On the issue of keeping cards: birthday, anniversary, Christmas, etc. The best tip I have heard and what I now do is to keep the most recent card from each person (that really matters to me). My 91-year-old father passed away almost one year ago, but he had lost the ability to write his own cards two or three years ago. I kept (and will keep forever) the last Christmas card he sent me that he signed himself. My partner's half-sister passed away a few years ago, and we have the last Christmas card she sent us as well. Those final cards overshadow all the rest, and you never know which will be the final card.
Kate Yare yes!!! I keep some cards for that reason also! I also save some voicemails for that reason! Also, I have about 3 voicemails on my phone to this day from my step-dad who passed 7 yrs ago! He has left a msg for our anniversary and also for my bday, told me he loved me. So very special to me! My husband made a video of photos with his voicemails in the background... priceless!!
I just cannot throw away cards from my kids .....from every Mother’s Day and birthday and Xmas they’ve ever sent me - and they’re now 19 and 16 😬. I’m thinking I might photograph them and the writing inside and then upload a photo book with them in.
"If it's a bill they'll send you a new one!"😂😂😂 This is so my husband. I love how practical and compassionate your videos are!! I sent the last paper clutter one to my Mom and she loved it. Thank you so much Dawn!!
I love your husband! He keeps bringing the humor into the situation! I have ADHD and even your system was probably more than I would do (if I am honest). First of all, I went paperless with all bills and got rid of every magazine, catalog and newspaper subscription (I found a 6-month-old stack of ones I had never read and that was that.) I haven't missed one of them! Second: Everything gets opened AT THE FRONT DOOR. My professional organizer came up with a "3 Bin System" that works for me (if anyone else is interested): Bin #1 is a shredder by the place where the mail comes in, and it sits on top of a large wastebasket. All envelopes and non-necessary papers get immediately shredded as does all junk mail (so it doesn't come into the house at all). Bin #2 is on my desk: this is everything that needs to be "dealt" with in some way. And box #3 hides behind my couch: Everything else goes in that box. Bin #1 goes out every other week with the recycling, Bin #2 has to be done ASAP, but I try to keep it always empty by the end of the week, and Bin #3 I go through every six months, and I set a timer to keep me on track. Anything I haven't needed or used in Box #3, gets shredded and all tax stuff goes into a large manila envelope at the bottom of the box that says "Tax Stuff" which is usually all that I end up keeping by the end of the year. Hope this helps someone!
Tip: For Christmas cards, I cut the front off and keep them to use as gift tags the following year. No need to buy bag tags. Works if people do not write on the back of the pretty part when they send to you.
I have done this for years - as did my mother she used "pinking shears" to cut the "tags" out. Whenever I prep my tags, or use one on a gift, it makes me think of my mom
Wonderful perspective!!! A lot my hoarded clutter was also an avoidance because it took sooooo much time to go through all of that!! I wanted to use my time and energy to go on little adventures with my boys!! I wanted to do things with them and ignored the clutter. But I now realize that wasn’t good either!! So I take baby steps to Declutter the mess and make sure I’m still taking that precious time with my children!! FYI: Paper is my Goliath!!!! Lol thank you for the visual of decluttering them!!
Paper clutter is my Goliath as well! I ALWAYS get so hung up on this.. it makes me so discouraged because I do t know what to keep or throw away! So frustrating, this video helps. I can get rid of stuff… but the paper clutter is so overwhelming!
Progress over protection! For the perfectionist minded we can micro organize our paper but for those who need progress tossing in a designated box is a great tip! So many times people don’t even start a project because they feel the pressure to make it look pretty or Pinterest worth. Just getting it done even if it’s not pretty is better than closing the door on it! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
My family had a house fire when I was young. Lost it all, even my brother. I promise you, in the grander scheme of things, people are more important than things. What do we miss most from the fire loss: my brother, NOT the stuff. I'm sure my parents thought they'd rather replace every single item of important papers than their child. Less serious note: My man had his laptop crash. Lost it all. Every picture of the first 2 years of our kids life. If you think about it, you WILL live without all that stuff. You can actualy LIVE without it. You really need very very little. Sometimes even if you give up all those old photos of people you never get to see again, it's ok. You can live this life to the fullest, which is probably what those who are gone would want you to do.
I am so sorry about the loss of your brother. Your point is very valid. We can live without this stuff and "live this life to the fullest, which is probably what those who are gone would want you to do." I need to ponder and act upon this. Thank you for your words of wisdom.
I’m so sorry for your loss. We had our house burn down almost a year ago and lost everything but each other. My husband was in a coma for 2 weeks because he didn’t know the kids and I were out and he ran back into the house to find us. Not a day goes by that I don’t remember how close we came to losing each other. And you’re so correct, in the face of that kind of loss, the material things are so unimportant! ❤️
I feel the takeaway about the computer crash is the issue of having digital vs developed film. Something you can hold on your hand and keep and pass down for generations vs. Sonething thats gone when you drop or loose your phone or computer dying. My mother warned me to print out my photos and whole generation mmmmay miss out on photos from childhood.
Your videos and ideas are so freeing. You give us permission that some of us (me!) never realized we had. You’ll never know how much weight that you’ve lifted from my shoulders. ❤️
Dear Dawn, I am very grateful that you are nowadays in your new videos never put music in while you are speaking to us (maybe only in the intro or at the end - thats totally ok!). And that helps SOOO MUCH. I cannot tell you how much it helps. All listeners and followers with ear- or hearing issus like tinnitus, pain patients of any kind, people with concentration or attention disorders etc. will thank you for this idea!! I guess for all listeners it feels better only hearing your voice and about the content without music. But for people with issues it is a great relief not to have any backgroundmusic in it. THANKS A BUNCH! Lovely regards from Vienna/Austria
I shred all of my personal information including addresses. I rip or cut the information off of the envelope, catalog or magazine. I enjoy your tips! Thanks!
A big thank you to my mom for helping us collect paper for this video! ;) You can find a link to the game mentioned in the description as well as some guidelines for how long to keep things and a few of our favorite paper system products! THANK YOU for watching- we appreciate you!!!! - Dawn
Thanks so much for this video, I'm currently working on my paper monster that is seriously years over due! Just a side note, I appreciate seeing examples of the categories to sort through the pile, but for me if it doesn't need to be shredded or saved for later then why not recycle it instead of putting it the regular trash. Just a thought💙 by the way I really love your channel and have been binge watching for a while now 😀
@Eric Parker If it doesnt need to be saved for later/ filed or shredded then all paper waste flyers envelopes advertisements - recycle it, no need to put it in the garbage. For my family If it has ANY personal information that I do not need to save such as statements or credit card offers atm receipts any papers or documents with personal information of any kind. medical record numbers from appointment reminders or balance reminders. Even student ID #'s (just to be safe) I shred or do a bon fire. My city has 3 free shred days a year. Its Secure and its Free! So I plan to take my boxes to the next one they have. Hope that helps.
@@melodie-1977 Good question! I think the sign got covered by the paper, we recycled everything that could be and only threw stuff that had plastic or something else in or on it that wasn't recyclable!
@Eric Parker Good question! We put anything with personal info in the shred pile, anything that could be recycled in that pile, and things that had plastic in or on it or anything else that made it non-recyclable in the garbage pile (our 10 year old went on a field trip to the recycling center last year and came home with detailed instructions of what can and can't be recycled in our area ;)
the “fresh start” concept is so powerful. the “fresh start” / “reset button makes it so much easier than just trying to figure out what new pile to add some old thing to. great vid!
There is one piece of paper I will almost always leave laying around, even if everything else is gotten rid of or organized into files. My younger brother and I lived between houses while we were younger (parents divorced). Even when we were living in the same house at the same time, our schedules didn't always connect. One day, one of us started doing a crossword puzzle from the local newspaper and left it sitting on the kitchen table to head off to school (probably me). The other one came along and filled in some of the answers, and we continued switching off like this until the puzzle was completely filled in. We kept doing this over the years until we both moved to college. While I moved back home for what was supposed to be a temporary move, my brother stayed in the city his college was located in when he graduated. I still set out a puzzle of some sort on the table when I can (though we don't get the newspaper anymore). I pass through the room here and there and fill it out like we did way back when. During my brother's infrequent visits now, we both revert back to doing a puzzle if we have one out (it's a little harder to find a worthy puzzle now compared to back then). This will be the only paper that sits out in the public areas of the house on a consistent basis. It's a way to connect with our family and do an activity together when our schedules and living conditions prevent anything more; even more to the point, it's a great memory that allows us to keep close despite all that life has thrown at us over the years.
Fantastic! I always strived to be a Micro organizer but I am finally accepting the fact that I am a Macro organizer. Took me 50 years to accept what really works for me, not what I wanted to be like.
Motivated through your eye-opening and practical videos, I set myself a goal last week-end: to declutter 5 to 15 minutes on each week day - putting the emphasis on paper. Today it was already my bedtime when I would have had time for it. I decided to stick to it. The 5 minutes became more than 15, and I am EXCITED to continue tomorrow! Thanks! 🙏 🔝
Dawn, you inspired me so much with your last video that I I went through 6 years of older tax returns and got rid of all the supporting documentation, only keeping the actual returns. Plan to scan those onto a USB drive and put that in safe and then likely shred the actual paper returns. I also discovered my school report cards for grades 1-12 and shredded those too. All my nursing continuing education certificates, gone. Don't need them since I'm retired. All the paper that's left now fits into half of a filing cabinet drawer. For the last year or so, I've been dealing with mail as soon as it comes into the house rather than letting it pile up. So much easier!
I love the idea of “fresh start”. I’ll give it a try on some of my clutter; I have no idea why I feel my paperwork piles are so sacred. I love my local newspaper but sometimes am way to busy to read them daily and they stack up. A couple years ago I decided that each paper would be recycled by that evening, read or not. It pained me at first to recycle something unread but I quickly adjusted to the freedom it gave me.
Excellent video! You really keep the decluttering process in perspective by returning to your underlying goal of connection with your children. Love your decluttering approach. Also so appreciate that you didn’t say “welcome to my channel”!!!
Good job Dawn! I can so relate!! My husband has not been well for the last 2-1/2 years. I took over our finances a few months prior to this time. He has continued to try to “help” (control)!! As of the last 6-12 months he has been unable to “guide” me as he would like. A new start has arisen for 2020!!!!!! I bought a cardboard “mail sorter” for the new year. All 2020 item will be given their home within this new device. Non recuring will live in MISCELLANEOUS. Non-Profit contributions will all be under that one head. I plan to slowly go through my previous filing system and shred the unnecessary item!! Thanks for the encouragement and keep up the good work, Judy in Virginia Beach
Yes! That is what i have been saying to myself the most: "sometimes we just need a fresh start!" & it has helped decluttering a lot through the whole house! Thank you for encouraging us who are overwhelmed with it all!😀👍
Thank you so much for this fresh perspective on paper clutter!!! What helps me the most is the specific mental tips you provide us like, "do I need to archive everything from the past?" These are the most helpful things for me because the emotions of keeping things often take center stage such as guilt for getting rid of a card or sentimental item, anxiety over letting go of something you may need, etc. Changing from an emotional to mental perspective makes this so much easier. I have a huge paper sorting project that is awaiting just this kind of advice. I'll be tackling it this weekend thanks to your help!! I have allowed the embarrassing paper stack to keep my son from having friends over, etc. Papers are not more important than people and the memories we make with them! This will be defended in my house from now on. Thank you soooooo much for empowering me to do this!
I really like that this video displayed more than just the perfect approach to handle these items, it also gave a quick realistic way to improve. My words for 2020 are “intentionality, awareness and gratitude “
I'd like to give this video a million thumbs up. Thank you, thank you!! Paperwork has been overwhelming me and the fresh start idea is huge. I love how you explained your thought process while sorting. This has been super helpful.
Thank you so much for the paper clutter videos. I have a love/hate relationship with paper. I hate all the business paper. However, I am an artist, so I love paper, too! This is my most difficult thing to deal with!
My husband and I keep really important documents. (SS security cards, birth certificates, passports and mortgage docs)in a fireproof box. It's not too big, so we can't over stuff it. We always no where it is and in case of emergency we could retrieve it quickly. Paper clutter is the bane of my existence! I have 2 kids at home, but also 3 college recent grads. Dealing with their mail is awful. And now I am responsible for my elderly mother's affairs~ more paper - and a ebusiness that requires keeping lots of receipts~ You've inspired me to try to make a fresh start. Dawn, I wish you had been around when I had little kids. You are the best!
When my mom moved out of her home of 40 years, we had 43 years of tax returns. We started by shredding them, but it was going to take too long. A taxes bonfire was the answer! We felt like big rebels burning tax returns.
K Gibbs when I cleaned out my Mom’s house while moving her to assisted living, I found two bank boxes of paystubs my Dad had saved from 1972 through 2004. Along with all the tax returns there was over seventy pounds to be shredded. Would have burned them but no fire pit in her yard and was trying to sell the house also.
I have started this process several times. I'm in the middle of paper right now. I have boxes from years ago and boxes I don't even remember what's in them. Health issues and a series of moves and dragging it with us. I actually did take a paper box I wanted to get rid of and made it the trash box and started sorting and putting in the trash box while putting things I'm not sure of in other boxes. I have a couple boxes going. I have papers wrapped in a towel sitting next to me that I need to get motivated to go through and trash or throw in another box. I need to watch some more and get motivated to whittle down decades of paper. I have this thing where I'm saving things to write a book but have lots of other nonsense mixed in.
Thank you!! I'm watching this while I shred my own docs and so many others I inherited from my parents that date back to over 25 years ago! You have given me hope for a way to end this madness.
Amen Dawn!!! People over managing inventory. These are great suggestions and I'm so glad you are giving us all permission to break through the overwhelm!
I just tackled our memorabilia. My husband saves everything, along with envelopes, and even duplicates. I’m really not a fan, it makes me nostalgic and kind of sad. But I organized it and got rid of envelopes, and by neatening and categorizing , it takes up less space. I feel better now. Going forward I will have separate bins for the things that I consider worthy of saving, like graduation programs and cards, not movie stubs. He can have his version though.
Thank you for this new perspective on where I want to spend my time when it comes to the piles of old papers. Setting up a new system and moving forward with it. And permission for the old paper system not to have to be perfect. So freeing and encouraging! Thank you!
Yes! This mindset is so good for me! I have so much decision anxiety that I end up keeping too much! Having a bin I put in the attic then just toss after 2 years solves my problem!
You are just the best! No one makes better videos than yours. I never ever comment online, but I just had to say this. Thank you so much for the high quality tips you keep sharing.
I needed this video SO badly! I am in desperate need of a fresh start!! I have piles and bins and boxes full of paperwork (from the 4 years I had a direct sales business). I am a perfectionist so the lumingness (yup, just made that word up!) of it all has scared me into avoidance mode. I don’t know what to keep, how to store it or file it- so it sits. BUT you are so right, it’s ok to not know what to do with some of it, the “might need it” box will be my saving grace and your videos Dawn, will be my encouragement and motivation for getting my home back!! Thank you!❤️
I’m still rocking the paper system from your original video 😅 I come back to watch these just to hangout with you !! Haha HAPPY DECLUTTERING EVERYONE!!
My husband and I both make an effort to sort the mail in the car so we can recycle anything on the way into the house that doesn't need to be opened. I also try to go through everything as it comes into the house, saving only the things that need to be filed, saved or responded to.
I love how you’re like, just put it in a box with a date and move on - move forward. I have several boxes of papers I just dumped papers into and I have felt bad about not organizing them but they are years old at this point and I’m just like, I don’t want to spend my time that way! Also, Tom - “just burn it, if its a bill, they will send you another one.” Hahaha!!!!! Paper clutter is the VERY worst kind of clutter by far!!!
I find it easier to walk right to the recycle bin as I come in the door with the mail... I so enjoy your videos Dawn.. You are so wise to know what's truly important & that's spending time with your babies. They will be in college before you know it. Keep up the great videos.💟😊
Love the video. Just purged most of my files and my husband did too. Only keeping the bare minimum of papers...it feels so refreshing. I’m also simplified my files. Thanks Dawn, less is more.
It's ironic how you said some people might be horrified at just sticking it all in a bin, yet that is actually genius. At least it's in one place, safe and clean, not scattered along other random stuff in piles all over the house. I used to have pulled all over and it feels so good not to anymore! I LOVE the choice questions you recommend to help us make decisions! Brilliant!
Love that idea and your hubby's too. 🤣 I decided the first of the year to do something similar with my computer files of whatever was on my computer I put in a folder titled "2019
Hello Dawn, thank you for channel - I love how real you are, how positive and inspiring; I was at the point where I had made peace (sort of, for the sake of moving on) with the fact that this is just me, I will never get the simple living thing down - but you seriously have me thinking that maybe I can! One tip I have that gave me incredible freedom with kids’ artwork, and memorabilia in general, is, I would take a photo of it (like birthday cards) and keep a memorabilia album (mine is digital, but it could be a physical album); my kids are grown up now, but I used to get them to pick their favorite artworks and talk about them on video (my son had a vivid imagination and his pictures were usually stories or inventions😉) ... then you ditch the physical paper and it doesn’t take space anymore. I hope that helps someone. Again, thank you so much - please don’t stop. Blessings from Pretoria, South Africa
Hi I have been watching you and Erica Lucas videos. I have donated bags and bags. I found bags and bags of trash to get rid of. My apartment looks so much better. It makes me feel happy to get rid of this stuff. Thank you for all your help.
I look forward to each and every one of your videos and then in between revisiting the other ones from the past while I'm waiting for a new one to come in an! A daily dose of Dawn.....helps me get through the day!
Great idea on just quickly storing what u need in one spot just to get through the back log. You can always go back and subdivide later if you choose too.
I know this is an older video, but I’m catching up. In our family, we have books where we write notes to each other throughout the year and on holidays that take the place of cards. It’s saved so much space and mind space and is sooo much more special!
I got inspired right after Christmas and took two large piles of magazines, which had been stored very neatly but were unread, and dumped them into the recycling bin. What a great feeling!
AHA MOMENT ... I had to tell you this morning in my creativity hour( where I let myself dream and think about what and where I am) INVENTORY that has been my missing link... if I don’t realize how much I have to MANAGE (another thing you have taught me) no wonder I haven’t realized what my excess has cost me!!! Thank You so much for coming into my life!!!
Congratulate me I am down to just dealing with photos and memorabilia only keeping what will go in albums. Last year I set my sights on downsizing minimalizing my goal was to move from a 3-bedroom apartment to a one-bedroom apartment, by September I moved love the minimalist life now. As for the photos and memorabilia I'm using this winter season to get it done. Love your Channel on minimalist family living and your faith video with your sister. Love bekah
I have had health issues for decades and so I have an entire box of dr files and reports. I have gone through it once and I decluttered tons but I still may be 'holding on' to too much...more out of a sentimental reason then necessity. It tells an important part of my life story...like a journal. And I do still think 'what if' I need it. And surprisingly when I asked for a copy of my CT scan ( showing my stage 4 cancer, NHL, grapefruit size tumours) I want to keep because it reminds me of what I have survived, lived through. ( I have no detectable cancer now for several years). When I asked I thought they would give me a digital form a memory stick or even a disc but they sent it to me in paper format....it is a 3 inch thick stack of paper. I think I will try again and see if I can get it digital now. Any advice on how to declutter medical papers would be helpful.
I am glad of this video as I MUST find a particular paper to be able to sign to an important website asap. This method will help me find it way quicker than if I waited until I have a system in place. Thanks!
Oh Dawn thank you so much for these videos you just about saved my life from drowning in paper clutter😄👍 Like you I dont do micro filing Theres more to life than that🤣 these videos have giving me a system to put in place that I think even I can follow so thank you so much😀😘
We love games. Just after watching this the first time, I was at Savers thrift shop and I was so excited because they had the Rummikub game. It was like new and even in a large print version. (My son is low vision). I couldn’t believe it. Thank You LORD! Has Adeline ever thought of doing a boardgame/cards TH-cam channel?
On the issue of keeping cards: birthday, anniversary, Christmas, etc. The best tip I have heard and what I now do is to keep the most recent card from each person (that really matters to me). My 91-year-old father passed away almost one year ago, but he had lost the ability to write his own cards two or three years ago. I kept (and will keep forever) the last Christmas card he sent me that he signed himself. My partner's half-sister passed away a few years ago, and we have the last Christmas card she sent us as well. Those final cards overshadow all the rest, and you never know which will be the final card.
Kate Yare yes!!! I keep some cards for that reason also! I also save some voicemails for that reason! Also, I have about 3 voicemails on my phone to this day from my step-dad who passed 7 yrs ago! He has left a msg for our anniversary and also for my bday, told me he loved me. So very special to me! My husband made a video of photos with his voicemails in the background... priceless!!
I do this too xx
I do the same thing. I keep the last card and if there was a really heartfelt earlier card I may keep those as well
Definitely keep ones that are important to you!
I just cannot throw away cards from my kids .....from every Mother’s Day and birthday and Xmas they’ve ever sent me - and they’re now 19 and 16 😬. I’m thinking I might photograph them and the writing inside and then upload a photo book with them in.
"If it's a bill they'll send you a new one!"😂😂😂 This is so my husband. I love how practical and compassionate your videos are!! I sent the last paper clutter one to my Mom and she loved it. Thank you so much Dawn!!
So glad to hear! THANK YOU!!!
My mom totally needs it, but if I sent it to her, she'd feel attacked.
I love your husband! He keeps bringing the humor into the situation! I have ADHD and even your system was probably more than I would do (if I am honest). First of all, I went paperless with all bills and got rid of every magazine, catalog and newspaper subscription (I found a 6-month-old stack of ones I had never read and that was that.) I haven't missed one of them! Second: Everything gets opened AT THE FRONT DOOR. My professional organizer came up with a "3 Bin System" that works for me (if anyone else is interested):
Bin #1 is a shredder by the place where the mail comes in, and it sits on top of a large wastebasket. All envelopes and non-necessary papers get immediately shredded as does all junk mail (so it doesn't come into the house at all).
Bin #2 is on my desk: this is everything that needs to be "dealt" with in some way. And box #3 hides behind my couch: Everything else goes in that box. Bin #1 goes out every other week with the recycling, Bin #2 has to be done ASAP, but I try to keep it always empty by the end of the week, and
Bin #3 I go through every six months, and I set a timer to keep me on track. Anything I haven't needed or used in Box #3, gets shredded and all tax stuff goes into a large manila envelope at the bottom of the box that says "Tax Stuff" which is usually all that I end up keeping by the end of the year. Hope this helps someone!
“Let’s spend time together and not try to be always archiving things from the past.” Truth. Thank you, Dawn!
Tip: For Christmas cards, I cut the front off and keep them to use as gift tags the following year. No need to buy bag tags. Works if people do not write on the back of the pretty part when they send to you.
I would totally do this if I didn't already have a CRAP TON of little tags to use up...ugh...
I have done this for years - as did my mother she used "pinking shears" to cut the "tags" out. Whenever I prep my tags, or use one on a gift, it makes me think of my mom
Google for the charities that accept used Cmas cards. You can write off the postage.
“If it’s a bill, they’ll send you another one.” 😂😂
😂
Well, in a way he’s right. Probably not a bad approach . . . unless it says final notice!!!! :-)
he's not wrong lol
Wonderful perspective!!! A lot my hoarded clutter was also an avoidance because it took sooooo much time to go through all of that!! I wanted to use my time and energy to go on little adventures with my boys!! I wanted to do things with them and ignored the clutter. But I now realize that wasn’t good either!! So I take baby steps to Declutter the mess and make sure I’m still taking that precious time with my children!!
FYI: Paper is my Goliath!!!! Lol thank you for the visual of decluttering them!!
Paper clutter is my Goliath as well! I ALWAYS get so hung up on this.. it makes me so discouraged because I do t know what to keep or throw away! So frustrating, this video helps. I can get rid of stuff… but the paper clutter is so overwhelming!
Mine too 😂 ¹¹⁷⅔
Progress over protection! For the perfectionist minded we can micro organize our paper but for those who need progress tossing in a designated box is a great tip! So many times people don’t even start a project because they feel the pressure to make it look pretty or Pinterest worth. Just getting it done even if it’s not pretty is better than closing the door on it! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
My family had a house fire when I was young. Lost it all, even my brother. I promise you, in the grander scheme of things, people are more important than things. What do we miss most from the fire loss: my brother, NOT the stuff. I'm sure my parents thought they'd rather replace every single item of important papers than their child.
Less serious note: My man had his laptop crash. Lost it all. Every picture of the first 2 years of our kids life.
If you think about it, you WILL live without all that stuff. You can actualy LIVE without it. You really need very very little. Sometimes even if you give up all those old photos of people you never get to see again, it's ok. You can live this life to the fullest, which is probably what those who are gone would want you to do.
I am so sorry about the loss of your brother. Your point is very valid. We can live without this stuff and "live this life to the fullest, which is probably what those who are gone would want you to do." I need to ponder and act upon this. Thank you for your words of wisdom.
I’m so sorry for your loss. We had our house burn down almost a year ago and lost everything but each other. My husband was in a coma for 2 weeks because he didn’t know the kids and I were out and he ran back into the house to find us. Not a day goes by that I don’t remember how close we came to losing each other. And you’re so correct, in the face of that kind of loss, the material things are so unimportant! ❤️
Wow! Such good words of wisdom! Deep!
I feel the takeaway about the computer crash is the issue of having digital vs developed film. Something you can hold on your hand and keep and pass down for generations vs. Sonething thats gone when you drop or loose your phone or computer dying. My mother warned me to print out my photos and whole generation mmmmay miss out on photos from childhood.
I totally love the 'fresh start' or 'random paper box' method! This is a wonderful way to get rid of old piles quickly and start a new system.
Your videos and ideas are so freeing. You give us permission that some of us (me!) never realized we had. You’ll never know how much weight that you’ve lifted from my shoulders. ❤️
Dear Dawn, I am very grateful that you are nowadays in your new videos never put music in while you are speaking to us (maybe only in the intro or at the end - thats totally ok!). And that helps SOOO MUCH. I cannot tell you how much it helps. All listeners and followers with ear- or hearing issus like tinnitus, pain patients of any kind, people with concentration or attention disorders etc. will thank you for this idea!! I guess for all listeners it feels better only hearing your voice and about the content without music. But for people with issues it is a great relief not to have any backgroundmusic in it. THANKS A BUNCH! Lovely regards from Vienna/Austria
Thanks Dawn! I would love a future video on organizing or weeding through digital photos.
Ooh me too!
And me! X
I definitely need it
ME TOO
Me to
Best one of these "organize your life" videos I've seen for a while. Nice and light!
I shred all of my personal information including addresses. I rip or cut the information off of the envelope, catalog or magazine. I enjoy your tips! Thanks!
A big thank you to my mom for helping us collect paper for this video! ;) You can find a link to the game mentioned in the description as well as some guidelines for how long to keep things and a few of our favorite paper system products! THANK YOU for watching- we appreciate you!!!! - Dawn
Thanks so much for this video, I'm currently working on my paper monster that is seriously years over due! Just a side note, I appreciate seeing examples of the categories to sort through the pile, but for me if it doesn't need to be shredded or saved for later then why not recycle it instead of putting it the regular trash. Just a thought💙 by the way I really love your channel and have been binge watching for a while now 😀
@Eric Parker
If it doesnt need to be saved for later/ filed or shredded then all paper waste flyers envelopes advertisements - recycle it, no need to put it in the garbage. For my family If it has ANY personal information that I do not need to save such as statements or credit card offers atm receipts any papers or documents with personal information of any kind. medical record numbers from appointment reminders or balance reminders. Even student ID #'s (just to be safe) I shred or do a bon fire. My city has 3 free shred days a year. Its Secure and its Free! So I plan to take my boxes to the next one they have. Hope that helps.
@@melodie-1977 Good question! I think the sign got covered by the paper, we recycled everything that could be and only threw stuff that had plastic or something else in or on it that wasn't recyclable!
@Eric Parker Good question! We put anything with personal info in the shred pile, anything that could be recycled in that pile, and things that had plastic in or on it or anything else that made it non-recyclable in the garbage pile (our 10 year old went on a field trip to the recycling center last year and came home with detailed instructions of what can and can't be recycled in our area ;)
@@TheMinimalMom
That's a great explanation.
the “fresh start” concept is so powerful. the “fresh start” / “reset button makes it so much easier than just trying to figure out what new pile to add some old thing to. great vid!
There is one piece of paper I will almost always leave laying around, even if everything else is gotten rid of or organized into files.
My younger brother and I lived between houses while we were younger (parents divorced). Even when we were living in the same house at the same time, our schedules didn't always connect. One day, one of us started doing a crossword puzzle from the local newspaper and left it sitting on the kitchen table to head off to school (probably me). The other one came along and filled in some of the answers, and we continued switching off like this until the puzzle was completely filled in. We kept doing this over the years until we both moved to college. While I moved back home for what was supposed to be a temporary move, my brother stayed in the city his college was located in when he graduated. I still set out a puzzle of some sort on the table when I can (though we don't get the newspaper anymore). I pass through the room here and there and fill it out like we did way back when. During my brother's infrequent visits now, we both revert back to doing a puzzle if we have one out (it's a little harder to find a worthy puzzle now compared to back then). This will be the only paper that sits out in the public areas of the house on a consistent basis. It's a way to connect with our family and do an activity together when our schedules and living conditions prevent anything more; even more to the point, it's a great memory that allows us to keep close despite all that life has thrown at us over the years.
I love this idea!!!! 😊😊😊😊😊
Awwwww this is so sweet ❤
This was so beautiful thank you for sharing!!!
Beautiful. Your story reminded me of the Korean? movie The Lake House.
I love this idea. It is simply brilliant. Will try it at home and spread it to our other family members and friends. Thank you
I had a great idea while watching..turning one of my kitchen cabinets into my mail center! Love the videos Dawn!
Fantastic! I always strived to be a Micro organizer but I am finally accepting the fact that I am a Macro organizer. Took me 50 years to accept what really works for me, not what I wanted to be like.
I like the “no guilt” part....we can move forward in a simpler way this year. Thanks for your help. Great video!
Motivated through your eye-opening and practical videos, I set myself a goal last week-end: to declutter 5 to 15 minutes on each week day - putting the emphasis on paper. Today it was already my bedtime when I would have had time for it. I decided to stick to it. The 5 minutes became more than 15, and I am EXCITED to continue tomorrow! Thanks! 🙏 🔝
Dawn, you inspired me so much with your last video that I I went through 6 years of older tax returns and got rid of all the supporting documentation, only keeping the actual returns. Plan to scan those onto a USB drive and put that in safe and then likely shred the actual paper returns. I also discovered my school report cards for grades 1-12 and shredded those too. All my nursing continuing education certificates, gone. Don't need them since I'm retired. All the paper that's left now fits into half of a filing cabinet drawer. For the last year or so, I've been dealing with mail as soon as it comes into the house rather than letting it pile up. So much easier!
I love the idea of “fresh start”. I’ll give it a try on some of my clutter; I have no idea why I feel my paperwork piles are so sacred. I love my local newspaper but sometimes am way to busy to read them daily and they stack up. A couple years ago I decided that each paper would be recycled by that evening, read or not. It pained me at first to recycle something unread but I quickly adjusted to the freedom it gave me.
Oh my, Mary... Me too! That's cause I view reading as a friend
I like the idea too 🙋♀️ ¹¹⁷⅔
Excellent video! You really keep the decluttering process in perspective by returning to your underlying goal of connection with your children. Love your decluttering approach. Also so appreciate that you didn’t say “welcome to my channel”!!!
Good job Dawn! I can so relate!! My husband has not been well for the last 2-1/2 years. I took over our finances a few months prior to this time. He has continued to try to “help” (control)!! As of the last 6-12 months he has been unable to “guide” me as he would like. A new start has arisen for 2020!!!!!!
I bought a cardboard “mail sorter” for the new year. All 2020 item will be given their home within this new device. Non recuring will live in MISCELLANEOUS. Non-Profit contributions will all be under that one head.
I plan to slowly go through my previous filing system and shred the unnecessary item!!
Thanks for the encouragement and keep up the good work,
Judy in Virginia Beach
Judy, sorry to hear your husband is ill. I will pray for both of you. God Bless
Yes! That is what i have been saying to myself the most: "sometimes we just need a fresh start!" & it has helped decluttering a lot through the whole house! Thank you for encouraging us who are overwhelmed with it all!😀👍
My favorite family to follow on youtube. Thank you so much for being real, realistic, sweet, loving and funny.
Great series! My parents, who are in their 80s, play Rummicub almost every night. I just bought a set for my husband and myself. It is great fun!
Thanks for the motivation Dawn! Paper clutter is my demon....I save too much and it becomes so overwhelming!
Your Misc papers to keep bin is life changing for me!! I always get hung up on that gray area stuff. Thank you!! ❤️
Thank you so much for this fresh perspective on paper clutter!!! What helps me the most is the specific mental tips you provide us like, "do I need to archive everything from the past?" These are the most helpful things for me because the emotions of keeping things often take center stage such as guilt for getting rid of a card or sentimental item, anxiety over letting go of something you may need, etc. Changing from an emotional to mental perspective makes this so much easier. I have a huge paper sorting project that is awaiting just this kind of advice. I'll be tackling it this weekend thanks to your help!! I have allowed the embarrassing paper stack to keep my son from having friends over, etc. Papers are not more important than people and the memories we make with them! This will be defended in my house from now on. Thank you soooooo much for empowering me to do this!
I really like that this video displayed more than just the perfect approach to handle these items, it also gave a quick realistic way to improve. My words for 2020 are “intentionality, awareness and gratitude “
Thank God for THE BOX to just give us a fresh start. I love it!!!
I'd like to give this video a million thumbs up. Thank you, thank you!! Paperwork has been overwhelming me and the fresh start idea is huge. I love how you explained your thought process while sorting. This has been super helpful.
Thank you so much for the paper clutter videos. I have a love/hate relationship with paper. I hate all the business paper. However, I am an artist, so I love paper, too! This is my most difficult thing to deal with!
I like Tom's approach to dealing with paper clutter.
I’m loving this paper clutter series!!!!💗💗💗 thank you and blessings to your sweet family💕⛄️
Thank you Andrea!!
Great video Dawn! I've really enjoyed talking to you at church:) You are such a blessing to so many people.
My husband and I keep really important documents. (SS security cards, birth certificates, passports and mortgage docs)in a fireproof box. It's not too big, so we can't over stuff it. We always no where it is and in case of emergency we could retrieve it quickly. Paper clutter is the bane of my existence! I have 2 kids at home, but also 3 college recent grads. Dealing with their mail is awful. And now I am responsible for my elderly mother's affairs~ more paper - and a ebusiness that requires keeping lots of receipts~ You've inspired me to try to make a fresh start. Dawn, I wish you had been around when I had little kids. You are the best!
When my mom moved out of her home of 40 years, we had 43 years of tax returns. We started by shredding them, but it was going to take too long. A taxes bonfire was the answer! We felt like big rebels burning tax returns.
K Gibbs when I cleaned out my Mom’s house while moving her to assisted living, I found two bank boxes of paystubs my Dad had saved from 1972 through 2004. Along with all the tax returns there was over seventy pounds to be shredded.
Would have burned them but no fire pit in her yard and was trying to sell the house also.
You are awesome! I got up from your video and went to my kitchen table and immediately dealt with my mountain of papers. Thank you so much!
I have started this process several times. I'm in the middle of paper right now. I have boxes from years ago and boxes I don't even remember what's in them. Health issues and a series of moves and dragging it with us. I actually did take a paper box I wanted to get rid of and made it the trash box and started sorting and putting in the trash box while putting things I'm not sure of in other boxes. I have a couple boxes going. I have papers wrapped in a towel sitting next to me that I need to get motivated to go through and trash or throw in another box. I need to watch some more and get motivated to whittle down decades of paper. I have this thing where I'm saving things to write a book but have lots of other nonsense mixed in.
Great suggestions, Dawn! Love your 'realistic minimalism' ideas!!! The opening and closing with Tom and the burning torch was funny...:-)
Thank you!! I'm watching this while I shred my own docs and so many others I inherited from my parents that date back to over 25 years ago! You have given me hope for a way to end this madness.
Amen Dawn!!! People over managing inventory. These are great suggestions and I'm so glad you are giving us all permission to break through the overwhelm!
My husband literally said to me the other day, “let’s just burn it all” as he was looking at our office paper clutter 🤣
LOL! ;)
I used to burn my sheddable paper clutter but we have had complete fire ban for the past few year so I had to buy a shredder
Mine too! 🤣
I just tackled our memorabilia. My husband saves everything, along with envelopes, and even duplicates. I’m really not a fan, it makes me nostalgic and kind of sad. But I organized it and got rid of envelopes, and by neatening and categorizing , it takes up less space. I feel better now. Going forward I will have separate bins for the things that I consider worthy of saving, like graduation programs and cards, not movie stubs. He can have his version though.
Thank you for this new perspective on where I want to spend my time when it comes to the piles of old papers. Setting up a new system and moving forward with it. And permission for the old paper system not to have to be perfect. So freeing and encouraging! Thank you!
Yes! This mindset is so good for me! I have so much decision anxiety that I end up keeping too much! Having a bin I put in the attic then just toss after 2 years solves my problem!
Very true & helpful! Sometimes just the thought of everything having to be filed is enough to drive me nuts. Thanks!
You are just the best! No one makes better videos than yours. I never ever comment online, but I just had to say this. Thank you so much for the high quality tips you keep sharing.
I needed this video SO badly! I am in desperate need of a fresh start!! I have piles and bins and boxes full of paperwork (from the 4 years I had a direct sales business). I am a perfectionist so the lumingness (yup, just made that word up!) of it all has scared me into avoidance mode. I don’t know what to keep, how to store it or file it- so it sits. BUT you are so right, it’s ok to not know what to do with some of it, the “might need it” box will be my saving grace and your videos Dawn, will be my encouragement and motivation for getting my home back!! Thank you!❤️
❤️ So needed this! No perfect system, all purpose box, focus on the things that ARE important. Thank you!
I do almost the same! Due to several unfortunate circumstances, I have gotten behind in my filing.Thanks for the encouragement to tackle it! 💜
Even your starting pile looks organized
I’m still rocking the paper system from your original video 😅 I come back to watch these just to hangout with you !! Haha HAPPY DECLUTTERING EVERYONE!!
My husband and I both make an effort to sort the mail in the car so we can recycle anything on the way into the house that doesn't need to be opened. I also try to go through everything as it comes into the house, saving only the things that need to be filed, saved or responded to.
I love how you’re like, just put it in a box with a date and move on - move forward. I have several boxes of papers I just dumped papers into and I have felt bad about not organizing them but they are years old at this point and I’m just like, I don’t want to spend my time that way!
Also, Tom - “just burn it, if its a bill, they will send you another one.” Hahaha!!!!!
Paper clutter is the VERY worst kind of clutter by far!!!
I find it easier to walk right to the recycle bin as I come in the door with the mail...
I so enjoy your videos Dawn..
You are so wise to know what's truly important & that's spending time with your babies.
They will be in college before you know it.
Keep up the great videos.💟😊
We love that game!! Thank you so much for all your videos!! My house gets better everyday!
SO awesome to hear!!
I love the humor - like your husband- so many of us just want to burn the paper but wonder if we would burn something important
As soon as I hear Dawn's laugh...I'm happy as a clam!
Love the video. Just purged most of my files and my husband did too. Only keeping the bare minimum of papers...it feels so refreshing. I’m also simplified my files. Thanks Dawn, less is more.
It's ironic how you said some people might be horrified at just sticking it all in a bin, yet that is actually genius. At least it's in one place, safe and clean, not scattered along other random stuff in piles all over the house. I used to have pulled all over and it feels so good not to anymore! I LOVE the choice questions you recommend to help us make decisions! Brilliant!
I love your hair parted in the middle..only second to all your decluttering advice
Love that idea and your hubby's too. 🤣 I decided the first of the year to do something similar with my computer files of whatever was on my computer I put in a folder titled "2019
Hello Dawn, thank you for channel - I love how real you are, how positive and inspiring; I was at the point where I had made peace (sort of, for the sake of moving on) with the fact that this is just me, I will never get the simple living thing down - but you seriously have me thinking that maybe I can! One tip I have that gave me incredible freedom with kids’ artwork, and memorabilia in general, is, I would take a photo of it (like birthday cards) and keep a memorabilia album (mine is digital, but it could be a physical album); my kids are grown up now, but I used to get them to pick their favorite artworks and talk about them on video (my son had a vivid imagination and his pictures were usually stories or inventions😉) ... then you ditch the physical paper and it doesn’t take space anymore. I hope that helps someone. Again, thank you so much - please don’t stop. Blessings from Pretoria, South Africa
I wish I had video taped my kids describing their creations. What a fantastic idea!
I love your way of thinking. All your videos are gradually sinking in and helping me to improve many areas of my life. Thank you
We love playing games and doing puzzles as a family. Paper clutter is my kryptonite!!! It's the worst. Thanks for your videos!!
Very good ideas and encouragement to just GIVE YOURSELF A FRESH START!!!
I love this! I use the same system. I love the way you explain your approaches with examples.
I just LOVE you!! Thank you, Thank you, for the paper DEclutter video!!
I love Rummikub , a lot of good memories connected to that game~ And , as an Israeli, i am proud to say we invented it ;-)
Love Rummikub! Favorite game ever, used to play with my grandparents when they visited.♡
Hi I have been watching you and Erica Lucas videos. I have donated bags and bags. I found bags and bags of trash to get rid of. My apartment looks so much better. It makes me feel happy to get rid of this stuff. Thank you for all your help.
Thank you! I need this now. I have a room with a floor full of papers. That "Random Box" will do me good! My goal is before spring toss that thing.
I look forward to each and every one of your videos and then in between revisiting the other ones from the past while I'm waiting for a new one to come in an! A daily dose of Dawn.....helps me get through the day!
Love that phrase: "Daily Dose of Dawn"!
Great idea on just quickly storing what u need in one spot just to get through the back log. You can always go back and subdivide later if you choose too.
You’re the best Dawn! Thanks for being my digital best friend. 😘
I know this is an older video, but I’m catching up. In our family, we have books where we write notes to each other throughout the year and on holidays that take the place of cards. It’s saved so much space and mind space and is sooo much more special!
I got inspired right after Christmas and took two large piles of magazines, which had been stored very neatly but were unread, and dumped them into the recycling bin. What a great feeling!
Thank you so much..that video in the first place "decluttered" my mind !! And now I can have a fresh start
Love this...Fresh Start sounds great!
cards that i love, i use as book markers and then if i get bored with it, then i recycle or i take a picture and download to my flash drive.
>I love the "fresh start" thinking for this task. I can conquer this now. Thanks. 😉👍❤
AHA MOMENT ...
I had to tell you this morning in my creativity hour( where I let myself dream and think about what and where I am)
INVENTORY
that has been my missing link... if I don’t realize how much I have to MANAGE (another thing you have taught me) no wonder I haven’t realized what my excess has cost me!!!
Thank You so much for coming into my life!!!
Watching at 3 am. zLOVE IT. love how you use perspective. SO motivated to JUST DO IT🙏
Yes, I need a fresh start. I’m tackling the piles tomorrow!
My hubby and I get very competitive when it comes to Rummikub. We love it! ❤️
Congratulate me I am down to just dealing with photos and memorabilia only keeping what will go in albums. Last year I set my sights on downsizing minimalizing my goal was to move from a 3-bedroom apartment to a one-bedroom apartment, by September I moved love the minimalist life now. As for the photos and memorabilia I'm using this winter season to get it done. Love your Channel on minimalist family living and your faith video with your sister. Love bekah
Just did this in a big messy drawer a few weeks ago! Perfect system for me!
I love the "I just need a fresh start outlook."!
Thank You for a doing a video on paper clutter. This is the hardest thing for me.
I have had health issues for decades and so I have an entire box of dr files and reports. I have gone through it once and I decluttered tons but I still may be 'holding on' to too much...more out of a sentimental reason then necessity. It tells an important part of my life story...like a journal. And I do still think 'what if' I need it. And surprisingly when I asked for a copy of my CT scan ( showing my stage 4 cancer, NHL, grapefruit size tumours) I want to keep because it reminds me of what I have survived, lived through. ( I have no detectable cancer now for several years). When I asked I thought they would give me a digital form a memory stick or even a disc but they sent it to me in paper format....it is a 3 inch thick stack of paper. I think I will try again and see if I can get it digital now. Any advice on how to declutter medical papers would be helpful.
I am glad of this video as I MUST find a particular paper to be able to sign to an important website asap. This method will help me find it way quicker than if I waited until I have a system in place. Thanks!
Oh Dawn thank you so much for these videos you just about saved my life from drowning in paper clutter😄👍 Like you I dont do micro filing Theres more to life than that🤣 these videos have giving me a system to put in place that I think even I can follow so thank you so much😀😘
We love games. Just after watching this the first time, I was at Savers thrift shop and I was so excited because they had the Rummikub game. It was like new and even in a large print version. (My son is low vision). I couldn’t believe it. Thank You LORD!
Has Adeline ever thought of doing a boardgame/cards TH-cam channel?
Love the Fresh Start idea!
Thanx Dawn! Going for my new year FRESH START! Love your videos, they bring me hope...