Hoarder to MINIMALIST| How We Got Rid of All Our Stuff!!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- Hoarder to MINIMALIST| How We Got Rid of All Our Stuff!! In today's video, I'm sharing how my family and I became minimalist!! You need to adopt a lifestyle that focuses on simplicity, intentionality, and purpose. It's about living with less, so you can focus on what's truly important to you. Here are some steps I took to get rid of roughly 85% of our family's possessions!
I tried the marie kondo method, piled all my clothes onto the bed, got overwhelmed, had a cry, shut the bedroom door and slept on the couch for 3 days, this year I'm working on getting rid of 5 items a day, and honestly it's really making a difference, and hasn't caused me to cry, so win!
@AutumnChaos I have done the couch sleeping so many times I've lost count. 😒 lots of crying, cursing and so on as well. Before I became disabled, I could handle anything, now... not much at all.
I love this idea of 5 items a day! This seems so manageable to me. Thank you for sharing.
I've done this too!! But more like 2 weeks on the couch 😂
@@MittenPrepperVet Good for you for not giving up!!! I have cried many tears of overwhelm before, you are NOT alone! 5 items a day sounds like an amazing strategy!!!
Thats actually the worst idea,i have slept with piles of clothes next to me too and got totally overwhelmed. It just doesnt work for every one. Lesson learnt n im taking it smaller now ❤ hugs to u and ure def not alone
I have decluttered my home in the last 8 years. I sold almost nothing. What you said: I wanted the stuff out of my house. And I found it so annoying to deal with the stuff any longer for weeks or months. Tons of stuff is gone for donation. I never ever have missed something. My mom was always upset when she found out that things were gone. She was a saver and her house was filled with stuff that she never used. She died in april 2022. I miss her dearly, but oh, she was my biggest critic. My house feels so much lighter, everything has a place. It is so easy to clean and make it tidy. I love it. Irma from the Netherlands
I love that you continued to do what was making YOU happy, no matter what pressures you might have felt! I am sorry about the loss of your mom. I pray she is at peace. Huge from America!
Sorry for your loss 🙏🏻
@Belle737I'm in the same boat. I'm 32 and I was always on the fence about kids and then I realized several years ago that I don't want kids and I even want to get my tubes tied soon and my mom still has BOXES and BOXES of toys, baby clothes, baby shoes, etc. And bookcases full of children's books, some from when I was a kid and some she bought at yard sales over the years. I'm sure she's spent hundreds on toys and books and clothes for grandchildren she will never have. She says she is glad I'm not having kids because the state of the world, with global warming and the threat of WW2, etc. But I think a part of her is sad about it, which makes me sad, but she insists she doesn't need therapy and is not a hoarder, even though she doesn't want to get rid of any of it. Anyway, I wish you luck with your situation!
@Belle737Oh and ironically the ONE thing I wanted her to keep, my old Goosebumps and Christopher Pike books from the 90s, she never saved. Oh the irony. 😂
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@@FancyThatwithCandicelhh
When I started my decluttering journey I realized how much of an impulse shopper I was, buying all the cute things I thought I needed 🤦🏻♀️ now all that stuff is on goodwill shelves and I don’t miss any of it. I am very intentional about what what I buy. Keeping it very simple now!!
It's amazing how we don't miss it!!! In fact, we are SO MUCH happier without it!
I need all this encouragement. I now know I'm an impulsive shopper and my goal is to live simply. The hardest for me is clothes. Any ideas of how to conquer the idea that I won't have a certain outfit. I like to dress nice when I'm out.
If I could pick one style and be satisfied..... hmmm🤔
Honestly, I’m so burnt out, i even stopped donating. I just started putting it in my trash bins till they were full every week. I felt guilty at first.. but then I decided my mental health is more important.
Your mental health is worth THE MOST. I'm so happy you were able to just let things go without guilt!
You should try to put things that are useful on the sidewalk or public. They will be picked up fast!
One thing I’ve noticed by watching your journey is that your home isn’t sterile and cold. I love your style and your home looks cozy and elegant. And very clean! It’s helped me realize that I can still have a cozy home and not cover every spot in decor. Less is truly MORE!
❤
Im a level 2 hoarder. I have anxiety and depression. Possibly adhd. Im overwhelmed. I have 2 kids, one only 4 months, and i am so tired of the constant feeling of drowning in work and things. Im starting in my bedroom and will slowly work through my house. I can do this.
You can do this. Nothing will feel as good as a decluttered closet. Getting ready in the morning is so much easier.
Realizing that there was nobody and nothing holding you back from your dream....how inspiring!!! Loved this!!!
I don't take my stuff to Goodwill anymore because they charge too much. A church donation seems to make me feel better about giving.
That’s wonderful!
Yes Goodwill sucks. They are a greedy company!
There are smaller charity shops that support local social services. So look for those.
I’m so grateful we live on a military base and we can put stuff on the curb for free and tell people to come get it. That’s how I’ve gotten to this point and keep things minimal. It’s been a 7 year process. Watching your videos help me stay focused. Thank you!
My husband and I do that in our neighborhood. We live on a street with a lot of college students. If nobody wants it, the trash collector will take it away in a couple of days.
@@edennis8578 Wow. That’s so good. Where I live, they will only empty the bins/trash cans. They don’t get out of the truck unless they can’t reach it. We have hard garbage collection twice a year only.
They have the same tradition in Australia, but in the suburbs; if it’s out there, it’s free to whoever wants it.
We live in a very small place in a complex at the beach. We put even small things like kitchen gadgets out in front of our place and it’s gone in a few minutes. Love that it’s not going in the landfill
Holy shoots I was friggin right I just fast forwarded to what your so called organized and “decluttered”pantry looks like and I was right! Rich people problems holy moly I tell you 🤷🏿♀️🤦🏾♀️
I realized something yesterday… you can clean and organize and put everything in its “home” but if you have kids (or a husband lol) it will end up out of its home and onto some random flat surface for you to deal with later. That’s why the only solution is to own less!
One of the best tips I heard was that BEFORE you buy something, figure out where you're going to put it in your home. That has kept me from buying a lot of things when I realized I had nowhere to put it.
Also "SOS": "Stay Out of Stores". If I'm not there looking at it, I won't be tempted to buy it.
YES!! I love this tip!!! It really helps stop you from buying things you really don't need!
For some its SOA- stay out of amazon!!!
Thank you! Moved to a new state 2 years ago to help my aging dad while still working FT , and last week moved into his home, as he can’t be alone any longer. I am quite overwhelmed by the amount of stuff in this house that he had and now my things are everywhere. I have multiple bins and closets filled without really knowing what is where. I’m going to take your advice and start with one cabinet in the kitchen that is filled with pots pans and not very organized. Going to make the best use of the space and get rid of the duplicates by donating. looking forward to doing this in every area of the home and give myself grace to take my time.
I did a complete declutter ... I rented a refuse skip and just dumped everything in. Surprisingly, there was far more rubbish than I expected. It felt so relieving.
I love it ! "we don't have to be bossed around by our stuff!"
Great video 🙂 I do want to caution you about calling yourself a hoarder though. Through watching this wonderful channel - A hoarders heart - I have learnt that a hoarder isn't just someone who has heaps of stuff but someone who has a serious mental illness arising from trauma where they find safety and comfort in their items and it can cause them physical pain to let go of items.
Someone with hoarding disorder struggles to even part with trash and recovery is a long slow process of emotional healing and decluttering which cannot be accomplished through sheer willpower. ❤
Thank you for caring about the correct terminology and the mental health implications. So few people do. They toss out terns like they are adjectives.
@@carlamills3582 💕💕💕
There are 5 levels of hoarder. I was a level one. I actually never showed footage of the worst spaces of my house because I was so embarrassed. Areas of our home were so full they were dangerous. My heart beaks for People with level 2-5 hoarding habits/disorder!
@@FancyThatwithCandice ❤
@@FancyThatwithCandice 💕💕💕
I have hundreds of antique books, but they are neatly tucked into matching bookshelves. Having furniture pieces to organize into is important! A good filing box, baskets, etc.
It took me 2 years to go through everything, but I did it! Now I am on maintenance mode. ❤
We (Mainly me, he doesn't have much) are decluttering and trying to go to a more minimalist style. The hardest thing for me is the attachment to things. I did finally get rid of a shirt my brother gave me that was past its time. So proud I was able to. I took a picture of it and said goodbye. I still miss it but it couldn't be worn any more. A big help for me is a friend is willing to come help because I get overwhelmed. We got a lot done but still way more to go. Hoping to reach our goal by September. (We are in a small duplex) I already feel less stressed out. 😊
I can relate to this 100%. But we can't keep any space picked up or looking clean. Our house is way too full of stuff. I have been trying to declutter for few years, my husband also in on board but there is always too little time (work + 3 kids, one of them is a toddler). Also more stuff keeps coming into our home... I hope one day I will get there! It would be so good for my mental health!
85% of stuff de-cluttered. I just fainted ! Thats great that you went through so much hard work, and now your whole family is reaping the benefits 😻
I tell you whst grts me in the mood. I watch hoarders show.
Ohhhh man, that show breaks my heart. But yes, always a good reminder to keep the clutter at bay!
I do that too.
ME TOO! A glass of red wine helps and off I go on a get rid of rampage! I have no major hesitation or regrets anymore. I'm still decluttering from bringing in 2 storage units of stuff from when I sold my other MUCH LARGER home, and I can't wait to be done with it all! BTW - watching her dust...... knick knacks need to be picked up and dusted. That's too much work! I'm working on that too.
Decluttering is a form of self therapy and self care.
It can be quite 'normal' to experience fatigue or a run of adverse health events during or following a mass declutter because your bodily systems are going through what we therapists refer to as a "healing crisis".
Unwanted clutter affects people on body mind soul and spirit levels
I remember when I first started to watch your videos. It was when you were decluttering your pantry. I really wanted to come and help you! Lol. I'm naturally organized, know what I have, and where it is. I love decluttering and organizing. You've come a long way, Candice! I'm really proud of you.
As I listened to this video, I realized you were describing my life. I had my third child and suddenly my environment was just not manageable. It was like something snapped in me and I had to get as much out of my house as possible. 4 years later, I dont regret a thing and I can keep my home neat and tidy with less than 30 min a day. And that's huge with 3 young children!
I donated all xmas items. I always hated xmas clutter. Just a few battery candles which l use anyway through the year. Looks so lovely....almost like a simple chapel.
Your home looks much better without all of the extra home decor. Good job!
Over the years i ve leard (i think the best) way to decluttering clothes is that starting from the bottoms pants,shorts, skirts etc after that declutter the tops and dresses and lastly shoes and bags. This way you're like curating the weardeobe for your style and daily life. it's so easy but no one is talking about this.
For example i choose the pants lets say 10 of them. i put them on the bed and now i judge the tops around that pants. İ decide the shirts button ups knitttes around that pants according the fabric of pants the tickness of the fabric so automaticly I'm doing the declutter for the seasons and I'm doing the right combinations for me from the beginning. Since they re ready im adding daily and fancy dresses. After that its too easy to decluttering accessories cuz i know the style i know the combinations i know what shoe or bag doesn't get with the weardeobe ❤
Love this!
You should make a video of you going thru this process.
I found you years ago for some of your makeup videos and others. I think your name on TH-cam is different now. But i love this video. I just had a yard sale 2 months ago and made almost 1k. Most of that came from selling a henry link furniture set. About 3 hrs into the garage sale, i told people to take anything they wanted for free. I had a gazillion stuffed animals from my two daughters. A lady came by and was a volunteer for a children's and womens shelter. I gave her every stuffed animal for free. Thank you for this video.
I love your story about the stuffed animals!! YES! Give things away for free if it comes down to it!! And making $1,000 on your garage sale is AMAZING!
@@FancyThatwithCandice The 1000 on the garage sale was a one time thing. Just because I sold the furniture set. I binging your channel now. Your journey is incredibly inspiring.
I lived in a tiny house with my husband and first baby and it was always a mess. I felt so demoralized all of the time. Then we moved to a much larger home and I decluttered so much crap. It wasn't a lot compared to other houses but it felt like a lot to me. Makes the home so much easier to clean as we keep turning this house into our home.
Now I focus on saving money and putting the extra toward items that I really like and really matter to me. I'm not a minimalist in that sense, but it seems to be working.
Dana K White helped me a lot in decluttering without being overwhelmed. And Dawn from The Minimal Mom inspired me to start. And this is the first of your videos I'm watching. I check out many to keep me motivated.
I appreciate you discussing your difficulties in an honest way. Beast mode. Kondo fail. Build motivation.
This is one of your BEST videos! I've watched, loved, and been inspired by them all, but this honest recap of your journey takes the cake. Decluttering can feel overwhelming and isolating since you're spending so much time with your STUFF. I can relate to *everything* you covered and it encouraged me to keep going!! Thank you, this one was a home run for me. ❤
Wow! Thank you so much!! I am always so happy when people find my content helpful!!!
Your decluttering style is the same as mine, and the main reason I will not help others declutter their homes. I go beast mode, and EVERYTHING HAS TO GO!!! Most people must look through things; I don't -TRASH or DONATE. Goodwill and the refuse facility are my two favorite places to offload "stuff." Once I'm sick of things, their value drops to zero. I couldn't care less about their resale value.
I have been good about managing my home since clearing out homeschooling supplies, clothes, shoes, and other little things, but I'm learning my husband is a low-level hoarder (he holds unrealistic values in his head about stuff), and it is driving me nuts!
I’ve been decluttering deep for the past 2 weeks! My home looks so much better and I feel amazing. I had clothes and shoes for over 10 years in great condition but I don’t even wear. And lots of things that I never even wore with tags on them. So I decided that it was enough. And I’m still working on this this minute! Thanks so much for this motivation. I wish I was a minimalist now. That my next goal!❤
I have been decluttering for about 5 months and it’s been full speed ahead! But I have a huge roadblock…my husband! He wants to have a yard sale with the decluttered items! I say take them to the donation center! I just want them gone! So the items sit in the corner of the house (he doesn’t want his garage cluttered) I do not like yard sales they give me huge anxiety and I just want to cry! and I keep putting it off! So, we are at a standstill my house is still cluttered with decluttered items and I’m going crazy!
Whew that is tough!!! I am SO PROUD of you for making all that progress!!! That's amazing!!! Maybe see if you and your husband can agree on a "sell by date", if the garage sale hasn't happened by X day, everything gets taken to donation!!
Omgosh .. been there, been thru that BIG TIME!! It's a super tough situation to be in, my heart goes out to you.
I'm in the process of moving out for the first time on my own, and it still surprises me just how much stuff I have. If I haven't used something in the past year, I tossed/donated it, and I've donated a lot of clothes. I'm still working on it, but I told myself if the stuff can't all fit in the boxes I bought, I have too much lol TFS!
I did the same thing u did, donation or just throw it away! I just wanted to be free and it was amazing! I did need some things after they were gone, but never regretted doing what I did cause the need for that moment was never greater than my everyday no stress life that I created! I recommend to all!
the marie kondo method is good but for people with anxiety just make those piles however big or small you want. Take all the shirts, or just t-shirts, or if you're like me and have way too many socks do socks one day. The full blown kondo method would be great if you had a team of support to really help you do it but when you're on your own its impractical for most people. But there are no rules.
I love that you said there are no rules. You are SO RIGHT!
Watching this during a house move hoping to be inspired 😅
It’s just all the BITS coming from drawers and bedside tables I’m getting overwhelmed with 😤
I needed this today!!!!!! I have often wished that I have often wanted "Bewitched" powers like Samantha!
Huh. This sounds a lot like you implemented and are part of Dana K. White's and Dawn from The Minimal Mom's Take Your House Back course! Glad to see it has achieved results for you worth making TH-cam videos about!
I don’t know anything about their course but I’m sure it’s amazing becauseTHEY are amazing!
I love the Mary Kondo method, it does give me anxiety, but I do it as a weekend event and give myself lots of brakes. It’s been so helpful to also give myself a limited amount of space for my items… so only the amount of hangers I have , only one drawer for makeup, one shelf for pantry goods. It’s worked like a charm🙌
I've just started the video, but immediately I can relate. I just had my second baby, and realized that I have way too much stuff. this past weekend we filled my husband's truck bed with donations and trash and there is STILL so far to go. I think I stumbled upon your channel at the perfect time.
Congratulations on your baby!!! YES!! Getting things out makes everything seem more manageable!!
Watching this made me realize my "keep box" is my basement! Yikes!! 🤦♀️
The main level of my home is clean and tidy. Whatever I don't want anymore or is left after I do declutter my rooms, Closets, kitchen, Pantry I shove in the basement for me to "see" if someone else wants it, or my children need it when they move to their own place, or I'm going to sell it make some money to pay down debt and pay for my cancer treatments or shoot just simply because I feel guilty for the spending the money on it and "what if one day" I might need it again. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this video. I'm just going to go beast mode and stop being so indecisive and move it along to (or bless) someone who can use it vs. it collecting dust and cobwebs in my basement.
I lived in the first house I purchased for 20 years. I came to the realization that my basement was my keep box too. Except for Christmas decorations if I move it to the basement I really don’t want it anymore. I just needed to make a final decision.
YES! My basement is 700 sqft of keep box 🙈 I'm in the process of moving over 3000 miles and my basement is the last project to tackle before listing our house. The dread is so real! 90% of it has to go!
Ooh that’s rough for sure! Good for you for going after it. My garage was that for me in our last house (which we lived in for just 6 yrs), until we had to move. Wow that was an eye opening experience. So many weekends spent cleaning it out, selling, donating, etc. Now we question every purchase because we realize how easily it can get out of control.
Marie Kondo is great, but I don’t think her method works for people with anxiety or depression or physically fatigued. ❤ For me I’m moving abroad in November so I have no choice but to purge everything hard core. My goal is to sell enough stuff to pay for some of my travel expenses. Some days are hard, but I have to plow through it for my bigger dream.
I bet decluttering and reorganizing your pantry felt so good. 💜
Dam it pantry does not look like a hoarders pantry! Are just wanting everything to look matched and labeled uniform? Let me see what the pantry looks like now omg 😊
I didn't keep anything for 'what if'. I'm still going. First I build a little declutter muscles by going over my house twice. Then (this week) I went over the attic. The garage is already done. So dare I say... I'm done!! BUT I also found out that decluttering is an ongoing event. I love you videos! 😊
I'm buried in my stuff I don't know what to do it's so overwhelming I want to make a cosy clean minimalistic home for me and my family but I just can't I can't make up my mind what to throw away and what to keep and what to put where I don't have enough storage space don't even know where to start I wish I could just wake up and have it all be gone so I don't have to look at each thing individually because it's impossible to decide what to keep every time I want to throw something away I always think I'm going to need it and it goes back into the pile of everything
You are exactly where I was. 4 years ago I was paralyzed by my clutter, too afraid to let anything go because “what if I need it”. I just wanted to wake up and have it gone. Girl, you are the boss of all that stuff. Stop letting it tell you what kind of life you’re going to live (a life of cluttered stress, everything demanding your attention and making you spend WAY more time cleaning and looking for stuff). You tell that stuff who’s boss TODAY. You have more interesting things to do with your life!!!!!!! You can DO IT!!!!!!!
@@FancyThatwithCandice amen sister 😁 today I did my 1st cluttered drawer, felt so good to see it empty, but I get anxious looking at the box of what to keep what to throw away, how do I decide what goes if I could think of a use for it?
I also went through my clothes last year and i took out a big trash bag. Now i am looking at your video i really need to start again but in other parts of my house like kids items.
I just love you and your video. I ride my exersize bike in the morning and watch you tube on a TV and today I found your inspiring video. Each one of you decluttering/minimalist people have your own take on the subjects and I love all of this as it keeps my clutter out and keeps me from bringing more in. I have to watch you guys to counter-act all of the ads that push us to become hoarders. Thanks for your inspiration.
Love the thing about this is YOUR stuff, and YOU are in charge of it. I am moving in a week, and friends and family think they know what is best as far as decluttering, and packing, and this and that. I hardly ever have visitors, so it's me and the junk 24 hours a day, and I have got rid of so much. I have friends that say, oh, you should only move this many boxes, and relatives, oh, you have to keep this! I did throw away one thing that meant the world to me, more than in frustration than anything, and no, I will probably not forgive myself for that. It's not replaceable. But had I said at the beginning, this is MINE, and I will decide, so much grief would have been avoided.
Look up textile recyling in your area. All textiles, (clothes, sheets, towels, etc.) that are too far gone to donate to resale, can go to textile recycle and kept out of landfill as these items can be made into rags or they use it to make insulation.
Just spent a month decluttering my entire house. WOW it was like a weight being lifted off. And…I do not miss anything I got rid of during the declutter process. My house feels better and now I have time to concentrate on things I really enjoy.
I love this. I’m like you, Marie Condos method is overwhelming to me and I was on a decluttering rampage too. Once I realized I didn’t have to keep stuff “just because” I felt so free!! ❤
YES!! Once you realize that you don't HAVE to keep stuff, it's the most freeing feeling!! We got rid of SO MUCH during our first year of decluttering! I will never go back to how my house was before!
@@FancyThatwithCandice I have been daydreaming about becoming a professional organizer, mainly to help people declutter and find freedom from their stuff that’s overwhelming their homes and minds.
Yeah I don't like that method either...nit overwhelming but you have to do what works for you and not cause a ton of anxiety issues 😊
Really loved this video, I want to watch it a second time because there's so much to learn.
I can completely relate to feeling overwhelmed and wanting things out of my house fast!
But because I have been a minimalist for so many years and decluttering daily, it's actually harder now because everything that's left is something that I love and use.
I would really appreciate a video on what to do if you still feel overwhelmed by your clutter, but you are already down to your favorites in every category? ❤
We have one of our children moving out this week, and it's been very interesting.
They have learned more about themselves, just packing up boxes.
Keeping out only items needed for school, work, and daily activities.
Needless to say, donations are easier letting go of over weekends of packing up than waiting for the last minute.
I told them unboxing afterward, "You know everything is a keeper."
When I declutter I just have the urgency to let it go that I cannot (and will not) put myself through the hassle of posting things to sell. I did try at the beginning of my journey, it was too much of a pain in the neck. Not worth my peace of mind. So I totally get the feeling. If I'm ready to let go, I don't want that item sitting in my small apartment for 1 more month until it is sold. (If Im lucky).
New subscriber here 🙋🏼♀️ who can totally relate to every habit, emotion, etc you expressed and talked about! Can’t wait to get to this point in my home as well. Also looking forward to watching more of your videos … thank you for sharing your experiences!
This is so empowering! I think many of us are tied up in a false sense of duty. I have always thrown away useless things regularly, but I had to be taught that I can toss things I just don't want, too, even if they've been given to me, and even if I could use it. There is community reuse center near me, and imagining that someone else could use it, without any pressure to accept it, or if it's useless, the staff will remove it, makes it so much easier to get rid of things. It's out of my hands, literally and figuratively.
Your description of yourself as a "stuffer" made me aware of this: Our parents couldn't just teach us to manage an abundance of stuff, and not let it become overwhelming, because they didn't grow up with so much stuff. And to make this a "double whammy": The abundance of stuff itself, or of money, to buy stuff, made it seem like there was no reason to learn simple household chores they themselves actually had been taught. So we end up a bit stupid and lost. Your channel helps a lot, though!
That’s my story tired of managing the stuff, especially stuff I didn’t love. My question is if I wouldn’t pack it and pay movers to move it why am I keeping it in my home! No longer have a ton in my home.
I love this way of thinking about it!! It really helps put things into perspective!
Excellent video. I am mid declutter and can't believe how much stuff I have that I don't use/wear/look at. It's making me feel so good to be able to get rid of things. I think you've done an amazing job!
Great video! So encouraging and DE-stressing hearing how you got over the common hurdles and gave yourself permission to "do it your way" and take a break when you felt you needed it. (Read an article recently that Marie Kondo has even walked back some of her method after having a child, herself. Always good to be flexible and change based on new situations or information.)
I get so overwhelmed in seeing the stuff and so overwhelmed trying to deal with it. thank you for the help and I'm going to start trying to tackle the small corners one at a time.
YES!!!! One corner at a time!!! You can DO IT!!
This was the most helpful video on decluttering I’ve ever watched, and I have watched a TON! I loved how you shared your apprehensions, the struggles, what worked and what didn’t work, but especially what you expected to GAIN and how that came to fruition! Thank you for sharing!!
I usually have at least two yardsales and than donate...why nit make some kind of money back in the process? And if I got the time to do it? I have used different apps to sell stuff if I just got a few items and I usually make more money in the end. And I'm getting rid of stuff at the same time. I know it's not for everyone but it works for me. It really helped during covid and I was out of work for a year.
Thank you. Feeling down today. I watch you n you are contagious. You make me laugh. Inspired by you to declutter too.
This is my first time listening to you and all I can say is thank you, I feel normal after listening to you! I retired last June from forty years of elementary school teaching and thought, this will be easy to finally clean up my cluttered house. But no, even when I wrote out a daily lesson plans to declutter, I got deeply overwhelmed. My clutter is from a divorce where I had to quickly move from a large five bedroom house (which was beautiful, organized, and people said looked like a bed and breakfast) to a small three bedroom house. The clutter is also from all the supplies I collected over all the years of teaching. It seems like summers would've been the best time to tackle it all but that was much needed time to relax from the school year and then prepare for the next. Plus, life just happened, taking care of my elderly parents and my daughter.
My classrooms were always well organized because I had shelves, cubbies, and special areas for everything. I'm wanting to clear my jam packed garage and one of my bedrooms. I had these great plans to have garage sales but that didn't work so a friend told me to just get rid of things, to either trash, donate, or keep. I do want to keep some teaching supplies for younger grades because I would like to teach again in some capacity, maybe tutor or teach small groups.. It's hard to decide what supplies to keep and what to give away because everything has a valuable purpose. But, I thought to just keep some reading and math items for beginning skills as well as some of my favorite books (I have a lot of favorite books!). I did give some things to a few teachers that I knew would use them. I have a pile of books ready to give to my school librarian friend.
Last month, I had a donation truck come by and pick up round one, thirty boxes. (I don't miss anything!) I still have a whole lot more to go. I've made a little progress but I'm still very overwhelmed and disappointed it's taken me so long. Then I heard how long it took you! Wow! Thank you for your great advice and encouragement! You're a beautiful lady! God bless you!
I am an elementary school teacher, too!!! I have taken several years off to raise my kids, but I am headed back to the classroom soon!!! I got rid of SO MUCH teaching stuff...some of it I wonder now if I'll miss, but you know what? I can't even remember what I donated!! Haha!!! The dozens of "teaching boxes" were taking over my basement, it felt so good to get them OUT!!! I have a lot of favorite books, too!!! What are some that you love? And round one of your declutter sounds like a TOTAL success!!!! Whoooo!!!!
Love this video bc you are so open & honest about all of the stuff you had! It’s encouraging actually to see the piles & messes! I completely agree about the Marie Kondo method-total overwhelm! Total anxiety! Lordy! I’m much more a “bite-sized” declutterer! BTW, you are beautiful, & I’m so jealous of your flawless complexion.
awwww you are so sweet!! The camera lense definitely smoothes out my complexion! lol and YES!! Bite sized decluttering is very effective!
I am in the process of trying to declutter and downsize from a house to an apartment. I’m overwhelmed and can’t seem to finish one project before moving to another. I don’t know how to organize. I searched for help and came across this video.
Girlfriend, that is the most honest statement "I don't know how to organize"!
I can declutter to the bare walls but I still don't know how to organize the keepers, or my time & energy.
I've read all the books, watched all the videos on the subject but am still overwhelmed with it all. . .something just isn't clicking into place for me. 😢
@@briannab5296 ♥️
Nice video and you look so beautiful. A few years back I got rid of 90 % of my stuff. I was sick and did not have the energy to manage my stuff. It was famtastic life changing. Then I met my now fiance. He is more a hoarder. Started living together. Got a baby. And I am so overwhelmed by the (ugly) stuff. I just dont feel like I can get rid of the stuff I want because it is from my boyfriend. Also no time. What did you do with your partners stuff?
Congrats on the baby first of all!!! And partners stuff can be really tough. I say lead by example, but also tell him what a toll the excess clutter takes on your mental health!! Hopefully that will help motivate him to help with clutter!
This was so helpful and inspiring that it motivated me to continue my decluttering. I have several trips a week to my local charity shops a week taking just a few items that I feel might be of some value to someone. I have even persuaded charity shop workers to take one or two items in spite of a large sign saying, ‘No donations today’. They don’t like numerous large bags of stuff to sort. I am inspired by the ‘Gentle art of death cleaning’ a Swedish concept in which you sort your own stuff before you die instead of leaving it to your loved ones. I live in the U.K.
I'm so proud of you for continuing the decluttering journey!! Anyone who has ever undertaken it knows it is TOUGH and requires lots of energy and thought!!
This is me! We just had our 3rd in February 2023 and I am so overwhelmed. A hamster wheel for sure! I am so glad I stumbled upon this video. I can do this! Right!? 😬🤞💗
This is my favorite video of yours! Loved all the "before" footage.
I'm so happy you enjoyed it!! I love before footage too!! Glad I was able to include it!
Do you have a link to your bed frame? It's gorgeous! Decluttering is definitely a process. Weather permitting, I put things at the end of my driveway that I want to donate, it's always gone in a day or two. It saves me a trip. I find the more decluttering we do, the more we can see how beneficial it is, like easier cleaning and a more calm and peaceful environment. Love all your videos
They don't sell my bedframe anymore, but I got it at a store called Down East!
Thank you for your honesty I needed that I really did thank you. I put things together also i'm gonna keep watching
I love your house!
😊
I love hearing your revelations!
I started my minimalist lifestyle 8 years ago and still do full house decluttering twice a year - like you, with a whole-home checklist and a plan - no matter how I "feel" about it
Keep it up -- always rooting for my favorite TH-camr!
The konmari method really worked for me as a start, even though I am prone to anxiety. It helped me see the progress I was making.
Thank you for your incredible insight. I too came to the realization that I was the only thing holding me back. I am starting to regain control of both my physical self and my environment. It feels like my house and I are both on a diet and weight loss in one area is a win for both. Kinda funny, but I don’t know how else to describe it. I only know I’m starting to feel like I can breathe again and it feels so good! Good luck to all in this journey. It will be so incredibly worth it❤
I am decluttering and working on getting processes set for my home. I am tired of having too much, never feeling caught up, cleaning yet never being done. It is just too much.
The other day I went through my closet and it is making me so happy. Finding your channel has been a blessing.
That's amazing that you're going through your closet! That's going to make a huge difference!! So happy my videos are helpful!
I dont know how to get a hold on the amount mail that comes in. I’m in ever lift to not get junk mail and I do anyway. Also I want to just give stuff away no matter what I paid for it instead of trying to see on market place etc. I can get my husband on board. We are both overwhelmed also and grieving the loss of our daughter unexpectedly a year ago. We both few up in large families with the necessities but poor
My heart goes out to you with your loss. I’m so sorry. Just take each day at a time, decluttering a tiny bit here and there. Sending you love ❤️
awesome clip ... as a someone very sensitive to germs, dust and such, i hate cleaning too, but having a lab clean place is a must for me, and thhis makes a struggle
I have periodically decluttered my house and recommend that everyone do it at least once a year. During the pandemic, I bought a ton of stuff,to calm my anxiety that it would be hard to buy things after the pandemic. I greatly overestimated what I would need and now I have to go through everything and get rid of the stuff I'm not likely to use or will expire before I can use it. It is a pain but will be well worth it when I have a clutter-free house again.
Yes!! you can do it!!! The pandemic was such a hard time for everyone!
Thank you for sharing. Brilliant video . I appreciate how honest you was about your journey.thanks. Also you showed a quick clip of your hall way..actually being British I’m not sure if you call it that , I think you say entry way ..I’m not sure🤔 . Anyway I wanted to say I don’t remember it being painted..it was white..but I think I’m remembering when you moved in..but I wanted to say wow the colour on panel and door was beautiful..possible the same as the piano🤔..but anyhow it looks stunning.🇬🇧👍🏻💛🤍
So encouraging! 🎉🎉🎉
Could you do a video on how you changed your shopping habits?
This video was great ! It was so nice to know I’m not alone. I’ve been de cluttering for 6 months. I’ve taken truck loads to the GW and I’ve had 2 yards sales and I’m working on a 3rd.
I have ADHD and I spend a lot of my time going in circles.
I too have bad shopping habits! I would love to hear more about your journey ❤
The video on shopping habits is coming tomorrow!!! Thanks for the video suggestion!
The piles make me anxious, but it also gives me a realization of what I have. If I pick up one shirt, I'll be like "oh, I like this one. But I may not like it more than the 50 others that are hanging in the closet. So, mental overview without the piles is what I'm trying to master.
Yes, I think that's what maries system is trying to show you...how much you REALLY have! But didn't work great for my overwhelmed brain!
@@FancyThatwithCandice I agree!!!! My brain is overwhelmed by clutter, but I also have undiagnosed ADHD, and grew up with older parents that were raised to save EVERYTHING, so I'm fighting an uphill battle. But I LOVE watching your channel! Your style speaks to me! Clean, bright, airy, inviting!!!
I have been going at it again. From my experience sometimes it’s best just to throw things away specially if I try to declutter the day before trash day. 99 % of the times the items I plan to donate or give away to family end up staying I my garage for months and made me feel like I didn’t accomplished much.
Uggg isn't it so discouraging the "messages" our stuff sends us?! You are doing AMAZING!!! Don't let your stuff "boss you around"!
I agree! Most women way overestimate how desirable their stuff is, or else they're too stingy to pay for having their junk hauled away. They would rather put that burden on the charity stores, which is really rotten, imo. More people need to pull on their big girl pants and take the responsibility of throwing their stuff away themselves.
Put it in your car as you purge, then take it directly to the thrift store. Never put it in your garage.
Wow, I’m at the beginning of your story. Since I had my second baby last year, I was so overwhelmed and stressed and didn’t understand why I couldn’t enjoy his newborn days more (plus nursing was difficult). This past fall something changed and I decided that it was time for me to declutter. I’ve been at it since, very slowly but it has picked up this spring. Good idea to make a plan, I think I will start a list to help me stay motivated. I’ve gotten rid of a bunch but have a ways to go. Thanks again for the encouragement!
We always have to be getting rid of stuff! No other way of having a decent looking home!
Thanks for this! You have given me hope for my own home. I have the same fears you had but I sure do need to get decluttering more and more. I have done quite a bit but I still have a long ways to go! You have inspired me, so I will carry on!
We all need a decluttering group close by . Help one another!
Clearing up after having a baby does not need to be a priority so long as the things that need to be clean are clean. I used to make sure the bathroom and kitchen were clean if not tidy and that the baby clothes were laundered but left everything else. It does not matter.
As I age, I find I don't need things. I do have a serious case of "just in case" items..I am slowly making progress. Sometimes I think it will never end. Thanks to you though, I know this is a journey! Amazing video!
YES!!! Celebrate any progress!! It all adds up over time!! Keep going!!
love this so, so much. SO happy for you! yesssssss
Im a collector. So going minimalist would be difficult. I am not a minimalist but I do practice minimalism. I declutter and try to buy with purpose. I have a LOT of stuff. But heres the thing. For a few years I would clear things out every half a year because sometimes it takes a few rounds to let people go. Now I still declutter but at this point its like half a brown paper bag a year unlike in the start. I want to have the stuff I need or could use but theres things you just don’t need. Old clothes that you don’t like or don’t fit. Books you won’t read or reference again and hold no value to you. 20 of the same pair of tongs in the kitchen when you hardly ever use them. Cups I don’t use when I have like 40 mugs because again I collect certain things. I have about half of what I owned before.
Wonderful
Thanks for the video. I also felt busy all day with the stuff. MO one really understood what I did all day but it's all the stuff and bring in the stuff in the home. A vicious cycle it was. Thank you for being real
It really is a vicious cycle!! So happy we know how to break it!
First I want to say that I loved your video. I like how it took you up to a year to be where you wanted to be
That takes a lot of pressure off that you need to get it all done in a month . Second I want to say that you are a very pretty young lady. Your smile is beautiful. Keep up the good work❤
Thank you so much!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I needed to see this today to get me motivated! I'm so glad this came up in my recommended.