ( I originally donated these and quite a few more tablecloths from my daughter's wedding to the nonprofit for which the fundraising event was held and so I often felt responsible for continuing to wash them.) This nonprofit is dear to me, but I can no longer be responsible for these cloths. Literally, this has lifted a weight from my mind, and opened a space in my home.
You might not think so, but videos like this truly do help. Sometimes visuals go much further in triggering movement then just the words alone.
Agree. While I try to listen to your Q&A’s, I devour your videos like this
This is helpful because instead of feeling bad about the things I have kept for no good reason- I can realize I am ALLOWED to change my mind and decide that $**t can go! Be kind to yourself people!
Yes, Dana give yourself some grace. Beating ourselves up just uses up energy.
I had my cheerleading uniform for years, my daughter used it once for Halloween. I finally just put my Letter in my scrapbook and donated the uniform - freedom!
Over the years I've told my hubby that we didn't need to move to a bigger house. We just need to go thru things as though we were moving! It's still a work in progress, he loves his stuff.
I can relate, Christina. My hubby literally said, "But I like stuff," when he realized this decluttering thing wasn't just a phase I was going through. I told him he can keep all of his stuff if he wants to, but I NEED to have less to take care of, so I need to get rid of a lot of my own stuff. I've had to reassure him several times that I'm not touching his things. When I get done, he can have the whole basement for his random things, but I'm hoping he will get it off the floor and onto shelves. He doesn't see clutter at all. I'm gently planting the seeds now, so maybe he'll be ready to come up with the idea himself eventually. Meanwhile, I focus on my stuff and look around his.
Maybe if hubby doesnt want to come along for the ride, you can provide him with containers to put his stuff into. When he runs out of containers then he has to ask himself what must go!🤣😊❤
@@dianaweber4396 Thanks. Not sure if you're responding to Christina or me or both. I have done that. He puts stuff in the container, but when the container is full, he just puts more stuff on the surfaces. I think he must have a higher clutter threshold than I do. And we have opposite organization styles too. He doesn't see the overflowing baskets or the dusty piles or the stuff spread across the coffee table as a cluttery mess. It seems to be how his brain needs it to be. He eventually adapts to the areas I declutter and organize (pantry, fridge, freezer, drawers, etc), but this is his stuff so I don't touch it. The problem is, it's in the living room, which in our house is the entryway. I don't fuss about it. Baskets sort of backfired, so for now, I'm trying to better understand the differences in how we see and deal with clutter. Maybe as I continue decluttering my stuff, his clutter will start being noticeable to him. That's my hope.
The container method is great, but it only works if the person is ready and willing to accept that they can only have a limited number of containers and what they keep has to be inside them. He's not there yet. Maybe someday.
Thanks for responding, Diana. I appreciate you trying to help. 😄
Great move facing the window. Funny I still have maternity clothes....26 years old, menopause, and 100+ pounds. Will toss when I get a ladder back in my shed. Working on visual first - floors cleared and countertops decluttered first. Thanks for being real.
😆 cow udders! I don't think anyone can top this as random!
I moved 5 times in 3 years with a young son and now, 10 years later, I’ve gotten rid of 70% of it. Such a waste of time and effort moving it all so many times. So glad I found you and won’t make that mistake again!
"I'm glad NOW I'm at a place where I see that I don't need Shrinky-dinks." I just added that quote to my ORGANIZING FOR THE REST OF US flow-chart. Whenever I go thru things, I'll be sorting for those Shrinky-dink items. It will remind me not to be all judgey with myself. THANKS, Dana!!!
Good idea :)
I love the thing about 'aspirational items', such a light bulb moment for me! I need a tshirt that says someday is today.
Two things come to mind after watching this video:
-my mom still has mine and my sister’s prom dresses and we are both over 50!😁She still doesn’t want to part with them.
-when my husband and I were waiting for the house we now live in to be built we had to box up a bunch of stuff and move into a rental place for several months. When we finally moved in I think I opened at least six of those boxes, closed them up again and donated them. After 3 months in storage I realized I didn’t need or want any of it.
Photos are my downfall! I inherited all of my mother’s photos and photo books, along with my own! I have been married for 49 years, so there are LOTS of photos! I started sorting through them before Christmas as I was making a book of their photos for each of my 3 children, all girls. While doing this, I came across an envelope of photos that I had intended to send to one of my cousins, even had the envelope already addressed! Sorry to say he passed away without ever receiving those. There were pictures in that envelope of him as a baby (he was 12 years older than me), him with his parents, his parents on their wedding day (they divorced when he was 3), and a few others I’m sure he would have liked to have. But my procrastination kept me from sending them. I am in the process, as I go through my mom’s, of sorting them into piles to send to different cousins I think might enjoy them. Some are also being thrown away. I have come to realize that pictures that meant something to someone else, or even to me at one time, doesn’t mean I need to keep them forever!
When I had to go through all of my parent's photos, I first went through and got rid of all the envelopes and negatives from the developer. That reduced it quite a bit. Then I went and got rid of all pictures that did didn't have people in them or houses/buildings that we were attached to in some way. Since my Dad loved taking pictures of plants, flowers and cool buildings that reduced the pics left by 75 percent!
Rather than throwing away negatives and unwanted photos--especially the ones of landscapes, buildings, and people--check with your local or state historical society or museum to see whether they would like them. Photos are the ONE thing I would go out of my way to deliver to the "best" place, because they are not replaceable.
@@queenofputrescence5167 -- I'm going through old photos doing the same thing right now. Tons of photo envelopes and negatives -- tossed. Only keeping the photos that mean something. I've purged a ton! Nobody will want these in the future -- I disagree that negatives are worth anything anymore. Felt great to get them out of the house.
I'm am in the middle of photo sorting. Been married for 26 years and have 7 kids. We inherited lots of photos from parents and grand parents and even great grandparents. So many that are unmarked. We kept the ones that have a historical value to give to the grand kids but the rest are being tossed. I realized that taking so many pictures is really overrated. Most of our pictures of the last three kids are digital. Thats my next project. There are so many who has time to even enjoy them.
Also consider donating photos. Some crafters love using old photos, and buying them online, even as digital downloads, can be pricey.
So great to see I’m not alone! I’ve been actively decluttering periodically since 2000, and every time I do it again I find things and think to myself “why did I keep this?” But this time, I discovered you/Cass/Dawn and your videos and have been watching them. While each decluttering sweep of my house makes me feel better, this time has been life changing. So thank you!
We've been considering moving and just that possibility has given me a whole new decluttering mindset.
Yes, exactly!
I love it when you talk back and forth to yourself going through your thinking process, and when you laugh!
I have found it helpful to watch your videos before I start decluttering. When I am ready, I give myself a pep talk (out loud) - you can do this. You know what's in that room. You know what you don't want. You know what is trash. Got your trash bag? Got your donate bag? Got your all-purpose cleaning spray? Got your cleaning rags? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. OK! You can do this!
I have to clean as I go, or the dust overcomes my terrible allergies.
😆 My favorite line from this video, “Cow udders, I don’t need them!”
This was helpful as we pre-declutter for health related downsize in a few years. Even anticipation of a move seems to change my lens.
The credits! ❤️ Maybe the earrings are in the catch-all drawer with keys we keep that we know belong to some kind of lock. 🔐 😂😂😂
Love it! When I decluttered, I used the mindset I was moving into an apartment and can't take it with me. Especially my basement.
Funniest items...my husband had two Daffy Ducks t-shirts still in their specialty packaging. One was folded , shrieked, wrapped like a brick, and the other was in a plastic dumbell. Lol! Plus, they were 20 plus years old and a size too small. So he opened them and gave them to our great nieces who wear as night gowns!
Once again helpful and hopeful. And please always keep the comments at the end of the videos. It's time to let the choir sweater from the 1978 trip to Disneyland go. Let it goooooooo.....Let it goooooo.... I can sing that. We just got 10 more inches of snow and its 35 below so we are definitely ...frozen.
I'm doing photos right now, the beginning of my attic project. Tons of non photo stuff you're not the only one. But 7 kids and 30 years of photos makes me wish I had spent less time taking pics of memories and spent more time being in the moment.
Yes, just live the moment. 😊
Yes it is amazing going through my storage area for the hundredth time, how many things I have stored for years and now with different eyes I now see that Yes I can declutter that, regardless how much it costs, some were expensive. But I now look at my storage space per how much each square foot cost,several hundred s of dollars, it let's me argue with the side of me that wants to sell it, but know I wont. Add that cost to the mental,emotional and physical costs that clutter is causing in my body, on top of that the family relationships and the fact I can't let good friends come over due to embarrassment,, Clutter is very costly! I have to Let it go!
I found 12 packs of red tacks...???
I don't know why I bought them in the first place. I think the receipt was from the 80s. I kept one pack, though I can't tell you the last time I needed even one tack, much less a whole pack of them. Definitely don't need 12 packs of tacks.
I recently decluttered a gallon size bag full of bits of paper and cardboard. I think it was from when I did a couple of junk journals a few years ago. I guess I thought it was precious and couldn't be replace.
I found a box of Crayons in a box that we moved with us 13 years ago. The Crayons were fine, but rest of the contents was basically trash. Dates showed it was from 1979.
A bottle of perfume someone gave me. It smelled so bad, I put it in a bag in the garage so it wouldn't stink up my house. We moved it with us and it was in our garage at the new house for 13 years. That's when I started decluttering. It was at least 20 years old by the time I pitched it. I don't think my friend is going to ask about that bottle of perfume at this point, but even if she did, that perfume had to go. And the guilt along with it.
I keep thinking I’m all done decluttering. However, time has a way of changing priorities, lifestyles and what was so needed is now clutter. Thanks for reminding usual keep at it.
When we moved 2 years ago it was one of the best decluttering I have ever done. We had to use a POD for a few weeks while the house sold so lots of boxes where in there. When we got into the new place I started to unpack the “de cluttered” boxes and I ended up getting rid of lots more. The items had been in the POD for a few weeks and I didn’t miss the majority of it.
I tried to make room for all of my old stuff in my new house. The square footage was the same, but it still did not fit. It took me getting MAD about it and finding you and Dana to let it go. Thousands of dollars worth of stuff has flown out my front door! It hurts a bit, but , BUT when I open ANY door in my home, NOTHING FALLS OUT!! Neat stacks of linens, towels, bins for over the counter meds, no expired ANYTHING!!
My garage is still a train wreck, but I have only been serious about giving up and letting go for 30 days. So much better!!! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!
One of the things I read about and have found that helps me is to take an HD or portrait mode photo of the hard copy photos I have. You can also zoom in on the photos that way.
Then shred the photos. Not all but some of them. Or I took a photo of my cheerleading uniform front and back and a high school letter from a football jacket. similar to what you were having trouble with. So at least if I see the photos, the memories come back but I don’t have the stuff laying around.
Great video, and Reid is so funny! My parents recently gave me my trombone that I played from ages 9-14. I’m 55. I automatically said thanks so much, and took it, but will be donating it. I had no idea they had it stowed away in their attic. I’m so afraid of what else is up there!
I'm about the same age and my trombone is in my attic. I think I'm about to let it go!
@Lori Taylor Smith and @Amy Crane contact local middle schools or high schools. They may be THRILLED to receive musical instruments!! AND it feels SO GOOD to give your unnecessary possessions new life and joy in the hands of children!!
@@deborahturner1853 that's my plan
Just decluttered English muffin "tins" . I made English muffins once in 15 years!!!! I routinely get rid of a lot, but I am surprised at how often I find weird things like this!
Since you asked I am nearly done making a list of 100 activities, responsibilities, worries that I am never doing or thinking about doing again. Needed because decluttering the stuff is well underway but for quality of life and clarity of mind, need to focus on fewer uses of my time and energy. Thanks for your help.
That's a great idea! :)
This perspective is amazing! "Would I take this thing with me if we were moving?" I have finally found a new question to ask myself to help me declutter. "Does this spark joy?" stopped being useful quite a while back. While our stuff now confortably fits in the spaces, I still feel that there's room for improvement.
I appreciate your brain 🧠 soo much because I go through the same thought process!! I was decluttering yesterday and after about two weeks of sorting paper and going through different piles..I FINALLY feel like I've made progress. I'm getting better with asking myself the questions. Stuff that I put in the keep pile one day, I got rid of the next day because I said, I don't need to hold onto it for another 20 years 🙌🏽 breaking that threshold 🤗
A decluttering victory report. I moved in April 2020 to Alabama. I only spend part of the year in Alabama. I am still putting things together and into the place I would look first. Lately I added a container of crochet hooks and bits to my designated yarn storage area from where it had landed in the desk in my second bedroom. I had room in that designated yarn area for this smallish container and I like crocheting and I DO crochet! This morning my older cousin in Arizona was telling me about needing a crochet hook to pull out a sweater snag. She scrapbooks and doesn't crochet. I went to my designated yarn area, fetched the container and now 3 hooks are in an envelope, addressed, to her! Here's to the first decluttering question!! Where would I look for this first??
A sort of corollary story, a neighbor dropped by for a visit yesterday. I had not caught up with them in a while. He mentioned that a pseudo son who married a while ago had just had a new baby girl. I know exactly where my finished baby blankets are stored. I immediately pulled one out for him to give to the new baby! So here's to the second deuttering question, too!! I knew I had finished baby blankets and I know where to find them.
Of course, that in turn gives me more motivation to keep crocheting baby blankets; which means I will use more yarn from that designated yarn area and so on and so on and doobie doobie doobie!;
Thanks for all you share in such an affirming, caring and encouraging way.
Children's hospitals/neo-natal units often enjoy getting new blankets!💝
@@deborahturner1853 thanks! I moved away from a Baby Pantry in Michigan and haven't hunted up anywhere here in Alabama at which to donate. I appreciate the reminder to look.
Thank you, Dana!!! You have helped me a lot with my decluttering thought processes over the years. You're a genius!!! I find myself in yet another season of power decluttering!!! I want peace MORE than creativity expression! I go back and forth!
I love your videos-always a great way to get me motivated. I found recently that I had kept a little folder from a mattress I bought 2 years ago-not a warranty just advertising-and I found streamers from my now 24 year old sons 5th bday party that partially disintegrated when I picked it up out of my decoration tub to throw it away…after a moment of “omg I can’t believe I had kept that” it pushed me to keep going to find more forgotten stuff to get rid of.
What a great video! I am staring at a toaster that definitely is a “why do I still have this?” It is electric and the sides flop down and the bread lays in the tray. It is old...really old. And it would NEVER occur to me that I have it let alone ever use it. Begone silly toaster. I want the white space where you were.
We are moving 2000 miles away in four months. Your videos are very timely for me at this point in my life! I cannot justify paying the gasoline at these current prices to haul something across the country that never should have left the donation center. I am loving hearing about your move.
Poor Reid liked that wonky burnt cutting board 😂
When helping my dad declutter we got rid of 2000 books! He still keeps 100+ on his 2 huge bookcases in his bedroom but he does read every day.
What did you do with them? I have thousands of books I need to get rid of but not sure how.
@@rebelcat9464 donate to a library! Or thrift store!
Google "book bank" + your city or state name
@@rebelcat9464 Library if they’ll take them. (Some don’t anymore.) Thrift store maybe. Or take them over a few at a time to your closest Little Free Library. That’s what I did when I sold my house. Mostly downsized the kids books that way, since the little library was outside the elementary school! It was great because it gave me an excuse to get outside and take a walk one block over and back. :D didn’t matter that it took me like 10 trips to do a shelf, because it was such a great excuse for a walk!
Donate to a prison or jail!
Lovely sofa behind you Dana! I do like the 'benchmark' of "Is this item worth packing and carrying to another house?" G Ire
Oh my goodness. I am packing everything away to paint my house interiors. This is so cathartic to see the things I want to pass along!!! Thank you for the blueprint of how to sort and enjoy my things.
This was so helpful. I have several boxes that I've labelled as miscellaneous and go through them when I have capacity, but the truth is that I don't need or use that stuff. Some of it doesn't make sense to donate. So trash it is and I'll make sure that stuff doesn't come into my home again.
the oddest thing I've found so far that should have gone a long time ago is the wooden rocking horse kit in the attic that never got put together- my youngest is now 33. lol
My husband had stuff that he put up in the attic, when we moved here-IN 1987! Never even inquired about what it was. My daughter threw out a lot (because she would say “Da-ad, you don’t need to keep THIS do you?” That would not work for me. Now that our youngest is moving out, I’d like to be prepared if we do finally downsize into a smaller place. Following The Minimal Mom’s suggestion, I had put a bunch of kitchen stuff in “quarantine” and after 6 months (or more) I got rid of five good sized boxes. I never even missed any of it and now I can actually find cooking pans AND their matching lids.
I've been helping my 20 year old daughter. We've been following your method. She keeps saying, "I'm so disappointed in old me." I am doing my best to help her just appreciate that she isn't that person anymore and she's doing better now.
Your videos always encourages me to declutter things no longer needed. Continue to be inspiring in your own way. 👍🏻
My husband and I are going to temporary accommodations this week so our home can have major water leak damage repaired by our insurance company. Today, knowing I have people coming Thursday to pack out our stuff, I was able to let go of almost all of my old spices. I had a bag full. I also accidentally ridded myself of a bag from the thrift store I planned to use when my grand daughter took it out as garbage. I also discarded a bag of old towels from my bathroom and my old mop this week. I have such a long way to go, but it's feeling lighter inside. We will survive this mess in our home and life will go on... Thanks for sharing. 🙂
This video actually helped me get off the sofa to toss away art stuff that was no longer usable and had been sitting for 6 years. Thank you.
I relate to you better than other declutter coaches. Love your humor! Love your blue velvet couch❤️ I, too, am a fellow Texan trying to stay warm in this icy mess we got going on.
Wait. What? You aren't wearing makeup?!
Oh my gosh! Why waste your money on it?!
Thank you for all your videos. My mind has completely shifted since I started watching your videos.
Well done!
I'm currently going through old boxes from my garage. Yes, random things that you are referring to in this video.
Thank you for your videos. I totally get you because I am the same! 🙋♀️🇦🇺
Loved this and easily could identify!! I found several old pairs of glasses (hello I can donate) and a remote from a tv gone long ago. Random earrings with no match. A sewing kit I didn’t remember I had. Leather cleaner never used. And on and on.
One of the craziest items I can think of was a ziplock bag of Cheerios I kept with the art supplies thinking I was going to do a pinterest activity with my kids. I kept them for 8 years.
Thank you for sharing this- it serves to make you more human- relatable etc.
My decluttering has slowed considerably due to increased health needs of family members- but
I continue to declutter at the speed of life!
Thank you!
And I love the embracing where you've come to instead of dwelling on the negative feelings
Thank you for sharing so vulnerably. Really helpful.
Great video Dana! You are definitely not the only one with that kind of stuff in photos! I just decluttered a similar stash! I'm so happy for you to have a great place to do your magic! You've changed my life! Lots of love from PA!
I found my horse's baby teeth in an envelope. I haven't had that horse since around 1998. I will admit to not decluttering them. I put them in a jar and put them on my memory shelf in my office.
Have to tell you. I decluttered 133 things today…totally out of the house. So glad. In Norway we dont have so many places to donate. Because of the Ukrainan war…..😥 🤬 winter jackets, wool clothing, dog suplies etc. I earlier had platina belt in shopping, so the things are nearly unused..
Craw is a bird’s crop. So basically stuck in your throat. We are moving in a few and most of our stuff is packed up, but I’ll be doing this in a reverse way when I unpack. I’m going to make a corner where I pile up donation items as I unpack them.
Thanks for making this video. I enjoyed it. I honestly think we should all declutter with the mindset of "Would I pack this if I'm moving?" even if we aren't moving. I have a couple places in my house that I'm dying to get at to declutter because I know there are MANY things in there that I haven't looked at in YEARS and can "hopefully" easily declutter. I will remind myself that I haven't needed it and probably won't ever need it so they can go. It's time to clear out the clutter and free up our spaces and our minds!
We’ve moved over 10 times in 18 years and with every move, guaranteed, there’s always stuff to get rid of, tons of clutter, loads of donations, and all those extra bits that’s in with the photos, and we are moving again in a couple of months and I already know there’s tons more to declutter and get rid of! It’s never ending, but that’s ok. You look lovely Dana 😊💞
Emma - I just moved for the first time since I got married over 30 years ago. 30 years ago all my possessions fit in someone’s pickup truck. OMG I still cannot believe the stuff I had. Just cleaning supplies alone, you would think I was an OCD clean freak. Your comment helped me to realize that even if you move frequently there is always stuff to declutter and I shouldn’t beat myself up about it. I realize it’s hard for me to get rid of gifts given to me even if I don’t like them. They end up stuffed into a cabinet somewhere only to be forgotten.
One thing I did which made me happy was donate dozens of vases to my favorite florist. He was glad to receive them as they were not your typical vases and I quit trying to fool myself that I was going to become an amateur florist.
@@littlemom2070 hi, well done with the vases, that’s brilliant and sounds like you made the florists day! Gifts are really hard, but I tell myself that they’ve stayed with me for a time and done their ‘job’ of being a gift, and it’s now time to move on and make someone else happy. Especially if it’s something you don’t like, the emotional hold I felt with these things in the house was almost toxic, and once I got rid of things like that a huge weight was lifted. Getting rid of gifts doesn’t mean you’re not grateful for them, or that you don’t appreciate the person. Recently I’ve said to a friend that I’m decluttering and that I hope she doesn’t mind but it’s time for xyz to go that she bought me, as there’s no room and that it doesn’t bring me as much joy any more, and, would she like it? If not it goes into charity. You’d be surprised how understanding people are, even if a bit put out at first. Glad my first comment could help 😊
I needed a positive video this morning as I woke up very grumpy! Thank you!
5 boxes for books!? Last time I moved I had 70. Of course the next time it will have to be far fewer than that, but it won’t be just 5. And I’m sure I have containers of stuff, like the cheerleading uniform, that have been moved many times and never looked at, and I will try not to move them again.
You are NOT the only one who had random paper with their photos.
I’m afraid I’m literally getting obsessed with decluttering 😂 what will I do when I’m done?? Oh wait, it’s never done!😁
I paused after the cow spots and went and got my wolf costume together in a bag to donate. These videos help me declutter! Thank you for taking the time to share.
I wish you could see my after, I had over 100 cookbooks and donated all but 12. Going forward, I will mark pages with a post it when I use a recipe and in 3 months re evaluate. If I haven't used it, it will be donated. Once you tackle a decluttering category you wonder why you didn't do it sooner. Thank you Dana, for sharing your valuable decluttering tools🌷
Dana, I love your videos. They are so informative, but you make me laugh, too!
Great video! Thanks for sharing. I feel the same as you. We just had our water heater flood our basement. My basement has been an eye sore for over 20 years. This forced me to throw things out I would have never early on. It felt good. I still struggle getting rid of things but I think I’m getting better. Thank you for being here. ❤️
I truly believe the Lord introduced me to your videos and your book Organizing for the Rest of Us!! Your words “Less”. and “Better”. are so incredibly helpful to keep me from being overwhelmed and from feeling like a failure with my house. Every summer I’ve said I’m going to organize -so many years that it’s kind of a joke with friends and family. Well this summer I am decluttering and it’s already BETTER!!! And you make me laugh💗😀Thank you from the bottom of my heart💗🙏
Bought your latest book in Kindle format yesterday- thanks so much - already love it so far. Bought Kindle version to save space but may purchase the actual book anyways 😂😂
I remember decluttering the basement once and found a full copy-paper box of baby socks (nb to 1year). My youngest was 14 at the time. Yeah. LOL
Thank you for the great video! I actually sewed our Chick Fil A spots on some of our clothes and made ears attached to headbands! And we still have them! I do have room since I don't have a lot of clothes and we have so much fun getting dressed up to go get our free lunch!
That's the key. You have room and you still use them.
It’s not the things I’ve kept. It’s the things that somehow I don’t have! Like the blueprints to the house we decided not to build 20 years ago. What did I do with them? And my running vest bladder. Where is it? Ughhhh. My container will be a 400 sf RV with strict weight limits as well as size. I’m getting stronger at this decluttering and letting go of crap thanks to your methods and help! Thanks Dana💞
I nearly choked on my water over the Shrinky dinks!! Not gonna lie, I think I would've had to play with them just because I always wanted some as a kid. Dana you are a Godsend, I am so grateful to have found you and especially to now have the ears to hear. Finally, finally I am making real progress on my "office" read: room o' chaos. I cannot thank you enough.
When moving I found a beautiful handmade dress I’d forgotten to dress my daughter in. It was size 6 months, and she was 5 years old. It honestly broke my heart and I had some tears. Then I decided to keep it, in case she has a daughter. I donated it a month ago after she explained she’s probably not going to remember it and neither will I. She’s 14 and so awesome.
I think it was genius buying the storage boxes and using them for the container concept.
This was very comforting to see. I have listened to Decluttering at the Speed of Life three times. Now I listen whenever I am decluttering for more than 5 minutes. You have truly changed me and I will be forever grateful!
I found yearbooks from every year in Middle School and High School! I have blocked out my Middle School years because they were awful I glanced through the books and most of the sentiments were some kind of reference to me being small and weird! Not good memories at all! Why on Earth have I kept them since the early 70's! I did take a few pictures of pages that had friends that I'm still friends with on FB and will see if by any chance they would like to see them... then threw them in the rubbish! I enjoyed High School a little more so I'll look through those, take pictures of pages that make me smile and will only keep my Senior year book if it makes me smile.
About to start painting my stairwell, landing and two walls in my daughters room and have realized I might actually be ok with not putting any of it up just because clutter and it was disorganized, in 2021 we repainted our living room, dining room and back porch, and decluttered the walls along the way, my house can breathe and it feels amazing!!
Dana, future you WILL be grateful. I know we are. Luv from Australia.
Thank you for all that you do for sooo many people, Dana.
FABULOUS video. I have been following you for a couple of months and love how you keep it REAL. And you are a beautiful person- with or without makeup!