I used to pray before entering a thrift store asking God to help me find treasure. Now when I donate valuable items I pray they will be found by someone looking for treasure. 👍🤗
@@septembersschoolofmusic23 I don't think it is god, I think it is you just putting yourself in the mindset that you will only buy something if you need it. It is helpful when you go into a store, too, to say, I will find what I need and not buy a lot of extra stuff just because it is cute.
My dad owned a consignment store for 30 years. When he got Bibles in he would put them on a shelf and give them away to anyone that wanted them. He had a lot of opportunities to share the gospel in his store
Yesterday I spent the day with a friend that is a bit of a hoarder. We had so much fun making those quick decisions as you pointed out and we were able to fill a box for donation. The beautiful part was that when her husband came home I saw sincere appreciation in his eyes as to how clean, fresh and organized her desk had become. She was so proud of her accomplishment and said that this has inspired her to keep going!!! Thank you for teaching me skills that I can share with others!!!
Friendly suggestion: It sounds like your friend just needed someone to help her so she could make progress without suffering from decision fatigue, which is quite different from true hoarding. I would be very careful about calling friends and family hoarders 😀
That's great! I helped a friend once and a couple weeks later she called accusing me of having gotten rid of her husbands good pants. I hadn't touched anything she didn't decide on. They found his pants but never again. Its nice you were appreciated.
I have to say to myself "I don't owe stuff anything" --meaning I don't need to feel obligated to the actual item. And "Stuff doesn't care if it gets thrown away." I watched too many Disney movies as a kid and think inanimate objects somehow have feelings, lol.
Maria, I know nothing about you but my heart goes out to you..so let me just say that there are many TH-cam channels explaining the benefits of a low carb or keto or carnivore diet in helping healing of thyroid conditions.
@Maria Castillo I was diagnosed with Hipotiroidism and fibromyalgia 12years ago, I was depressed unmotivsted since December 12 2020 I started keto I'm feeling so much better!!! Cuidate!
Same. I felt unmotivated and unworthy of life for the last 5 years luckily I am seeing the end of the tunnel. I think the clutter and stuff in my home was keeping me depressed
@@constancemartin933 I too suffer and would appreciate more information about where to look for my issues. Do you know of any specific sites where I can begin looking?
Dawn, you have changed my life. I'm recently widowed after 60+ years, and you can imagine the "stuff" we've accumulated. You have helped me so much to simplify a complicated house. EVERYTHIING is easier without so much stuff. Thanks again!!! Love you, Freddie
I keep a donation cardboard box in my closet. When I try on an item of clothing that I don’t like, I drop it in the donation box. As I go about my daily life and I see other items I want to declutter, I put it in that donation box immediately. When the box is full, it goes directly in the car so when I run my next errand, I can drop it off at the thrift store on the way there or back. This has been so helpful for us.
Great tip., I tend to hang on to my donation boxes lol.. I have about 5 stored in our 5th wheel trailer.. sometimes i put out 'free boxes' on the sidewalk, but I waste so much time tidying it, adding to it, picking out a thing or two to keep.. it's actually ridiculous!! . I need to just drop it off somewhere! But many places won't even take stuff.. sighhh
We have put our free items on the curb day before trash pick up & most of the time, a neighbor or the local truck driver with a trailer drives by & retrieves it. A win win situation. Less clutter. I enjoy hearing everyone's ideas too.
Getting STUFF out of my house is the best feeling ever!! Don’t wait to feel motivated...just declutter something every day. It can be a shoebox, a drawer, one countertop, or a whole room. Doing leads to more doing. 😁
That never seems to get me anywhere though. I'll clean an area/drawer and be happy and before I even get to the next pile the previous area is cluttered again and usually not by my doing. (I will include here that I have medical issues which have precluded me from doing much of the harder work on my own.) I feel frustrated and hopeless and it makes it harder to start again. My husband is equally as disorganized and a clutter maker and is equally part of the cause, if not more so. My parents both have/had pretty bad hoarding tendencies as well. In fact I have a giant shelf in my garage filled with my mother's belongings from when she died 18 years ago and as it's huge and high I can't even do it myself. My children do not live very close by and my illness and the stresses of the last few years have left me nearly completely isolated and stuck in a home I hate because I can't physically keep up with the demand. I've told my daughters the only present I need is help in getting the house in order but their lives are extremely busy right now and I cannot rely on their help. Any words of wisdom would help. Thanks ✌🏻
@@arellatikvah Any close friends or neighbors or church people that you know? At my old warehouse job we all gathered I groups and did clean ups for people we worked with that needed help, and my church has always been willing to help people out. As long as you're willing to part with things. Also, getting rid of any flat surfaces that you don't absolutely need definitely helps. They tend to be "collecting" spaces.
For things that I know I need to get rid of but are sentimental, I take a picture. I have a folder in my phone of all the sentimental objects that I've gotten rid of over the years - favorite teenage clothes, a well-used coffee pot, etc. It really helps
Agreed! I have military logo mugs from visiting my son in the AF that were buried in the cupboard with no place to display so I put pics in a digital scrapbook with photos of that trip. Same with gifts the kids gave me when little; they are in the scrapbook with those family gatherings (mothers day, BD, Christmas) Scrapbook is displayed on coffee table in an "uncluttered" LR so you can actually see it!!!
When I cleaned out my dresser and closet, I made four stacks as I sorted through the clothes. Keep, Maybe, I think Not, and Donate. When I was done, I rid the donate and I think not piles. When it came to Maybe, I took a picture of the stack. I then donated them, as well. Now, when I ask myself ---"I know I had that top, but where is it?---I look at that picture and it immediately comes to me why I rid it. I "feel" the shoulders slipping, or I "see" that it was baggy, or the top that was crossed over my chest and not around my waist. It brings it all back and I move on, happy with my decisions. :) Have a great day!!
For Lent this year, I am going through my house (once again!), and I am giving things that I kept because they were really nice and/or worth something and could be sold, to charity. This has been a really good thing for me, for the good of my home and me spiritually. I don’t need to keep these things. God will provide, and I keep picturing the person, who runs across my “star items” at the thrift store, lighting up and being excited to find a treasure.
That’s exactly what I do. Instead of wasting time beating myself up for unnecessary purchases, I picture the person who will find it being so thrilled.
“If it’s not a clear yes, it’s a no” is going to be as helpful to me as “let the container be the bad guy”. These phrases are sometimes just what you need to approach decluttering anew. Thanks Dawn!
@@revdeci4086 Or in lieu of “Does it spark joy?” I also sometimes ask myself “ls it useful?” or some form of it for things pertaining to cleaning or chores. My vacuum and my mop certainly don’t spark joy, but they definitely are useful, lol!
This video needs to go viral. You are the voice of reason we all need. From the very beginning, our peace of mind is worth more than the stuff we keep around. That's gold.
“If it’s not a clear yes, then it’s a no. Otherwise, there’s more stuff than hours in the day.” So true... packing and getting ready for a move. I don’t want to pack things that we have to pay to haul, just to get rid of it when we get to our destination.
After living in our house 25 years, I didn’t want to pack things to haul either. I kept and packed what I absolutely had to keep and everything else we sold in a garage sale. Everything in the sale was $1.00 - we made enough to pay for the dumpster! I was thrilled!
So smart... I often see people decluttering once they get to a new home and its such a waste of moving effort and money and we don't always realize this
Have moved a few times since selling my 14 year home. Each time I've gotten rid of more. This time, after spending so much pandemic time home it was clear what items I used and was determined not to move any I didn't. Its hard though to go that deep and ran out of time and ended up moving some extra. Its still waiting for me in the new garage. Feeling like a burden and can't hardly imagine what's in those boxes.
I have watched this 3 times to stay motivated. I just filled the back of my minivan FULL for the 3rd time this month. My sanity is more important than stuff. THANK YOU DAWN for sharing with us. I have been going back and rewatching a ton of your videos to keep me going.
I deep cleaned my bedroom and it felt so nice. So, I ordered a 20 yard dumpster and cleared my house out of things that I have held onto for so many years.
funny story. My daughter and I love your videos. She is 9. She donated all her clothes. I didn't know it at the time. We took all our donation stuff to the donation center. The next day I asked her to get dressed. She said all her clothes were dirty. Upon further inspection-of her room I found sure enough she has no clothes in her dresser or closet. She has her school uniform and 2 pair of pants and 2 shirts. You motivated her to do that. LOL
Oh, bless her heart! ❤️ Kids do take advice to heart, at least she wanted to donate rather than just shop! Well now is the time to discover whether a capsule wardrobe would work for her😁
Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me" (Matthew 18:1-5, New International Version) this came to mind. With innocence and drive we must be like your daughter in more areas of our life, especially towards the Most High.
As I move towards retirement in 3 yrs, I am working towards downsizing now. My children are grown and gone, divorced the husband ✔......so I am downsizing from almost 3000 sq to a 1000 sq ft home....maybe smaller (haven't narrowed down which plan yet). I am going to have to use "if it's not a yes...it's a NO". Just found your channel today. Great advice!!
Been there done that. After leaving a 3 bedroom house with basement and garage I had a small storage locker for about 6 months after for I don't knows but glad I did that as it saved me $ and gave me time to think and redecorate. I now need to declutter again due to the fact needs change over time. It gets easier.
Your house is SO beautiful. I am really picky about decor, because it’s usually too “busy” for my eyes, and the colors are too crazy, but your house is a CLEAR YES. I would love to live in your space. So well done!
So true! Since watching minimal mom it is sometimes so hard for me to watch other people's videos. I get distracted by the fact that they have so much STUFF. Dawn's house is just calming and motivating.
3:31. If it's not a clear yes, it's a no. Let the container be the bad guy. Use stuff, love people. You're not messy, you have too much inventory. Reduce the inventory and everything is easier to keep tidy, and easier to find things and to put things back where they go.
Yes that is such a good point! I needed a new summer light jacket this year so I was determined to leave the store with one. I tried this one jacket on 3 times and kept "willing" myself to love it. It was a nice fit, but it was bright yellow (a little bright for me) and a button up so no zipper. It was nice, but I just didn't love it. I ultimately just walked away. It was hard though because the fit was so nice. I ended up trying on one jacket right before giving up and immediately it was a very clear yes! So it alm worked out.
I'm currently spending my a weekend with a friend decluttering her home. She's finally in the right mindset to release things from her life. It's beautiful to see her emotionally feel decluttered as well.
@@Sweetmama4J Me too! It was unexpected and out of nowhere, but my life is changing in so many ways in the next month and all of a sudden I feel able to let go of things I've found myself unable to for years. It feels so freeing and I cant wait to feel the benefits
It took feeling broken to shift my mind. I decided that that moment was my rock bottom with clutter and shame. Seven weeks later, it started coming together in a beautiful way. Now, I am maintaining and taking baby steps to make progress in my storage areas because what we access in our daily lives is working well for us. 🎉
Love this. This occurred to me yesterday when deciding if to buy something. I found myself saying I feel like I'm trying to convince myself to buy it...means I shouldn't...that's a NO. Then left the store immediately. Felt great and saved money.
I am focusing on releasing abandoned projects. I have a bad habit of starting something, loosing interest and then quitting part way through. Then every time I see it, I feel guilty. I'm giving myself permission to let them go. What gets in the way is me telling myself, you know, it wouldn't take very long to go ahead and finish it. but do I??? SMH
Same here! I'm letting some items go, and it's so hard for me bcz I want to be that person that does that particular craft, it's just not the right time for me to learn t. And these were gifts bcz I had mentioned that I really wanted to learn, so they bought them for me...! I still haven't touched them. It's my "fantasy self"
@kimbucha Me too! Very bad at starting projects then wandering away after a few mins at it (cleaning, decluttering, laundry, reading a book) I have a short attention span. Anything except watching tv, puzzles and colouring I could sit for hours doing.
I really like "if it's not a clear yes, it's a no!" We're planning to move in 2 months to a smaller house and this has helped kick-start our decluttering and packing!
Yes, wisdom is to get rid of as much as possible before packing! Every time I have moved, I ended up owning less and less stuff and that was even before having a concept like minimalism.
I'm moving again now. Every time I move I try to get rid of more. This time I wasnt prepared due to work, illness and then down right laziness. In the last 2 days I've bagged 3 lg trash bags of clothes and 2 lg totes. And i'm no where near done. My new house has more room for me to sort and decide for more if it doesn't work with the decor.
I grew up as a hoarder. But after being married and living in this house for almost a decade, we've made countless trips to the Goodwill! People tell me why don't you just have a yard sale? Because I just can't, and don't want to... I need the stuff gone more than I need the extra money. And now I'm extra glad because I didn't know that I would be moving into a small apartment later this year with my daughter, and everything I actually want to keep will be able to fit perfectly!
I want to thank you so much for your inspiration, you have inspired me so much that I have rage purged my whole main floor except my kitchen and that will be done this weekend. We have been married for 30 years we accumulated so much stuff that I was just shut down at the thought of getting started. But I got so tired of the clutter and mess and all the stress that came with it that I went to you tube and found your channel and I heard you say if it’s not a clear yes let it go and I said yes I can do it. And I did I seen someone say March was declutter month and I said yes I want to do this no I need to do this. And I did it and now I have my blinders on and the black trash bags are filling up and the Vietnam vets donations are piling up too. I have to say a great big huge thank you for your encouragement and tips. It feels so good to go in a room and have empty space, drawers, and can see the floors in my closets. Thank you again and I can’t wait to get to the rest of the house one weekend at a time. Laurie from ohio
Hi - Great video and instruction. I'm almost 70 and have lived in my house for 30 years - enough said. We have no kids. I don't want to leave my house a disaster for whom ever get's it when we pass. And in the mean time (which I hope we have lots of) I don't want to mess with mess, so that is my motivation. Thanks for sharing and continued success. Love PegEgg
Forcing things to work in my house....I've finally realized it was time to part with those things. Thank you for reinforcing that issue. You are an inspiration !
Missed seeing that adorable hubby of yours! You guys make a senior widow smile and miss my younger days with my adorable hubby who has transfered to heaven 6 years ago where all is peace and joy and no clutter I'm sure!!
The million dollar question!!! “Can I get by without it?” That shift in thinking changes so much. And after you’re on a roll with getting your house closer to where you want it, you really WANT to get by without it and it’s easier to put things in that category! So good!!! Thanks Dawn.
The little signs you made are great reminders, since ‘my peace of mind’ is more important than ‘stuff’ can also be read as ‘my peace of mind’ is DIVIDED by ‘stuff’. There’s my nerdy math spin on the message, lol. Thanks for continuing these videos, Dawn. We love you, too.
“I don’t want to force things to work in my house.” This is SO GOOD! I agree it somehow feels wrong/ weird to get rid of bibles. I’ve done it. I pack it separately and try to be respectful. I don’t want to see it thrown in with a bunch of other stuff. Know what I mean? Thanks for making my life better.
I try to remind myself that at the end of the day it’s not God. It’s a book. I still couldn’t imagine throwing one away or using the pages for a craft. It’s a book but it’s a book best passed on to others if I no longer use it rather than doing something that could prevent someone else from learning The Word.
I threw out my bible I had in middle school. It was probably the easiest and fastest book decluttering decision I ever made. All the other books were a struggle! lol
Same with 'old hymnals'. We're musical, and 'church music' runs in the family. A difficult departure . . . especially if it's an old, old hymnal with shape notes, etc. I put them all in a cardboard box to save. Yes. Thru some away; but have a few for generations later. 😉
Yes to all of this! Many years ago (30! eep) my pals and I started a practice we called Bumsteading (it had something to do with our partners being like Dagwood in the comics). Here's how it worked. One of us would call "I need a Bumstead!". That person would say what area it was like the pantry, or circumstance- about to move. We'd gather in her house for the day and work. She'd be responsible for feeding us lunch (and working along with) and at the end of the day usually feeding us again and renting a video. Yes - the good old days. Having chosen the task or area she wasn't allowed to say things like "Not under the sink it's too messy!" Our group has morphed and changed but we still occasionally shout out "I need a Bumstead!". Accountability served with love.
Also helpful: 1) Taking photos of sentimental items & gifts I don't actually use so I can keep the reminder of good feelings without the actual object. It really is the thought that counts! : - ) 2) Thinking about how a donated item will benefit someone who'll actually use it. 3) Snapping a "before" pic and searching it rather than the room for easy "No" items. Somehow that little bit of distance helps! 🤓
Dawn you are doing a great job for our world. I am in the process of becoming a minimalist and already I am seeing and feeling the freedom and joy that it brings. I have reached the stage where I feel sorry for people who have not yet discovered the joy of minimal living and are still labouring under a load that is too heavy for them. Your friendly personality adds so much to the enjoyment of the videos.
Yep my dear parents are so burden of stuff they aren’t getting rid of because dad has accumulated so much of other peoples stuff they threw out / unopened items, stuff thrown in dumpster from ikea not even out of package, books, money, and jewelry, unopened alcohol, toys, games, electronics, vacuum cleaners, furniture, chairs, that my dad hauls home because people can’t be “bothered” to donate items so that my dad won’t have the urge to take them. He fixes whatever is broken and makes them workable again (like: mini belt on a cassette machine, wire fried in a rice cooker, tape stuck in a boom box, anything) he has found tools, gifts, food, condiments, all because people move and don’t schedule a donation pickup in advance or they were robbed and person tossed items in nearest dumpster or they just don’t care if new items and junk go to landfill. My dad really enjoys finding money in books and other places because the lazy ppl didn’t look before tossing!!!! I can’t even help them get rid of things because they refuse my help or dad passes some things on to me which I think is either gross or gotta go and I toss it. (It is easy for me to toss other people’s stuff except my own)
I finally had that moment of needing something that I had stored away, then realizing I had donated it. I was sad for about 3 seconds & then I realized it was the ONLY time it’s ever happened and if I got rid of ALL my “maybe someday” things, I would happily rebuy if I needed it again and it would be worth it to have the space and PEACE. Your videos are SO helpful! ❤️
My teacher friends and I have a swap appx 3 times per year. We get together and one of our homes, bring wine and appetizers, all the stuff we dont want(clothing, decor, housewares, etc). After refreshments, we sit in a circle, and one at a time we hold up our things. People take what they want. If two ir more people want the same thing, we draw a ketter out of a bag. The person whose letter is closest to the letter A gets first dibs. Whatever is leftover, we donate to Goodwill or a women's shelter. Its a ton of fun!!!
I love the " If it is not a clear yes it is a no" idea! I really get slowed down when I come across several things that I can not make up my mind about. I am really shooting for having more empty space and more peace of mind! Thanks so much😁
I just watched this for a third time and I noticed at the end you said "Be though on your stuff", that's very different from "Be tough on yourself". I love that. I don't have have a lot of clutter but my inventory is NOT YET where I want it to be for the cognitive struggles that I have. My family has different needs and wants than me though. That is a frustration for me but I try to continue on with patience, decluttering anything that I feel is in my control. I also have 'some' control on what does and doesn't come into our house. I love your sensible videos! Thank you!!!
Hi I just remind myself that it DID fulfill a need at the time (ie I needed to buy this because of some inner need). Admittimg that is a big part of it. Then I just find that I want to bless someone else with the use of the item (and a blessing will come to me in some form). Best regards. G Ire
All of your videos have been so helpful over the past 3 months in more ways than I could begin to lists. In this video tips, # 1&2 really resonated with me. I have primary lymphedema, fibromyalgia, and carpal tunnel in my right hand/wrist. I used to crochet, loom knit, junk journal, journal, use planners like the happy planner, bookbinding, paint, sketch, multi-media art and sew. I still do a small amount of sewing, bookbinding, and multi-media. I had so much stuff that was suffocating me that was no longer useful to me. Once I mourned the loss of that part of my life the stuff was just stuff and I let it go. In fact, I couldn't get it out of the house fast enough. It was easy to get rid of 95% of my junk journal supplies. I ran into a problem with the stickers/thickers/and stencils. I still use some of those in other areas of my life. By using tip #2 in about 15 minutes I very quickly decluttered about 98% of those items and boxed them up for donation. I'm in the same boat with the fabric. I still sew some, but I can not do near as much as I used to. I have spent a great deal of time staring at fabric trying to decide what to keep and what not to keep. I'm now ready to dig into the fabric. I really think I can get it done this time.
One of my tricks to help my decision making, to keep or not, is to sweep everything in a large storage tub, put a lid on it, take it to the closet or garage, and then see if I go need anything out of it in a week, a month, a day, a year.
I needed this video. Thank you. Two trash bags and one full recycling bin of, “It’s not a clear yes,” left my house today. I feel so much better and inspired to keep going.
Love your comment , “ Can I live without it”. I am a “what if “ person, so I can always tell myself I could use an item in the future. So for me, Can I live without it ? is a game changer!
This was probably the most helpful so far. "If it's not a clear Yes, it's a NO" applies to purchases also, and really, a lot of other things if life. It is now on a post it on my mirror! Thank YOU
I’ve been de cluttering throughout the years ,& I now have to move by next year . I’ve also been training my mind to let go by watching hoarders . Great tips btw . I seem to go through cycles of getting rid of stuff . I’ll get rid of a pile . Save some ,& come back to the saved pile to throw out more later .
I like the concept of a “clear yes” or a “clear no”. It makes more sense to me than “does it make you happy or bring you joy.” I have to keep some things that don’t bring me joy, but I need like a toilet brush or mop etc.
“ I don’t want to force things to work in my house” totally agree, I get rid of so much stuff was insane!!!! I feel relief, you help me in the process ❤️❤️❤️
See, for me, my books are my haven even the ones I don’t like. I loan them to others then get them back. It’s a hoarding thing I’m sure or maybe just the fact that I love the asthmatic of books on a shelf. No matter how much I de clutter I will probably never get rid of them unless they’re damaged beyond repair. I love that you can do it so well done!!
On the envelope subject- I cannot bring myself to get rid of things like that. I won’t have to spend money on them next year if I just keep it. I feel like it’s saving me money.
Somethings work better than others though. 5-10 year old envelopes might not stick shut after you lick them. 5-10 year old toilet paper will still work as intended, only if stored properly. Try visualizing how things will look if kept for some time. Elastic in pants, swimsuits, etc., will become powdery and have no stretch if kept too long. Plastic containers will become brittle and crack easily exposing the contents to whatever is in environment. Outdoor storage units usually aren't dust proof or climate controlled. Just a few bits I picked up holding onto old things for too long.
@@AWanderingEye I can definitely relate to elastic bands in clothes or pantyhose disintegrating, LOL. Wore a dress to church with matching opaque hose after years of being stored, nothing wrong with them and they matched the dress (odd color), but had to pin the waist and the crotch hung down to my knees, now that was totally uncool........
It is!!! As you can see from my comment above, the envelopes struck a strong “that’s wrong “ chord with me. Decluttering is one thing, but throwing away things that you’re just going to buy again later is an entirely other thing. Obviously she is not poor, so she doesn’t have that mindset, but I still feel it is wrong to be wasteful, just because you can “afford “ to be!!! An individual might be able to afford it, but can our PLANET???
This video just feels like gold. Dawn, thank you! How true that the not-sure-yes items just get shuffled around the house until we finally give them away or something happens to them that makes us feel better about throwing it out or giving it away. Something that gives us "permission". But having someone that has given them away at the beginning and you see they "survived"... that nothing bad happened to them. It's so helpful and how much better to give things away when they are newer and in better shape so someone else can enjoy them more. And how true... isn't it more valuable to enjoy a functioning decluttered space than the money you would make on used items? Isn't that more valuable. Aren't they the source of why we spend money anyway?? Trying to buy something to make the house feel better. So if it's decluttered, I don't have the urge to buy things to make the house feel better (or myself feel better). So I save way more than I would have made by selling my used items and also I learning to be super picky about what comes into the house. I'm just so grateful that God has gifted this sweet soul and given her a way to share her story and wisdom/experience. This video just feels so dense with impactful content.
With the internal debate with myself of keep/donate/sell I remind myself that if I am generous, then the universe can be generous to me. Also, sometimes I wish I could be a wealthy philanthropist donating generously to causes I love, but maybe what the world needs of me more are simple acts of generosity, just giving of my abundance (aka stuff that I’m not using). I also remind myself that maybe the stuff came to me not because it was meant to stay in my home forever but maybe so that it could bless us for a while and then through me it could bless someone else-maybe it was never meant to be just mine. Seeing myself as a steward rather than an owner and allowing things to belong to the universe, God, or whatever form of higher power one chooses helps so much in being able to easily let things go. There’s a plan for that stuff and maybe you and I are just the vehicle to get it to where it is needed the most
Kamilla this made me think further and I thank you. I've always said if I ever hit it big with the lottery, there are so many people I know that I want to share it with. Well in a way, by having accumulated an abundance of "stuff" and being really good at couponing, I really do have a lot that I can share. I donate things often, but because I have no room left and I can't stand to see things go to waste. I think this is a major shift for me: I will be donating because I can - because I have plenty and more than I need and I can be generous and share. I think it will be much easier to fill a donation box with simple acts of generosity and I know that the organization I take my donations to will be very happy to get these items into the hands of people that can use them immediately.
@@vikkirountoit497 I’m so glad my thoughts meant so much to you. 😊 Ive always struggled with parting with useful things and when I heard these reminders they each impacted me deeply as well. They have become my go to thoughts to help me move past the indecision. So often when I remind myself of these things the decision to keep or donate becomes instantly clear. ❤️
Yes! Over the last few months I have almost finished my minimalism journey and I have found so much inspiration and motivation from youtubers like Dawn! Love these videos
Tell the kids they are playing in the same sand they were playing in on the beach😀👍🏻 I dumped several jars of sand and sea shells, not all of the beautiful shells, out onto the gravel pathway in my flower garden and it is nice remembering the wonderful times I have spent on the Beach❤️🥰
I can just picture your mom and sister shopping together for you. "Our goal for today is to find something for Dawn that won't be featured in an upcoming video!" I really do admire your decision-making process, though. After every video, I usually pick a drawer or cabinet or even a section of the fridge to declutter!
"We have more stuff than hours in the day" Ooh, that's good. What a mindset shift. I do find it easier to declutter the more often I do it, I'm beginning to breath again and finding the activities I always promised my kids we'd get to. 😃
It's been almost 2 years since I started doing the hard work of decluttering the stuff out of our house. It's so much easier to manage now and I am definitely not done, by far, I know I'm not done. The seasons have changed a lot because of Covid and I've had to prioritize other things but I'm still doing it every chance I get because my goal hasn't changed. If anything it's even stronger now because of everything that has happened in the last year. I just want to say thank you for your continued encouragement, we need it!
Yay! We have family coming tomorrow to stay (and we are excited) and we have a lot of work to do today and tomorrow. This is perfect timing. Thank you!
I just donated my message Bible too, yes it felt weird but there is an amazing ministry in Butler Illinois called "Love Packages" that sends Bibles, Sunday curriculum, reference books...etc. to missionaries and pastors in foreign countries. They are an awesome group. There is also another one Alabama. I feel so good about donating my Christian literature to them that I went through my whole house grabbing stuff. It made it so much easier.
I was once very poor and nearly everything I had was given to me or bought at thrift stores. I considered them “blessings”. Now, I ask myself if this thing that I appreciate but don’t need could bless someone who is now as I was. It makes it easier to donate useable items that I have enjoyed having, but no longer need. Being able to bless others is a blessing in and of itself!
You talked about your cookbook and I thought, wow I’ve got a lot of cookbooks that I do not use! So my first plan of attack on my excess will be my cookbooks!! 😃 I won’t get overwhelmed with that one project.
These videos are so encouraging and motivating and I also am moved by all the wonderful people who comment and share their tips and encouragement. Thank you all! 😀
Great tips as always Dawn! Thank you. The absolute biggest thing stopping me from decluttering is not knowing how to get rid of stuff in a responsible way. I generally don't have trouble deciding what should go or letting go of things but the one barrier to getting it out of the house is not knowing the best place to take it. I don't want to send stuff to landfill! I'm in Australia and we have less options here - not everything can go to charity shops but the stuff that can't is still not bad enough to throw out. It's so hard!
I have the same prb here in Italy. I do the following: 1) photograph donatable stuff and offer it to friends through WA groups I'm a member of 2) leave it well in sight in my entryway, so visitors are encouraged to help themselves 3) after a week or so I take everything to a charity shop
The best thing I’ve heard you say is that marketing is way to prevalent and buying mistakes are made all the time. Just let that guilt go because keeping something just because you paid for it doesn’t bring that money back. Forgive yourself and get rid of that stuff! Thank you Dawn!
YES! I NEED this video, I clear the dinning room table, and then turn around, and the next minute my kids/dad hav re-covered the space! It fills up as quick as I empty it!! xx
I can relate If my kids were young I would take Dawns advice no ifs ands or buts take away something they love like the TV or their phone or something if they don't " kid up"and do what you ask to make your house a happier place best thing if they know how to take care of a house and themselves when they're out on their own if you teach them as Dawn has Mine cannot !!!!! Husband my follow suit
Dining room table... that's my hardest one I've been known to clean the oven to avoid table lol my truth...it's getting better but still a progress. I will say I now have one junk drawer in kitchen instead of three after moving 🙃 I lived in last place 12 yrs and did major decluttering when I moved Trying to have a place for everything and everything in its place
In one quick viewing, you have given me the incentive to tackle my stumbling blocks. “If it’s not a clear YES, it’s a NO!”. “Can I get by without it”? The last video I watched was about over stuffed drawers. I can’t wait to get started….. and take before and after pictures.
I can't thank you enough. I was having such a hard time giving away the Bible I didn’t use. Your method of decluttering has been so down to earth, useful, and guilt free. I mostly donate. I sell if it's $100 or more because it can be such a hassle to sell. I need to get things out of the apartment ASAP or I will go through the box and take stuff out.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I stumbled upon your videos yesterday after church and I am so grateful. You offer such practical easy advice and I love your channel. Every wife and mom Needs this channel. So good! Thanks again.
I am to the point of “rage decluttering” I have followed your channel for awhile and in many areas simplified. And it’s been great. I recently went back to work full time along with having 2 young kids and a small business I started while not working. I definitely feel like I’m trying to run 6 burners on my 4 burner stove. As you said the “stuff” is the easiest thing to go. I’m determined to get rid of all the unimportant things. I’m definitely going to be using the accountability tip too push through the rest of my stuff
I decluttered my dining room closet again. It looks great. When my friend came over I showed it to her. She loved it. She is very supportive. Her and her husband have started decluttering. They say I inspired them. That’s because you inspired me. Thank you again for all your videos. I watch them over and over. You are so helpful.
@@kirituhi. i love the “Little Free Libraries.” If I get a book for free, it’s so much easier to just read and pass on than if you paid money for it! Plus you can donate your own books too. For me, they were a game-changer.
@@kirituhi. l so agree and if you want a specific book , it only cost 30p for them to order it. tbh though many libraries in the U.K are closing due to cuts
"Can I get by without it?" I am 66yrs old and have a lifetime of struggling with clutter. This one question has really resonated with me! My decluttering mantra. Thank you!
I have some major decluterring to do due to recently downsizing our house substantially. I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed, so I needed these tips today!
Every birthday, mother's day and Christmas I get tons of stuff from my son, his wife and daughter. I have told them I'd rather have experiences like dinner or group activities to celebrate. They ignore this and still give us tons of things. I'm going to gather up all this brand new never opened stuff and donate it. I hate giving away gifts but ultimately it just clutter we will never use
This was the encouragement I needed to keep going! I’ve been feeling suffocated by all the stuff and frustrated with not being able to take a few consecutive hours to tackle one thing (I have four kids under 6 so I don’t even know what day it is LOL.) I realized I need to set up a system that will help me declutter as I’m going about my day since I don’t have hours of time to set aside for it. I ended up buying a bunch of moving boxes so I can throw things in there as I’m handling the items in my house. Once a box is full I’ll take them to a thrift store. Anyway thank you for these tips and the encouragement!
I recently found You from your “best outdoor toys” video from 2 years ago & I loved your advice so much I binge watched so many videos after and truly I needed to find your channel. I’ve been struggling with organizing my house for years. Not really organizing itself but because my family of 5 had so much stuff I couldn’t ever truly be satisfied with the outcome until you showed me minimal life. I’ve been decluttering so much and it feels great and so much weight is off my shoulders I can finally breathe again. Thank you so much for making these amazing videos! 💝
When I became a minimalist last July I decided to keep some clothes that I was going to wear in the winter. Then yesterday I took those clothes and I am donating them. I did not wear them this winter. I am happy I quarantined them but now I know for sure I am not wearing them. Thank you.
One of my things I do is if an object irritates me, I throw it away. Like a cup that can't go in the dishwasher or a shirt that doesn't fit right or things that get left out etc. Has helped me a lot with mental health and feeling less stress at home
As a single foster mom, I kept stuff on hand after many short term placements. I couldn't run out in the middle of the night so kept stuff on hand for emergency placements. I'd get a baby for a few days/week and they'd go to family. Since they came with nothing, I didn't want to send them with nothing but couldn't afford to keep buying full price (we get very little clothing allotment and it's one time only first time in care...not always the case with placements). So, I started shopping clearance sales. I now have wayyyyyy too much and am trying to sell in lots and will donate after 2 weeks. I can't even find stuff even if it's labeled in bins. Going for the 2-3 outfits per size and pjs...and be done with the rest.
Agreed Lisa! In our county we're not allowed to throw anything away or give anything away that was given to the foster kid by their bio parents. It makes sense, but sometimes bio parents buy so much stuff to try and make up for the situation. Not sure if you've experienced that too?? Ooof Amy, we have a Facebook group of foster parents that pass stuff back and forth, which is so helpful. then one person doesn't have to store all the things that they might need. maybe you have something like that in your area that you could find? There are also non-profits in the area that will drop off boxes of seasonally appropriate clothes right to your door for your foster placement.
@@LMAS3 I think that is a good law. All i have from my bio mother is a bible, a book of nursery rhymes, a book of birds and two baby photos of me. I know for a fact that my (foster/adopted) mom threw out the Book of Common Prayer that my mom had given me, and suddenly, reading this, (60 years later!) I wonder if she got rid of other stuff as well!!! It never occurred to me before, but I certainly wouldn’t put it past her, as she obviously did to at least one item. YOU may be trying to declutter and simplify, but you can never imagine what a treasure it is to the child. I never saw my mother again after age (almost) three, but I still think of her often. Not a single week goes by that I don’t.
@Le Tinh Song, I think it's a good law too, and I'm sincerely sorry if I sounded callous or dismissive of bio parents at all in my comment. As a foster parent, I see myself as a support system for bio parents so they can hopefully get the space and help they need to be able to safely care for their babies again. I'm so sorry your foster mom did not cherish your bio mom, her role in your life, and the things she left you to remember her by. We've had bio parents inundate and overwhelm their kids with clothes and toys at each visit to the point where the county had to step in and stop it because of the effect on the child. Clearly a different situation than yours, but even so I imagine my comment was triggering and for that I'm sorry. Wishing you the best and thinking of you and your bio mom today ❤️
An idea that helps me, is that for every item I am not using or appreciating right now, there is someone else out there who will. By donating an item, I am giving it the chance to be meaningful and appreciated in someone else's life. This helps me not feel I am rejecting or devaluing an item.
I used to pray before entering a thrift store asking God to help me find treasure. Now when I donate valuable items I pray they will be found by someone looking for treasure. 👍🤗
Beautiful
I used to do that before going to garage sales and it really did help! I was able to find just what I needed. Thanks for the comment!
Awww! That’s sweet!
That's awesome! God bless you!
@@septembersschoolofmusic23 I don't think it is god, I think it is you just putting yourself in the mindset that you will only buy something if you need it. It is helpful when you go into a store, too, to say, I will find what I need and not buy a lot of extra stuff just because it is cute.
My dad owned a consignment store for 30 years. When he got Bibles in he would put them on a shelf and give them away to anyone that wanted them. He had a lot of opportunities to share the gospel in his store
That is so cool!
Praise God
Awesome ,🥰
That is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
Love this!!
Yesterday I spent the day with a friend that is a bit of a hoarder. We had so much fun making those quick decisions as you pointed out and we were able to fill a box for donation. The beautiful part was that when her husband came home I saw sincere appreciation in his eyes as to how clean, fresh and organized her desk had become. She was so proud of her accomplishment and said that this has inspired her to keep going!!! Thank you for teaching me skills that I can share with others!!!
that was really lovely of you
Friendly suggestion: It sounds like your friend just needed someone to help her so she could make progress without suffering from decision fatigue, which is quite different from true hoarding. I would be very careful about calling friends and family hoarders 😀
That's great! I helped a friend once and a couple weeks later she called accusing me of having gotten rid of her husbands good pants. I hadn't touched anything she didn't decide on. They found his pants but never again. Its nice you were appreciated.
@@maryshaffer8059 :)))))))))))))
@@maryshaffer8059 🕵️♂️😁
I have to say to myself "I don't owe stuff anything" --meaning I don't need to feel obligated to the actual item. And "Stuff doesn't care if it gets thrown away." I watched too many Disney movies as a kid and think inanimate objects somehow have feelings, lol.
Stuff doesn’t care. I love that!!
This is me too. Stuffed animals are the worst.
@@atroy1983 yes I am a grown woman with 3 stuffed animals I cannot throw away because I feel sorry for them, lol
@@marywhite9031 you are not alone!!
Oh my gosh, right? After watching Toy Story I felt guilty putting the Christmas decor back in storage. 😰😂
I suffer from anxiety and depression due to my thyroid condition very hard to stay motivated. You help me get through many times.
Maria, I know nothing about you but my heart goes out to you..so let me just say that there are many TH-cam channels explaining the benefits of a low carb or keto or carnivore diet in helping healing of thyroid conditions.
@Maria Castillo I was diagnosed with Hipotiroidism and fibromyalgia 12years ago, I was depressed unmotivsted since December 12 2020 I started keto I'm feeling so much better!!! Cuidate!
Same girl! You are not alone.
Same. I felt unmotivated and unworthy of life for the last 5 years luckily I am seeing the end of the tunnel. I think the clutter and stuff in my home was keeping me depressed
@@constancemartin933 I too suffer and would appreciate more information about where to look for my issues. Do you know of any specific sites where I can begin looking?
Dawn, you have changed my life. I'm recently widowed after 60+ years, and you can imagine the "stuff" we've accumulated. You have helped me so much to simplify a complicated house. EVERYTHIING is easier without so much stuff. Thanks again!!! Love you, Freddie
I keep a donation cardboard box in my closet. When I try on an item of clothing that I don’t like, I drop it in the donation box. As I go about my daily life and I see other items I want to declutter, I put it in that donation box immediately. When the box is full, it goes directly in the car so when I run my next errand, I can drop it off at the thrift store on the way there or back. This has been so helpful for us.
Great tip., I tend to hang on to my donation boxes lol.. I have about 5 stored in our 5th wheel trailer.. sometimes i put out 'free boxes' on the sidewalk, but I waste so much time tidying it, adding to it, picking out a thing or two to keep.. it's actually ridiculous!! . I need to just drop it off somewhere! But many places won't even take stuff.. sighhh
We have put our free items on the curb day before trash pick up & most of the time, a neighbor or the local truck driver with a trailer drives by & retrieves it. A win win situation. Less clutter. I enjoy hearing everyone's ideas too.
That’s a wonderful idea!
O ok o oo
Thank ooo
Getting STUFF out of my house is the best feeling ever!! Don’t wait to feel motivated...just declutter something every day. It can be a shoebox, a drawer, one countertop, or a whole room. Doing leads to more doing. 😁
It actually felt good to go through old face cleaning and moisturizing products I realized I had not used in over three yrs and away it went ➡️
Had to laugh at your “Don’t wait to feel motivated!” Right?!? Because that feeling comes around like maybe once or twice A YEAR!!!
Ssoooo true. I did four small drawers yesterday and I'm like....mmm....relief.
That never seems to get me anywhere though. I'll clean an area/drawer and be happy and before I even get to the next pile the previous area is cluttered again and usually not by my doing. (I will include here that I have medical issues which have precluded me from doing much of the harder work on my own.) I feel frustrated and hopeless and it makes it harder to start again. My husband is equally as disorganized and a clutter maker and is equally part of the cause, if not more so. My parents both have/had pretty bad hoarding tendencies as well. In fact I have a giant shelf in my garage filled with my mother's belongings from when she died 18 years ago and as it's huge and high I can't even do it myself. My children do not live very close by and my illness and the stresses of the last few years have left me nearly completely isolated and stuck in a home I hate because I can't physically keep up with the demand. I've told my daughters the only present I need is help in getting the house in order but their lives are extremely busy right now and I cannot rely on their help. Any words of wisdom would help. Thanks ✌🏻
@@arellatikvah Any close friends or neighbors or church people that you know? At my old warehouse job we all gathered I groups and did clean ups for people we worked with that needed help, and my church has always been willing to help people out. As long as you're willing to part with things.
Also, getting rid of any flat surfaces that you don't absolutely need definitely helps. They tend to be "collecting" spaces.
Even after all these videos, you still have game-changer tips.
Right? My thoughts exactly!
Thanks Leslie, I really appreciate that!
So true!
So true. I wouldn't miss a video for anything., although sometimes I wait to savior it.
For things that I know I need to get rid of but are sentimental, I take a picture. I have a folder in my phone of all the sentimental objects that I've gotten rid of over the years - favorite teenage clothes, a well-used coffee pot, etc. It really helps
Agreed! I have military logo mugs from visiting my son in the AF that were buried in the cupboard with no place to display so I put pics in a digital scrapbook with photos of that trip. Same with gifts the kids gave me when little; they are in the scrapbook with those family gatherings (mothers day, BD, Christmas) Scrapbook is displayed on coffee table in an "uncluttered" LR so you can actually see it!!!
@@lindacoe8388 great idea!
What a great tip!
Photos are a great idea, I've recently begun to do the same.
When I cleaned out my dresser and closet, I made four stacks as I sorted through the clothes. Keep, Maybe, I think Not, and Donate. When I was done, I rid the donate and I think not piles. When it came to Maybe, I took a picture of the stack. I then donated them, as well. Now, when I ask myself ---"I know I had that top, but where is it?---I look at that picture and it immediately comes to me why I rid it. I "feel" the shoulders slipping, or I "see" that it was baggy, or the top that was crossed over my chest and not around my waist. It brings it all back and I move on, happy with my decisions. :) Have a great day!!
For Lent this year, I am going through my house (once again!), and I am giving things that I kept because they were really nice and/or worth something and could be sold, to charity. This has been a really good thing for me, for the good of my home and me spiritually. I don’t need to keep these things. God will provide, and I keep picturing the person, who runs across my “star items” at the thrift store, lighting up and being excited to find a treasure.
That’s exactly what I do. Instead of wasting time beating myself up for unnecessary purchases, I picture the person who will find it being so thrilled.
Fabulous idea!
Thank you for this. I don't need a thing, but I always get excited when I find a treasure I can use or display.
Texas Mimi this makes me happy, and I know that feeling! Some of my favorite home decor pieces were thrifted. 😁
Just another form of Almsgiving, bless your heart!
“If it’s not a clear yes, it’s a no” is going to be as helpful to me as “let the container be the bad guy”. These phrases are sometimes just what you need to approach decluttering anew. Thanks Dawn!
So true!
That aligns with Marie Kondo's philosophy, "spark joy" 👏
Oh, so TRUE! I intentionally decreased the size of some of my containers.
Yes! The container concept- from Dana White is amazing! It really helps to shift the mind, into picking and choosing.
@@revdeci4086 Or in lieu of “Does it spark joy?” I also sometimes ask myself “ls it useful?” or some form of it for things pertaining to cleaning or chores. My vacuum and my mop certainly don’t spark joy, but they definitely are useful, lol!
This video needs to go viral. You are the voice of reason we all need. From the very beginning, our peace of mind is worth more than the stuff we keep around. That's gold.
You’re very kind- thank you!!
This is a constant reminder in our house. “I am more important than stuff. My time is more expensive than the money it costs.”
So do u buy the item or leave it
@@Sketchbook999 it’s mostly said when considering tossing stuff away 😂 I usually ended up giving it away.
“If it’s not a clear yes, then it’s a no. Otherwise, there’s more stuff than hours in the day.”
So true... packing and getting ready for a move. I don’t want to pack things that we have to pay to haul, just to get rid of it when we get to our destination.
After living in our house 25 years, I didn’t want to pack things to haul either. I kept and packed what I absolutely had to keep and everything else we sold in a garage sale. Everything in the sale was $1.00 - we made enough to pay for the dumpster! I was thrilled!
So smart... I often see people decluttering once they get to a new home and its such a waste of moving effort and money and we don't always realize this
Have moved a few times since selling my 14 year home. Each time I've gotten rid of more. This time, after spending so much pandemic time home it was clear what items I used and was determined not to move any I didn't. Its hard though to go that deep and ran out of time and ended up moving some extra. Its still waiting for me in the new garage. Feeling like a burden and can't hardly imagine what's in those boxes.
Sometimes you don’t know the things you can or may really want to use in a different home
we decluttered hard before our recent move and after a month of not seeing our stuff we had more that we wanted to part with at the other end.
I have watched this 3 times to stay motivated. I just filled the back of my minivan FULL for the 3rd time this month. My sanity is more important than stuff. THANK YOU DAWN for sharing with us. I have been going back and rewatching a ton of your videos to keep me going.
I deep cleaned my bedroom and it felt so nice. So, I ordered a 20 yard dumpster and cleared my house out of things that I have held onto for so many years.
@TanithSwinney Woah!!! Kudos! 💜👍💜👍💜
Awesome! Now if I could just.....as well!
Woweee!!! Good job!
You completely rock!!!
Impressive!
funny story. My daughter and I love your videos. She is 9. She donated all her clothes. I didn't know it at the time. We took all our donation stuff to the donation center. The next day I asked her to get dressed. She said all her clothes were dirty. Upon further inspection-of her room I found sure enough she has no clothes in her dresser or closet. She has her school uniform and 2 pair of pants and 2 shirts. You motivated her to do that. LOL
Oh, bless her heart! ❤️ Kids do take advice to heart, at least she wanted to donate rather than just shop! Well now is the time to discover whether a capsule wardrobe would work for her😁
I think I would have been very upset. I could see my daughter doing that just so I would buy her something new.
Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me" (Matthew 18:1-5, New International Version) this came to mind. With innocence and drive we must be like your daughter in more areas of our life, especially towards the Most High.
Cute !
It's good to train children to let go of stuff.. there always more!
As I move towards retirement in 3 yrs, I am working towards downsizing now. My children are grown and gone, divorced the husband ✔......so I am downsizing from almost 3000 sq to a 1000 sq ft home....maybe smaller (haven't narrowed down which plan yet).
I am going to have to use "if it's not a yes...it's a NO".
Just found your channel today. Great advice!!
You will love Dawn and her family! Only decluttering channel I watch.
Been there done that. After leaving a 3 bedroom house with basement and garage I had a small storage locker for about 6 months after for I don't knows but glad I did that as it saved me $ and gave me time to think and redecorate. I now need to declutter again due to the fact needs change over time. It gets easier.
Best wishes to you!!
Best of luck to you. I bought or was given new everything after my divorce and then we remarried ....now I have two of everything to get rid of! lol
Good luck! Praying for you!
Your house is SO beautiful. I am really picky about decor, because it’s usually too “busy” for my eyes, and the colors are too crazy, but your house is a CLEAR YES. I would love to live in your space. So well done!
So true! Since watching minimal mom it is sometimes so hard for me to watch other people's videos. I get distracted by the fact that they have so much STUFF. Dawn's house is just calming and motivating.
‘If it’s not a clear yes, it’s a no’, so useful!
3:31. If it's not a clear yes, it's a no.
Let the container be the bad guy.
Use stuff, love people.
You're not messy, you have too much inventory.
Reduce the inventory and everything is easier to keep tidy, and easier to find things and to put things back where they go.
I use the same technique when I'm buying clothes. If it takes me more than a few seconds to decide, then it's a no.
Yes that is such a good point! I needed a new summer light jacket this year so I was determined to leave the store with one. I tried this one jacket on 3 times and kept "willing" myself to love it. It was a nice fit, but it was bright yellow (a little bright for me) and a button up so no zipper. It was nice, but I just didn't love it. I ultimately just walked away. It was hard though because the fit was so nice. I ended up trying on one jacket right before giving up and immediately it was a very clear yes! So it alm worked out.
Me too!
@@dana8208 I’ve done the same way with other items...sometimes I look in the same aisle 10x thinking something new will look at me!! Lol 😂
Intetesting
Same here! If I kind of like it, it doesn’t go home with me!
I'm currently spending my a weekend with a friend decluttering her home. She's finally in the right mindset to release things from her life. It's beautiful to see her emotionally feel decluttered as well.
This is so well said and wonderful for your friend! I’m in that boat myself right now feeling finally ready to lift this weight off! 😊
You are a good friend. And also for understanding that they needed to be in the right mindset.
@@Sweetmama4J Me too! It was unexpected and out of nowhere, but my life is changing in so many ways in the next month and all of a sudden I feel able to let go of things I've found myself unable to for years. It feels so freeing and I cant wait to feel the benefits
It took feeling broken to shift my mind. I decided that that moment was my rock bottom with clutter and shame. Seven weeks later, it started coming together in a beautiful way. Now, I am maintaining and taking baby steps to make progress in my storage areas because what we access in our daily lives is working well for us. 🎉
Good for you! I rearranged the kitchen cabinets and drawers that we use the most and it helped me get rid of things we don’t use.
Love this. This occurred to me yesterday when deciding if to buy something. I found myself saying I feel like I'm trying to convince myself to buy it...means I shouldn't...that's a NO. Then left the store immediately. Felt great and saved money.
I am focusing on releasing abandoned projects. I have a bad habit of starting something, loosing interest and then quitting part way through. Then every time I see it, I feel guilty. I'm giving myself permission to let them go. What gets in the way is me telling myself, you know, it wouldn't take very long to go ahead and finish it. but do I??? SMH
Same here! I'm letting some items go, and it's so hard for me bcz I want to be that person that does that particular craft, it's just not the right time for me to learn t. And these were gifts bcz I had mentioned that I really wanted to learn, so they bought them for me...! I still haven't touched them. It's my "fantasy self"
@kimbucha Me too! Very bad at starting projects then wandering away after a few mins at it (cleaning, decluttering, laundry, reading a book) I have a short attention span. Anything except watching tv, puzzles and colouring I could sit for hours doing.
You are not alone!!!
I am so guilty of abandoning projects but still have the elements in my house.
I love all the filters you share! So helpful! My friend says "If it costs you your peace/peace of mind, it's too expensive"
I love that!
I really like "if it's not a clear yes, it's a no!" We're planning to move in 2 months to a smaller house and this has helped kick-start our decluttering and packing!
Yes, wisdom is to get rid of as much as possible before packing! Every time I have moved, I ended up owning less and less stuff and that was even before having a concept like minimalism.
I'm moving again now. Every time I move I try to get rid of more. This time I wasnt prepared due to work, illness and then down right laziness. In the last 2 days I've bagged 3 lg trash bags of clothes and 2 lg totes. And i'm no where near done. My new house has more room for me to sort and decide for more if it doesn't work with the decor.
My husband is a pilot and he has a phrase "if there's any doubt, there's no doubt". Same meaning.
Oh my gosh, when she said "don't just buy storage containers because they look cool" she 100 percent got my attention. That's me 🤦♀️
"What's going to change in the next week or month that I'm going to use it...." This quote is going to be a HUGE help to me as I go through my stuff!
I grew up as a hoarder. But after being married and living in this house for almost a decade, we've made countless trips to the Goodwill! People tell me why don't you just have a yard sale? Because I just can't, and don't want to... I need the stuff gone more than I need the extra money. And now I'm extra glad because I didn't know that I would be moving into a small apartment later this year with my daughter, and everything I actually want to keep will be able to fit perfectly!
I want to thank you so much for your inspiration, you have inspired me so much that I have rage purged my whole main floor except my kitchen and that will be done this weekend. We have been married for 30 years we accumulated so much stuff that I was just shut down at the thought of getting started. But I got so tired of the clutter and mess and all the stress that came with it that I went to you tube and found your channel and I heard you say if it’s not a clear yes let it go and I said yes I can do it. And I did I seen someone say March was declutter month and I said yes I want to do this no I need to do this. And I did it and now I have my blinders on and the black trash bags are filling up and the Vietnam vets donations are piling up too. I have to say a great big huge thank you for your encouragement and tips. It feels so good to go in a room and have empty space, drawers, and can see the floors in my closets. Thank you again and I can’t wait to get to the rest of the house one weekend at a time. Laurie from ohio
You will love Dawn and her family. Hers is the only decluttering channel I watch.
Hi - Great video and instruction. I'm almost 70 and have lived in my house for 30 years - enough said. We have no kids. I don't want to leave my house a disaster for whom ever get's it when we pass. And in the mean time (which I hope we have lots of) I don't want to mess with mess, so that is my motivation. Thanks for sharing and continued success. Love PegEgg
Forcing things to work in my house....I've finally realized it was time to part with those things. Thank you for reinforcing that issue. You are an inspiration !
Missed seeing that adorable hubby of yours! You guys make a senior widow smile and miss my younger days with my adorable hubby who has transfered to heaven 6 years ago where all is peace and joy and no clutter I'm sure!!
The million dollar question!!! “Can I get by without it?” That shift in thinking changes so much. And after you’re on a roll with getting your house closer to where you want it, you really WANT to get by without it and it’s easier to put things in that category! So good!!! Thanks Dawn.
The little signs you made are great reminders, since ‘my peace of mind’ is more important than ‘stuff’ can also be read as ‘my peace of mind’ is DIVIDED by ‘stuff’. There’s my nerdy math spin on the message, lol. Thanks for continuing these videos, Dawn. We love you, too.
“I don’t want to force things to work in my house.” This is SO GOOD! I agree it somehow feels wrong/ weird to get rid of bibles. I’ve done it. I pack it separately and try to be respectful. I don’t want to see it thrown in with a bunch of other stuff. Know what I mean? Thanks for making my life better.
I try to remind myself that at the end of the day it’s not God. It’s a book. I still couldn’t imagine throwing one away or using the pages for a craft. It’s a book but it’s a book best passed on to others if I no longer use it rather than doing something that could prevent someone else from learning The Word.
I have a couple that I’ve accumulated over the years and I’m going to see if my church would like them?!
I threw out my bible I had in middle school. It was probably the easiest and fastest book decluttering decision I ever made. All the other books were a struggle! lol
Same with 'old hymnals'. We're musical, and 'church music' runs in the family. A difficult departure . . . especially if it's an old, old hymnal with shape notes, etc. I put them all in a cardboard box to save. Yes. Thru some away; but have a few for generations later. 😉
Love “can I manage this?” THAT made me realize I’m trying to manage too much!!! I often think I NEED to keep so much but I cannot manage it !! Thanks
I love watching you actually declutter a space whilst sharing your ideas - really helpful, thank you :-)
One of the better videos on the declutter process. Presents well and quickly. thank you!!
Yes to all of this! Many years ago (30! eep) my pals and I started a practice we called Bumsteading (it had something to do with our partners being like Dagwood in the comics). Here's how it worked. One of us would call "I need a Bumstead!". That person would say what area it was like the pantry, or circumstance- about to move. We'd gather in her house for the day and work. She'd be responsible for feeding us lunch (and working along with) and at the end of the day usually feeding us again and renting a video. Yes - the good old days. Having chosen the task or area she wasn't allowed to say things like "Not under the sink it's too messy!" Our group has morphed and changed but we still occasionally shout out "I need a Bumstead!". Accountability served with love.
Also helpful: 1) Taking photos of sentimental items & gifts I don't actually use so I can keep the reminder of good feelings without the actual object. It really is the thought that counts! : - ) 2) Thinking about how a donated item will benefit someone who'll actually use it. 3) Snapping a "before" pic and searching it rather than the room for easy "No" items. Somehow that little bit of distance helps! 🤓
It does get easier and easier. I have been working on simplifying for 2 1/2 years. I make decisions so much faster now.
Dawn you are doing a great job for our world. I am in the process of becoming a minimalist and already I am seeing and feeling the freedom and joy that it brings. I have reached the stage where I feel sorry for people who have not yet discovered the joy of minimal living and are still labouring under a load that is too heavy for them. Your friendly personality adds so much to the enjoyment of the videos.
And the fact that she sincerely wants to help people it comes across so well
@@Soo_Blessed Thank u for replying to my comment. Yes, there is no doubt about the fact that she has a passion to help others. We love her.
Yep my dear parents are so burden of stuff they aren’t getting rid of because dad has accumulated so much of other peoples stuff they threw out / unopened items, stuff thrown in dumpster from ikea not even out of package, books, money, and jewelry, unopened alcohol, toys, games, electronics, vacuum cleaners, furniture, chairs, that my dad hauls home because people can’t be “bothered” to donate items so that my dad won’t have the urge to take them. He fixes whatever is broken and makes them workable again (like: mini belt on a cassette machine, wire fried in a rice cooker, tape stuck in a boom box, anything) he has found tools, gifts, food, condiments, all because people move and don’t schedule a donation pickup in advance or they were robbed and person tossed items in nearest dumpster or they just don’t care if new items and junk go to landfill. My dad really enjoys finding money in books and other places because the lazy ppl didn’t look before tossing!!!!
I can’t even help them get rid of things because they refuse my help or dad passes some things on to me which I think is either gross or gotta go and I toss it. (It is easy for me to toss other people’s stuff except my own)
I finally had that moment of needing something that I had stored away, then realizing I had donated it. I was sad for about 3 seconds & then I realized it was the ONLY time it’s ever happened and if I got rid of ALL my “maybe someday” things, I would happily rebuy if I needed it again and it would be worth it to have the space and PEACE. Your videos are SO helpful! ❤️
My teacher friends and I have a swap appx 3 times per year. We get together and one of our homes, bring wine and appetizers, all the stuff we dont want(clothing, decor, housewares, etc). After refreshments, we sit in a circle, and one at a time we hold up our things. People take what they want. If two ir more people want the same thing, we draw a ketter out of a bag. The person whose letter is closest to the letter A gets first dibs. Whatever is leftover, we donate to Goodwill or a women's shelter. Its a ton of fun!!!
I love the " If it is not a clear yes it is a no" idea! I really get slowed down when I come across several things that I can not make up my mind about. I am really shooting for having more empty space and more peace of mind! Thanks so much😁
Yes, thinking about things is the longest part of the process.
I need to write that down!
I just watched this for a third time and I noticed at the end you said "Be though on your stuff", that's very different from "Be tough on yourself". I love that. I don't have have a lot of clutter but my inventory is NOT YET where I want it to be for the cognitive struggles that I have. My family has different needs and wants than me though. That is a frustration for me but I try to continue on with patience, decluttering anything that I feel is in my control. I also have 'some' control on what does and doesn't come into our house. I love your sensible videos! Thank you!!!
I keep thinking that keeping unused things will not bring back the $ I paid for them.
Hi I just remind myself that it DID fulfill a need at the time (ie I needed to buy this because of some inner need). Admittimg that is a big part of it. Then I just find that I want to bless someone else with the use of the item (and a blessing will come to me in some form). Best regards. G Ire
A lot of donations are tax deductible, so in a way you can recoup some of your money when you get rid of all the stuff.
Dawn did a cute video on that, cant remember the title maybe someone could recall
All of your videos have been so helpful over the past 3 months in more ways than I could begin to lists. In this video tips, # 1&2 really resonated with me. I have primary lymphedema, fibromyalgia, and carpal tunnel in my right hand/wrist. I used to crochet, loom knit, junk journal, journal, use planners like the happy planner, bookbinding, paint, sketch, multi-media art and sew. I still do a small amount of sewing, bookbinding, and multi-media. I had so much stuff that was suffocating me that was no longer useful to me. Once I mourned the loss of that part of my life the stuff was just stuff and I let it go. In fact, I couldn't get it out of the house fast enough. It was easy to get rid of 95% of my junk journal supplies. I ran into a problem with the stickers/thickers/and stencils. I still use some of those in other areas of my life. By using tip #2 in about 15 minutes I very quickly decluttered about 98% of those items and boxed them up for donation. I'm in the same boat with the fabric. I still sew some, but I can not do near as much as I used to. I have spent a great deal of time staring at fabric trying to decide what to keep and what not to keep. I'm now ready to dig into the fabric. I really think I can get it done this time.
Love these tips!! Also, I find it extremely freeing to get rid of the donation stuff immediately. Once it's gone, I don't think twice about it.
One of my tricks to help my decision making, to keep or not, is to sweep everything in a large storage tub, put a lid on it, take it to the closet or garage, and then see if I go need anything out of it in a week, a month, a day, a year.
I needed this video. Thank you. Two trash bags and one full recycling bin of, “It’s not a clear yes,” left my house today. I feel so much better and inspired to keep going.
Love your comment , “ Can I live without it”. I am a “what if “ person, so I can always tell myself I could use an item in the future. So for me, Can I live without it ? is a game changer!
The biggest thing I heard from your videos was," The more I have or keep, the more I have to manage!"😊
This was probably the most helpful so far. "If it's not a clear Yes, it's a NO" applies to purchases also, and really, a lot of other things if life. It is now on a post it on my mirror! Thank YOU
I’ve been de cluttering throughout the years ,& I now have to move by next year . I’ve also been training my mind to let go by watching hoarders . Great tips btw . I seem to go through cycles of getting rid of stuff . I’ll get rid of a pile . Save some ,& come back to the saved pile to throw out more later .
I like the concept of a “clear yes” or a “clear no”. It makes more sense to me than “does it make you happy or bring you joy.” I have to keep some things that don’t bring me joy, but I need like a toilet brush or mop etc.
When you said that room was out of control, I laughed out loud.
I understand. From my experience, there comes a shift in our lives as to what we see as "out of control".
Right?! 😂 I've come a really really long way, but my house looks worse than her before pictures. 😬😅
😂🤣😅🤣😂🤣😅
I know I'm late on this video but oh my gosh. If it's not a clear yes it's a no makes so much sense. I love that idea! Thank you so much.
“ I don’t want to force things to work in my house” totally agree, I get rid of so much stuff was insane!!!! I feel relief, you help me in the process ❤️❤️❤️
See, for me, my books are my haven even the ones I don’t like. I loan them to others then get them back. It’s a hoarding thing I’m sure or maybe just the fact that I love the asthmatic of books on a shelf. No matter how much I de clutter I will probably never get rid of them unless they’re damaged beyond repair.
I love that you can do it so well done!!
On the envelope subject- I cannot bring myself to get rid of things like that. I won’t have to spend money on them next year if I just keep it. I feel like it’s saving me money.
Somethings work better than others though. 5-10 year old envelopes might not stick shut after you lick them. 5-10 year old toilet paper will still work as intended, only if stored properly.
Try visualizing how things will look if kept for some time. Elastic in pants, swimsuits, etc., will become powdery and have no stretch if kept too long. Plastic containers will become brittle and crack easily exposing the contents to whatever is in environment. Outdoor storage units usually aren't dust proof or climate controlled.
Just a few bits I picked up holding onto old things for too long.
@@AWanderingEye I can definitely relate to elastic bands in clothes or pantyhose disintegrating, LOL. Wore a dress to church with matching opaque hose after years of being stored, nothing wrong with them and they matched the dress (odd color), but had to pin the waist and the crotch hung down to my knees, now that was totally uncool........
@@AWanderingEye Could not have said it better!
I save envelopes like that because I love to write letters! I haven’t bought envelopes in years because of people giving me their leftovers.
It is!!! As you can see from my comment above, the envelopes struck a strong “that’s wrong “ chord with me. Decluttering is one thing, but throwing away things that you’re just going to buy again later is an entirely other thing. Obviously she is not poor, so she doesn’t have that mindset, but I still feel it is wrong to be wasteful, just because you can “afford “ to be!!! An individual might be able to afford it, but can our PLANET???
This video just feels like gold. Dawn, thank you! How true that the not-sure-yes items just get shuffled around the house until we finally give them away or something happens to them that makes us feel better about throwing it out or giving it away. Something that gives us "permission". But having someone that has given them away at the beginning and you see they "survived"... that nothing bad happened to them. It's so helpful and how much better to give things away when they are newer and in better shape so someone else can enjoy them more. And how true... isn't it more valuable to enjoy a functioning decluttered space than the money you would make on used items? Isn't that more valuable. Aren't they the source of why we spend money anyway?? Trying to buy something to make the house feel better. So if it's decluttered, I don't have the urge to buy things to make the house feel better (or myself feel better). So I save way more than I would have made by selling my used items and also I learning to be super picky about what comes into the house.
I'm just so grateful that God has gifted this sweet soul and given her a way to share her story and wisdom/experience. This video just feels so dense with impactful content.
With the internal debate with myself of keep/donate/sell I remind myself that if I am generous, then the universe can be generous to me. Also, sometimes I wish I could be a wealthy philanthropist donating generously to causes I love, but maybe what the world needs of me more are simple acts of generosity, just giving of my abundance (aka stuff that I’m not using). I also remind myself that maybe the stuff came to me not because it was meant to stay in my home forever but maybe so that it could bless us for a while and then through me it could bless someone else-maybe it was never meant to be just mine. Seeing myself as a steward rather than an owner and allowing things to belong to the universe, God, or whatever form of higher power one chooses helps so much in being able to easily let things go. There’s a plan for that stuff and maybe you and I are just the vehicle to get it to where it is needed the most
Kamilla this made me think further and I thank you. I've always said if I ever hit it big with the lottery, there are so many people I know that I want to share it with. Well in a way, by having accumulated an abundance of "stuff" and being really good at couponing, I really do have a lot that I can share. I donate things often, but because I have no room left and I can't stand to see things go to waste. I think this is a major shift for me: I will be donating because I can - because I have plenty and more than I need and I can be generous and share. I think it will be much easier to fill a donation box with simple acts of generosity and I know that the organization I take my donations to will be very happy to get these items into the hands of people that can use them immediately.
@@vikkirountoit497
I’m so glad my thoughts meant so much to you. 😊 Ive always struggled with parting with useful things and when I heard these reminders they each impacted me deeply as well. They have become my go to thoughts to help me move past the indecision. So often when I remind myself of these things the decision to keep or donate becomes instantly clear. ❤️
Ooohhhh the shot of your house now after decluttering down to 2 Yesses is suuuuchhh a relief and gives a such a soothing, calming, good feeling
You keep me going through my decluttering journey. Thank you Dawn 😊
Yes! Over the last few months I have almost finished my minimalism journey and I have found so much inspiration and motivation from youtubers like Dawn! Love these videos
Tell the kids they are playing in the same sand they were playing in on the beach😀👍🏻 I dumped several jars of sand and sea shells, not all of the beautiful shells, out onto the gravel pathway in my flower garden and it is nice remembering the wonderful times I have spent on the Beach❤️🥰
I can just picture your mom and sister shopping together for you. "Our goal for today is to find something for Dawn that won't be featured in an upcoming video!" I really do admire your decision-making process, though. After every video, I usually pick a drawer or cabinet or even a section of the fridge to declutter!
I do the same! 😀
Dawn is such an inspiration.
"We have more stuff than hours in the day" Ooh, that's good. What a mindset shift. I do find it easier to declutter the more often I do it, I'm beginning to breath again and finding the activities I always promised my kids we'd get to. 😃
Dawn, we all need to “keep on keeping on!” And your words help! Could you please consider more meal plan / dinner helps videos?
It's been almost 2 years since I started doing the hard work of decluttering the stuff out of our house. It's so much easier to manage now and I am definitely not done, by far, I know I'm not done. The seasons have changed a lot because of Covid and I've had to prioritize other things but I'm still doing it every chance I get because my goal hasn't changed. If anything it's even stronger now because of everything that has happened in the last year. I just want to say thank you for your continued encouragement, we need it!
Yay! We have family coming tomorrow to stay (and we are excited) and we have a lot of work to do today and tomorrow. This is perfect timing. Thank you!
I just donated my message Bible too, yes it felt weird but there is an amazing ministry in Butler Illinois called "Love Packages" that sends Bibles, Sunday curriculum, reference books...etc. to missionaries and pastors in foreign countries. They are an awesome group. There is also another one Alabama. I feel so good about donating my Christian literature to them that I went through my whole house grabbing stuff. It made it so much easier.
I was once very poor and nearly everything I had was given to me or bought at thrift stores. I considered them “blessings”. Now, I ask myself if this thing that I appreciate but don’t need could bless someone who is now as I was. It makes it easier to donate useable items that I have enjoyed having, but no longer need. Being able to bless others is a blessing in and of itself!
You talked about your cookbook and I thought, wow I’ve got a lot of cookbooks that I do not use! So my first plan of attack on my excess will be my cookbooks!! 😃 I won’t get overwhelmed with that one project.
I made my own cookbook with a 3 ring binder. It now has all the recipes I use and nothing more. Try it!
These videos are so encouraging and motivating and I also am moved by all the wonderful people who comment and share their tips and encouragement. Thank you all! 😀
Great tips as always Dawn! Thank you. The absolute biggest thing stopping me from decluttering is not knowing how to get rid of stuff in a responsible way. I generally don't have trouble deciding what should go or letting go of things but the one barrier to getting it out of the house is not knowing the best place to take it. I don't want to send stuff to landfill! I'm in Australia and we have less options here - not everything can go to charity shops but the stuff that can't is still not bad enough to throw out. It's so hard!
I have the same prb here in Italy. I do the following:
1) photograph donatable stuff and offer it to friends through WA groups I'm a member of
2) leave it well in sight in my entryway, so visitors are encouraged to help themselves
3) after a week or so I take everything to a charity shop
Bri, I think that holds a lot of people back. If we knew just the right place for something we’d run it there now!
The best thing I’ve heard you say is that marketing is way to prevalent and buying mistakes are made all the time. Just let that guilt go because keeping something just because you paid for it doesn’t bring that money back. Forgive yourself and get rid of that stuff! Thank you Dawn!
YES! I NEED this video, I clear the dinning room table, and then turn around, and the next minute my kids/dad hav re-covered the space! It fills up as quick as I empty it!! xx
I can relate
If my kids were young I would take Dawns advice
no ifs ands or buts take away something they love like the TV or their phone or something if they don't
" kid up"and do what you ask to make your house a happier place best thing if they know how to take care of a house and themselves when they're out on their own if you teach them as Dawn has
Mine cannot !!!!!
Husband my follow suit
Dining room table... that's my hardest one I've been known to clean the oven to avoid table lol my truth...it's getting better but still a progress. I will say I now have one junk drawer in kitchen instead of three after moving 🙃 I lived in last place 12 yrs and did major decluttering when I moved
Trying to have a place for everything and everything in its place
In one quick viewing, you have given me the incentive to tackle my stumbling blocks. “If it’s not a clear YES, it’s a NO!”. “Can I get by without it”? The last video I watched was about over stuffed drawers. I can’t wait to get started….. and take before and after pictures.
Dawn, i'm getting totally addicted to your easy, pleasant, informative wonderfulness !! I need a video every day... LOL! Thanks for all you do !
I can't thank you enough. I was having such a hard time giving away the Bible I didn’t use. Your method of decluttering has been so down to earth, useful, and guilt free.
I mostly donate. I sell if it's $100 or more because it can be such a hassle to sell.
I need to get things out of the apartment ASAP or I will go through the box and take stuff out.
Thanks for the simple and non-judge-y encouragement!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I stumbled upon your videos yesterday after church and I am so grateful. You offer such practical easy advice and I love your channel. Every wife and mom
Needs this channel. So good! Thanks again.
Thank you so much, we’re so glad you’re here!! ❤️
I am to the point of “rage decluttering” I have followed your channel for awhile and in many areas simplified. And it’s been great. I recently went back to work full time along with having 2 young kids and a small business I started while not working. I definitely feel like I’m trying to run 6 burners on my 4 burner stove. As you said the “stuff” is the easiest thing to go. I’m determined to get rid of all the unimportant things. I’m definitely going to be using the accountability tip too push through the rest of my stuff
I decluttered my dining room closet again. It looks great. When my friend came over I showed it to her. She loved it. She is very supportive. Her and her husband have started decluttering. They say I inspired them. That’s because you inspired me. Thank you again for all your videos. I watch them over and over. You are so helpful.
That's why I use the library instead of buying books!
The library is so underrated!
Exactly!
Yes! And pre-covid that’s where we would get movies to watch rather than purchasing them.
@@kirituhi. i love the “Little Free Libraries.” If I get a book for free, it’s so much easier to just read and pass on than if you paid money for it! Plus you can donate your own books too. For me, they were a game-changer.
@@kirituhi. l so agree and if you want a specific book , it only cost 30p for them to order it. tbh though many libraries in the U.K are closing due to cuts
"Can I get by without it?"
I am 66yrs old and have a lifetime of struggling with clutter. This one question has really resonated with me! My decluttering mantra. Thank you!
I have some major decluterring to do due to recently downsizing our house substantially. I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed, so I needed these tips today!
Every birthday, mother's day and Christmas I get tons of stuff from my son, his wife and daughter. I have told them I'd rather have experiences like dinner or group activities to celebrate. They ignore this and still give us tons of things. I'm going to gather up all this brand new never opened stuff and donate it. I hate giving away gifts but ultimately it just clutter we will never use
Same here. The kids won't listen. I'm almost tempted to regift the things to them.
This was the encouragement I needed to keep going! I’ve been feeling suffocated by all the stuff and frustrated with not being able to take a few consecutive hours to tackle one thing (I have four kids under 6 so I don’t even know what day it is LOL.) I realized I need to set up a system that will help me declutter as I’m going about my day since I don’t have hours of time to set aside for it. I ended up buying a bunch of moving boxes so I can throw things in there as I’m handling the items in my house. Once a box is full I’ll take them to a thrift store. Anyway thank you for these tips and the encouragement!
Great story!
"If it's not a clear yes, then it's a no."
I like that so much better than "Does this bring me joy?"
So concrete!! Thank you.. 🙏
I recently found You from your “best outdoor toys” video from 2 years ago & I loved your advice so much I binge watched so many videos after and truly I needed to find your channel. I’ve been struggling with organizing my house for years. Not really organizing itself but because my family of 5 had so much stuff I couldn’t ever truly be satisfied with the outcome until you showed me minimal life. I’ve been decluttering so much and it feels great and so much weight is off my shoulders I can finally breathe again. Thank you so much for making these amazing videos! 💝
When I became a minimalist last July I decided to keep some clothes that I was going to wear in the winter. Then yesterday I took those clothes and I am donating them. I did not wear them this winter. I am happy I quarantined them but now I know for sure I am not wearing them. Thank you.
“be tough on your stuff”. LOVE THAT
One of my things I do is if an object irritates me, I throw it away. Like a cup that can't go in the dishwasher or a shirt that doesn't fit right or things that get left out etc. Has helped me a lot with mental health and feeling less stress at home
I’m a foster mom and the ONLY way to survive is to only keep the essentials. I love your videos ❤️
As a single foster mom, I kept stuff on hand after many short term placements. I couldn't run out in the middle of the night so kept stuff on hand for emergency placements. I'd get a baby for a few days/week and they'd go to family. Since they came with nothing, I didn't want to send them with nothing but couldn't afford to keep buying full price (we get very little clothing allotment and it's one time only first time in care...not always the case with placements). So, I started shopping clearance sales. I now have wayyyyyy too much and am trying to sell in lots and will donate after 2 weeks. I can't even find stuff even if it's labeled in bins. Going for the 2-3 outfits per size and pjs...and be done with the rest.
Agreed Lisa! In our county we're not allowed to throw anything away or give anything away that was given to the foster kid by their bio parents. It makes sense, but sometimes bio parents buy so much stuff to try and make up for the situation. Not sure if you've experienced that too?? Ooof
Amy, we have a Facebook group of foster parents that pass stuff back and forth, which is so helpful. then one person doesn't have to store all the things that they might need. maybe you have something like that in your area that you could find? There are also non-profits in the area that will drop off boxes of seasonally appropriate clothes right to your door for your foster placement.
@@LMAS3 I think that is a good law. All i have from my bio mother is a bible, a book of nursery rhymes, a book of birds and two baby photos of me. I know for a fact that my (foster/adopted) mom threw out the Book of Common Prayer that my mom had given me, and suddenly, reading this, (60 years later!) I wonder if she got rid of other stuff as well!!! It never occurred to me before, but I certainly wouldn’t put it past her, as she obviously did to at least one item. YOU may be trying to declutter and simplify, but you can never imagine what a treasure it is to the child. I never saw my mother again after age (almost) three, but I still think of her often. Not a single week goes by that I don’t.
@Le Tinh Song, I think it's a good law too, and I'm sincerely sorry if I sounded callous or dismissive of bio parents at all in my comment. As a foster parent, I see myself as a support system for bio parents so they can hopefully get the space and help they need to be able to safely care for their babies again. I'm so sorry your foster mom did not cherish your bio mom, her role in your life, and the things she left you to remember her by. We've had bio parents inundate and overwhelm their kids with clothes and toys at each visit to the point where the county had to step in and stop it because of the effect on the child. Clearly a different situation than yours, but even so I imagine my comment was triggering and for that I'm sorry. Wishing you the best and thinking of you and your bio mom today ❤️
@@LMAS3 That is such a sweet comment; thank you for it. Yes, things were very different back then. I understand where you’re coming from too.
An idea that helps me, is that for every item I am not using or appreciating right now, there is someone else out there who will. By donating an item, I am giving it the chance to be meaningful and appreciated in someone else's life. This helps me not feel I am rejecting or devaluing an item.