Thank you Helix for sponsoring! Visit helixsleep.com/minimalmom to get 25% off your Helix mattress + 2 Free Pillows! Offers subject to change. I hope you have a great day! - Dawn
Love the cabin. I always like the simplicity of a hotel room or cabin-easy to manage. PS, Your calendar planner was on doorstep today, after first day back with students at middle school, love the smaller size I chose of Capture & Complete!
I have to constantly repeat to myself “My home is not a storage unit.” We are in the process of moving 30 miles away and are being super selective of what we are bringing to our new and much smaller place. We want it to be a peaceful, cozy and highly functional space for hubby and I to enjoy. Lots of things are going bye-bye from our much larger home and we are so ok with that.
I like that. I'm going to adopt that from you. I'm about to start packing for a move also. This way I won't have to pack, move, and unpack things we don't need in the new location. I'm planning on doing a "packing party" when we get there. Only unpack what I need, when I need it. Then after a set amount of time don't open the boxes and look through them... just donate it.
...when I started using the word 'sharing' instead of 'giving away', it struck a chord with my husband...he likes the idea of sharing, I like 'reduced inventory!'
I was going to say that, with your ability to persuade, you're making good use of your degree in marketing after all--but toward minimalism rather than consumerism
I watched all the organizer channels and bought the fancy organizers and always failed. Until I watching your videos and what sets you apart from all the others is the psychology and the emotion behind it. When you say it's ok to get rid of something, even if it costs money, it really is gratifying and so powerful. Sometimes, we just need to hear that it's ok. Thank you so much for helping me.❤
After decluttering, you might find that you don’t need those organizers. That’s what happened to me. I organized before I cluttered. Now I have lots of unneeded organizing stuff. Good luck to you.
@@judysbakeryandtestkitchen1654 Me too! I decided that storage and organization boxes are pretty much a lie. Not that I don't have any mind you, but we so often think we need more containers when what we need is less stuff! Some kind of reverse engineering going on in marketing for sure!
This would make a great addition to a “life skills” class for high schoolers. I wish I would have known this kind of information MUCH sooner in my life! Great video ❤
That’s a great idea. Maybe teaching high school kids before they start “collecting” an abundance of stuff could really give them a better start in life.
I just want to thank you Dawn, I started decluttering in 2024. What obtained my interest was the fact that you explained how every item should be fulfilling its purpose for you, your family or your home, and that totally gave me a different perspective. I know I have long ways to go, but this process makes me feel liberated. Blessings!
This explanation of the not moving up the pyramid when the need is already met just became the grand aha moment for me! It is so much more clear different from all your other videos!!!
This beautiful, cozy winter cabin and your words of wisdom & perspective were just what I needed to hear. I think I've been afraid to admit that certain hobbies and identities don't fit in my life anymore as a new mom, moving forward. The vision of a cabin with just the basics to care for made me sigh in relief. I am so blessed to have so much to take care of, and yet, maybe there is room to take some off of my plate so that I can take some breathing room without feeling like I'm sabotaging myself for the next day. There is a pressure I feel to 'get back to yourself' and 'not lose yourself' in motherhood (which seems maybe connected to our societal fears/shaming around aging, change, death, letting go) - but, maybe I've actually *found* a new self, who values and prioritizes different things than my pre-pregnancy self. Maybe it's OK to let go of the hobbies, clothes, excess from a past self and make space for who I am becoming to be revealed to me. Thank you, Dawn ❤
Love your points. As a mom of soon to be 4, I feel the same, and I'm much happier focusing on becoming just a better person overall through mothering and other things in my life that have changed. Maybe I have more tolerance for change than some, though 😅
@debbydoodler33 yes!! That sounds like a great way to go about it, and congrats on your pregnancy! May it be happy, healthy, easeful, and everything you wish it to be 🙏🏻💖
Thank you for saying this. I have significantly decluttered my craft stuff. However as a mom of three I struggle with all this too. I think I could probably let go of more. My hobbies have changed a little bit over the years
Children change EVERYTHING and God would have it no other way. This IS yourself. Let go of whatever doesn’t fit in with the most important role of your life - Motherhood ! Talk about simplistic. Listen to your heart. Those crafts, clothes etc., may come back around some day but you’ll never get this time again with your child. Blessings to you😊
I have only 1 coffee mug I use everyday. I love it. Everyone else in the house also has just 1 coffee mug too. Each mug is unique to the person... special. We also only have 1 plate, 1 bowl, 1 glass, and 1 set of flatware per person. There are so many other things I have 1 of...1 pair boots, 1 pair every day shoes, 1 pair dress shoes, 1 pair of sandals, 1 outdoor coat, 1 outdoor scarf, 1 set of headphones, etc, etc. I Love having only 1 of these items. I almost feel like I carefully care for them and honor each item because there is just 1! 🎉
I like change!!! I wouldn’t love just having one of everything. I look in my cupboard at all my cute mugs and pick one. I do admit - I am getting overrun and I am working on decluttering but I don’t think the ONE is what I can do. lol 😂
@jeffslavick9417 ahhh. Usually, all 5 of us are not here at the same time with a guest. However, I have 4 mugs and 2 glasses put away in a garage cabinet if I have guests. If we have someone over to eat (rarely) I pickup nice compostable dinnerware and flatware.
Dawn, of all the TH-camrs I like, you are the one that has made the most difference in my life. For the past 1.5 years I've been decluttering my house. I put ALOT of things into my storage shed as a "time will tell" scenario. Things like a kitchenmaid mixer, attachments, wonder mill, canning stuff etc (the items I use are in my house so these were all the EXTRA). I live on a homestead and have been applying these principles to that too!! I have given away or sold so many homestead items I haven't used - as an example - I purchased a huge thing of greenhouse plastic in 2020 that I never put up! Sold it. I used to have goats and had stalls built out in the barn - no longer can do goats so I tore down the stalls and gave away all the gates etc. I am part of a homestead group so I bartered a bunch of my extra jars for local honey and sourdough breads. I'm still in progress outside with slimming down and getting laser focused on the "homestead" must -haves. I am realizing that I don't need much of it to be able to raise, grow and preserve food - which is the goal and aligns with my values and what I love. For the past 2 weeks on vacation, I have now gone thru my storage shed that held all of my previous treasures.......I have sold all those items I listed above. I had boxes and boxes of books and dvd's......I've decided to keep only 2 shelves of books in the house and all else has to go. I have given some books away and discovered one of the men I gave some too is a pastor who is setting up a library for people to borrow books from and he is excited to take the rest of my books. Not only have I decluttered these things but I feel soooo good knowing the items are going to be a blessing to others. I have alot of antiques that have been in my family for 100 plus years and I have a daughter who may want them someday (she is a child now). So here soon, my plan is to clean all these items and take photos of each and then print out a page per item with the picture and a description of its history etc in our family. I will have this on the computer but will also print out, put in a binder and put the binder into one of the drawers for her to get later, and she can decide once I'm gone what to do. But everything will be clutter free and easy for her to deal with. I still have more to do and your videos continue to inspire me to push further and further!!
Yes, my mugs have in fact made me happy. They're artisanal clay mugs, all unique, slowly collected a couple at a time over the years. The joy I get from picking which mug to have my drink in is a simple pleasure, but oh so gratifying. They are stunning works of art which I get to hold an appreciate every day.
@essendossev362. I feel the same way, handmade mugs carefully selected, all beautiful. But I do have a rule ..one in, one out, so not buying anything new because I would need to pick one to get rid of
I have also always enjoyed picking a different mug each morning, although not handmade - I grew up with a cupboard shelf full of random mugs and it just feels like home. That being said, I am experimenting this month with using a single mug that I hand wash each day, and I’m also enjoying the simplicity. My other mugs are still there for the time being but I may pack most of the random ones away at the end of this month and maybe even donate a few. I love how Dawn encourages us to experiment, and I also appreciate hearing how other viewers find unique ways to create more joy in their lives, like drinking from handmade mugs.
I also really enjoy deciding which coffee mug to use in the morning. I love Dawn’s videos and get a lot from them, but my goal is to declutter, not to be a minimalist. I use the advice in the way that it works for me.
I completely agree Dawn, having a neurodivergent brain & having anxiety & depression has taught me that I need to live in a highly simplified environment/home. It's not possible at the moment due to having to rent a less than ideal place, but I'm continuing to declutter & simplify ( charity bag number 24 since last September) & I know what I need/want for my own mental health & peace of mind - Thank you for a the inspiration & motivation it truly is life changing ❤️
Same boat! I did but an automatic cat litter box that has changed everything for me. I know this is a channel on minimalism, but this one is for simplifying! ......okok and I also replaced their bowls with timed automatic feeders! My house/mind has never been so calm. Just saying in case it helps anyone! 🖤
The mini-peak experience can really significantly work even amidst not having it apply in every aspect. I have minimalism challenges where my yarn stash is concerned, but we will overlook that at this time. What has worked beyond my wildest dreams is to have one small cookie a day every morning with my cup of coffee. I have been doing this for 2.5 years and have laser focused on this one tiny action that I keep special, and it led to losing 30 lbs which are staying off. It was jaw dropping to realize that I did not even have to expand this to other realms of life (even if I might wish to). Just keeping to this one wee habit has been a north star. It is a promise kept and is a way of crediting myself with a sense of sufficiency that makes me feel so much more complete than accumulating stuff ever did.
@@alrightyru I don't (not a cook or baker) but I cycle between a Girl Scout thin mint, a scottish shortbread cookie with ginger and a selection from a local bakery's homemade cookies. They just sit on a shelf in my fridge till morning comes and then I pick one and enjoy it immensely till the next day. What is that saying - "life is uncertain, eat dessert first!" and I discovered that if I accepted that I was just going to have a cookie, I might as well treat it like a little party and then the next day there would be another new little party. The local baker knows all about my little habit and they take custom orders and have had real fun coming up with new cookie inventions for me to relish.
I love this! I have been trying to perfect a breakfast cookie - maybe I should just allow myself that 1 cookie everyday! I love the whole attitude of this, “life is uncertain eat dessert first”!!!!!!🎉
I have 7 kids and a husband I take care of. We accumulate so much stuff. Dawn is right. We went on a vacation and stayed at an Air B and B and I LOVED THE BARE NECESSITIES. Staying there opened my eyes to how much I want my house to be this way. This year and I am working toward a more minimal home. It truly frees up your mind and brings so much happiness to my heart.💖
My mom, one of 8 siblings, was raised in the poorest parts of Appalachia. No AC, three bedrooms, bathroom outside connected to the back porch, and a wood burning stove in one room, which had to be lit every morning with wood chopped the night before. Tiny needles all over your feet stepping into the metal shower, handmade quilts piled so high and heavy you couldn't turn over in the bed when it was snowing outside. Some of my favorite memories are visiting over Christmas break. Gave perspective on my comfy, middle class Florida ranch home in the 1980s, even as a child. It's hard to appreciate how wonderful our lives are, and how little we really need without perspective. Thank you for all your videos.
Great message Dawn! For me I think reducing what we have and clearing out helped me really realize what I love. I am now more apt to invest in a few quality beautiful items that I love instead of feeling like I need all the things because they were on sale or cheap. My mom gifted me the most beautiful set of 4 stoneware mugs for Christmas. My husband nearly lost a gasket when he saw me packing up our old mugs. “They are still good!” he argued and he is right they are but I LOVE these. “What if we have company over and need extra mugs?” Was his second argument. 1. I’d be horrified for someone to open my cabinet of mismatched craziness that literally had things falling out of it and 2. I’d figure it out just like we did when we were younger and had nothing. He chose 1 mug that he loved and we sent the rest on to find new homes. Giving away the older ones made room in my cupboard and my brain to appreciate the beauty and quality of my new mugs. If I held on to the old I would most likely swear every time I had to shift around everything to make room and eventually lose my love for anything in that cabinet. I love my few beautiful sweaters that are high quality so much more than I ever loved my closet full of cheap sale rack items that weren’t me. Decreasing what I have has made me appreciate what I have and take better care of it.
I was taught Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs while I was in social work school, back in the 1980s. Fascinating to see the way you've applied it here - and it makes so much sense! Thanks for another great video, Dawn.
I make & still send out greeting cards, just because reasons. We have certainly forgotten the “little” things in life. Letter writing, reading a book, etc. Trying to live intentionally, enjoying each day no matter how difficult life can be these days.
Oh! You might enjoy reading "Living a Beautiful Life" by Stoddard. It's at most libraries and super cheap on thriftbooks. Probably other places. It's been a delight to read over the years. 🌻🍄
This makes so much sense to me, especially in relation to craft supplies! Each new supply aquired felt exciting at first, but as I accumulated more & more my inspiration to be creative with any one of them diminished...lightbulb moment!! 💡♥️
Let’s do it!! There was something that switched in my mind this past year where I went from “I just want to declutter a bit more..” to “We need to be a minimalists!”. I told my husband & he laughed out loud. He was shocked just how far I’ve taken things end of 2024 & I believe we can reach the goal by the end of 2025 of having what we need and little more. Every time I make a pass at things I’m more and more ruthless and it takes less and less energy and time! My almost 3-year-old, can pick up all his toys and put it in there spots, my hubby said he thinks our bedroom feels like a spa & started helping out to tidy up daily without prompting. Still there are more areas that bottle-neck and take up too much of my bandwidth! As a family of two (soon to be 3 littles) in a 900 sq/foot condo, I’m ready to make some more space & take back control over how our home functions! Thank-you, Dawn!
I agree so much with you. I would also add that once we do declutter, and only if you have the means to do so, to fill your home with beauty, memories, and meaning. Own things that are meaningful to you. Don't just buy a mass produced mug....spend that extra money to buy homemade pottery. Buy actual handmade art for your walls. Handmade quilts for your bed and couch. Even better if these things are made by someone you know and/or love. Also give those types of things as gifts, not mass produced items. Frame your favorite pictures of loved ones. Your home will not feel so sparse or empty when you do these things. Instead, it'll always feel like your home is hugging you. It'll be a place you do not wish to escape from, and you will not wish to replace your items either.
❤you’ve hit the nail on the head with describing what the new feeling I’ve been experiencing in the last month, enjoying the simple things again, finding joy and contentment at home, and the confidence too mentioned in other videos. I got interested in minimalism from take your house back course Jan 2024 and already having huge success with decluttering since joining. In April I had an amazing health break through and learned toxic mold we had no idea was in our home was the cause of autoimmune and bed bound illness. Our rental home was so toxic with the amount of mold and types due to years of unknown leaks that the microscopic particles on an any object even a pen and notebook from the house made me very ill. Even being forced into minimalism quickly, as we tossed and particle cleaned( it’s a thing!) I felt what you described, joy in small stuff. What a blessing for a difficult time in my life ! ❤
The 2 of us (and 1 dog and 2 cats) live in a little (550 sq Ft) cabin in the woods - that is almost as minimal as the one you’re in for this video. Before we moved to it many years ago, we lived in Minnesota and stayed once a year in a small cabin in Ely, Minnesota. There were 4 plates, 4 cups, 4 pieces of silverware each, 1 set of sheets, 4 towels, etc …. And that transformed us! The 2 of us now live VERY minimally (in another state) and LOVE IT! For the 2 of us, we have 3 plates, 2 soup mugs, 2 coffee mugs, 1 tea kettle, 1 sharp knife, 1 cutting board, 2 wooden spoons, 1 spatula, 1 ladle an Insta-Pot, 1 cast-iron skillet and 2 stainless steel pans - 1 for homemade soup and a smaller one for reheating, etc. We choose not to have a microwave, coffeemaker (we use a hand French press) or iron, blender, mixer, rice maker, air fryer, or other small appliances. We DO have a washer, no dryer, and do have electricity, propane, well water, etc. We have 3 shelves up on one wall with our books. This little house is an “open concept” house, with a Murphy bed and only 1 room with a door (tiny bathroom). We do have one small clear tub with enough meal items - plates, silverware, etc. for 4 more people, along with 2 extra towels and 1 extra sheet set, should we have company. It takes us almost NO time to clean and maintenance is so simple. Most people think we are crazy! Maybe we are … with no mortgage, no debt and incredible gratitude! All the best to all!
What reality made me start minimalism (other than you) was realizing why I loved hotels and vacation homes so much. In a hotel...bare necessities, no silent to do list! I dreaded going home each time, back to the overwhelm. But most of the overwhelm was because my home was chaotic! I'm still a work in progress...but I'm constantly seeing the benefits and strengthening my declutter muscles. Thank you!!!
A few years ago I trimmed down my kitchen supplies, including mugs - I didn't go as far as just one. I kept my three favourites for my use, and a few others for when I host people. My favourites were each gifts, and I remember who they came from and I have that feeling of love and appreciation attached to them. One I use solely for coffee - it's a mug that my mum bought for me while I was in hospital for a week, she bought it from the coffee shop, and each day would visit and go get me good coffee-shop coffee in that mug, which was a real treat. That was over ten years ago now, but that mug still reminds me of how loved and supported I felt. The other two mugs which I use for tea (I'm British lol) have similar attachments. I keep a few for when people come round for a cuppa, as that's something that happens often and I do often need multiple mugs for multiple guests at a time - but these 'guest mugs' don't get used by me. Otherwise I'm tempted to skip on doing the dishes. Keeping guest supplies separate really stops the temptation to just use one of them instead of washing a dirty mug, and helps me stay on top of dishes.
This past Sunday I sort of strugged with 4 mugs I set aside a yr ago or so. I was going through boxes in my kitchen and came across one I put on my kitchen metal shelves for when company comes to stay with me. I told my friend this could be hard for me. I expained each one to her then talked about the ones in the cupboard. Talking it out to her helped me get rid of 3 of them. I'm so blessed she was their to help me out. We packed up those and all but just enough dishes for me, my son and my brother. Since that seems to be the only people who come and visit me.. besides my friend. I've also notice that I don't have that urge to just go buy anything or everything. It feels so good. I ever thought I would ever feel that way. I just want to thank you very much for sharing your experiences with me/us. May God continue to bless you because you have blessed me tremendously. This has been so many yrs of decluttering, moving, more decluttering and so on. Also I have been able to get my lawn mower in my store on Sunday. Thank you once again once .
Thank you for all of your mindful and hard work in helping us understand about decluttering. You have transformed my every day living in the most beautiful way. It has opened my soul even deeper. Decluttering my house has truly freed up space in my mind and spirit for what really matters. I would say it is one of the last puzzle pieces I’ve been searching for. I’m 60 years old and have been simplifying my journey over the years to focus on true happiness. I really loved this video in particular, your clear message you are sending along with your theories of why decluttering works. I started watching you a few years ago and I never miss a new video from you. Thank you, thank you for all you do!
My mil believes I am making my life harder with minimalism and is constantly trying to give me tools for different tasks. I am trying to demonstrate that you don't always need the exact right tool for the job... and life is just fine! A regular bowl for ice cream and pasta works fine! A knife to scrape out the peanut butter jar is just as fine as a rubber spatula! All I want is more time with my little kids and husband, not stuff that stands between me and them.
I had decluttered down to 1 coffee mug. When I found out that most ceramics and glazes (unless otherwise stated) contain lead or cadmium or some other heavy metal, I switched to glass and now I just use any available quart mason jar for my coffee. It's kind of weird. When I get a chance to get another (safer) mug for my coffee and tea, I'll be getting only one. Love the simplicity.
I only used repurposed glass jars for drinking containers all throughout college. I got some weird looks but it was a cost effective way to hold liquids
@@rachmuffins7 As it wears, the glaze can both allow metals to leach from the ceramic, and if there is metal in the glaze (like cadmium), worn glaze can leach metals of its own. I mean, I don't have the equipment to test this. I'm getting this from the website lead safe mama. She has bought this fancy equipment and does consumer product safety testing. My mug was about 10 years old with no markings on it to tell me where it was made. If it wasn't made in USA it wasn't made under the lead-safety regulations of the 90s to today. I hope that clarifies my remark.
Our home is at the “right” level of items for us. We are not usual wine drinkers. Our son brought us wine from Italy. It was a treat. No glasses. I bought glasses at the discount store - $7.99. We used them over the holiday. Now, the wine is consumed, guests returned to their homes. Glasses are now donated and not stored. The use and cost did not meet our storage threshold.
Everything in my house is thrifted so when I "return" things to the thrift stores, less quilt is involved. I've always drank out of the same coffee cup(rinsed daily). I live in a 2 room apartment and love everything I own which is nothing but what I use. Doing a no spend January. 12:18 ❤your channel. Less is more
I feel the same way. it's like I go to the thrift store and draw something out of the river, and when I am finished with it, I throw it back in for the next person to find. Everything we own is in a flow state, someone owned it before and if I don't wear it out or damage it someone will use it when I am finished with it.
First of all, the little cabin is adorable and a perfect backdrop for your hierarchy of needs message. It really hit a point with me. I downsized and began my decluttering journey about as long as you have. I am truly happy. Each level of the pyramid resonates with me, right to the top. I still find things that I realize can be re-homed. When things come into my space, things also leave. Like you, I like to refresh, so I just move things around, change the pillow covers on the sofa or the picks on my grapevine door wreath. Little things bring great joy. 😊
My line is running water. LOL Nice cabin. My favorite is keeping flat surfaces clear has been so calming. Clearing out clothing is the 2nd one. Something comes in something goes out.
I have been “romanticizing” the things in my life like you were saying: reading in my warm (electric blanket) bed with a candle, using taper candles just because they’re pretty, reading in the middle of the day with a cup of coffee or tea,etc. I’ve been doing these things since I have decluttered … making my life simpler and more enjoyable. You are correct in what you say, decluttering gives you more time and enjoyment. I don’t understand it completely but it’s true
I’ve been a minimalist for just over 10 years now! I own 2 yeti stainless steel mugs (which will last many life times) and that’s it. Love them and they satisfy all my drinking needs. Tea, milk, water, juice - they are all I need. Love your videos Dawn! You always continue to inspire me and are a joy to watch :)
You always manage to give a new thought perspektive on all this. After all the many many vlogs you still are such an inspiration for us. Thank you so much, Dawn! 💕 Decluttered greetings from Hamburg in Germany
Getting my house decluttered helped me find my love for reading again! 📚 I have loved all the other secondary benefits of getting my house under control! Thank you for giving me permission to let it all go! 🎉
Hi, Dawn! I just discovered your channel, and I’m absolutely loving the content! ChatGPT recommended your channel as an amazing resource for minimalism and organization, and I couldn’t agree more. I’m so inspired by your practical tips for simplifying the home and daily routines. I’m excited to watch more of your videos and start applying your ideas. Thank you for sharing so much value with us! 🙌
I love this video, Dawn! I felt this strongly through the Christmas season as there were so many extra household goods being given and yet I was hearing from my friends that they were completely overwhelmed with the amount of stuff in their home.
When you mentioned the sensory experiences, it made me think of a book.I recently read, titled "Sacred Rest," by Dr. Saundra Dalton. She identifies our need for 7 different types of rest, one of which is sensory. You need it when you're in sensory overload, and you get it by intentional sensory experiences (like warm soft blankets, warm coffee mug in hand, gazing at a fire or out onto nature). I can see one reason why your cabin experience is sooo restful!
Bought my car in October, and it still brings me delight, because it has a little rear view camera as well as a backup camera and all these safety features, and I feel safe driving it. I’ve never felt safe driving before, and it stopped me from having the freedom to drive at all really. It seems like a silly thing, unnecessary, those upgrades, but it’s completely changed my life. I was like handicapped, and this upgrade has given me a whole new range of motion now.
@@SassySue67 it’s a 2023 Chevy traverse. We needed a third row, and I thought there would be no way I could feel confident driving something so big. But it’s been absolutely perfect.
Dawn, please do a video for people who are so close to being "done" ( i know you are never done, but hopefully you understand what Im saying). I just cant quote grt there. I want to get rid of more, but am really minimalish at this point. And I have become so organized because of it. But, a video for people like me that have 10 percent more they want to cut down..... Getting really tough!!!
Yes! I understand this. I have slowly decluttered for a few years now and donated van fulls of stuff over that time. I still go room by room every so often and get rid of more. I would not be considered a minimalist but an aspiring one. I feel like I'm in that middle zone where i have done all of the heavy lifting but could still scale back some more. My husband and my two teenagers do not share the minimalist mindset, so there is always a compromise there as well.
Due to an interesting living situation, mugs are one of the small joys for my family. We have had to declutter a huge amount over the past few years due to a change of living situation. We are, however, not glass users. We actually decluttered most of our glasses instead since they were clutter for us.
This title stabbed me in the heart. Lol. I do love coffee mugs, pillows and blankets. I had a full day of decluttering and organizing yesterday. Today was more organizing. I’m at a weird/unexpected place in life where my living situation is less than ideal however I’m very grateful. I have one storage unit and I before moving my belongings there I went through everything I own and decluttered it. Now 6 months later I’m decluttering my actual living space. I’m proud of my progress and so grateful for you Dawn! Thank you for all you do!
Love it, we stayed at a place in maui once they had a list on the inside kitchen cupboard door stating inventory for 4 people for the kitchen we survived 7 days without the extras it was brilliant that list became my new best friend 👍🏻👍🏻
I would love to see a life update. Things around the house, how the kids are doing with homeschool, what your gardening plans are for the spring and any other interests you may be pursuing.
Love your videos. I'm so inspired and have been applying your principles to my everyday life. Trying to corral my husband and especially my son into this way of thinking.
Love this! I just watched a TH-cam creator share her ‘NO BUY FAVORITES’ where she shared her favorite free things! Like TH-cam accounts, free apps, books and other free resources! I loved watching and I’d love to hear your list!
Some great points Dawn! I love to see that it’s not just us that can fall prey to marketing and the new in boot of the season. I guess new boots can be a NEED like clothing…or maybe it bring joy to you 🙌
I received a new mug as a Christmas gift. I love the new mug and I know I should get rid of my others but I’m not ready to get rid of my favorites so I now have 4 mugs instead of 3. Your timing is perfect. I needed this reminder.
I’ve been on this journey with you along side me since I believe 2020 and I still get so encouraged and motivated by each video you put out. Thank you for doing what you’re doing! You are truly changing lives! I’ve shared this message with countless others and always send them your channel. My kids are so good at knowing what brings them joy and what doesn’t all thanks to you. (15,13,11x2 and even my five year old! “You can return that mom, I already know I won’t want to play with it that much”) After Christmas I’ve done multiple trips to do returns because after the initial first day they realized that the item(s) were not going to bring them lasting satisfaction. We would still be drowning in stuff if it weren’t for you. So thank you, thank you, thank you! 🤗 Blessings to you and your family!
I work for a Vacation Rental Management company in San Diego, and one of my favorite things to do is to go 'stay' at one of our rentals to check up on it and make sure that everything is up to date and working properly (and dust bunnies cleaned!!!). It's so refreshing to go somewhere for a few days that has just the bare minimum and see how relaxing / thriving it is! Everytime I come back home, I DO start throwing things out LOL. It's technically a working visit but for me, it's truly a Mental Health break.
I declutter every day. I question every item in my house . Nothing comes through my front door unless it’s a necessity . This makes it easy not to overload your living space . So much easier to clean , I ❤️ it !
I'm inspired by your backdrop. My family had a log cabin at the lake when I was small. We spent our summers there (poor mom, tending 4 wiggly kids until my dad got home each night). We had indoor plumbing, but boiled lakewater on the stove for face washing and toothbrushing. I remember the original pump at the kitchen sink was upgraded to a faucet, a party telephone line was installed, and they bought a round electric wash tub with a wringer. How's that for modern conveniences! When my dad took a new job, we moved too far away. My parents sold the camp. How I cried! As an adult, I learned to meditate. While others envisioned lying on the beach, listening to the waves (a standard meditation scenario), I was reclining on a screen porch, deep in the forest, beside the lake, listening to the birds and the leafy canopy rustling overhead in the breeze. A distant radio plays and a screen door slaps closed nearby. With practice, I can conjure this image and immediately feel myself relax ... (...which is good because the price of real estate is beyond my grasp today.) 🤪 Thanks for taking me there today, Dawn, and always for the motivation and good advice. 😊 And I love you, too! ❤️
Happy New Year from Australia! I’ve been decluttering for quite a while. I’ll never be a minimalist but I’ve definitely found downsizing every area of my home satisfying. Having cupboards and drawers that are not overflowing is so good. Being able to access things easily is great. I love your advice and motivational videos. Keep up the good work. God Bless xxxxx
Your videos are so awesome! I especially love this one. I've been working on paring down a lot in the last month. It's so refreshing to have less in our house.
If you’re on the fence about decluttering or any version of minimalism, I just wanted to leave this note to say Dawn is right and it WILL change your life. You will regret / miss NOTHING you get rid of. If you don’t believe me, start with one kitchen drawer and your mind will be blown. 😂
My hubby and FIL love vacationing where there’s zero cell service. That way they can actually be free for a few days. Usually people call or text questions when they really should be free from outside distractions. That’s what other employees are for! They can handle it and figure it out on their own. A few days or a week isn’t a long time.
I lost focus for a while there, but I feel that I am back now. I was (re) watching The Minimalists film just the other day, and your message is just perfect for me today. ❤
We live in the midwest and last winter my husband surprised me and put a heated dual control blanket under the fitted sheet on our bed and when we got into bed that night i hopped in expecting to be freezing and it was toasty warm, we turn it right of but gosh it's tge gift that keeps giving!!! We turn it on an hour before bed!
Dawn, this is a BRILLIANT video to start the New Year! Seeing that all material “THINGS” are the base of the pyramid of our hierarchy of needs was a HUGE AHA for me! It is our very basic need, and the most easily satisfied….and MORE does not increase our satisfaction! WOW WOW WOW! This is mind-blowing!!! THANK YOU!
Yes! 99%! Except, for me it's not the coffee mugs. Since I have cleared out other areas though, I have space for the coffee mugs that bring me such joy every morning coffeetime and evening teatime ❤. Will it be the mug from this vacation or that camping trip, or the gift given to me to honor that special occasion? The mug from childhood or the one designed by my niece? Etc. But otherwise, yes!
Yesterday I did some decluttering. One of the things I got rid of was a sexy satiny night gown that I was given as a gift when I bought my wedding dress. I never used it because that's not me. I'm shy, I'm not going to do the 9 ½ Weeks scene any time soon, or ever. Yet, I had kept that thing for seven years because it was a perfectly fine night gown. These are the kind of things I most want to get rid of this year. The perfectly fine, just not perfectly fine for me.
We buy unique pottery-type mugs as souvenirs from our trips. They are something we love, enjoy, and use. Each day we can say, which trip would we like to remember?
so there was this period in my life when i kept attracting the wrong people, wrong opportunities, everything just felt…off. i couldn’t figure out why it kept happening. then one day, a friend mentioned a book called Vibrations of Manifestation by Alex Lane, saying it helped them see the patterns they didn’t even realize they had. i decided to give it a read, and wow, it opened my eyes to how much my own energy was shaping my life. seriously, this book is something else.
Dawn, I think this is the video of yours that has finally clicked to change the parts I still wanted my excesses in, ie my closet, books and other types of my inventory.. especially My stored Knick nacks because we are in a small apartment for these past three years because the housing market became astronomical and halted for us.
This really resonates with me! You do such a great job of explaining things, Dawn! We don't even use mugs everyday...we each have a good, insulated tumber that we use, and each have the same thing in a mug size (because sometimes I want a mug!). But we still have about 8 ceramic coffee mugs. 2 of them my husband and I bought on our first date (we each got one to remind us of the fun we had together). Those are the ones I struggle with letting go of. Others are marvel,spiderman, avengers themed mugs we've gotten over the years, and my wonderful hubby just isnt ready to let them go yet. I often think I need to host something to use the mugs, but I would likely use disposable hot beverage cups if we were hosting something. Sigh. We have space for the mugs we have, so I guess it's fine....I think I should probably move them out of the kitchen though!
Dawn, can you do a video about hospitality and minimalism? I try to be a minimalist, we have 9 children in our home and have a lot of events, book clubs, dinners, out of town guests, so we need 20 coffee mugs and extra bedding and toys for our home school co-op, etc. I long to be more of a minimalist, but this is certainly an obstacle.
a while back, i hit a point where i felt like everything was out of my control. i kept wondering why other people seemed to get what they wanted while i was stuck in the same place. then i came across this book called Vibrations of Manifestation by Alex Lane. i wasn’t expecting much, but the way it explains the connection between your energy and the life you create? it blew my mind. it’s not just a book, it’s like a blueprint for turning your life around.
Hi Dawn, love your channel! Have followed for years! I'm a day and daily declutter,have gotten into the habit if I outgrown something or a sock has a hole, it goes! But I love to have a variation of coffee cups, they bring me joy,but only what will fit in my small designated section of my cupboard x
Thank you Helix for sponsoring! Visit helixsleep.com/minimalmom to get 25% off your Helix mattress + 2 Free Pillows! Offers subject to change. I hope you have a great day! - Dawn
I have had my helix mattress for 3 years. I love it.
I've had my Helix mattress for 2 or 3 years. I also love it.
A little “Cas” humor in there, “do I wanna get rid of that?!”
I hope I can do this. So much clutter from Christmas, candy and tins-I wanna bring it all to work and CLEAR COUNTERS!
Love the cabin. I always like the simplicity of a hotel room or cabin-easy to manage. PS, Your calendar planner was on doorstep today, after first day back with students at middle school, love the smaller size I chose of Capture & Complete!
I have to constantly repeat to myself “My home is not a storage unit.” We are in the process of moving 30 miles away and are being super selective of what we are bringing to our new and much smaller place. We want it to be a peaceful, cozy and highly functional space for hubby and I to enjoy. Lots of things are going bye-bye from our much larger home and we are so ok with that.
I like that. I'm going to adopt that from you. I'm about to start packing for a move also. This way I won't have to pack, move, and unpack things we don't need in the new location. I'm planning on doing a "packing party" when we get there. Only unpack what I need, when I need it. Then after a set amount of time don't open the boxes and look through them... just donate it.
You will be SO HAPPY when you move in! Promise!!!
😅
Same here. Except it’s just me and the cats. Lol. Also about 34 miles from here. Ha ha.
The more I give away, the more content I become. I learn how little I need to be satisfied. That’s the biggest blessing.
Exactly!
Same 🙌
...when I started using the word 'sharing' instead of 'giving away', it struck a chord with my husband...he likes the idea of sharing, I like 'reduced inventory!'
Ooh, I like that, too. I've joined my local "Buy Nothing" group to gift items, and share with my local community.
I love this shift in perspective! I will share with my own hubby!!
@@tribalbabymumBuy Nothing is the BEST to keep resources moving throughout a community!
For me, my idea of a cozy evening is curling up with a blanket and a new minimal mom video 🥰
Dawn, you are soooo good at delivering this vital message. Your passion has only grown over the years. You are a natural communicator.
Thank you Jennifer, this means more than you know!!
Agree! She's the BEST!!!
I was going to say that, with your ability to persuade, you're making good use of your degree in marketing after all--but toward minimalism rather than consumerism
I watched all the organizer channels and bought the fancy organizers and always failed. Until I watching your videos and what sets you apart from all the others is the psychology and the emotion behind it. When you say it's ok to get rid of something, even if it costs money, it really is gratifying and so powerful. Sometimes, we just need to hear that it's ok. Thank you so much for helping me.❤
Absolutely true! She delivers a more complete message! The setting in this video really emphasizes her points!
And it's true, nearly never do we look back and miss the item
After decluttering, you might find that you don’t need those organizers. That’s what happened to me. I organized before I cluttered. Now I have lots of unneeded organizing stuff. Good luck to you.
@@judysbakeryandtestkitchen1654 Me too! I decided that storage and organization boxes are pretty much a lie. Not that I don't have any mind you, but we so often think we need more containers when what we need is less stuff! Some kind of reverse engineering going on in marketing for sure!
This would make a great addition to a “life skills” class for high schoolers. I wish I would have known this kind of information MUCH sooner in my life!
Great video ❤
That’s a great idea. Maybe teaching high school kids before they start “collecting” an abundance of stuff could really give them a better start in life.
I just want to thank you Dawn, I started decluttering in 2024. What obtained my interest was the fact that you explained how every item should be fulfilling its purpose for you, your family or your home, and that totally gave me a different perspective. I know I have long ways to go, but this process makes me feel liberated. Blessings!
This explanation of the not moving up the pyramid when the need is already met just became the grand aha moment for me! It is so much more clear different from all your other videos!!!
As fare as I know the pyramid is a model of needs from Maslow. I personally try to keep a certain inner distance to models.
This beautiful, cozy winter cabin and your words of wisdom & perspective were just what I needed to hear. I think I've been afraid to admit that certain hobbies and identities don't fit in my life anymore as a new mom, moving forward.
The vision of a cabin with just the basics to care for made me sigh in relief. I am so blessed to have so much to take care of, and yet, maybe there is room to take some off of my plate so that I can take some breathing room without feeling like I'm sabotaging myself for the next day.
There is a pressure I feel to 'get back to yourself' and 'not lose yourself' in motherhood (which seems maybe connected to our societal fears/shaming around aging, change, death, letting go) - but, maybe I've actually *found* a new self, who values and prioritizes different things than my pre-pregnancy self. Maybe it's OK to let go of the hobbies, clothes, excess from a past self and make space for who I am becoming to be revealed to me.
Thank you, Dawn ❤
Love your points. As a mom of soon to be 4, I feel the same, and I'm much happier focusing on becoming just a better person overall through mothering and other things in my life that have changed. Maybe I have more tolerance for change than some, though 😅
@debbydoodler33 yes!! That sounds like a great way to go about it, and congrats on your pregnancy! May it be happy, healthy, easeful, and everything you wish it to be 🙏🏻💖
Thank you for saying this. I have significantly decluttered my craft stuff. However as a mom of three I struggle with all this too. I think I could probably let go of more. My hobbies have changed a little bit over the years
Children change EVERYTHING and God would have it no other way. This IS yourself. Let go of whatever doesn’t fit in with the most important role of your life - Motherhood ! Talk about simplistic. Listen to your heart. Those crafts, clothes etc., may come back around some day but you’ll never get this time again with your child. Blessings to you😊
@@thirdsister107 thank you for this and blessings to you, too!! Your words are a beautiful confirmation for me 💖
I have only 1 coffee mug I use everyday. I love it. Everyone else in the house also has just 1 coffee mug too. Each mug is unique to the person... special. We also only have 1 plate, 1 bowl, 1 glass, and 1 set of flatware per person. There are so many other things I have 1 of...1 pair boots, 1 pair every day shoes, 1 pair dress shoes, 1 pair of sandals, 1 outdoor coat, 1 outdoor scarf, 1 set of headphones, etc, etc. I Love having only 1 of these items. I almost feel like I carefully care for them and honor each item because there is just 1! 🎉
I like change!!! I wouldn’t love just having one of everything. I look in my cupboard at all my cute mugs and pick one. I do admit - I am getting overrun and I am working on decluttering but I don’t think the ONE is what I can do. lol 😂
What if you host friends and family over your home? Trying to figure this out. We do not use paper plates every week.
@jeffslavick9417 ahhh. Usually, all 5 of us are not here at the same time with a guest. However, I have 4 mugs and 2 glasses put away in a garage cabinet if I have guests. If we have someone over to eat (rarely) I pickup nice compostable dinnerware and flatware.
Dawn, of all the TH-camrs I like, you are the one that has made the most difference in my life. For the past 1.5 years I've been decluttering my house. I put ALOT of things into my storage shed as a "time will tell" scenario. Things like a kitchenmaid mixer, attachments, wonder mill, canning stuff etc (the items I use are in my house so these were all the EXTRA). I live on a homestead and have been applying these principles to that too!! I have given away or sold so many homestead items I haven't used - as an example - I purchased a huge thing of greenhouse plastic in 2020 that I never put up! Sold it. I used to have goats and had stalls built out in the barn - no longer can do goats so I tore down the stalls and gave away all the gates etc. I am part of a homestead group so I bartered a bunch of my extra jars for local honey and sourdough breads. I'm still in progress outside with slimming down and getting laser focused on the "homestead" must -haves. I am realizing that I don't need much of it to be able to raise, grow and preserve food - which is the goal and aligns with my values and what I love. For the past 2 weeks on vacation, I have now gone thru my storage shed that held all of my previous treasures.......I have sold all those items I listed above. I had boxes and boxes of books and dvd's......I've decided to keep only 2 shelves of books in the house and all else has to go. I have given some books away and discovered one of the men I gave some too is a pastor who is setting up a library for people to borrow books from and he is excited to take the rest of my books. Not only have I decluttered these things but I feel soooo good knowing the items are going to be a blessing to others. I have alot of antiques that have been in my family for 100 plus years and I have a daughter who may want them someday (she is a child now). So here soon, my plan is to clean all these items and take photos of each and then print out a page per item with the picture and a description of its history etc in our family. I will have this on the computer but will also print out, put in a binder and put the binder into one of the drawers for her to get later, and she can decide once I'm gone what to do. But everything will be clutter free and easy for her to deal with. I still have more to do and your videos continue to inspire me to push further and further!!
I soooo wish my mom had done this, but unfortunately I ended up with a scenario that was exactly the opposite
Yes, my mugs have in fact made me happy. They're artisanal clay mugs, all unique, slowly collected a couple at a time over the years. The joy I get from picking which mug to have my drink in is a simple pleasure, but oh so gratifying. They are stunning works of art which I get to hold an appreciate every day.
@essendossev362. I feel the same way, handmade mugs carefully selected, all beautiful. But I do have a rule ..one in, one out, so not buying anything new because I would need to pick one to get rid of
I have also always enjoyed picking a different mug each morning, although not handmade - I grew up with a cupboard shelf full of random mugs and it just feels like home. That being said, I am experimenting this month with using a single mug that I hand wash each day, and I’m also enjoying the simplicity. My other mugs are still there for the time being but I may pack most of the random ones away at the end of this month and maybe even donate a few. I love how Dawn encourages us to experiment, and I also appreciate hearing how other viewers find unique ways to create more joy in their lives, like drinking from handmade mugs.
I also really enjoy deciding which coffee mug to use in the morning. I love Dawn’s videos and get a lot from them, but my goal is to declutter, not to be a minimalist. I use the advice in the way that it works for me.
I completely agree Dawn, having a neurodivergent brain & having anxiety & depression has taught me that I need to live in a highly simplified environment/home. It's not possible at the moment due to having to rent a less than ideal place, but I'm continuing to declutter & simplify ( charity bag number 24 since last September) & I know what I need/want for my own mental health & peace of mind - Thank you for a the inspiration & motivation it truly is life changing ❤️
As someone who is also neurodivergent and trying to simplify their space, I'm sending all the positive energies to you! ✨️
Same boat! I did but an automatic cat litter box that has changed everything for me. I know this is a channel on minimalism, but this one is for simplifying! ......okok and I also replaced their bowls with timed automatic feeders! My house/mind has never been so calm.
Just saying in case it helps anyone! 🖤
The mini-peak experience can really significantly work even amidst not having it apply in every aspect. I have minimalism challenges where my yarn stash is concerned, but we will overlook that at this time. What has worked beyond my wildest dreams is to have one small cookie a day every morning with my cup of coffee. I have been doing this for 2.5 years and have laser focused on this one tiny action that I keep special, and it led to losing 30 lbs which are staying off. It was jaw dropping to realize that I did not even have to expand this to other realms of life (even if I might wish to). Just keeping to this one wee habit has been a north star. It is a promise kept and is a way of crediting myself with a sense of sufficiency that makes me feel so much more complete than accumulating stuff ever did.
What kind of cookie, do you make them
@@alrightyru I don't (not a cook or baker) but I cycle between a Girl Scout thin mint, a scottish shortbread cookie with ginger and a selection from a local bakery's homemade cookies. They just sit on a shelf in my fridge till morning comes and then I pick one and enjoy it immensely till the next day. What is that saying - "life is uncertain, eat dessert first!" and I discovered that if I accepted that I was just going to have a cookie, I might as well treat it like a little party and then the next day there would be another new little party. The local baker knows all about my little habit and they take custom orders and have had real fun coming up with new cookie inventions for me to relish.
I love this! I have been trying to perfect a breakfast cookie - maybe I should just allow myself that 1 cookie everyday! I love the whole attitude of this, “life is uncertain eat dessert first”!!!!!!🎉
I have 7 kids and a husband I take care of. We accumulate so much stuff. Dawn is right. We went on a vacation and stayed at an Air B and B and I LOVED THE BARE NECESSITIES. Staying there opened my eyes to how much I want my house to be this way. This year and I am working toward a more minimal home. It truly frees up your mind and brings so much happiness to my heart.💖
My mom, one of 8 siblings, was raised in the poorest parts of Appalachia. No AC, three bedrooms, bathroom outside connected to the back porch, and a wood burning stove in one room, which had to be lit every morning with wood chopped the night before. Tiny needles all over your feet stepping into the metal shower, handmade quilts piled so high and heavy you couldn't turn over in the bed when it was snowing outside. Some of my favorite memories are visiting over Christmas break. Gave perspective on my comfy, middle class Florida ranch home in the 1980s, even as a child. It's hard to appreciate how wonderful our lives are, and how little we really need without perspective. Thank you for all your videos.
I'm loving becoming a minimalist it's making things so much easier in the kitchen, especially with disabilities.
Great message Dawn! For me I think reducing what we have and clearing out helped me really realize what I love. I am now more apt to invest in a few quality beautiful items that I love instead of feeling like I need all the things because they were on sale or cheap. My mom gifted me the most beautiful set of 4 stoneware mugs for Christmas. My husband nearly lost a gasket when he saw me packing up our old mugs. “They are still good!” he argued and he is right they are but I LOVE these. “What if we have company over and need extra mugs?” Was his second argument. 1. I’d be horrified for someone to open my cabinet of mismatched craziness that literally had things falling out of it and 2. I’d figure it out just like we did when we were younger and had nothing. He chose 1 mug that he loved and we sent the rest on to find new homes. Giving away the older ones made room in my cupboard and my brain to appreciate the beauty and quality of my new mugs. If I held on to the old I would most likely swear every time I had to shift around everything to make room and eventually lose my love for anything in that cabinet. I love my few beautiful sweaters that are high quality so much more than I ever loved my closet full of cheap sale rack items that weren’t me. Decreasing what I have has made me appreciate what I have and take better care of it.
I totally agree. If you have ever fasted, when you begin eating again, the food tastes So much better than it had before!
I was taught Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs while I was in social work school, back in the 1980s. Fascinating to see the way you've applied it here - and it makes so much sense! Thanks for another great video, Dawn.
I make & still send out greeting cards, just because reasons. We have certainly forgotten the “little” things in life. Letter writing, reading a book, etc. Trying to live intentionally, enjoying each day no matter how difficult life can be these days.
Oh! You might enjoy reading "Living a Beautiful Life" by Stoddard. It's at most libraries and super cheap on thriftbooks. Probably other places. It's been a delight to read over the years. 🌻🍄
It’s morning, I’m drinking coffee and watching this…….the cabin looks so comfy and cozy…..loving the vibe of this whole video
Thank u for posting!!
This makes so much sense to me, especially in relation to craft supplies! Each new supply aquired felt exciting at first, but as I accumulated more & more my inspiration to be creative with any one of them diminished...lightbulb moment!! 💡♥️
Right - then you gotta buy all of the craft organizer bins !!
Let’s do it!! There was something that switched in my mind this past year where I went from “I just want to declutter a bit more..” to “We need to be a minimalists!”. I told my husband & he laughed out loud. He was shocked just how far I’ve taken things end of 2024 & I believe we can reach the goal by the end of 2025 of having what we need and little more. Every time I make a pass at things I’m more and more ruthless and it takes less and less energy and time! My almost 3-year-old, can pick up all his toys and put it in there spots, my hubby said he thinks our bedroom feels like a spa & started helping out to tidy up daily without prompting. Still there are more areas that bottle-neck and take up too much of my bandwidth! As a family of two (soon to be 3 littles) in a 900 sq/foot condo, I’m ready to make some more space & take back control over how our home functions! Thank-you, Dawn!
I agree so much with you. I would also add that once we do declutter, and only if you have the means to do so, to fill your home with beauty, memories, and meaning. Own things that are meaningful to you. Don't just buy a mass produced mug....spend that extra money to buy homemade pottery. Buy actual handmade art for your walls. Handmade quilts for your bed and couch. Even better if these things are made by someone you know and/or love. Also give those types of things as gifts, not mass produced items. Frame your favorite pictures of loved ones. Your home will not feel so sparse or empty when you do these things. Instead, it'll always feel like your home is hugging you. It'll be a place you do not wish to escape from, and you will not wish to replace your items either.
❤you’ve hit the nail on the head with describing what the new feeling I’ve been experiencing in the last month, enjoying the simple things again, finding joy and contentment at home, and the confidence too mentioned in other videos. I got interested in minimalism from take your house back course Jan 2024 and already having huge success with decluttering since joining. In April I had an amazing health break through and learned toxic mold we had no idea was in our home was the cause of autoimmune and bed bound illness. Our rental home was so toxic with the amount of mold and types due to years of unknown leaks that the microscopic particles on an any object even a pen and notebook from the house made me very ill. Even being forced into minimalism quickly, as we tossed and particle cleaned( it’s a thing!) I felt what you described, joy in small stuff. What a blessing for a difficult time in my life ! ❤
Since Christmas I have stepped up my decluttering game. I'm determined to have my house very highly decluttered before spring.
Ditto! Here we go!! I also get emails from Apartment Therapy with their 20 Day annual declutter plan
The 2 of us (and 1 dog and 2 cats) live in a little (550 sq Ft) cabin in the woods - that is almost as minimal as the one you’re in for this video.
Before we moved to it many years ago, we lived in Minnesota and stayed once a year in a small cabin in Ely, Minnesota. There were 4 plates, 4 cups, 4 pieces of silverware each, 1 set of sheets, 4 towels, etc …. And that transformed us!
The 2 of us now live VERY minimally (in another state) and LOVE IT! For the 2 of us, we have 3 plates, 2 soup mugs, 2 coffee mugs, 1 tea kettle, 1 sharp knife, 1 cutting board, 2 wooden spoons, 1 spatula, 1 ladle an Insta-Pot, 1 cast-iron skillet and 2 stainless steel pans - 1 for homemade soup and a smaller one for reheating, etc. We choose not to have a microwave, coffeemaker (we use a hand French press) or iron, blender, mixer, rice maker, air fryer, or other small appliances.
We DO have a washer, no dryer, and do have electricity, propane, well water, etc. We have 3 shelves up on one wall with our books. This little house is an “open concept” house, with a Murphy bed and only 1 room with a door (tiny bathroom).
We do have one small clear tub with enough meal items - plates, silverware, etc. for 4 more people, along with 2 extra towels and 1 extra sheet set, should we have company. It takes us almost NO time to clean and maintenance is so simple.
Most people think we are crazy! Maybe we are … with no mortgage, no debt and incredible gratitude!
All the best to all!
Sounds wonderful!
Wow!
Sounds simply amazing!
Sounds magical.
@ how kind of you! It really is! It’s so freeing! All the best to you!
What reality made me start minimalism (other than you) was realizing why I loved hotels and vacation homes so much.
In a hotel...bare necessities, no silent to do list!
I dreaded going home each time, back to the overwhelm. But most of the overwhelm was because my home was chaotic! I'm still a work in progress...but I'm constantly seeing the benefits and strengthening my declutter muscles.
Thank you!!!
A few years ago I trimmed down my kitchen supplies, including mugs - I didn't go as far as just one. I kept my three favourites for my use, and a few others for when I host people. My favourites were each gifts, and I remember who they came from and I have that feeling of love and appreciation attached to them. One I use solely for coffee - it's a mug that my mum bought for me while I was in hospital for a week, she bought it from the coffee shop, and each day would visit and go get me good coffee-shop coffee in that mug, which was a real treat. That was over ten years ago now, but that mug still reminds me of how loved and supported I felt. The other two mugs which I use for tea (I'm British lol) have similar attachments. I keep a few for when people come round for a cuppa, as that's something that happens often and I do often need multiple mugs for multiple guests at a time - but these 'guest mugs' don't get used by me. Otherwise I'm tempted to skip on doing the dishes. Keeping guest supplies separate really stops the temptation to just use one of them instead of washing a dirty mug, and helps me stay on top of dishes.
This past Sunday I sort of strugged with 4 mugs I set aside a yr ago or so. I was going through boxes in my kitchen and came across one I put on my kitchen metal shelves for when company comes to stay with me. I told my friend this could be hard for me. I expained each one to her then talked about the ones in the cupboard. Talking it out to her helped me get rid of 3 of them. I'm so blessed she was their to help me out. We packed up those and all but just enough dishes for me, my son and my brother. Since that seems to be the only people who come and visit me.. besides my friend.
I've also notice that I don't have that urge to just go buy anything or everything. It feels so good. I ever thought I would ever feel that way.
I just want to thank you very much for sharing your experiences with me/us. May God continue to bless you because you have blessed me tremendously. This has been so many yrs of decluttering, moving, more decluttering and so on. Also I have been able to get my lawn mower in my store on Sunday. Thank you once again once .
Thank you for all of your mindful and hard work in helping us understand about decluttering. You have transformed my every day living in the most beautiful way. It has opened my soul even deeper. Decluttering my house has truly freed up space in my mind and spirit for what really matters. I would say it is one of the last puzzle pieces I’ve been searching for. I’m 60 years old and have been simplifying my journey over the years to focus on true happiness.
I really loved this video in particular, your clear message you are sending along with your theories of why decluttering works. I started watching you a few years ago and I never miss a new video from you.
Thank you, thank you for all you do!
My mil believes I am making my life harder with minimalism and is constantly trying to give me tools for different tasks. I am trying to demonstrate that you don't always need the exact right tool for the job... and life is just fine! A regular bowl for ice cream and pasta works fine! A knife to scrape out the peanut butter jar is just as fine as a rubber spatula! All I want is more time with my little kids and husband, not stuff that stands between me and them.
It's tough but just be direct. If she gives you something say "I don't really need this, I'm not going to use it" and hopefully she will stop
There are special bowls for ice cream and pasta?
I had decluttered down to 1 coffee mug. When I found out that most ceramics and glazes (unless otherwise stated) contain lead or cadmium or some other heavy metal, I switched to glass and now I just use any available quart mason jar for my coffee. It's kind of weird. When I get a chance to get another (safer) mug for my coffee and tea, I'll be getting only one. Love the simplicity.
If they are glazed though, they are essentially covered in a layer of glass, so you should be safe from whatever is in the ceramics.
I only used repurposed glass jars for drinking containers all throughout college. I got some weird looks but it was a cost effective way to hold liquids
I keep a seperate mug for tea. Using one for tea and coffee makes coffee taste odd.
@@rachmuffins7 As it wears, the glaze can both allow metals to leach from the ceramic, and if there is metal in the glaze (like cadmium), worn glaze can leach metals of its own. I mean, I don't have the equipment to test this. I'm getting this from the website lead safe mama. She has bought this fancy equipment and does consumer product safety testing. My mug was about 10 years old with no markings on it to tell me where it was made. If it wasn't made in USA it wasn't made under the lead-safety regulations of the 90s to today. I hope that clarifies my remark.
Our home is at the “right” level of items for us. We are not usual wine drinkers. Our son brought us wine from Italy. It was a treat. No glasses. I bought glasses at the discount store - $7.99. We used them over the holiday. Now, the wine is consumed, guests returned to their homes. Glasses are now donated and not stored. The use and cost did not meet our storage threshold.
Everything in my house is thrifted so when I "return" things to the thrift stores, less quilt is involved. I've always drank out of the same coffee cup(rinsed daily). I live in a 2 room apartment and love everything I own which is nothing but what I use. Doing a no spend January. 12:18 ❤your channel. Less is more
I feel the same way. it's like I go to the thrift store and draw something out of the river, and when I am finished with it, I throw it back in for the next person to find. Everything we own is in a flow state, someone owned it before and if I don't wear it out or damage it someone will use it when I am finished with it.
First of all, the little cabin is adorable and a perfect backdrop for your hierarchy of needs message. It really hit a point with me. I downsized and began my decluttering journey about as long as you have. I am truly happy. Each level of the pyramid resonates with me, right to the top. I still find things that I realize can be re-homed. When things come into my space, things also leave. Like you, I like to refresh, so I just move things around, change the pillow covers on the sofa or the picks on my grapevine door wreath. Little things bring great joy. 😊
I love the phrase "learn to build trust with yourself". There's so much power in that!
My line is running water. LOL Nice cabin. My favorite is keeping flat surfaces clear has been so calming. Clearing out clothing is the 2nd one. Something comes in something goes out.
I have been “romanticizing” the things in my life like you were saying: reading in my warm (electric blanket) bed with a candle, using taper candles just because they’re pretty, reading in the middle of the day with a cup of coffee or tea,etc. I’ve been doing these things since I have decluttered … making my life simpler and more enjoyable. You are correct in what you say, decluttering gives you more time and enjoyment. I don’t understand it completely but it’s true
I realized this a few yrs ago, its why i LOVE hotels they are simple and chaos free
Fawlty Towers.
I’ve been a minimalist for just over 10 years now! I own 2 yeti stainless steel mugs (which will last many life times) and that’s it. Love them and they satisfy all my drinking needs.
Tea, milk, water, juice - they are all I need.
Love your videos Dawn!
You always continue to inspire me and are a joy to watch :)
You always manage to give a new thought perspektive on all this. After all the many many vlogs you still are such an inspiration for us. Thank you so much, Dawn! 💕 Decluttered greetings from Hamburg in Germany
Getting my house decluttered helped me find my love for reading again! 📚 I have loved all the other secondary benefits of getting my house under control! Thank you for giving me permission to let it all go! 🎉
Hi, Dawn! I just discovered your channel, and I’m absolutely loving the content! ChatGPT recommended your channel as an amazing resource for minimalism and organization, and I couldn’t agree more. I’m so inspired by your practical tips for simplifying the home and daily routines. I’m excited to watch more of your videos and start applying your ideas. Thank you for sharing so much value with us! 🙌
This might be the best "declutter" inspirational video I've seen yet!
I love this video, Dawn! I felt this strongly through the Christmas season as there were so many extra household goods being given and yet I was hearing from my friends that they were completely overwhelmed with the amount of stuff in their home.
When you mentioned the sensory experiences, it made me think of a book.I recently read, titled "Sacred Rest," by Dr. Saundra Dalton. She identifies our need for 7 different types of rest, one of which is sensory. You need it when you're in sensory overload, and you get it by intentional sensory experiences (like warm soft blankets, warm coffee mug in hand, gazing at a fire or out onto nature). I can see one reason why your cabin experience is sooo restful!
I've been binge watching your videos and its been helping a lot! Achieving that peace of mind is so gratifying! Thank you!
Bought my car in October, and it still brings me delight, because it has a little rear view camera as well as a backup camera and all these safety features, and I feel safe driving it.
I’ve never felt safe driving before, and it stopped me from having the freedom to drive at all really. It seems like a silly thing, unnecessary, those upgrades, but it’s completely changed my life.
I was like handicapped, and this upgrade has given me a whole new range of motion now.
What car did you buy?
@@SassySue67 it’s a 2023 Chevy traverse. We needed a third row, and I thought there would be no way I could feel confident driving something so big. But it’s been absolutely perfect.
@ happy it’s working for you
Dawn, please do a video for people who are so close to being "done" ( i know you are never done, but hopefully you understand what Im saying). I just cant quote grt there. I want to get rid of more, but am really minimalish at this point. And I have become so organized because of it. But, a video for people like me that have 10 percent more they want to cut down..... Getting really tough!!!
Yes! I understand this. I have slowly decluttered for a few years now and donated van fulls of stuff over that time. I still go room by room every so often and get rid of more. I would not be considered a minimalist but an aspiring one. I feel like I'm in that middle zone where i have done all of the heavy lifting but could still scale back some more. My husband and my two teenagers do not share the minimalist mindset, so there is always a compromise there as well.
You almost had me want to stay in a cabin until you mentioned the lack of plumbing!
Get the one with plumbing 😊
..so no toilet? That is taking minimalism a wee bit too far! Lol!
So insightful! I love your videos! I’ve found so much joy being generous instead of compiling crap.
Due to an interesting living situation, mugs are one of the small joys for my family. We have had to declutter a huge amount over the past few years due to a change of living situation. We are, however, not glass users. We actually decluttered most of our glasses instead since they were clutter for us.
I have a water mug & a coffee mug that I use every day...and a smaller mug for tea occasionally.
This title stabbed me in the heart. Lol. I do love coffee mugs, pillows and blankets. I had a full day of decluttering and organizing yesterday. Today was more organizing. I’m at a weird/unexpected place in life where my living situation is less than ideal however I’m very grateful. I have one storage unit and I before moving my belongings there I went through everything I own and decluttered it. Now 6 months later I’m decluttering my actual living space. I’m proud of my progress and so grateful for you Dawn! Thank you for all you do!
You are my favorite, Dawn! I love this video. Your ideas are changing my life.
Love it, we stayed at a place in maui once they had a list on the inside kitchen cupboard door stating inventory for 4 people for the kitchen we survived 7 days without the extras it was brilliant that list became my new best friend 👍🏻👍🏻
I would love to see a life update. Things around the house, how the kids are doing with homeschool, what your gardening plans are for the spring and any other interests you may be pursuing.
Love your videos. I'm so inspired and have been applying your principles to my everyday life. Trying to corral my husband and especially my son into this way of thinking.
Love this! I just watched a TH-cam creator share her ‘NO BUY FAVORITES’ where she shared her favorite free things! Like TH-cam accounts, free apps, books and other free resources! I loved watching and I’d love to hear your list!
I just love cute mugs, they're my weakness! I literally limit myself to 8. One has to break or get donated before i allow another one in.
Thank you for explaining the heirarchy of needs so logically!
Some great points Dawn! I love to see that it’s not just us that can fall prey to marketing and the new in boot of the season. I guess new boots can be a NEED like clothing…or maybe it bring joy to you 🙌
This was a genius visual and explanation of why more than the essentials is NOT making us happier! I needed that visual at the cabin for some reason!
I received a new mug as a Christmas gift. I love the new mug and I know I should get rid of my others but I’m not ready to get rid of my favorites so I now have 4 mugs instead of 3. Your timing is perfect. I needed this reminder.
Maybe we apply Dawn's Rule For Pots. One mug for each hand and one extra!
Your videos are so inspiring. I’ve been cleaning out my closet like never before. Thank you!
I’ve been on this journey with you along side me since I believe 2020 and I still get so encouraged and motivated by each video you put out. Thank you for doing what you’re doing! You are truly changing lives! I’ve shared this message with countless others and always send them your channel. My kids are so good at knowing what brings them joy and what doesn’t all thanks to you. (15,13,11x2 and even my five year old! “You can return that mom, I already know I won’t want to play with it that much”) After Christmas I’ve done multiple trips to do returns because after the initial first day they realized that the item(s) were not going to bring them lasting satisfaction. We would still be drowning in stuff if it weren’t for you. So thank you, thank you, thank you! 🤗 Blessings to you and your family!
I work for a Vacation Rental Management company in San Diego, and one of my favorite things to do is to go 'stay' at one of our rentals to check up on it and make sure that everything is up to date and working properly (and dust bunnies cleaned!!!). It's so refreshing to go somewhere for a few days that has just the bare minimum and see how relaxing / thriving it is! Everytime I come back home, I DO start throwing things out LOL. It's technically a working visit but for me, it's truly a Mental Health break.
I declutter every day. I question every item in my house . Nothing comes through my front door unless it’s a necessity . This makes it easy not to overload your living space . So much easier to clean , I ❤️ it !
My favorite person to watch, I ALWAYS learn something, you make it so intriguing!
This was a great video! Thanks for putting the science out there!
I'm inspired by your backdrop.
My family had a log cabin at the lake when I was small. We spent our summers there (poor mom, tending 4 wiggly kids until my dad got home each night). We had indoor plumbing, but boiled lakewater on the stove for face washing and toothbrushing.
I remember the original pump at the kitchen sink was upgraded to a faucet, a party telephone line was installed, and they bought a round electric wash tub with a wringer. How's that for modern conveniences!
When my dad took a new job, we moved too far away. My parents sold the camp. How I cried!
As an adult, I learned to meditate. While others envisioned lying on the beach, listening to the waves (a standard meditation scenario), I was reclining on a screen porch, deep in the forest, beside the lake, listening to the birds and the leafy canopy rustling overhead in the breeze. A distant radio plays and a screen door slaps closed nearby.
With practice, I can conjure this image and immediately feel myself relax ...
(...which is good because the price of real estate is beyond my grasp today.) 🤪
Thanks for taking me there today, Dawn, and always for the motivation and good advice. 😊
And I love you, too! ❤️
Happy New Year from Australia! I’ve been decluttering for quite a while. I’ll never be a minimalist but I’ve definitely found downsizing every area of my home satisfying. Having cupboards and drawers that are not overflowing is so good. Being able to access things easily is great. I love your advice and motivational videos. Keep up the good work. God Bless xxxxx
Yeah, I'm gonna sort out the mugs and cups today. Thanks for the boost of motivation ❤
I’ve got 11 or so mugs, really ok with it 😊
OMG I cracked up when I saw the title of this video Dawn, though i totally agree with the concept.
Lol, ok, maybe it's a little over dramatic ;)
The title totally validated me. My MIL doesn’t understand why I only have 4 coffee mugs but it makes my kitchen so much easier!
Your videos are so awesome! I especially love this one. I've been working on paring down a lot in the last month. It's so refreshing to have less in our house.
If you’re on the fence about decluttering or any version of minimalism, I just wanted to leave this note to say Dawn is right and it WILL change your life. You will regret / miss NOTHING you get rid of. If you don’t believe me, start with one kitchen drawer and your mind will be blown. 😂
Thank you!! I really appreciate this!!
Thank you Dawn for another wonderful insightful video ! You have encouraged me for years and I thank you for that
My hubby and FIL love vacationing where there’s zero cell service. That way they can actually be free for a few days. Usually people call or text questions when they really should be free from outside distractions. That’s what other employees are for! They can handle it and figure it out on their own. A few days or a week isn’t a long time.
I lost focus for a while there, but I feel that I am back now. I was (re) watching The Minimalists film just the other day, and your message is just perfect for me today. ❤
We live in the midwest and last winter my husband surprised me and put a heated dual control blanket under the fitted sheet on our bed and when we got into bed that night i hopped in expecting to be freezing and it was toasty warm, we turn it right of but gosh it's tge gift that keeps giving!!! We turn it on an hour before bed!
You explained this so well. Great job! 👏
I have an electric mattress pad, I preheat my bed most Minnesota winter nights! What a cute cabin!
Dawn, this is a BRILLIANT video to start the New Year! Seeing that all material “THINGS” are the base of the pyramid of our hierarchy of needs was a HUGE AHA for me! It is our very basic need, and the most easily satisfied….and MORE does not increase our satisfaction! WOW WOW WOW! This is mind-blowing!!! THANK YOU!
Thank you! This speaks to me at this moment in time - another angle to the benefit of minimalism.
Yes! 99%!
Except, for me it's not the coffee mugs. Since I have cleared out other areas though, I have space for the coffee mugs that bring me such joy every morning coffeetime and evening teatime ❤.
Will it be the mug from this vacation or that camping trip, or the gift given to me to honor that special occasion? The mug from childhood or the one designed by my niece? Etc.
But otherwise, yes!
The decision making is what hold me back from even starting. I attach too much sentiment to things!
I could never stay anywhere without a bathroom!
I love minimalism. Thank you Dawn for being an inspiration!
Yesterday I did some decluttering. One of the things I got rid of was a sexy satiny night gown that I was given as a gift when I bought my wedding dress. I never used it because that's not me. I'm shy, I'm not going to do the 9 ½ Weeks scene any time soon, or ever. Yet, I had kept that thing for seven years because it was a perfectly fine night gown. These are the kind of things I most want to get rid of this year. The perfectly fine, just not perfectly fine for me.
We buy unique pottery-type mugs as souvenirs from our trips. They are something we love, enjoy, and use. Each day we can say, which trip would we like to remember?
@@anitam569 I think the fact that they still bring you pleasure means they should stay!
Us too! Love pottery!
so there was this period in my life when i kept attracting the wrong people, wrong opportunities, everything just felt…off. i couldn’t figure out why it kept happening. then one day, a friend mentioned a book called Vibrations of Manifestation by Alex Lane, saying it helped them see the patterns they didn’t even realize they had. i decided to give it a read, and wow, it opened my eyes to how much my own energy was shaping my life. seriously, this book is something else.
Dawn, I think this is the video of yours that has finally clicked to change the parts I still wanted my excesses in, ie my closet, books and other types of my inventory.. especially My stored Knick nacks because we are in a small apartment for these past three years because the housing market became astronomical and halted for us.
This really resonates with me! You do such a great job of explaining things, Dawn! We don't even use mugs everyday...we each have a good, insulated tumber that we use, and each have the same thing in a mug size (because sometimes I want a mug!). But we still have about 8 ceramic coffee mugs. 2 of them my husband and I bought on our first date (we each got one to remind us of the fun we had together). Those are the ones I struggle with letting go of. Others are marvel,spiderman, avengers themed mugs we've gotten over the years, and my wonderful hubby just isnt ready to let them go yet.
I often think I need to host something to use the mugs, but I would likely use disposable hot beverage cups if we were hosting something.
Sigh. We have space for the mugs we have, so I guess it's fine....I think I should probably move them out of the kitchen though!
Good morning 😊 I’m making my first cup of the day so this seemed a great way to start the day ( while I do my dishes too)
Dawn, can you do a video about hospitality and minimalism? I try to be a minimalist, we have 9 children in our home and have a lot of events, book clubs, dinners, out of town guests, so we need 20 coffee mugs and extra bedding and toys for our home school co-op, etc. I long to be more of a minimalist, but this is certainly an obstacle.
a while back, i hit a point where i felt like everything was out of my control. i kept wondering why other people seemed to get what they wanted while i was stuck in the same place. then i came across this book called Vibrations of Manifestation by Alex Lane. i wasn’t expecting much, but the way it explains the connection between your energy and the life you create? it blew my mind. it’s not just a book, it’s like a blueprint for turning your life around.
Hi Dawn, love your channel! Have followed for years! I'm a day and daily declutter,have gotten into the habit if I outgrown something or a sock has a hole, it goes! But I love to have a variation of coffee cups, they bring me joy,but only what will fit in my small designated section of my cupboard x