My house DID burn down! The things we missed are photographs, wedding dress, kids baby clothes, diaries, journals, art portfolios.... sigh. It was the worst thing that happened to our family... and also the best. ANYHOO. But it was VERY freeing - getting rid of physical stuff brings a lot of lightness!
OMG! I finally just saw this comment. So sorry that happened to you. I'm glad it's... also the best thing that happened? Or that you at least can see the good side of it.
@@wheezywaiter this is why it was the best: we had been wanting to move cities for a few years, and I kinda enjoyed my job, and life was... just fine. But not wonderful. The house burning down put a lot of things in perspective and we also had no stuff to move, so it was so much easier! (Also its a great answer when people start questioning your choices, its a good conversation ender.) It was a bit of a stressful time, but now we live near the sea, I run my own business and I'm just generally much braver! Thanks for the vids!
Chyna, in terms of clothes, we sometimes have to let go of "our fantasy self". I don't remember who I saw coin that phrase but it really helped me. My fantasy self enjoys that beautiful sweater but my actual self gets hot and sweaty when I wear it.
I was just thinking of sharing this same idea! The "fantasy self" is a really powerful concept for reframing all those items we hold onto but don't use. In addition to clothes, I think that the board game collection could potentially fall under this rubric as well, since they haven't been used in such a long time. If they would like to start playing board games more often I would suggest looking up local board gaming clubs online, or potentially starting their own on a site like Meetup. I found a club like that online when I moved to a new city years ago, and made the majority of my local friends through it.
The thing that has helped me prevent clutter is to stop getting useless crap. If I'm tempted to get a thing, I ask myself "where will this thing go?" and if said thing has nowhere to go and does not justify an additional purchase of somewhere to put it, I don't acquire said thing. It's amazing how effective this is at not only preventing clutter, but also not wasting money.
It's why I often dread receiving gifts. I get things I don't want to fill the space I don't have and feel bad about getting rid of (at least before holding onto it for a certain amount of time) and also feel bad that someone wasted their money on a gift I don't want.
Had a few victories on that front recently. Pined for a thing, then thought about how much of a pain it would be to display it, and it would just sit there with little utility... was a relief
@tinnie75 tell anyone who might get you a gift, that you just LOVE things that happen to be consumable and easily re-giftable, like wine, chocolate, coffee, tea, etc. I've started doing that, and I also give those things as gifts 95% of the time. They're easy to get, come in a variety of price ranges, and they pass the "gift test" of not being too "practical." Not to mention, imo, they're very good gifts. If you get someone a new coffee, and they really love it, they'll thank you for improving their mornings. That, or hint at things you actually need/would really enjoy. But that often doesn't work as well because they might (understandably) get a detail wrong about the thing you want, or just miss the hints.
This is the way to do it. I’m sick of the mentality of “I can buy this thing again for 10.00 if I end up needing it again” like, yes things are cheap now, but we are also constantly contributing to landfills. Don’t buy shit you don’t need - borrow, buy second-hand, rent, etc. before simply “tossing” and for example. if you have board games that you don’t play, give them to a friend who enjoys board games or start trying to play them more instead of getting rid of them and buying them again later when you go through a board game kick.
I like the Swedish death cleaning philosophy for decluttering. For some reason, contemplating my own mortality just really gets me more motivated to properly declutter. XD Like we probably all have at least one random box that we've held on to for years, stuffed away in a closet somewhere, because we "might need it someday," right? Thinking about the fact that I could die unexpectedly and my family would have to deal with sorting through all my possessions gets me to finally admit to myself that that box will never be used and it is only a matter of time before it goes to the recycle bin, so I might as well save my family the trouble of having to put it there and just do it myself already.
My wife and I recently instituted a 10 minute pickup before bed. It has been one of the best things we've done. The mess is managed and the clutter is still there, but it isn't strewn about. I know many probably don't have this as an issue, because they already do pick up, or pick up as they go... but picking up is an effort for me and my wife, but this was amazing for us! Still need to do the decluttering though!!
Wheezy Waiter had a video a while back about doing a "reset" before bed (same as what you do) and I had been inspired by that and have done it ever since! th-cam.com/video/LPTo8L4fec0/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=WheezyWaiter
I have chronic illness which comes with a brain fog, so I often can't find stuff. Decluttering and using boxes and bins for categories of stuff was so helpful. Now I don't need to remember where I put a specific thing, just where I keep things in that category. Problem solved! And not constantly facing the impact of my condition makes me feel a lot better about life.
A rule I also use is after a major declutter I follow it with a “no buy” year (or month or week if you’re starting with baby steps). I only buy food or necessities, like toilet paper and soap..
I'm trying that (one month at a time). So far, its been really challenging! Getting the balance between budgeting for wants vs deprivation has been tricky. Definitely a worthwhile thing to try though.
Long-time watcher, first-time commenter here: I just want to say a huge thank you for adding closed captions to all your videos! Makes for such a nice viewing experience compared to automated ones, and I for one really appreciate it. Great video, as always!
yup, decluttering is like peeling the onion, lots of layers of unimportant clutter before we get to the really important items ... and sometimes finding 'lost stuff' can make you cry when you have to make a decision about it. Peter Walsh and many other decluttering gurus say "clutter is unmade decisions"
The whole "I want to do this" part of Day 5 is a really good highlight of how sometimes when we say "I want to do this" what we mean is "I want to have done this." Acknowledging that very small difference can be very helpful when you're dealing with a big daunting task or, more likely, when you're getting flack from other people when you complain about how much of a slog the big daunting task is. "But you wanted to do this!" No, I wanted this DONE.
The container concept has worked well for me - you can keep anything, but you can't keep EVERYTHING as you are limited by the space allowed those items. Our retro video game systems live in a single console table (just don't ask me about cable management... 😅)
I love The Minimal Mom’s concept of when you stay at a holiday house and the bare cooking/cleaning necessities are there and you’ve packed only what you need. It means your clothes towels and dishes can’t pile up so you just clean what you have. It’s a great starting point and from there you keep your must-haves such as photos, important documents, and whatever recreational stuff you are currently using. Quarantine the rest into boxes and after say 12 months if you have returned for items in that time, keep those and donate/sell/recycle/discard the rest. Just think twice before making purchases you don’t need or swap 1:1. Cleaning your house will be a breeze without clutter.
Warning, may not work if you have ADHD and don't remember things exist if you can't see them. I tried something like this and accidentally rebought a bunch of stuff I didn't remember packing away.
Strongly agree! I feel like I've been through all the techniques over the decades. Esp. for an ADHD-type brain, her method is the most realistic and doable I've found.
Echoing the recommendations for Dana K White's books & videos. Her "5-step decluttering method" is the most realistic I've found after decades of trying options. Recommend her for neurodiverse folks, as well.
Pretty much everything Chyna said resonates with me. I leave messes because it’s overwhelming to put things away. I’m using the next week to make a dent. 10 minutes whenever I can at least once per day for the next seven days
Another TH-camr pointed out the importance of keeping a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. I bought one for the first time. A fire extinguisher in the kitchen is a good idea, it's a big life lesson I learned from Overcooked
Decluttering isn't a target, it's a process. I learned it needs to be actively implemented into one's lifestyle and executed with consistency in order for it to be worthwhile instead of a chore. Pruning a section of a garden once a week is easier than planting an entirely new garden every 6 months.
And better board games, too. Monopoly just isn't a very fun game. Although to be fair they had some decent ones in their collection like Ticket to Ride, Dominion, Pandemic, Carcasonne.
Came here to sy this - yep - certainly get rid of all your current board games 😇 then pick up better ones with solo modes - no need for organising a game night .
You NEED to release a feature film that YOU edit because the tone, voice, and idk personality of your editing even in this more straightforward video is so RICH!! Like years of editing really show in the characterization in your layering and jumpcuts like GOD that’s on Craft
I love how real you two are about it. Decluttering is a pain in the butt during the process, but it does really help take away extra stress when you're finished. One thing I did to cut down our board games was to focus on keeping mostly card-style games like Cards Against Humanity or Uno. They take up so much less space and you can still have a game night with friends with just a deck of cards. I now have one shoe box filled with those sorts of games, playing cards, and dice games like Left Right Center that you can buy at the Dollar Store in small tubes. They all fit together in one shoe box, which is much easier to store than an entire closet of huge, awkward game boxes (which is what we had before). And it accomplishes the exact same thing when you want to play a game when you are spending time with friends.
I've done several decluttering projects over the years. Letting go of the idea that I'll never have to do it again has helped. Being much more careful about what I bring into the house and doing mini declutters has been a huge help in keeping things organized and relatively peaceful.
You can quarantine the games and books and anything you want. Just set a date and stick to it 😜 Also, Chyna put a bin or box in the bottom of your closet for donations and once it's full put it in the car and make Craig get rid of it (or go yourself and stop for coffee 💝)
My local Buy Nothing group has been so helpful for decluttering! I don't tend to get emotionally attached to things as much as I hate to be wasteful. Having a local group where I can go, "Hey, does anyone need this blanket?" has been wonderful. I also sometimes find something that I maybe /am/ emotionally attached to, but just don't need/don't have space for. It helps me a lot to think, "This thing can't serve its purpose right now. I can't display this artwork, or use this coffee mug, or read this book etc., because I have so much stuff it's getting lost in the shuffle. Rather than sitting on it like a dragon, I'm going to give it to someone who /can/ use it." Doesn't necessarily help keep clutter from happening in the first place, but takes all the sting out of de-cluttering.
I saw one of your decluttering videos a few years ago and it was life changing. It set me on a path for a minimal home that has completely changed how I function with ADHD. I had no idea that decluttering would make such a huge difference in my life. Also, I'm with Chyna, kids books are some of the hardest things for me to part with - oh the memories!
I love decluttering because of the sense of achievement I get with every item i can let go of. And the calm I experience after I have removed it and feel my space be much much spacious ❤
I've grown so close to this channel, it feels like a gift whenever Craig posts. And it's like the gift is wrapped in a nice paper and bathed in a yummy perfume when the video features Craig's family
tip! I find that when i feel like i need bins, boxes, or like organizers for a draw I try to see if I can take just a regular old cardboard box for it. I'll cut it up and if its going to be seen I will turn it into a crafting project and make it look cute. I reused and upcycled a box and didnt have to buy any more junk! and If I don't end up using it it wasnt a waste of money.
I like watching decluttering videos because after each one, including this one, I find at least a few things to either donate or toss. Yes, it's an ongoing activity and I'm okay with that.
Lived through a house fire as a teenager, lost two collections of leather bound library books, one classical library from each grandmother. Still miss them 50 years later. Family lost all photos ever taken for four generations and other inheritances -- such as a trunk that came over on one of the last wagon trains that came to our state when a great grandmother was a child. Beautiful objects that were purchased by my parents who had to wait until their old age to afford them and gave them great joy to have. All of my father's Gibson Guitars (he was a musician) some of which he saved for years to afford and had played and performed with for more than 30 years at the time. Simple things, like a large cast iron frying pan that had cooked thousands of meals over 100 years. Heirloom china set my mother had inherited. I could go on.
The main declutter argument I see is the ratio of space you live in that your mortgage payment covers vs the space you lose due to crap that you pay for living in but can’t
I love decluttering! I have been peeling back the layers for the past 4 years. I love having a simplified space- the mental clarity and calm it provides is essential to me!
Bloody love this video but especially Chyna’s fashion sense. The tattoos look so good on her, as always. She must have an amazing tattoo artist! Also I found it hilarious that her WHOLE face was covered by the outro cards while Craig was barely peeking out. Those little details.. make me wheeze with laughter. 😂
oh wow! thank you thank you! glad you liked it! And I too like Chyna’s tattoos. Good thing I do because she’s got a lot of them and she keeps getting them!
Every 6 months, I have to clean a pile or two from my house (usually just a desk or something where stuff accumulates). And it always happens in a frustration fueled insanity and I end at 2 am, so good on you for doing this like normal people.
Filled a dumpster twice last summer and held a two-day yard sale - liberating! Six months later, haven’t missed a thing. Could we do more? Yes. Will we? Not in our future plans. Also, helped my sister with a two-day yard sale of our late brother’s possessions. Once again, liberating!
I have some problem getting rid of things. But I've been helped with letting things go by taking a photo of it. If it's something you pick up, get fuzzy feelings about and then throw back in the box for another 3years just to repeat - take a picture of it and get rid of it. You will still get the fuzzy feelings and the memories that goes with the object but you don't have a storage room filled to the brim with stuff :)
Gotta give a full year for the clothes quarantine rule. You won't wear any heavy winter clothes in six months if you declutter in spring. I nearly got rid of some knitwear that I'm now depending on for warmth.
This is perfect timing considering I'm taking the day off Monday so I can have a long weekend dedicated solely to decluttering and organising my room - thank you adhd for turning cleaning 1 room into a long weekend endurance event
I'm moving 1100 miles in a few months and have just started my decluttering journey before I start packing, so this video is coming at the perfect time!
Batteries were called a 'battery pile' back in the day, they started as a stack of metal plates in acid. Dangerous and fun! Thank you Weezy for not mentioning the other kind of piles.
I'm preparing to move in a few months and so my question is "do i want to pack this up and pay to move it and un pack it again?" XD My biggest hurdle will be when I deal with my art. Oh boy so many art things. Great video ya'll!
If you all keep going with decluttering, it'd be cool to see you try different systems. Dana K. White's is my favorite. Very motivational video! Loved seeing lots of Chyna - y'all's banter is a delight!
Great vid ! Just ( today!) donated & sold some stuff that I’m not using… after watching your video !! Thx 4 the inspiration ! I feel lighter once again … & am ready for MORE ! Free up that space ! My space is def limited in my sweet bur small 1 bedroom apt ! New viewer & subscriber here ! Was all set to sign up for delete me, too ! But they don't offer monthly pmts . Dang ! Cheers ! Liz
As a mom with two very active boys under the age of five, I used the Marie Kondo method, and the thing I took from it was two things. 1- it is really ok not to hold onto things you really don't want and it's ok to keep things that bring you joy, which lead to 2- Spending the small amount of time tidying everyday was enjoyable because it allowed me to spend more time with my kids and they also learned to clean up after themselves. In the end I didn't follow her method to the letter but took some really great principles and ran with them. Hope it helps! You can do this!
We spend a whole bunch of life acquiring the things we want and need. It shouldn't shock us that we have to commit some regular chunks of time de-acquiring things we're finished with - and yet!
Chyna you know in bluey where the one dog says to chili, you're doing great, I think it's in baby race well YOU are doing great. And laughing together is good for the heart happy Valentine's Day
I really enjoy your videos. I never have to be disappointed, no matter what the subject. You are really good at talking and I don't care if you talk about caffeine, sleep or bird poop.
We had to do a major declutter, before moving to Europe from a 3-bedroom in California. Our goal was to get everything into a lift van (think of a walk-in closet, with the floor space of two pallets), The easiest decision was anything that would only work on 110V/60Hz. Then, anything worn/broken/cheap. The difficult bits were those with practically any memory attached. My mantra was "if in doubt, make the brutal choice". A year later, I'm wishing I would have kept a handful of my nicer ties, and an old fedora, that would be perfect for an 80's-themed music video I'm currently working on (all of which could have gone, _after_ this project). From time to time, it really annoys me to have to buy something _again_ But, that's mostly due to the fact that it ends up being 5 times as expensive here (or, the only replacement is an inferior knockoff, because the US-based company that invented and perfected it doesn't have a local distributor). On the whole, it did feel really good to part with things that had never even found their way out of boxes, through three previous moves (including one FL to CA cross-country)
With kids, second-hand/consignment stores and yard sales are the best! After each phase they grow out of, the children's consignment shops or a yard sale were a great way to declutter & get some dough for the next phase
Recently finished phase 1 of a declutter before getting a cat. I recycled and binned loads. Everything left is ordered and boxed. I need to do phase 2 where I go through some of the boxes being even more harsh. I think phase 2 will mark the end of it and I can die without embarrassment. 😀
Echoing what Chyna said. Needing vs appreciating said item. What is my jam vs what I see and like on others... great insight. And that heaviness can also be motivation. Motivation doesnonly look or feel one way.
i hope you guys make it big. I havent laughed this hard in a long time. Ive been into minimalism for 8ish years. I Still havent "arrived". I have never seen your vlogs till this morning. Your name not having minimal in it probably doesnt give you the exposure you all deserve. I bet you'd be up there big with Dawn, The Minimal Mom, and Cass, and Jess, and Dana K White, and many others. you al deserve to go BIG! Thanks for making these.
Ok, just saw you have a million plus subscribers, I guess you are already BIG. Shoot for the stars and go 2 million by getting into the minimal groups. Love your videos!!
i do enjoy decluttering in general because i hate tidying up, so taking a whole day/weekend to deal eith stuff is easier than daily pickups. that said, i'n a maximalist with a lobe for trinkets, so my declutter is way less dramatic. i'm an anticapitalist maximalist, so changing my buying habits to include less crap makes me value my non crappy trinkets way more
I miss Chyna's Instagram! she posted all kinds of awesome DIY home improvement projects there after they bought the house. I found it inspirational. I get why we all feel the need to to scale back on social media, but I miss it anyway.
One of our rules is that things have to serve more than one purpose - or if they have only one purpose, do they get used almost every day? (We live in an rv so space is limited)
I am a chronic getter-ridder and there are *definitely* some things I *deeply* regret getting rid of. Right now it's a leather handbag I used as a small diaper bag. I got rid of it because I don't like big handbags and only want to use really small ones or pockets. HOWEVER!!!! Now I'm a knitter and that bag would be *PERFECT* for carrying around my knitting and I am so ticked I got rid of it. Having said that, I have got rid of thousands of things over my lifetime and I regret maybe 3-5 things.
Hi !!!! I am a certified konmari organizer and I was screaming at my screen, dying to give you some tips on decluttering for the long term. BTW, Marie Kondo did not give up, she just said that joy should be at the centre of your life, and that it's ok if a few things are in sight. If you ever feel like giving her method a try, hit me up!
I think it is helpful to know your organization style. I am a broad categories and visual person. If I stick stuff in a bin I might as well nor own it because I will forget it exists.
I think the board game thing is interesting. It exposes two ways of thinking. One way is "These are small and are already in their place, so to me that take up no space". The other is "These exist in our home so they take up mental space". I feel like I fall more into the latter camp. It's not about the size of the objects for me, but the quantity. How many belongings do I have that I never use? Even if they are small.
I don't love decluttering, but I love how I feel after I have decluttered lol. I first learned about the container method from Dana. K. White and it was life changing. Basically you identify your container (example, bookcase), and you only keep books that fit neatly into that container.
I only kept books that fit on my Kindle. Got rid of 52 boxes of books. My only regret: 2 boxes of books I'd set aside to revisit got put in the truck and taken to the donation place. I probably would have gotten rid of most of those anyway, but I wanted to at least look more closely. Now, all I have is about a dozen books that I didn't donate and couldn't get on Kindle.
@@tetedur377 I still have LOTS of books because MOST of them are NOT on Kindle. The reason I bought so many in the first place was because the library did not have them. Most of the time I bought a good used one. But still.
I tell myself something 10 times if I can't think why or what I'll think what to do and when I'm consciously thinking I'll just do this this need to be done
I remember the days the Craig had clones that would've decluttered for him. We need a Where Are They Now episode on his clones. I think I saw one begging for coffee under a freeway in Chicago a few weeks ago.
I’m addicted to not having anything … I was a hoarder of movies and now opposite I just see no point owning anything that we want Rather have what I need
"Organizational Porn". That is the funniest statement ever and yet so true it cracks me up. I'm watching this video early today, I will be wearing a smile all day. I have learned that the more I simplify the fewer organize bins I need. I actually just got rid of 2 small bins the other day. Thank you for making me day!!! Goal for the week get rid of some porn
My house DID burn down! The things we missed are photographs, wedding dress, kids baby clothes, diaries, journals, art portfolios.... sigh. It was the worst thing that happened to our family... and also the best. ANYHOO.
But it was VERY freeing - getting rid of physical stuff brings a lot of lightness!
Oh my GOSH 😮 so sorry this happened - how awful.
OMG! I finally just saw this comment. So sorry that happened to you. I'm glad it's... also the best thing that happened? Or that you at least can see the good side of it.
@@wheezywaiter this is why it was the best: we had been wanting to move cities for a few years, and I kinda enjoyed my job, and life was... just fine. But not wonderful. The house burning down put a lot of things in perspective and we also had no stuff to move, so it was so much easier! (Also its a great answer when people start questioning your choices, its a good conversation ender.) It was a bit of a stressful time, but now we live near the sea, I run my own business and I'm just generally much braver!
Thanks for the vids!
@@sarahwoodward1652 Wow, this is so iconic. 👏
My mom passed away and I'm decluttering her house. God Boomers had a lot of stuff. I feel like my generation (Gen X) isn't as acquisitional.
Here to give chyna the appreciation 👏 she 👏 deserves 👏
Chyna, in terms of clothes, we sometimes have to let go of "our fantasy self". I don't remember who I saw coin that phrase but it really helped me. My fantasy self enjoys that beautiful sweater but my actual self gets hot and sweaty when I wear it.
Hannah Louise Poston talks about the fantasy self. wonder if that's where it came from
I was just thinking of sharing this same idea! The "fantasy self" is a really powerful concept for reframing all those items we hold onto but don't use. In addition to clothes, I think that the board game collection could potentially fall under this rubric as well, since they haven't been used in such a long time. If they would like to start playing board games more often I would suggest looking up local board gaming clubs online, or potentially starting their own on a site like Meetup. I found a club like that online when I moved to a new city years ago, and made the majority of my local friends through it.
I have 4 boxes of size "fantasy self" clothes. I just can't seem to get them out the door.🤔
Minimal Mom also uses the term
+
it took me almost a decade of fits and spurts working towards a fully decluttered home. I'm really, really close now and it's so worth it.
Same.
Congratulations! I did it in 2023, ittook the whole year and I enjoyed the process
Yay good job! I'm getting there slowly. It'a very emotional.
It doesn’t ever end
Same I’ve been working since 2019! Making my way little by little!
The thing that has helped me prevent clutter is to stop getting useless crap. If I'm tempted to get a thing, I ask myself "where will this thing go?" and if said thing has nowhere to go and does not justify an additional purchase of somewhere to put it, I don't acquire said thing. It's amazing how effective this is at not only preventing clutter, but also not wasting money.
It's why I often dread receiving gifts. I get things I don't want to fill the space I don't have and feel bad about getting rid of (at least before holding onto it for a certain amount of time) and also feel bad that someone wasted their money on a gift I don't want.
Impossible if you have children. People are constantly giving them useless crap 😬
Had a few victories on that front recently. Pined for a thing, then thought about how much of a pain it would be to display it, and it would just sit there with little utility... was a relief
@tinnie75 tell anyone who might get you a gift, that you just LOVE things that happen to be consumable and easily re-giftable, like wine, chocolate, coffee, tea, etc. I've started doing that, and I also give those things as gifts 95% of the time. They're easy to get, come in a variety of price ranges, and they pass the "gift test" of not being too "practical." Not to mention, imo, they're very good gifts. If you get someone a new coffee, and they really love it, they'll thank you for improving their mornings.
That, or hint at things you actually need/would really enjoy. But that often doesn't work as well because they might (understandably) get a detail wrong about the thing you want, or just miss the hints.
This is the way to do it. I’m sick of the mentality of “I can buy this thing again for 10.00 if I end up needing it again” like, yes things are cheap now, but we are also constantly contributing to landfills. Don’t buy shit you don’t need - borrow, buy second-hand, rent, etc. before simply “tossing” and for example. if you have board games that you don’t play, give them to a friend who enjoys board games or start trying to play them more instead of getting rid of them and buying them again later when you go through a board game kick.
I like the Swedish death cleaning philosophy for decluttering. For some reason, contemplating my own mortality just really gets me more motivated to properly declutter. XD Like we probably all have at least one random box that we've held on to for years, stuffed away in a closet somewhere, because we "might need it someday," right? Thinking about the fact that I could die unexpectedly and my family would have to deal with sorting through all my possessions gets me to finally admit to myself that that box will never be used and it is only a matter of time before it goes to the recycle bin, so I might as well save my family the trouble of having to put it there and just do it myself already.
I've seen that before but with buying stuff! If it's "heirloom quality"
My wife and I recently instituted a 10 minute pickup before bed. It has been one of the best things we've done. The mess is managed and the clutter is still there, but it isn't strewn about. I know many probably don't have this as an issue, because they already do pick up, or pick up as they go... but picking up is an effort for me and my wife, but this was amazing for us! Still need to do the decluttering though!!
Wheezy Waiter had a video a while back about doing a "reset" before bed (same as what you do) and I had been inspired by that and have done it ever since! th-cam.com/video/LPTo8L4fec0/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=WheezyWaiter
I have chronic illness which comes with a brain fog, so I often can't find stuff. Decluttering and using boxes and bins for categories of stuff was so helpful. Now I don't need to remember where I put a specific thing, just where I keep things in that category. Problem solved! And not constantly facing the impact of my condition makes me feel a lot better about life.
Yes
A rule I also use is after a major declutter I follow it with a “no buy” year (or month or week if you’re starting with baby steps). I only buy food or necessities, like toilet paper and soap..
I'm trying that (one month at a time). So far, its been really challenging! Getting the balance between budgeting for wants vs deprivation has been tricky. Definitely a worthwhile thing to try though.
Long-time watcher, first-time commenter here: I just want to say a huge thank you for adding closed captions to all your videos! Makes for such a nice viewing experience compared to automated ones, and I for one really appreciate it. Great video, as always!
yup, decluttering is like peeling the onion, lots of layers of unimportant clutter before we get to the really important items ... and sometimes finding 'lost stuff' can make you cry when you have to make a decision about it. Peter Walsh and many other decluttering gurus say "clutter is unmade decisions"
The whole "I want to do this" part of Day 5 is a really good highlight of how sometimes when we say "I want to do this" what we mean is "I want to have done this." Acknowledging that very small difference can be very helpful when you're dealing with a big daunting task or, more likely, when you're getting flack from other people when you complain about how much of a slog the big daunting task is. "But you wanted to do this!" No, I wanted this DONE.
The container concept has worked well for me - you can keep anything, but you can't keep EVERYTHING as you are limited by the space allowed those items. Our retro video game systems live in a single console table (just don't ask me about cable management... 😅)
I love The Minimal Mom’s concept of when you stay at a holiday house and the bare cooking/cleaning necessities are there and you’ve packed only what you need. It means your clothes towels and dishes can’t pile up so you just clean what you have. It’s a great starting point and from there you keep your must-haves such as photos, important documents, and whatever recreational stuff you are currently using. Quarantine the rest into boxes and after say 12 months if you have returned for items in that time, keep those and donate/sell/recycle/discard the rest. Just think twice before making purchases you don’t need or swap 1:1. Cleaning your house will be a breeze without clutter.
Minimal Mom is awesome
Warning, may not work if you have ADHD and don't remember things exist if you can't see them. I tried something like this and accidentally rebought a bunch of stuff I didn't remember packing away.
@@rileyanneoh Dana K White ‘s system may be more suitable for you.
I'm taking my time in making a home catelog. XD that's my weird suggestion. Pictures, descriptions.
Dana K White is my favorite decluttering coach. She has some great books!
What an unfortunate name to have nowadays...
@@williandalsoto806 Yeah, well, so is Karen. Whatareyagonnado? What can you do?
Strongly agree! I feel like I've been through all the techniques over the decades. Esp. for an ADHD-type brain, her method is the most realistic and doable I've found.
Love her books, the only approach that really clicked and became permanent for me.
Echoing the recommendations for Dana K White's books & videos. Her "5-step decluttering method" is the most realistic I've found after decades of trying options. Recommend her for neurodiverse folks, as well.
Yes! No mess if you stop at any point.
Stopped in to add another recommendation for Dana K White! It helps me make progress without making bigger messes that overwhelm me later.
Pretty much everything Chyna said resonates with me. I leave messes because it’s overwhelming to put things away. I’m using the next week to make a dent. 10 minutes whenever I can at least once per day for the next seven days
What a good idea!
Another TH-camr pointed out the importance of keeping a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. I bought one for the first time.
A fire extinguisher in the kitchen is a good idea, it's a big life lesson I learned from Overcooked
I bought a small one too. And also a fire blanket. Never put water on a grease fire. Have a plan on fire escape.
Decluttering isn't a target, it's a process. I learned it needs to be actively implemented into one's lifestyle and executed with consistency in order for it to be worthwhile instead of a chore. Pruning a section of a garden once a week is easier than planting an entirely new garden every 6 months.
@8:55 lol, I love you guys seem to really love each other. It's pretty awesome ^^
Craig!!!! if you keep monopoly you can take out mortgages on the properties to buy more board games.
So true
And better board games, too. Monopoly just isn't a very fun game. Although to be fair they had some decent ones in their collection like Ticket to Ride, Dominion, Pandemic, Carcasonne.
Came here to sy this - yep - certainly get rid of all your current board games 😇 then pick up better ones with solo modes - no need for organising a game night .
You NEED to release a feature film that YOU edit because the tone, voice, and idk personality of your editing even in this more straightforward video is so RICH!! Like years of editing really show in the characterization in your layering and jumpcuts like GOD that’s on Craft
I love how real you two are about it. Decluttering is a pain in the butt during the process, but it does really help take away extra stress when you're finished. One thing I did to cut down our board games was to focus on keeping mostly card-style games like Cards Against Humanity or Uno. They take up so much less space and you can still have a game night with friends with just a deck of cards. I now have one shoe box filled with those sorts of games, playing cards, and dice games like Left Right Center that you can buy at the Dollar Store in small tubes. They all fit together in one shoe box, which is much easier to store than an entire closet of huge, awkward game boxes (which is what we had before). And it accomplishes the exact same thing when you want to play a game when you are spending time with friends.
I've done several decluttering projects over the years. Letting go of the idea that I'll never have to do it again has helped. Being much more careful about what I bring into the house and doing mini declutters has been a huge help in keeping things organized and relatively peaceful.
You can quarantine the games and books and anything you want. Just set a date and stick to it 😜
Also, Chyna put a bin or box in the bottom of your closet for donations and once it's full put it in the car and make Craig get rid of it (or go yourself and stop for coffee 💝)
My local Buy Nothing group has been so helpful for decluttering!
I don't tend to get emotionally attached to things as much as I hate to be wasteful. Having a local group where I can go, "Hey, does anyone need this blanket?" has been wonderful.
I also sometimes find something that I maybe /am/ emotionally attached to, but just don't need/don't have space for. It helps me a lot to think, "This thing can't serve its purpose right now. I can't display this artwork, or use this coffee mug, or read this book etc., because I have so much stuff it's getting lost in the shuffle. Rather than sitting on it like a dragon, I'm going to give it to someone who /can/ use it."
Doesn't necessarily help keep clutter from happening in the first place, but takes all the sting out of de-cluttering.
Chyna: Five, Man alive!
Craig: 😧
Chyna: Six, Pick up sticks
Craig: 🙄
LMAO 💀
I saw one of your decluttering videos a few years ago and it was life changing. It set me on a path for a minimal home that has completely changed how I function with ADHD. I had no idea that decluttering would make such a huge difference in my life. Also, I'm with Chyna, kids books are some of the hardest things for me to part with - oh the memories!
I love decluttering because of the sense of achievement I get with every item i can let go of. And the calm I experience after I have removed it and feel my space be much much spacious ❤
I've grown so close to this channel, it feels like a gift whenever Craig posts. And it's like the gift is wrapped in a nice paper and bathed in a yummy perfume when the video features Craig's family
tip! I find that when i feel like i need bins, boxes, or like organizers for a draw I try to see if I can take just a regular old cardboard box for it. I'll cut it up and if its going to be seen I will turn it into a crafting project and make it look cute. I reused and upcycled a box and didnt have to buy any more junk! and If I don't end up using it it wasnt a waste of money.
I like watching decluttering videos because after each one, including this one, I find at least a few things to either donate or toss. Yes, it's an ongoing activity and I'm okay with that.
Lived through a house fire as a teenager, lost two collections of leather bound library books, one classical library from each grandmother. Still miss them 50 years later. Family lost all photos ever taken for four generations and other inheritances -- such as a trunk that came over on one of the last wagon trains that came to our state when a great grandmother was a child. Beautiful objects that were purchased by my parents who had to wait until their old age to afford them and gave them great joy to have. All of my father's Gibson Guitars (he was a musician) some of which he saved for years to afford and had played and performed with for more than 30 years at the time. Simple things, like a large cast iron frying pan that had cooked thousands of meals over 100 years. Heirloom china set my mother had inherited. I could go on.
The main declutter argument I see is the ratio of space you live in that your mortgage payment covers vs the space you lose due to crap that you pay for living in but can’t
Haven’t even watched the video yet but I saw you guys in the thumbnail and just thought, ‘I love them together.’ You make a great couple!
I love decluttering! I have been peeling back the layers for the past 4 years. I love having a simplified space- the mental clarity and calm it provides is essential to me!
Bloody love this video but especially Chyna’s fashion sense. The tattoos look so good on her, as always. She must have an amazing tattoo artist! Also I found it hilarious that her WHOLE face was covered by the outro cards while Craig was barely peeking out. Those little details.. make me wheeze with laughter. 😂
oh wow! thank you thank you! glad you liked it! And I too like Chyna’s tattoos. Good thing I do because she’s got a lot of them and she keeps getting them!
Every 6 months, I have to clean a pile or two from my house (usually just a desk or something where stuff accumulates). And it always happens in a frustration fueled insanity and I end at 2 am, so good on you for doing this like normal people.
Filled a dumpster twice last summer and held a two-day yard sale - liberating! Six months later, haven’t missed a thing. Could we do more? Yes. Will we? Not in our future plans.
Also, helped my sister with a two-day yard sale of our late brother’s possessions. Once again, liberating!
Here we go again. I really appreciate that you keep posting these. I think it's good to declutter every once in awhile and this always reminds me.
I have some problem getting rid of things.
But I've been helped with letting things go by taking a photo of it. If it's something you pick up, get fuzzy feelings about and then throw back in the box for another 3years just to repeat - take a picture of it and get rid of it. You will still get the fuzzy feelings and the memories that goes with the object but you don't have a storage room filled to the brim with stuff :)
Gotta give a full year for the clothes quarantine rule. You won't wear any heavy winter clothes in six months if you declutter in spring. I nearly got rid of some knitwear that I'm now depending on for warmth.
Highlander reference gets a like from me before seeing whole video.
Very informative and encouraging vid Wheezy as well!
I am sitting in my office watching this video and almost spit my coffee out laughing 3 times. You two are HILARIOUS.
This has motivated me to begin decluttering our basement as well. Thank you!
Ah finally, a satisfactory conclusion to the flannel saga
😂😂😂❤❤❤❤ love y’all.funny video. But so much truth. I am decluttering again for the eleventh billionth time….lived in our house for 30 yrs.
This is perfect timing considering I'm taking the day off Monday so I can have a long weekend dedicated solely to decluttering and organising my room - thank you adhd for turning cleaning 1 room into a long weekend endurance event
Definitely relate to Chyna's mindset and piles in this video!
I'm moving 1100 miles in a few months and have just started my decluttering journey before I start packing, so this video is coming at the perfect time!
Follow the Minimal Mom. She is the guru
Christine sent me! She said you are the one she picked up 'down in the doobley-do' from. She's right! You are FUNNY! :)
The Pile/Battery joke works wonders for French people. A battery is called a pile in froggyland 😊
Ha!!
..?
That worked so well I thought he made the joke on purpose xD
Batteries were called a 'battery pile' back in the day, they started as a stack of metal plates in acid. Dangerous and fun! Thank you Weezy for not mentioning the other kind of piles.
I'm preparing to move in a few months and so my question is "do i want to pack this up and pay to move it and un pack it again?" XD My biggest hurdle will be when I deal with my art. Oh boy so many art things. Great video ya'll!
Recommending Dana K White. She is that one decluttering teacher that helps people who get overwhelmed easy and are busy.
I love their relationship. Such a balance 😊
If you all keep going with decluttering, it'd be cool to see you try different systems. Dana K. White's is my favorite. Very motivational video! Loved seeing lots of Chyna - y'all's banter is a delight!
Great vid ! Just ( today!) donated & sold some stuff that I’m not using… after watching your video !! Thx 4 the inspiration ! I feel lighter once again … & am ready for MORE ! Free up that space ! My space is def limited in my sweet bur small 1 bedroom apt ! New viewer & subscriber here ! Was all set to sign up for delete me, too ! But they don't offer monthly pmts . Dang ! Cheers ! Liz
Your senses of humor and the way you bounce off each other is my favorite thing about this channel. 😂
As a mom with two very active boys under the age of five, I used the Marie Kondo method, and the thing I took from it was two things. 1- it is really ok not to hold onto things you really don't want and it's ok to keep things that bring you joy, which lead to 2- Spending the small amount of time tidying everyday was enjoyable because it allowed me to spend more time with my kids and they also learned to clean up after themselves. In the end I didn't follow her method to the letter but took some really great principles and ran with them. Hope it helps! You can do this!
You should keep those two plaid shirts. Well made. And most importantly, the lines match everywhere. Very cool.
Yours was the only sponsor section I actually sat through rather than skip
We spend a whole bunch of life acquiring the things we want and need. It shouldn't shock us that we have to commit some regular chunks of time de-acquiring things we're finished with - and yet!
Chyna you know in bluey where the one dog says to chili, you're doing great, I think it's in baby race well YOU are doing great. And laughing together is good for the heart happy Valentine's Day
Instant sob every time I get to that part of Baby Race 😭😭😭 Thank youuuuu ❤️
I really appreciate you, your humor, your family and your videos. They always make me happy! 🙂
I really enjoy your videos. I never have to be disappointed, no matter what the subject. You are really good at talking and I don't care if you talk about caffeine, sleep or bird poop.
We had to do a major declutter, before moving to Europe from a 3-bedroom in California. Our goal was to get everything into a lift van (think of a walk-in closet, with the floor space of two pallets), The easiest decision was anything that would only work on 110V/60Hz. Then, anything worn/broken/cheap. The difficult bits were those with practically any memory attached. My mantra was "if in doubt, make the brutal choice". A year later, I'm wishing I would have kept a handful of my nicer ties, and an old fedora, that would be perfect for an 80's-themed music video I'm currently working on (all of which could have gone, _after_ this project). From time to time, it really annoys me to have to buy something _again_ But, that's mostly due to the fact that it ends up being 5 times as expensive here (or, the only replacement is an inferior knockoff, because the US-based company that invented and perfected it doesn't have a local distributor).
On the whole, it did feel really good to part with things that had never even found their way out of boxes, through three previous moves (including one FL to CA cross-country)
With kids, second-hand/consignment stores and yard sales are the best! After each phase they grow out of, the children's consignment shops or a yard sale were a great way to declutter & get some dough for the next phase
I am a chronic getting rid of-er but HAVE regretted getting rid of stuff... but only infrequently and it's not usually huge regret just minor regret
I love decluttering bc it's easier to find and organize the things you do keep!
Recently finished phase 1 of a declutter before getting a cat. I recycled and binned loads. Everything left is ordered and boxed. I need to do phase 2 where I go through some of the boxes being even more harsh. I think phase 2 will mark the end of it and I can die without embarrassment. 😀
Im in phase 2 lol
I'd just like to point out that Battery in French can be "Pile" so you did, in fact, pick up a pile at 13:10
Echoing what Chyna said. Needing vs appreciating said item. What is my jam vs what I see and like on others... great insight. And that heaviness can also be motivation. Motivation doesnonly look or feel one way.
fun fact:
AAA Bateries, in portuguese, are called "pilhas", which is the same word for piles.
The trip to Branson was magical.
i hope you guys make it big. I havent laughed this hard in a long time. Ive been into minimalism for 8ish years. I Still havent "arrived". I have never seen your vlogs till this morning. Your name not having minimal in it probably doesnt give you the exposure you all deserve. I bet you'd be up there big with Dawn, The Minimal Mom, and Cass, and Jess, and Dana K White, and many others. you al deserve to go BIG! Thanks for making these.
Ok, just saw you have a million plus subscribers, I guess you are already BIG. Shoot for the stars and go 2 million by getting into the minimal groups. Love your videos!!
i do enjoy decluttering in general because i hate tidying up, so taking a whole day/weekend to deal eith stuff is easier than daily pickups. that said, i'n a maximalist with a lobe for trinkets, so my declutter is way less dramatic.
i'm an anticapitalist maximalist, so changing my buying habits to include less crap makes me value my non crappy trinkets way more
I miss Chyna's Instagram! she posted all kinds of awesome DIY home improvement projects there after they bought the house. I found it inspirational. I get why we all feel the need to to scale back on social media, but I miss it anyway.
2:05 Oh man I felt that so hard hahaha
One of our rules is that things have to serve more than one purpose - or if they have only one purpose, do they get used almost every day? (We live in an rv so space is limited)
Board Game shelf can be a nice decore!
I am a chronic getter-ridder and there are *definitely* some things I *deeply* regret getting rid of. Right now it's a leather handbag I used as a small diaper bag. I got rid of it because I don't like big handbags and only want to use really small ones or pockets. HOWEVER!!!! Now I'm a knitter and that bag would be *PERFECT* for carrying around my knitting and I am so ticked I got rid of it.
Having said that, I have got rid of thousands of things over my lifetime and I regret maybe 3-5 things.
Oh man, you guys crack me up like nobody can! I even laugh through your "commercials" (yours are the only ones I actually will watch!)
Hi !!!! I am a certified konmari organizer and I was screaming at my screen, dying to give you some tips on decluttering for the long term. BTW, Marie Kondo did not give up, she just said that joy should be at the centre of your life, and that it's ok if a few things are in sight.
If you ever feel like giving her method a try, hit me up!
❤Chyna she’s so funny they complement each other so well you guys are amazing!
I think it is helpful to know your organization style. I am a broad categories and visual person. If I stick stuff in a bin I might as well nor own it because I will forget it exists.
I think the board game thing is interesting. It exposes two ways of thinking. One way is "These are small and are already in their place, so to me that take up no space". The other is "These exist in our home so they take up mental space". I feel like I fall more into the latter camp. It's not about the size of the objects for me, but the quantity. How many belongings do I have that I never use? Even if they are small.
the ‘ in my mind’ zoom is a quality bit 4:49
I don't love decluttering, but I love how I feel after I have decluttered lol. I first learned about the container method from Dana. K. White and it was life changing. Basically you identify your container (example, bookcase), and you only keep books that fit neatly into that container.
I only kept books that fit on my Kindle. Got rid of 52 boxes of books.
My only regret: 2 boxes of books I'd set aside to revisit got put in the truck and taken to the donation place. I probably would have gotten rid of most of those anyway, but I wanted to at least look more closely.
Now, all I have is about a dozen books that I didn't donate and couldn't get on Kindle.
@@tetedur377 I still have LOTS of books because MOST of them are NOT on Kindle. The reason I bought so many in the first place was because the library did not have them. Most of the time I bought a good used one. But still.
I tell myself something 10 times if I can't think why or what I'll think what to do and when I'm consciously thinking I'll just do this this need to be done
I remember the days the Craig had clones that would've decluttered for him. We need a Where Are They Now episode on his clones. I think I saw one begging for coffee under a freeway in Chicago a few weeks ago.
😂😂😂
HELLFIRE CLUB!!! Roll a decluttering check.
Just in time for some spring cleaning!
I’m addicted to not having anything …
I was a hoarder of movies and now opposite
I just see no point owning anything that we want
Rather have what I need
"Organizational Porn". That is the funniest statement ever and yet so true it cracks me up. I'm watching this video early today, I will be wearing a smile all day. I have learned that the more I simplify the fewer organize bins I need. I actually just got rid of 2 small bins the other day. Thank you for making me day!!! Goal for the week get rid of some porn
That depend joke made my night🤣🤣
Love the painting in the bedroom!
Board game night! Sweet. I'm in Whitewater, just gimme like an hour heads up and I'm there lol 🤭
Get a builder's skip and throw everything in the crawl space into it cause it's clearly stuff you will never need or want.
We did this for our basement, totally worth it
So just the dead bodies?
Don’t you DARE get rid of your games. I LOVEEEEEEE my gaming collection. My happy place.
Exactly and I still have the original boxes for a lot of my games and consoles
Feel free to get rid of any games you dont love to have more room for the games you do love!
I regret selling my N64 to my high school Health teacher. Now, 20 years later, I still wish I had kept it. My life is too simple.
@@smileychess damn man that sucks
@@kitkatwitchexactly. Why keep things you don't use?
13:17 technically Craig's not wrong about the battery being a 'pile', since that's the french word for battery...it /could/ be a slight pun 😅
Such legendary people. Keep being awesome.