I'm very passionate about this subject! I'm ADHD and a former messy borderline dirty homeowner (the type who would pretend not to be home because my house was too embarrassing to let people in) and I agree with many many things you said, this is absolutely a resource for people struggling if they give themselves grace. Here's what I've learned works for me and might help other people who struggle with this: (this is gonna be long 😅) - start in a corner and work your way out zone by zone, ignore the other spaces, if something needs to go back to the bathroom you just put it on the first surface you can find in the bathroom, no putting it in its actual place in the drawer, take the guess work out of it and be dumb literal. You'll address it when you get to tidying the bathroom - Or you can go by category: take all the dishes to the sink and just leave them there, then all the laundry to the washing machine and leave it there, then all the trash in the trash. Again, no regrouping categories, do them one by one, no thinking, you have to be on auto pilot. Once you've gone through all 3 categories your home should look a whole lot better and the rest should feel much more doable - you can combine the start in a corner with the category methods - progress is progress. If it doesn't feel like much, you're doing it right! It's a marathon not a sprint. If all you've got in you is 5 minutes of trash picking when picking it all would take 15, well you've already done ⅓, you'll get to the rest when it you can. Even if it's not enough to catch up on things anytime soon, you did a small thing to keep it from getting worse and that's progress. - use timers. If you've got 20 minutes in you, do 20 minutes. When the timer runs out you can go back to whatever and be done. Maybe you'll think well I'm already going and I'm in the zone, you can push it a bit, but don't burn yourself out. It's a marathon not a sprint. If all you could do today is not let it get worse, it's still progress - when you finally get your house tidy and clean (there's a difference) then comes the dreaded keeping it tidy and clean. You must rely heavily and even ridiculously on your sense of wonder. Wonder at how much calmer you feel in a clean space. Wonder at how little time it takes to do the dishes when there's only a day's worth and it's not gone crusty and mouldy. Wonder at how quick and easy it is to vacuum a tidy space. Wonder at how cool it is to be able to have people over on a whim - time how long the things you dread actually take. Your brain thinks dishes and immediately thinks you'll be there a full hour scrubbing scrubbing scrubbing. But nah, a day's worth of dishes takes like 10 minutes, and you don't fully realise that until you consciously notice it. Next time you don't feel up to it you'll have proof that it only takes 10 minutes, you've got 10 minutes in you, you can do that - cleaning and tidying are hard when there's too much stuff, so as Reynard said you have to declutter and make sure the things you use the most are the most easy to pull out and put back in. Pay attention to where clutter forms the most easily, that's where you should focus your attention first. Set up your organisation not for who you wish you were but who you actually are, being realistic is the best way to make it sustainable. Doesn't matter how your friends or parents do it, how Pinterest does it. The best way is the way that works, even if it's unconventional or even silly - check out Clutterbug on TH-cam. She did a decluttering challenge with many tips while making sure you don't burn out or end up with the full content of your wardrobe all over your floor with no energy to finish putting it back in - it's ok to relapse, it's ok to feel like you'll never see the end of it. Reframe it as when it's bad it's not your fault (it's the exhaustion of every day life, it's depression, it's the overwhelment) and when you do anything good, it's GOOD, no matter how small, a step forward is a step forward Take care of yourself ❤️
Your post is adorable. Love your tips and tricks. I will pass them on to my daughter who is also ADHD. 😊 My house is always spotless and I didn’t know how to explain to her what you just explained so well. Thank you !
“If all you could do today is not let it get worse, it’s still progress” - I so needed this today, a reminder on the small wins. 🙏🏻Thank you. Rely on “your sense of wonder…” - flipping genius and SO key!
@Dwell_In_Magic_369 I'm so happy to be able to help people on this journey filled with shame and self hatred, even if just a tiny bit. Take care of your heart, friend, it's all that matters in the end ❤️
@@belenambriz2186 Haha oh this was like the third round of doing this. Thank goodness it's finally done and a lot was purged thanks to a couple of mice doing some damage.
Reynard, I think you have some wonderful content. But it is your calm, and approachable demeanour and non-judgement attitude that always keeps me coming back. Your choice of shots (inclusion of the b-roll takes while you speak) also make for an enjoyable watch. Thanks for providing great content for us.
All of these ideas are great! Let me give everyone the advice my grandmother told me years ago: “Don’t put it down, put it away” Whatever it is that’s in your hands put it where it belongs. You have a dirty plate and silverware, rinse them off and put in the dishwasher. You take your coat off, hang it up. This works so your house stays neat. When I come home from work nothing gets dumped in a pile, I take a few minutes to put everything away. Once you get used to doing this you won’t have an entire house staring at you with a mess in every room. Saves time and energy in the long run😊
That thing about storage containers possibly becoming another type of clutter really resonates. I’m always picking up storage containers just because I like them, instead of buying storage as and when I need it!
Decluttering is gonna be my biggest project in 2025. I've been so focused on my business for the past 2 years that I kinda neglected my apartment-even though I work at home. It's not super messy, but I have tons of stuff piling up. I also want to build a weekly declutter routine to keep my home organized. I'm gonna binge-watch your videos so I won't feel overwhelmed.
My goodness! This was the most comprehensive step by step psychological and emphathetic way to declutter a home. Thank you for creating this video. I subscribed, and sharing this video to all my friends, co-workers, family, and church members.
I already follow most of these ideas. I have decluttered my house a lot. We don't need big houses, too many clothes ,bags, shoes, extra dishes and furniture to be happy. In fact it is the other way around. This process takes time but we feel lighter and more focused on our real goals of life we organize our matters.
I love love love your work. Your videos are intentional and thoughtful which is such a nice change from the overly saturated videos that are constantly promoting consumption etc. thank you for sharing how you can make Meaningful purchases and create a balanced home/life
I love this guy! As someone with ADD, messiness can easily pile up and get overwhelming. The categories and way of explaining the process is somehow different than what I’ve seen before and is very helpful in wrapping my head around decluttering with less exhaustion and overwhelm. I really like the idea of just keeping these decluttering boxes by the recycling bins, to make it a regular ritual … what can I grab to get rid of each time I recycle something?!
I appreciate the concise way that you deliver the info. The example of the alphabet with the numbers really hit home. I realized I get distracted so easily rt now lol
When I feel like procrastinating, I’ll put a timer on for, say, 10 minutes. Once I get started, I can keep going or not. However, success builds in success. When I see how much I’ve gotten done, I want to keep going.
"I'm truly passionate about this topic! As someone with ADHD and a former messy homeowner (the kind who'd avoid visitors out of embarrassment), I resonate deeply with what you've shared. This is such a valuable resource for anyone struggling-especially if they can approach it with self-compassion."
I can't thank you enough for explaining the step by step approach to decluttering and organising things. After watching your video, with the gentle recommendations and not just "stand up and do it" I got inspired enough to finally rearrange my room and sort the things that have been lying around for months if not years. Now I know I *can* do it because I finally know how to.
Thanks Reynard, I was actually experiencing anxiety and depression and it was being compounded by the overwhelming thoughts of trying to declutter and organize everything.. but I gave this video a shot and you broke it down into chunks I was able to try and it has been working for me. I still had to take breaks but I think overall the approach is working, and I am feeling better about the space and in general... thank you
Thank you for posting this video, Reynard. The way you explain things, calmly and non-judgementally, was relaxing and took the stress out of parting with the unnecessary.
I read a book many years ago about the 5 minute clean up in each room. You spend only 5 minutes in a room to clean up or organize. I practice that to a certain extent but I don’t do it for all the rooms. It just amazing what I can do in 5 minutes.
I heard something even more advanced. Brace yourself. "If you can't tidy a room in 5 minutes, you have too much stuff"! Arrghh! But I do aspire to this!
This is the most helpful, practical and easy to execute decluttering and tidying video that I've ever seen - and I have been watching these things for the last 15-20yrs! Excellent tips - wonderful thank you ❤❤❤
I am listing a bunch of stuff on Marketplace today. I have been doing some Swedish death cleaning lately and loving it! The older I get the less I want. It has been a process, but the result is so satisfying.
First time here! I like how calm your videos are. I watch a lot of declining videos and have been decluttering for years. It’s very freeing. Sometimes it’s hard - have a hard time with tiny cute bottles. Happy holidays to everyone.
When I was younger and single I was much better at decluttering since it was all my own stuff. My motto was, "If I haven't needed or looked for an item in the last year, I will get rid of it." Now with a family, it's a lot harder to do. I have to sneak my kids' old toys out or sneak throwing broken items away. I also have to deal with sentimental family members retrieving items. It's a lot harder to declutter now. But I like someone's advice here about "Don't put it down, put it away." My kids are going to hear that A LOT from now on :D
It will be easy if you play a game with them about letting it go. Tell them to be honest about if they really play with that item. Have them go with you to donate it so other kids can play with it. 😊 they will learn to be giving and to share their toys. These games will develop good habits their whole life! It teaches to not be selfish too. They can do it. I have kindergarten children who do this at home. They really are more happier and less stressed.
You declutter exactly like I do. The only diff is for non-sentimental decorative items, I determine what to keep based on whether I would want to dust it when it gets dusty (keep) or would I get annoyed (toss). 😊
This is the only video about decluttering that I actually loved! Because it was realistic and to the point! Thanks again for another extremely useful video!
I have a large 4 bed house which is a storage unit for the 2 of us. Simply nowhere is a ‘haven’, even though we have nice, furniture and taste. there is stuff everywhere. I’m at the stage where I want to walk away and literally start again. I managed to pin my husband down today and tell him how I feel. He didn’t say a lot, but said he would give thought as to how we can deal with everything. We will see.
What helped me immensely, is to realize to go with my habits instead of against them. The example of working against them would be to try to follow some idealistic vision of a home. I would always fail, sonner or later, usually sooner. Instead, I started 'hacking' my habits: for example, if I had a habit of putting clothes on the chair and therefore cluttering and not having a place to sit, I would buy a small standing rack for that exact purpose. The habit stays, but is updated to a more organized version, since the rack is now the designated space for the clothes. Or instead of putting the mail randomly on the kitchen counter, I got a small box on the counter for the mail, from which it's convenient to sort it out, but I don't have to do it immediately after entering the home. Solutions like this significantly reduced the daily clutter. Another thing that worked for me is that each item has its designated home. First principle is like with like, and that's the default, but second principle is usage, so the things I'm using more often won't be 'like with like' but in specifically designated spot for easy access.
Thank you for explaining how our brain focuses on one thing at a time. I get side tracked and only get a few things sorted, with the house looking not improved. Trying new things!
Love your tips! I got rid of my paper waste basket in the bedroom recently. I like not having to empty that container and not having trash in my bedroom at all times. Having to walk a few steps to my laundry room to toss things in the bin helps me add more steps to my daily totals.
I really needed this. I'm so overwhelmed right now. I need a better system. No matter how hard i try to maintain my house clean, it will end up messy by the end of the week. hope this video will help me to improve my ssystem.. i really need to build better habits.
It’s super important to declutter and also have good storage system. I see that most my stuff that is always around is out because I don’t actually have a good storage space for it or its difficult to put there - does not fit, not enough space, out of reach etc
Another fabulous video! I like the idea of categories and starting to declutter that way. I always end up starting mini-projects (laundry, pet stuff, vacuum, dishes, etc.) while I try to declutter.
On the topic of Christmas and gifts. This year, our family did a Secret Santa. To make it super-easy, we used the Elfster app. Each of us only had to buy one present. And since each family member listed what they wanted (within an agreed upon price range), it was very easy. My giftee made it even easier for me by actually linking the products that they wanted. Result: everyone got what they wanted, gifts were fewer but of higher quality, and tidyup was minimal!
Great organisational tips ! 🤞My top tip is that items tend to 'migrate' to the lounge from other rooms. At the end of the day I put the items that do not belong in the lounge, on a serving tray for each room e.g. bedroom 1, office etc and then return the tray with the items to each room and their owners. I find it only takes about 10 minutes per room to put clutter away. The empty tray is then returned to the kitchen for next time. Simple and quick ! 👍
God bless you, I needed this 🎉the overwhelment , causes depression! I just shake my head and close the door to that place. However, not anymore. The Pain of staying the same is Greater than the Pain of Change!
The question I ask.myself when trying to decide what to keep and what to discard is: "Does it evoke happy memories?" If yes, keep; if no, remove (toss or give away). But I like also your questions too: "If this was destroyed by fire, would Ibe upset and replace it?" "If i didn't already own it, would I pay money a new one?" Also, putting things away by category seems to make sense too. Thank you!
I paused this video midway to pack up some items into a box that were cluttering my living room. Now there is a box here, but it's better than having stuff all over the place. Thanks for the motivation. I really struggle with keeping a clean home.
What a great insight…don’t get distracted! Your way to just move around and as such make piles like gather the rubbish and leave together, gather the dishes and don’t get distracted washing them, rather leave in the sink… I never thought of this being the key as to how I find myself down the rabbit hole with nothing done,. It’s funny how we don’t notice something we do yet the moment it’s explained as simply as you did in the opening, the light bulb pops on and so much ‘comes to light’ as I began with, thank you for this insight
I just watched your first video and now your 2nd video here. I really needed this as I am on a career break and trying to declutter my 12yo house. Already feeling overwhelmed by the clutter, dirt and items that my family of 4 have accumulated over the years, some from previous dwellings too... Your videos gave me the clarity I needed. Thank you and do keep the good stuff coming.
agreed! Good tips. And instead of going from to room and floor to floor. Just put items that need to travel to another room in one place at the door or stairs. The next to you leave you will just take all of the stuff with you
The *yutulu* canvas tote bag actually reminds me of Hermes Garden Party, too. Thanks for making this video on suggesting more budget friendly alternatives. Love it! 😊
Great content, very helpful. Especially the part about just starting to gather stuff, but not do anything with it in each room. I really struggle with all of this. Your video shows a path forward that seems doable. Thanks!!
If you live in a disaster area (fires, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.), you need to make duplicates of your important documents and send them to a trusted relative or other person who lives in a different region. If you put them in the bank, the bank can be flooded or burnt down. If you leave them with a lawyer, the lawyer can suffer from the same natural disaster that you did. But if you live in the southern Californian fire zone, for example, and your relative lives in Colorado, your relative can have your papers in his home or bank deposit box (and vice-versa), so when you have a disaster, you can just ask your relative to send you the needed insurance policies, etc. You can get them by overnight courier. No worries if your house goes up in flames when you're at work or your house is destroyed by an earthquake with no warning or time to do more than save your life. You can even do this with relatives who live in the same zone, as long as there's a good chance that if you (or they) are affected, the other person will not be (they live far enough from the usual fire corridor or the fault zone, etc.).
What I like about your videos is that they're very calm, and not at all overwhelming, even though a bunch of new information is presented. And I also LOVE that you don't have those incredibly distracting slow zoom-ins that seems to be more standard than the exception these days. Thank you for giving us calm content - and also thanks for the tips 😇 Although there was one tiny thing that did bother me a little, and that you seem to have certain assumptions, like mentioning "your guest bedrooms, attic, or laundry room" like, I barely have the space to move about and I dry my laundry at the foot of my bed thanks to a lack of space elsewhere 😅 > Now, I don't know if you actually assume these things, or just wish to mention those areas for all the people that _do_ have them 🤗
Not assuming, but just giving example of what I meant by "passive zones". I did mention directly afterwards in smaller spaces, this can be your lower drawers, under sink cabinet, etc.
I just found your channel and it’s been so helpful!!! Would you consider doing a video about high ceilings? I would love to hear your take on the pros and cons
40 minutes was my magic zone-out time for cleaning/tidying. If I can't do it in 40 mins I'm free to stop anyway. I get pretty fast! And my home gets simplified and clean and welcoming. Trying to get back into that habit! Thanks for your encouragement, and your peacefulness!
For the white box for things which don't have a place yet, I need a BIG BOX. I recently moved to my new apartment and there are just too many things which don't have a place yet. And probably I have to buy some storage furniture so that they get a place. Thanks for your videos about this topic.
Okay, I think you've explained it well enough so I can make those baby steps. I liked your logical and no judgement approach. I'm one of those who just can't throw paper or momentos away. One thing I have started to do is shred papers so I won't keep hanging on to it. I just culled patterns I haven't used in 30 years. Baby steps. ;-)
Subscribed. Very nice video. My family and I just moved from a big house down to an apartment. Just to give you context, our new apartment could fit in my big 2 car garage. I must have been delusional but I really wanted to downsize to save and put the extra money in investments while I build a new business. Before the move I purged every room, going room by room each on a different weekend and it was bruuuuutal and still, I am in my new space and I quickly realized that I am surrounded by boxes as I have run out of storage. I literally have no closet space or furniture space left to unpack another 50 boxes😮. So I am now forced to go through a second purge/donate/throw before buying furniture with storage because more furniture will just clutter the small space so I have to be verrry intentional. Here are some of the techniques I used to date : 1) I set my timer for the easy stuff and used the 5 song Method (favourites of course) for things like the garage. 2) I brought the garbage bag with me, a donate box and for the things I wanted to keep, I kept asking myself 3 questions: -Do I use this on a daily/weekly/monthly or is it gathering dust? -Does it bring joy? -Marie Kondo -Would somebody else I know benefit from it? If I answered no, then it went into the trash. If I really wanted to keep it, then I told myself, if you don’t use it in the next 60 days, it’s gone. The worst thing in my case were/are papers. So similar to you, I grouped them all in one room so I had a place to put them while I finished all the other rooms. 1-I borrowed a paper shredder and had my aunt come over for tea. 2-we sat across from each other with the shredder between us. I handed her the papers on by one and either I put it in a document binder that has plastic sleeves (so I can group them into bills, investment, banking, medical etc) or I handed it to her to shred it. It took 3 afternoons but having narrowed down the myriad of boxes of papers accumulated from all my past moves down to 2 binders was PRICELESS. I even made one separate for my daughter so she can start fresh for when she moves out on her own. Having someone to chat with while doing the thing I hated made it far more enjoyable and we celebrated with dessert when we were done. However today in my new space, I have the equivalent of a small 8x8 office completely filled top to bottom with boxes I have to go through and zero storage. I’ll be using the trash, keep, donate system and put whatever papers I might have missed in a pile. I can see tea and dessert in my future. Wish me luck.❤
I'm very passionate about this subject! I'm ADHD and a former messy borderline dirty homeowner (the type who would pretend not to be home because my house was too embarrassing to let people in) and I agree with many many things you said, this is absolutely a resource for people struggling if they give themselves grace.
Here's what I've learned works for me and might help other people who struggle with this: (this is gonna be long 😅)
- start in a corner and work your way out zone by zone, ignore the other spaces, if something needs to go back to the bathroom you just put it on the first surface you can find in the bathroom, no putting it in its actual place in the drawer, take the guess work out of it and be dumb literal. You'll address it when you get to tidying the bathroom
- Or you can go by category: take all the dishes to the sink and just leave them there, then all the laundry to the washing machine and leave it there, then all the trash in the trash. Again, no regrouping categories, do them one by one, no thinking, you have to be on auto pilot. Once you've gone through all 3 categories your home should look a whole lot better and the rest should feel much more doable
- you can combine the start in a corner with the category methods
- progress is progress. If it doesn't feel like much, you're doing it right! It's a marathon not a sprint. If all you've got in you is 5 minutes of trash picking when picking it all would take 15, well you've already done ⅓, you'll get to the rest when it you can. Even if it's not enough to catch up on things anytime soon, you did a small thing to keep it from getting worse and that's progress.
- use timers. If you've got 20 minutes in you, do 20 minutes. When the timer runs out you can go back to whatever and be done. Maybe you'll think well I'm already going and I'm in the zone, you can push it a bit, but don't burn yourself out. It's a marathon not a sprint. If all you could do today is not let it get worse, it's still progress
- when you finally get your house tidy and clean (there's a difference) then comes the dreaded keeping it tidy and clean. You must rely heavily and even ridiculously on your sense of wonder. Wonder at how much calmer you feel in a clean space. Wonder at how little time it takes to do the dishes when there's only a day's worth and it's not gone crusty and mouldy. Wonder at how quick and easy it is to vacuum a tidy space. Wonder at how cool it is to be able to have people over on a whim
- time how long the things you dread actually take. Your brain thinks dishes and immediately thinks you'll be there a full hour scrubbing scrubbing scrubbing. But nah, a day's worth of dishes takes like 10 minutes, and you don't fully realise that until you consciously notice it. Next time you don't feel up to it you'll have proof that it only takes 10 minutes, you've got 10 minutes in you, you can do that
- cleaning and tidying are hard when there's too much stuff, so as Reynard said you have to declutter and make sure the things you use the most are the most easy to pull out and put back in. Pay attention to where clutter forms the most easily, that's where you should focus your attention first. Set up your organisation not for who you wish you were but who you actually are, being realistic is the best way to make it sustainable. Doesn't matter how your friends or parents do it, how Pinterest does it. The best way is the way that works, even if it's unconventional or even silly
- check out Clutterbug on TH-cam. She did a decluttering challenge with many tips while making sure you don't burn out or end up with the full content of your wardrobe all over your floor with no energy to finish putting it back in
- it's ok to relapse, it's ok to feel like you'll never see the end of it. Reframe it as when it's bad it's not your fault (it's the exhaustion of every day life, it's depression, it's the overwhelment) and when you do anything good, it's GOOD, no matter how small, a step forward is a step forward
Take care of yourself ❤️
Tyvm
Your post is adorable. Love your tips and tricks. I will pass them on to my daughter who is also ADHD. 😊 My house is always spotless and I didn’t know how to explain to her what you just explained so well. Thank you !
@@ChristineLotus happy to help, it's such a struggle sometimes... Take care ❤️
“If all you could do today is not let it get worse, it’s still progress” - I so needed this today, a reminder on the small wins. 🙏🏻Thank you. Rely on “your sense of wonder…” - flipping genius and SO key!
@Dwell_In_Magic_369 I'm so happy to be able to help people on this journey filled with shame and self hatred, even if just a tiny bit. Take care of your heart, friend, it's all that matters in the end ❤️
We just spent two days organizing/decluttering the garage. Every little nail, paint brush, shovel etc has its own spot now.
Congrats!!
2 days !😮 wow I'll be lucky if it takes me 2 weeks
@@belenambriz2186 Haha oh this was like the third round of doing this. Thank goodness it's finally done and a lot was purged thanks to a couple of mice doing some damage.
Reynard, I think you have some wonderful content. But it is your calm, and approachable demeanour and non-judgement attitude that always keeps me coming back. Your choice of shots (inclusion of the b-roll takes while you speak) also make for an enjoyable watch. Thanks for providing great content for us.
All of these ideas are great! Let me give everyone the advice my grandmother told me years ago: “Don’t put it down, put it away” Whatever it is that’s in your hands put it where it belongs. You have a dirty plate and silverware, rinse them off and put in the dishwasher. You take your coat off, hang it up. This works so your house stays neat. When I come home from work nothing gets dumped in a pile, I take a few minutes to put everything away. Once you get used to doing this you won’t have an entire house staring at you with a mess in every room. Saves time and energy in the long run😊
Thank you ❤❤❤❤❤
That thing about storage containers possibly becoming another type of clutter really resonates. I’m always picking up storage containers just because I like them, instead of buying storage as and when I need it!
Decluttering is gonna be my biggest project in 2025. I've been so focused on my business for the past 2 years that I kinda neglected my apartment-even though I work at home. It's not super messy, but I have tons of stuff piling up. I also want to build a weekly declutter routine to keep my home organized. I'm gonna binge-watch your videos so I won't feel overwhelmed.
My goodness! This was the most comprehensive step by step psychological and emphathetic way to declutter a home. Thank you for creating this video. I subscribed, and sharing this video to all my friends, co-workers, family, and church members.
I already follow most of these ideas. I have decluttered my house a lot. We don't need big houses, too many clothes ,bags, shoes, extra dishes and furniture to be happy. In fact it is the other way around. This process takes time but we feel lighter and more focused on our real goals of life we organize our matters.
I am falling in love with this channel . He himself is so calm and organized ❤. Love the content Rey !
I love love love your work. Your videos are intentional and thoughtful which is such a nice change from the overly saturated videos that are constantly promoting consumption etc. thank you for sharing how you can make
Meaningful purchases and create a balanced home/life
Thank you so much for doing this thoughtful video. Adult ADHD and I get so distracted and overwhelmed with cleaning.
This is my favourite declutter video - thank you
Avoiding decluttering by watching videos about decluttering....anyone else?
Starting my Saturday with Reynard puts me in a great mood - as I could tackle anything now.
I love this guy! As someone with ADD, messiness can easily pile up and get overwhelming. The categories and way of explaining the process is somehow different than what I’ve seen before and is very helpful in wrapping my head around decluttering with less exhaustion and overwhelm. I really like the idea of just keeping these decluttering boxes by the recycling bins, to make it a regular ritual … what can I grab to get rid of each time I recycle something?!
I appreciate the concise way that you deliver the info. The example of the alphabet with the numbers really hit home. I realized I get distracted so easily rt now lol
When I feel like procrastinating, I’ll put a timer on for, say, 10 minutes. Once I get started, I can keep going or not. However, success builds in success. When I see how much I’ve gotten done, I want to keep going.
Works a treat for me. I put a 20 minutes timer when I enter my daughters bedroom and go full beam. I can achieve so much without dreading the task
"I'm truly passionate about this topic! As someone with ADHD and a former messy homeowner (the kind who'd avoid visitors out of embarrassment), I resonate deeply with what you've shared. This is such a valuable resource for anyone struggling-especially if they can approach it with self-compassion."
I can't thank you enough for explaining the step by step approach to decluttering and organising things. After watching your video, with the gentle recommendations and not just "stand up and do it" I got inspired enough to finally rearrange my room and sort the things that have been lying around for months if not years. Now I know I *can* do it because I finally know how to.
Thanks Reynard, I was actually experiencing anxiety and depression and it was being compounded by the overwhelming thoughts of trying to declutter and organize everything.. but I gave this video a shot and you broke it down into chunks I was able to try and it has been working for me. I still had to take breaks but I think overall the approach is working, and I am feeling better about the space and in general... thank you
Everyday, I never get beyond the kitchen. Why? I spend too much time watching videos like this. 🤣
Again! It would seem as I’ve commented before. 🤣
😂
@@roselinehagen6862you are not alone. 😅
Thank you for posting this video, Reynard. The way you explain things, calmly and non-judgementally, was relaxing and took the stress out of parting with the unnecessary.
I read a book many years ago about the 5 minute clean up in each room. You spend only 5 minutes in a room to clean up or organize. I practice that to a certain extent but I don’t do it for all the rooms. It just amazing what I can do in 5 minutes.
I heard something even more advanced. Brace yourself. "If you can't tidy a room in 5 minutes, you have too much stuff"! Arrghh! But I do aspire to this!
This is the most helpful, practical and easy to execute decluttering and tidying video that I've ever seen - and I have been watching these things for the last 15-20yrs! Excellent tips - wonderful thank you ❤❤❤
The best advice ever from your grandmother 🙏❤️
Declutter by category. That was very helpful thank you.
I've been feeling overwhelmed with decluttering and this was such a fantastic video. Thank you, I finally feel like I can do this!
Your messy rooms are my super, super, super tidy house! 😂😂😂
I am listing a bunch of stuff on Marketplace today. I have been doing some Swedish death cleaning lately and loving it! The older I get the less I want. It has been a process, but the result is so satisfying.
First time here! I like how calm your videos are. I watch a lot of declining videos and have been decluttering for years. It’s very freeing. Sometimes it’s hard - have a hard time with tiny cute bottles.
Happy holidays to everyone.
This method worked wonderfully for me. It helped me stay focused and avoid decision fatigue. Thank you very much for sharing!
Really need this right now. Thank you so much for sharing easy to follow tips and thoughts that will keep me at ease at overwhelming times 😊
When I was younger and single I was much better at decluttering since it was all my own stuff. My motto was, "If I haven't needed or looked for an item in the last year, I will get rid of it." Now with a family, it's a lot harder to do. I have to sneak my kids' old toys out or sneak throwing broken items away. I also have to deal with sentimental family members retrieving items. It's a lot harder to declutter now. But I like someone's advice here about "Don't put it down, put it away." My kids are going to hear that A LOT from now on :D
It will be easy if you play a game with them about letting it go. Tell them to be honest about if they really play with that item. Have them go with you to donate it so other kids can play with it. 😊 they will learn to be giving and to share their toys. These games will develop good habits their whole life! It teaches to not be selfish too. They can do it. I have kindergarten children who do this at home. They really are more happier and less stressed.
Just the “caffeine” I needed to start my Saturday cleaning/decluttering routine! Thank you!
You declutter exactly like I do. The only diff is for non-sentimental decorative items, I determine what to keep based on whether I would want to dust it when it gets dusty (keep) or would I get annoyed (toss). 😊
Hey Reynard, Thank U for Ur vids, especially for this one. This is particularly helpful for someone with an adhd brain. I Appreciate it.
I was about to write exactly that. Thank you. 👍
The edit is so good. I love this format and topic.😊
This video gives me hope that I can start and not give up once I become too overwhelmed. Thank you!
This is the only video about decluttering that I actually loved! Because it was realistic and to the point! Thanks again for another extremely useful video!
nice
Another top notch video with clear, practical and realistic ideas and suggestions. Love your style and content !
I am decluttering now and a new vid about decluttering pop up . helpful
All the best with it. Very therapeutic and the effect doesn't wear off, in my experience! G Ire
Same 😅
That’s the algorithm for ya.
I have a large 4 bed house which is a storage unit for the 2 of us. Simply nowhere is a ‘haven’, even though we have nice, furniture and taste. there is stuff everywhere. I’m at the stage where I want to walk away and literally start again. I managed to pin my husband down today and tell him how I feel. He didn’t say a lot, but said he would give thought as to how we can deal with everything. We will see.
Just go for it
What helped me immensely, is to realize to go with my habits instead of against them. The example of working against them would be to try to follow some idealistic vision of a home. I would always fail, sonner or later, usually sooner. Instead, I started 'hacking' my habits: for example, if I had a habit of putting clothes on the chair and therefore cluttering and not having a place to sit, I would buy a small standing rack for that exact purpose. The habit stays, but is updated to a more organized version, since the rack is now the designated space for the clothes. Or instead of putting the mail randomly on the kitchen counter, I got a small box on the counter for the mail, from which it's convenient to sort it out, but I don't have to do it immediately after entering the home.
Solutions like this significantly reduced the daily clutter.
Another thing that worked for me is that each item has its designated home. First principle is like with like, and that's the default, but second principle is usage, so the things I'm using more often won't be 'like with like' but in specifically designated spot for easy access.
Thank you for explaining how our brain focuses on one thing at a time. I get side tracked and only get a few things sorted, with the house looking not improved. Trying new things!
Love your tips!
I got rid of my paper waste basket in the bedroom recently. I like not having to empty that container and not having trash in my bedroom at all times. Having to walk a few steps to my laundry room to toss things in the bin helps me add more steps to my daily totals.
I really needed this. I'm so overwhelmed right now. I need a better system. No matter how hard i try to maintain my house clean, it will end up messy by the end of the week. hope this video will help me to improve my ssystem.. i really need to build better habits.
It’s super important to declutter and also have good storage system. I see that most my stuff that is always around is out because I don’t actually have a good storage space for it or its difficult to put there - does not fit, not enough space, out of reach etc
Another fabulous video! I like the idea of categories and starting to declutter that way. I always end up starting mini-projects (laundry, pet stuff, vacuum, dishes, etc.) while I try to declutter.
On the topic of Christmas and gifts. This year, our family did a Secret Santa. To make it super-easy, we used the Elfster app. Each of us only had to buy one present. And since each family member listed what they wanted (within an agreed upon price range), it was very easy. My giftee made it even easier for me by actually linking the products that they wanted.
Result: everyone got what they wanted, gifts were fewer but of higher quality, and tidyup was minimal!
Great organisational tips ! 🤞My top tip is that items tend to 'migrate' to the lounge from other rooms. At the end of the day I put the items that do not belong in the lounge, on a serving tray for each room e.g. bedroom 1, office etc and then return the tray with the items to each room and their owners. I find it only takes about 10 minutes per room to put clutter away. The empty tray is then returned to the kitchen for next time. Simple and quick ! 👍
God bless you, I needed this 🎉the overwhelment , causes depression! I just shake my head and close the door to that place. However, not anymore. The Pain of staying the same is Greater than the Pain of Change!
Thank you for the video,I started decluttering immediately
So practical and so informative! Love it!
This seems like a very logical and practical method to straighten up the home. I’m looking forward to trying this out. Thank you!!
best video on cleaning and organizing. Thank you!
Thanks for this video - it also was nice to see more of your home =)
Great tip on single category sort. I get stuck into the detail and then run out of steam! Thanks
Great tips. I've been agonizing over my clutter; I've subscribed. Thank you.
The question I ask.myself when trying to decide what to keep and what to discard is: "Does it evoke happy memories?"
If yes, keep; if no, remove (toss or give away).
But I like also your questions too:
"If this was destroyed by fire, would Ibe upset and replace it?"
"If i didn't already own it, would I pay money a new one?"
Also, putting things away by category seems to make sense too.
Thank you!
I paused this video midway to pack up some items into a box that were cluttering my living room. Now there is a box here, but it's better than having stuff all over the place. Thanks for the motivation. I really struggle with keeping a clean home.
That's great! Now, continue on into other areas. You can do it. Just start. 😊
@Jennifer-nz2ss I've been doing this for 8 years...
Loved this format!
What a great insight…don’t get distracted! Your way to just move around and as such make piles like gather the rubbish and leave together, gather the dishes and don’t get distracted washing them, rather leave in the sink… I never thought of this being the key as to how I find myself down the rabbit hole with nothing done,. It’s funny how we don’t notice something we do yet the moment it’s explained as simply as you did in the opening, the light bulb pops on and so much ‘comes to light’ as I began with, thank you for this insight
Very well explained and structured, thank you! I also loved how your house looked -- an inspiration for sure 🤩
I just watched your first video and now your 2nd video here. I really needed this as I am on a career break and trying to declutter my 12yo house. Already feeling overwhelmed by the clutter, dirt and items that my family of 4 have accumulated over the years, some from previous dwellings too... Your videos gave me the clarity I needed. Thank you and do keep the good stuff coming.
agreed! Good tips.
And instead of going from to room and floor to floor. Just put items that need to travel to another room in one place at the door or stairs.
The next to you leave you will just take all of the stuff with you
This was so helpful. I have watched it over and over. I'm doing to action a few steps now. Thank you so much.
Great advice with the switching attention
You give a lot of information cleanly and distinctly, well done!
Im loving all your videos, concise and very well explained! Love the calm presence you have, thank you for your work!
The *yutulu* canvas tote bag actually reminds me of Hermes Garden Party, too. Thanks for making this video on suggesting more budget friendly alternatives. Love it! 😊
Great content, very helpful. Especially the part about just starting to gather stuff, but not do anything with it in each room. I really struggle with all of this. Your video shows a path forward that seems doable. Thanks!!
Absolutely *awesome* Reynard! Your videos are concise, informative & excellent 💗🙂
I didn't know I needed to watch this video. Thank you for this. I feel like I can finally declutter my room before the New Year
Thank you! Just what I needed to get started.
I have noticed a huge improvement in how you present your videos, can see your personality shine through. Keep up the great work 👍
Thank you so much!
If you live in a disaster area (fires, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.), you need to make duplicates of your important documents and send them to a trusted relative or other person who lives in a different region. If you put them in the bank, the bank can be flooded or burnt down. If you leave them with a lawyer, the lawyer can suffer from the same natural disaster that you did. But if you live in the southern Californian fire zone, for example, and your relative lives in Colorado, your relative can have your papers in his home or bank deposit box (and vice-versa), so when you have a disaster, you can just ask your relative to send you the needed insurance policies, etc. You can get them by overnight courier. No worries if your house goes up in flames when you're at work or your house is destroyed by an earthquake with no warning or time to do more than save your life. You can even do this with relatives who live in the same zone, as long as there's a good chance that if you (or they) are affected, the other person will not be (they live far enough from the usual fire corridor or the fault zone, etc.).
How encouraging We'll tackle this together and make it a breeze. Thank you
Awesome tips, very helpful 💖 thank you 🙏
What I like about your videos is that they're very calm, and not at all overwhelming, even though a bunch of new information is presented. And I also LOVE that you don't have those incredibly distracting slow zoom-ins that seems to be more standard than the exception these days. Thank you for giving us calm content - and also thanks for the tips 😇
Although there was one tiny thing that did bother me a little, and that you seem to have certain assumptions, like mentioning "your guest bedrooms, attic, or laundry room" like, I barely have the space to move about and I dry my laundry at the foot of my bed thanks to a lack of space elsewhere 😅 > Now, I don't know if you actually assume these things, or just wish to mention those areas for all the people that _do_ have them 🤗
Not assuming, but just giving example of what I meant by "passive zones". I did mention directly afterwards in smaller spaces, this can be your lower drawers, under sink cabinet, etc.
@reynardlowell ooh okay, sorry I did not get that originally 🤗 thanks for the clarification!
JUST FOUND THIS VIDEO. TOTALLY AWESOME. THANKS 👍❤❤
This is some great advice. Thank you.
❤ the ceiling light in the thumbnail
Great video!!! I loved the visual part of it as much as the awesome content!!
I just found your channel and it’s been so helpful!!! Would you consider doing a video about high ceilings? I would love to hear your take on the pros and cons
40 minutes was my magic zone-out time for cleaning/tidying. If I can't do it in 40 mins I'm free to stop anyway. I get pretty fast! And my home gets simplified and clean and welcoming. Trying to get back into that habit! Thanks for your encouragement, and your peacefulness!
Dear Reynard, thank you for your incredible work on your channel. Your videos are now my daily inspiration and pleasure❤❤
Happy New Year!!! Great video 🎉❤
This video really helps, thanks a lot
Love this video. Simple and inspirational. Very helpful.
I found your video very helpful!! Thank you! You have a peaceful beautiful home❤
Thank you for another awesome video!
For the white box for things which don't have a place yet, I need a BIG BOX. I recently moved to my new apartment and there are just too many things which don't have a place yet. And probably I have to buy some storage furniture so that they get a place.
Thanks for your videos about this topic.
Thank you for this video! At 66, I have finally realized why I forget what my main project was & why I get side-tracked !
This video is gold 🥇 man! 😅
As a German, I almost had a heart attack when he put all the trash in the same bag.
😂
Why?
In Germany rubbish is seperated for recyceling
@@perfektpeter8037it is in the U.K. it’s a pain
Good thing you didn’t because it’s a nightmare getting medical attention in Germany
Okay, I think you've explained it well enough so I can make those baby steps. I liked your logical and no judgement approach. I'm one of those who just can't throw paper or momentos away. One thing I have started to do is shred papers so I won't keep hanging on to it. I just culled patterns I haven't used in 30 years. Baby steps. ;-)
Nailed it thank you
Excellent Topic!!!! Thank you!!!!
This content 🔥🔥🔥🔥 and your attention to details and presentation 🎯🎯
First time on your channel which i found so helpful and beautifully presented with a flair and practical! 🎉😅
Subscribed. Very nice video. My family and I just moved from a big house down to an apartment. Just to give you context, our new apartment could fit in my big 2 car garage. I must have been delusional but I really wanted to downsize to save and put the extra money in investments while I build a new business. Before the move I purged every room, going room by room each on a different weekend and it was bruuuuutal and still, I am in my new space and I quickly realized that I am surrounded by boxes as I have run out of storage. I literally have no closet space or furniture space left to unpack another 50 boxes😮. So I am now forced to go through a second purge/donate/throw before buying furniture with storage because more furniture will just clutter the small space so I have to be verrry intentional.
Here are some of the techniques I used to date :
1) I set my timer for the easy stuff and used the 5 song Method (favourites of course) for things like the garage.
2) I brought the garbage bag with me, a donate box and for the things I wanted to keep, I kept asking myself 3 questions:
-Do I use this on a daily/weekly/monthly or is it gathering dust?
-Does it bring joy? -Marie Kondo
-Would somebody else I know benefit from it?
If I answered no, then it went into the trash.
If I really wanted to keep it, then I told myself, if you don’t use it in the next 60 days, it’s gone.
The worst thing in my case were/are papers. So similar to you, I grouped them all in one room so I had a place to put them while I finished all the other rooms.
1-I borrowed a paper shredder and had my aunt come over for tea.
2-we sat across from each other with the shredder between us. I handed her the papers on by one and either I put it in a document binder that has plastic sleeves (so I can group them into bills, investment, banking, medical etc) or I handed it to her to shred it. It took 3 afternoons but having narrowed down the myriad of boxes of papers accumulated from all my past moves down to 2 binders was PRICELESS. I even made one separate for my daughter so she can start fresh for when she moves out on her own.
Having someone to chat with while doing the thing I hated made it far more enjoyable and we celebrated with dessert when we were done.
However today in my new space, I have the equivalent of a small 8x8 office completely filled top to bottom with boxes I have to go through and zero storage. I’ll be using the trash, keep, donate system and put whatever papers I might have missed in a pile. I can see tea and dessert in my future. Wish me luck.❤
Love this... thank you!