I decluttered a lot. I find that with space, rooms etc I prefer empty, easy spaces. (But one thing I gave up and really missed was my fun clothes and makeup. I don’t care that I have a lot of clothes, nailpolish, eyeshadow etc. Getting ready and playing dress up everyday makes me so happy and I’m not giving that up. I feel like minimalism is a great tool for organisation, but if you have something you love like a lot of books, designer bags or any other collection that makes you happy don’t give that up. Yes throw away random useless things that you don’t use, but there is a balance and you shouldn’t give up your personality for utilitarity
I totally agree. But sometimes you can think about new solutions, e.g. going to the library (if you love books) or renting clothes (of course it depends on the country). But this way you don't have to buy stuff aka save money but still get to read many books or try different clothes 😊
@@mandykohlert6987 while going to the library is very practical and it’s something I do, renting clothes is not something I would consider at all. Often I try a few dresses before finding the most flattering for my figure and every brand has its own sizing these days. I have pants in 3 different sizes and they all fit. Same with tops, some are medium, some are large, it depends on the item. Just because I too like variety in my clothes doesn’t mean I won’t wear them often. I have no idea how much it costs to rent an item but unless it’s a ball gown that’s hugely expensive, I can’t imagine it would be worth the cost or the effort of going to the post office to send them back or the disappointment of something not fitting right and having wasted money on the rental.
As a child I found it fun to save all the items I got over the years, as most children do. Now as an adult I find it prettiest when decor items are few and mindfully placed throughout the home 😊 It feels very natural to declutter things I haven’t looked at or used in years, and sometimes I like to see it as proof of how much I’ve grown as a person.
I've gotten to the point where everything in my life is seen through the lens of maintenance. If I don't enjoy taking care of it or have the energy for it then I don't need it. Really helpful with certain decisions. This was a good list.
I deleted my Facebook and Instagram a year and a half ago and I don’t miss it one bit. It would clutter my mind with things that upset me or knowing information that I would rather not know. I like quiet, drama free living. I seen too many keyboard warriors and wars of words played out on social media. Watching your video there are still things I need to work on like recreational shopping but I have greatly reduced it just to keep clutter from coming in to my home. Congratulations on your move. It can feel chaotic for a while but you will get there; be kind to yourself during the transition. 😊
This was such a great reminder of all the mindless, time-consuming activities we entrap ourselves to. I love the alternative activity of investing in skills that will enrich our lives, like the language course you featured. Thank you for another great video.
Agree with all of your ideas. The key is starting to look at what works in our lifestyles and questioning what we really need I've always been intentional in my shopping.
2 things hit home for me. The wardrobe/clothing topic. I was in scouts as a kid, joined the Army in high school and was in 2 jobs/careers that wore uniforms so pretty much in uniform all my life. Now that I am retired I found a simple capsule style wardrobe of the same pants and shirts in different but intermix and match colors and the same clothes for all seasons and at home or travel has been a huge time and money saver. Adding in a fleece insulation layer and waterproof shell works in any weather year round. I also connected with the lack of social media. I only have a FB account to keep in touch with friends from where I used to live and moved away from and for research on moving to the EU. "Comparison is the thief of joy" Teddy Roosevelt has always struck a cord with me.
Vera, I do agree with all of your comments except for what you call ‘decor’ items. For me! I’m a visual artist and have a lot of beautiful and meaningful objects accumulated over my long life and they give me so much pleasure. Yes, they collect dust but my environment would be drabber without them. Having said that, I don’t buy nicknacks and mass produced decorative items, they’re mostly handmade or original pieces.
Thanks for sharing Judith! I'm with you on that, handmade or original pieces over mass produced items :) And if you don't mind the cleaning or dusting that much, then I'd say it's definitely worth keeping them around! :) Take care and have a lovely Sunday
The one drawback to pedicures, is the possibility of picking up a fungus at the salon. We really don't know if the salons are following the sanitation protocols as they should be. I picked up a fungus that affected both big toes. I've been to a podiatrist, used OTC, prescription, and DIY products. Finally bought some pedi tools online and watched some TH-cam videos. 3 years later, I'm just getting back to normal. I'll never get a salon pedicure again, too risky.
Having children forced me to let go of some of these things, like beauty treatments and not having too many decor items around. The one that got me is that I put to many books/courses/crafts into the “later line.” I sometimes don’t even remember courses I’ve paid for and never started. So that was a very helpful reminder:)
Totally agree!! I decluttered the iron and board a few years ago, I do not do the salon, knick knacks gift boxes or the gym, still working on social media! Great video Vera!
Totally with you on most of these! I do get my nails done, I never used to but I have started going with my MIL every three weeks. I have a chronic illness so it is one of the few things I am able to go out and do. We get our nails done and then have lunch together and it's really good for both of us to spend the time together. Same with the smartphone, too. I keep all social media and games off of it. My phone is for communication, and listening to music or audiobooks. It's also convenient for me to have a search engine readily available whenever I come up with a crazy questions. But I am far too ADHD to be trusted with mobile games or things like pinterest readily available. Decor items too! A few years ago I got rid of 90% of decor items that were wedding gifts or thrifted and weren't really serving me anymore. Now I have started adding some pieces back in mindfully. I like things that are visually engaging with a lot of color and the choices I make are reflecting that now. I recently purchased a painting from an artist friend of mine and it is so nice to have something made by someone I know, and I even watched her paint that piece in one (five-hour!) session on twitch, rather than something mass-produced and without the same charm.
Thanks for the thought-provoking content. 😊❤️ 100% agree about the "no ironing" rule! I will frequently shake out & hang up washed items to air dry. Helps the items last longer & saves energy/electricity by not drying them... 😊❤
Nice topic, both money and time savers :) What gives me joy and save time: use things longer. When i choose a nice outfit and i like it, i wear it several days until dirty. When decorating the table with a nice tablecloth, i leave it on for days until it is dirty. So no switching around things that can be enjoyed longer.
This video is spot on. I follow most of the advice you’ve given but I am hooked on Facebook and I confess that I spend more time on it than I should, I could be doing something more enjoyable, creative or useful. Thank you for this reminder. I appreciate your calm, sweet demeanor. You truly are a genuine and authentic person and a lovely young lady. We are all happy you are here. ☺️
This is perfect for people who can't be bothered with anything besides necessities. Which is good. I usually only purchase second hand now, and only items with an actual purpose, that actually look good.
The only thing I would say here is a (respectful!) counteract on the clothes point! Whilst I totally agree if something is far too fussy, I've recently been focusing on adding pieces to my wardrobe made of natural fibres - organic silks, cottons, wool, leather and flax linen (a lot of second hand/vintage stuff as much as possible). On one hand yes they do take more time and maintenance to care for, but the time I spend looking after these pieces - whether by hand washing, steaming them, hanging/storing them properly, and even mending them - has let me to cherish/appreciate these items better. The act feels like a 'slowing down' and almost like a rejection of the dopamine hit induced by fast fashion in a way, and I draw a lot of joy in knowing that my time looking after these pieces means my investment will serve me in turn - as they are high quality and timeless, and I know that one day when they do break down they won't cost the earth. It has really changed my relationship with my wardrobe and consumption in a positive way, and made me see clothes are far less disposable.
Great advise and video. One more thing i have adopted lately is never to buy anything expensive on an impulse. Eg i wanted a pair of Dr Martin boots recently they around £150 and I had the money but I deliberately did t buy them for a couple of months to see if i still wanted them. Bought some yesterday in a sale and got them at a discount lol so it was defo worth waiting
Hello Vera! You speak Spanish very well 😊, you've got a good accent. I was greatly impressed when I heard you. I try to stay clutter free but not very minimalistic. The thing I own and have on display make me feel cozy, so it's fine with me. Sometimes I try to take some things away but I think there's something missing and they come back. I don't accumulate, but just have what makes me happy. I don't mind cleaning, I like it. I have three cats so I must take care of dust and hair, but I don't mind . I don't go shopping for fun anymore, when I need clothes I buy online if possible (except for jeans), so I don't have to spend half an hour to get there, shop, and then back home again. That way I also avoid crowds. I can't stand disrespectful people in shopping centers. About games, I don't like console games, I prefer to play on my phone to some kind of game that stimulates my brain. I have installed three or four, play a little time, not everyday, and only one game a day. If i don't use a game in a while I desinstall it and can then try another one if I want to. Always free games. I live on my own so it's not that I'm waisting time that could be with my partner. I'm maintaining my brain healthy. Better this that scrolling on tik tok. I use very little beauty makeup items. Face cream, anti -wrinkel eye cream, mascara and eye liner. Never foundation, powder, blush or whatever else goes on the face. Greetings from Spain and continue practicing your Spanish, you're good at it.
No games, no social media, no iron or shirts with buttons, no knickknacks or decor items. Too many clothes and tools/hardware items. I figure if I can’t pack and move in one, maybe two days I have too much. When I retired it took two months to sort everything and decide what to keep. That’s how I ended at one backpack of essentials. Now I’m curious to see the new place after you move. 😄😍 No moving stress Vera, if possible. 🚚
When I was in high school an older cousin came to stay with us. She arrived in a Volkswagen filled with stuff. I assumed that was all her possessions, and that inspired me to live lightly after that. Now all my possessions fit into two or three pickup truck loads, which is less than most people around me.
Great idea on the backlog. I went into my Netflix and realized I had so many shows on my list to watch that I literally would never have time to watch them all. I culled the list down to a dozen. Great idea.
This was a great list, thank you. I don't play games, have my nails or hair done and I don't go to a gym; however, I did at one time, and oh I save so much money and time now to do more important things. Best wishes with moving. I know how it is...moved 22 times around the world and back. We are done now, in my forever home.
You really don't need to have an Instagram, I for myself can only reassure you in keeping it simple and don't also post like the same thing on every social media platform. It's just not necessary 😊
A Japanese minimalist (I forge the channel) talked about the difference between cleaning an empty room vs cleaning a room that's empty except for one decorative sculpture in the middle of the floor. The latter is significantly more work.
Good afternoon Vera something that came to my mind when listening to this was. I eliminated "should "and "ought to " out of my life along time ago and I think I needed to be reminded of that again, my daughter passed away 2 months ago, it has been a very heartbreaking time for me and my family, one of the things my daughter put into practise along time ago was, her words I didn,t chose possessions I wanted experiences thats how I intend to live the rest of my life from now on thank you as always for sharing, xxxxx
I’m so sorry about the loss of your daughter, u must be heartbroken. I wish you well on your healing journey and hoping that living by your daughters words will help with that xoxo❤
I have never got my nails done at a nail shop. I also check labels to make sure clothes are easy to take care of. I limit my makeup routine and don't use mascara unless special occasion. I color my own hair at home. I have started to reduce home decor items and I'm not buying anymore seasonal decorations. Good video. I agree with almost everything you said.
I love all this content, but really want to say thanks for mentioning that pedicures aren't all about appearance. I struggle with a little toe nail issue, and also walk a lot, so calluses and sometimes cracked heels. For me, knowing they'll be getting some excellent treatment every other month has proved beneficial. When we spend a lot for great work out shoes, I look at it like an additional investment in foot health. But I always get that smirk when I try to explain it to others. So thank you for not making me feel I"m just trying to justify pretty toes. :)
I get pedicures for both the practical and beautifying reasons. I like seeing pretty toe nails and getting the assistance with my foot health with keeping the toenails trimmed is priceless.
I really find your messages calming and inspiring…. Both at the same time! Makes me want to declutter a little more every time I watch one of your videos. I watch a fair number of TH-cam channels regularly and find yours to be one of my favourites. Something that I also appreciate is how clean and simple your decor is. Some people may not understand this, but I think you will, I find that seeing a cluttered messy room in a video’s background makes me feel distracted and agitated. It’s the same in my own life…. I breath better and feel so much calmer in a uncluttered environment. Although I have to admit that I love decorating and have done it professionally when I worked, so tend to have more than we need! Now that I’m retired, decluttering is a big goal that you’re helping me with! 😂 Thank you.
OMG, I think I relate to ALL of them! I agree with everything you said in all 10 points. However I could say that there are three of them that I relate the most: decor items! I used to be a decor items hoarder! I had them everywhere around the house! Even in the bathroom! For serious! And one day I started feeling tired of all the visual pollution! Little by little, I gave them away, donated or threw them away, and now my decor items are shells and stones! They’re free, when I don’t want them, that’s ok, I didn’t spend money on them and they don’t need to be cleaned a lot. Secondly, ironing! I too don’t own anything that needs to be ironed! It’s a waste of time and electricity! And social media: I’m only on instagram in which I follow really very few people, because I like to connect to those who make art like me. I only follow artists. And I subscribed to some TH-cam channels, but very few and I watch them while I do something else. Thanks for the great video. Happy weekend 💙❤️💛💗💚♥️🖤🧡💜
I’m seeing that minimalism is a lifestyle shift-It’s mindfulness from inside and out-and way of organizing by surrounding ourselves with peaceful and even joyful energy- and doing away with negativity and meaningless stuff. Lately, I’ve been using the “owning only one” decluttering inspiration from your other videos. I’m simplifying my hair routine- I don’t need electronic styling tools any longer; and I’ll cancel the beauty box subscription since I’ve learned what my skin needs to thrive, I want to use what I already have before bringing more items in, and let’s not underestimate the plastics pollution that the various product packaging adds to the environment. Thank you for such valuable reminders 💕
I found that I've come to do most of these things over the past 15 years without being intentional. It just kind of happened because my job was stressful and I had to keep paring things back to have capacity for the job and my life. As a fellow lover of video games I only buy digital copies now to reduce the material and visual clutter. I know this isn't necessarily a channel about gaming but I would love to see a video on your favourites, I'm always looking for cozy games to relax to. Thanks for all the helpful reminders 💜
Thanks so much!!! :) I agree about the digital games. However, if we know we will only want to play a game through once, and it's still a little popular, we might get it on disk so that we can bring it back to the store after we're done and get some cash back :)
I agree on the handwash thing being high maintenance, but some of the time you can get away with machine-washing the item as long as you put it in a laundry bag for delicates and/or use the delicate wash cycle, and then hang it up to dry. If you google the fabric type you can find out if it would work to machine-wash this way instead :)
Yes! Plus I dry all my clothing on racks after a very brief tumble in the dryer to shake out wrinkles. Saves electricity since I only use the dryer for sheets and towels.
I agree with not buying clothing that's hard to take care of. I've never gone to the dry cleaner, and I almost never iron. But, one time we had overnight visitors that needed to iron their dress clothes, so I was glad I still had an iron & a small ironing board from college 🤣 I also used it to iron patches onto my son's baseball shirts. It's out of the way in a cabinet in the laundry room, so I don't mind storing it for those rare occasions that I need it.
Definitely! If it's not in the way, then that's a good reason for keeping it I'd say. I've kept it all this time for the same reason. However, when we move I do think it will be in the way, so that's why I'm probably going to declutter it soon :)
Excess decor, backlog items, phone games, and social media are the four most helpful tips for me right now. And since I am just beginning to declutter, doing the last two (staying away from phone games and social media more) might help me do the first two (declutter excess decor and backlog items). 😅 Thanks for this helpful video! It was nice to see you again. I hope you have a stress-free move! 🙂
Hi Vera! I am definitely part of the people on this planet that have never ever ironed a single piece of clothing in their entire life and I am perfectly okay with that. I don't even know where I would keep my iron and my ironing board in my small appartment 😅
I like the time saving tips. That’s one of the reasons I hate eating out. It feels like it wastes so much time! I’m more for just grabbing take out if we want something and I’m not cooking for whatever reason. You’re at the mercy of the waiter who these days is generally overbooked with tables and can’t be efficient, no fault of their own. I’ve been not wearing make up as much. I’m 63 and still like to look pretty but I go without makeup a lot of days now. When I was younger I would have never done that! I used to iron everything but got so tired keeping up with stuff and noticed the clothes get wrinkled as soon as you put on a seat belt or put a kid in a car seat, so I don’t iron a lot anymore. Thanks for the tips.
I really like the point of shopping as a recreational activity, if we cut that down it would definitely help with decluttering and keeping things simple.
Thanks for this great video! Actually I never started a lot of the stuff you mention and now feel even happier about that. No Instagram, no tiktoc, no phone games, no foundation make up...
Hola Vera. Es un gusto siempre ver tus videos, he aprendido mucho de ti y si algún día vienes a Florida aquí tienes una amiga para conversar y practicar español. Un gran abrazo!
Hi Vera. I liked all of these tips. Especially the ones where I can save time cleaning. Since I’ve been making more of my own meals at home, and saving money from not eating out, I feel like all I do is dishes. Even though I have a dishwasher, but it’s an energy hog too. Can’t win. Any tips? Also would love a video on cleaning up one’s digital space. My bookmarks and inbox are out of control. Welcome back ❤
A very good video, thank you. Decluttering your life in order to have more time for the things that really matter is a really good idea. Thank you for sharing these tips! I changed to a much healthier diet and as a result my skin has improved so much that I need no more make-up, which I think is great because it saves me a lot of time and money.
@@SimpleHappyZen I have always wondered this too! When we moved into our house the previous owners left boxes of mothballs in the closets and they smelled so horrible we threw them away
I've been thinking about ditching the phone games, and you have convinced me to take the plunge. I have only two left on my phone and have been playing them less as the weather warms, and I spend more time outside, so there's not much left to ditch. I'll probably keep the puzzle game because my phone is much smaller and lighter to take to wait for appointments than my book or my knitting, but I found myself really resenting the time I spent on Pokémon Go. It's such a distraction, and the price for in-game purchases just went up about 75 percent.
Hi Vera! Lovely video as usual. I have been decluttering a lot lately and I have already noticed how much less I have to clean! I've also noticed I'm less worried about what to wear since my wardrobe has been decluttered as well. Minimalism is wonderful, isn't it? XOXO 💞
I'm with you on the gym thing! I have a yoga mat, some small weights, and a stationary bike. If I have to leave the house I'm not going to do it either. LOL
Hi Vera, I so do appreciate your channel. Backlog items: what a good statement. I always have tons of videos here on watch later as I am interested in many things but then feel pressired when not up to date and have to delete them from my list…
Hi Vera, congrats on the new apartment and good luck with the move. 🥳🥳🥳 All great tips as usual, I found the high maintenance part refreshing. I've been following some minimalist channels and they're all about the highest quality you can get for durability, especially for clothes. But when I look at the videos of how they care for their clothes, I get tired just by watching. Can't imagine putting in all that effort myself. So it's nice to see someone looking for a good compromise. 😁😁 For example I stay away from wool and cashmere sweaters because they require so much effort. I've gone with 100% cotton knit which is machine washable. It'll still last years without having to hand wash with special detergent and dry in a special way. For my home I've also picked slightly cheaper items for things like coffee table and tv stand where I know I will have friends over, families with kids. I don't wanna stress about someone damaging something I spent a lot of money on. I invested in our bed, mattress etc because I know we can take good care of them and they will last.
Hi Vera, I am really sensitive to dust so I dust quite often, having excess clutter, nik naks, no more photo albums, stuff all over surface tops and the floor can take so much time to pick up and move out of the way. It is good to reevaluate the things we use every once in a while, buying extra time for ourselves can enrich our lives. Great tips to think about Vera 🌼
In the 'Thing#4', you got rid of ironing equipments.. I too don't like ironing my clothes, but need to do it every week. Because here in India, the weather is hot and humid in the plains. So, cotton clothes are a necessity, which need frequent ironing.
Hola Vera, me dio mucha felicidad saber que estás aprendiendo Español. Me encantan tus videos, tu pronunciación me ayuda mucho a ejercitar la "escucha" en Inglés. Saludos desde Argentina. Also, i know just a little german. It will be great if you made a video speaking in German.
Ah thank you so much!!! :) Nice that you also know a little German :) My German is actually quite bad hahaha, so I wouldn't be able to make a video in German. Maybe I'll speak a little Dutch sometime :)
I do almost everything you mentioned as well, and it was a change from previously. I like your presentation. I've also put furniture that can be put on wheels, such as TV console table, to more easily dust.
I am from Nepal and I love your videos n I am learning many things from minimalism. Everyday I watch at least one video of minimalism and it has helped me a lot to grow.❤️🇳🇵
I love this! I don’t know if I missed it but did you mention in a video what you’ve been using for your hair? It looks amazing! I have naturally curly hair too and haven’t found anything to work on it yet.
Thanks so much Stephanie! I'm still planning that video haha. :) For now, I use the products from Bounce curl. I have their shampoo and conditioner, clump and define cream and light hold gel cream. Works well :) But I'm not really sure about their shampoo not having silicone, they work really well because my curls are much better defined, however my hair does feel dryer.. But overall, their products work very well for me :)
I don’t iron now. I do have the iron and ironing board but that’s because I have ten year old twins so every so often there may be something desperately needs an iron but I try and avoid it at all costs! I am now trying to accrue less stuff so enjoy watching your videos for ideas. I don’t buy make up as I don’t bother wearing that and I get my hair cut maybe twice a year now but go to a reasonable price salon and it’s £40 each time. I don’t colour my hair and I don’t get my nails done either as I work from home. Like you, I also don’t go to the gym but do pay for a les mills subscription for my home workouts. Similar to you, I don’t have instagram. I don’t have TikTok or twitter but I do use Facebook a little too much. I need to use it less as it doesn’t make me happy anyway! With regard to things like ornaments, I saw how many my husband’s parents had accrued when we cleared their house after he had lost his dad (after losing his mum a few years before) and it was just ridiculous.
Thank you for a very interesting video Vera. I'm doing a huge book declutter today and then it's going to be knick-knacks next. I liked all the points you made and I don't enjoy shopping either! Xx best wishes
Thank you Melissa!! I'm still thinking of making a video like that hahaha, just don't really know how to film it yet. I'm not really comfortable filming myself in the shower (plus our bathroom is tiny) and I don't think it will be very interesting if I just talk about it, instead of showing it. But it's definitely on the list. :)
Thank you for this video. The other thing I’ve stopped doing is getting haircuts and I just do it myself now. It saves me so much money and also commute/booking time etc. it’s pretty easy even with my long curly hair that needs layering ❤
¡Hola Vera! Tienes muy buena pronunciación hablando español. Gracias por mostrarnos esta forma de estudiar idiomas. Yo estudio inglés y francés. Así puedo ver vídeos como los tuyos que son de gran inspiración para tener una vida y un mundo mejor. Un abrazo desde Madrid 🇪🇸
Yes many people shop as a sport. I used to do that myself. I used to get my nails done and go to the gym. Now I also see it as such a waist of time and money. I am also a widow but I stopped doing that a long time ago. I'm more into "natural". I don't really feel the need for false lashes, or false nails, or false anything. Now I only use base makeup for special occasions.
Really interesting video, thank you Vera. Watching the video made me realise how many of these things I have already done in the past few months without being really intentional about it, like no subscription boxes, simple beauty routine, simple exercise routine, no phone games. I have lessened my backlog of tv shows, not having netflix anymore has helped with that massively. The thing I could spend a lot less time on is social media. I'm already using a screen time app to stop me using it for too long each day. I have a few accounts on different platforms, some related to my job which have to stay, and some I just don't personally use anymore, so those personal accounts/platforms could be taken down - which feels freeing! ☺ Good luck with the move and packing boxes!
Speaking of foot health, have you looked into barefoot minimalist shoes? It’s a shoe that does not have a lift in the heel and it has a wide toe box so the toes can splay. This is so the foot can be in anatomically correct, therefore letting the rest of the body be in alignment. While it is quite the transition to switch to this type of shoe - because of different reasons, the big picture is to have good foot and body health. Yes, this will take up some of your time to transition but it is for long term affects of better health.
I didn't buy knick-knacks for decades but I finally wanted a few little decorations. When I'm in a thrift store I check the knick-knack aisle and see if anything is calling me. Then I might choose one or two items if they fit my style: simple elegant or art deco. Half the stuff I get at thrift stores I end up keeping; the other half I end up donating back or it doesn't work, so I figure the net cost of what I keep is twice the sale price. But that's OK because it's less than the items would be new, and the nonprofit store uses the money to teach ex-prisoners and others who need it job skills. I've had two regrets about decluttering knick-knacks. One was a miniature mailbox, and the other was a miniature watering can. I used the mailbox to put notes for my roommate and put the flag up, but the maibox was a bit too small so I got rid of it, but now I miss it. Still, those are two small losses, and you have to expect a few mistakes when decluttering.
I agree with you 100% on all spoke about I actually put on Facebook marketplace FREE ironing board, I never regretted not keeping it, I also don’t buy clothing that has to be ironed any longer.
So inspiring! especially the 'nik nack decorations' - that's really inspired me to add some things to sell at the Koning's dag vrijmarkt!! Thank you so much 😇
Congrats, Vera! Your Spanish sounds great 😊 your efforts are worth it and you’ll enjoy a lot more your next trip to Spain, we love to talk with our visitors and appreciate the efforts for learning our not-so-easy language 😅😅
Gosh we are so alike with reasons to be more minimal with the hair, nails, trinkets. 😊 Also, love your natural hair color. It’s so pretty and seems to be a unique color.
Aw thanks Audrey! Honestly, I had no idea what my natural hair color was hahaha. This is what it turned out being. And it also lights up a little in the sun
I got hooked on phone games recently, so I removed them completely along with a few other apps that didn't really need to be on the phone, and my sleep quality improved as a result :D
I'm finding that every time I try to get my nails done at home, it never lasts- and I agree that the whole process of getting them done in general seems to be a waste of time. I'd rather just keep my fingernails bare 99% of the time these days, but when it comes to pedicures, it's really the experience of getting them done that makes it worth it for me every once in a while. It's like a little self-care treat, and the last time I got myself one (which was during my spring break), it was really nice and relaxing! 😊
Hi Vera this was such a good video - I can relate to almost all. Your Spanish sounds really good well done 👍🏼 btw love your hair like that. Have a stress-free move 🙏 so looking forward to seeing your new home ❤
I enjoyed this very much and found that I am in good shape with the areas you mentioned. Perhaps it is my age - senior or my upbringing on the farm! A helpful hint to reduce hair care products is to use either lemon juice or vinegar for rinsing. Lemon juice for light hair and vinegar for dark and once in awhile smash up an egg and massage this into your freshly washed hair to condition! Thank you for your program. I love it!
We have no iron or ironing board and make a conscious effort to have clothes that don’t need it! We do have a small handheld steamer instead if something really needs de-creasing.
I have been reducing my decor items bit by bit. I have very few subscriptions. I'm spring cleaning and weeding stuff that just sat in my house saying hey, hey, hey! Fine. Ignore me. This year I am freeing them from being ignored.
Hi Vera! Good to see you. Thank you for this video. I’ve been working towards minimalism for a couple years and this video helped me realize how to do more towards my goal.
You're right about number 3, I had a bunch of things on my watch list on Netflix that have been there for months and I went and deleted 7 of the 9 things. Now I only have 2 things to watch. I'm guilty of spending too much time on phone games 🙃 Def need to cut back on that. I have cut back on social media. Before I would spend 3-4 hours a day on social media, now it's maybe 1 hour or so
@@dr.christopherjohnson935 Thank you, Dr.Christopher🤗 I'm from Russia. I like Vera's blog very much, because it makes me calm. And I practice my English leastening)
I'm still guilty of having a huge backlog of things, and like you say, it's overwhelming. There was a sale on the Nintendo eshop and I purchased a couple of games when I have games from 2 years ago that I haven't played 😂same with adding things to my watchlist, I have so much things that I think I need to watch that it ends up stressing me out and I rewatch a old show or anime I've alreasy seen. I haven't change my skincare routine ( and I do have a backlog of my favourite products) but since Covid and I don't wear that much makeup anymore, I only wear it when I feel like it, when it makes me happy to put it on, but I don't feel like I have to wear it anymore. Sometimes I go out looking like an extra on the Walking Dead, but that's fine 😂 I'm also with you on things that are high maintenance or things are too precious or expensive that you're scared to use them, I try to only buy things that I will use or clothes that I will actually wear.
Good morning here in Canada. The topic of the gel nails and even just nail polish - a nurse at the foot clinic I go to said that your nails are an organ on your body as well and they need to be able to breath so if you put anything ie: gel nails or nail polish, etc on them -that's not healthy for your nails. Really that makes sense.
I know what you mean...I bought a set of dishes because the were glass, had chickens on them (I'm a country girl). I almost never used them & when I did use them a couple times, I worried that "he" would break them. I gave them to the Goodwill, it hurt to let them go, but they took up so much cupboard room (that I needed) & I worried I would break them....all the time! I told them at the Goodwill, "I love these dishes, but all I do is never use them & constantly worry I will break them, so I am giving them up to be without the stress! Good advice you give! xxxooo Judie
Thanks for bringing up phone games and not advertising them! I started to play some when I suffered from a burn-out and didn't have much energy for anything. The games are free to download, but they make money by making you hooked and then introduce gameplay elements that you must pay for. It's a cynical way of earning lots of money. Instead of making costumers pay once for a game, they will have you continuously pay to continue playing or get special items in the game. Even just a chance to get special items, like a lottery. When this was the only entertainment I had energy for, it made me lose a lot of money. I got disillusioned and have never played any phone games ever again. Get a hand-held console instead if you want to play games, then you only have to pay once for them.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! Yes, I really dislike games like that... So disheartening to think of people making games like this to purposefully exploit people. Like you, I play games you have to pay for once and then their yours forever. We also have a streaming service that let's us stream lots of games, so we don't even really buy any new ones anymore. Lastly, if I buy a game on disk, I can bring it back to the store when we're done with it, and get some money back for it. All these things together make gaming a very affordable hobby for us. We really don't spend a lot on it at all, but get lots of fun from it :) Take care and have a lovely Sunday! Hope your burnout has healed by now...
I decluttered a lot. I find that with space, rooms etc I prefer empty, easy spaces. (But one thing I gave up and really missed was my fun clothes and makeup. I don’t care that I have a lot of clothes, nailpolish, eyeshadow etc. Getting ready and playing dress up everyday makes me so happy and I’m not giving that up. I feel like minimalism is a great tool for organisation, but if you have something you love like a lot of books, designer bags or any other collection that makes you happy don’t give that up. Yes throw away random useless things that you don’t use, but there is a balance and you shouldn’t give up your personality for utilitarity
I totally agree. But sometimes you can think about new solutions, e.g. going to the library (if you love books) or renting clothes (of course it depends on the country). But this way you don't have to buy stuff aka save money but still get to read many books or try different clothes 😊
Define minimalism the way that’s unique to you. So I agree, and do it the way it works for me. Love my lifetime book collection
@@mandykohlert6987 while going to the library is very practical and it’s something I do, renting clothes is not something I would consider at all. Often I try a few dresses before finding the most flattering for my figure and every brand has its own sizing these days. I have pants in 3 different sizes and they all fit. Same with tops, some are medium, some are large, it depends on the item. Just because I too like variety in my clothes doesn’t mean I won’t wear them often. I have no idea how much it costs to rent an item but unless it’s a ball gown that’s hugely expensive, I can’t imagine it would be worth the cost or the effort of going to the post office to send them back or the disappointment of something not fitting right and having wasted money on the rental.
If certain things give you joy, definitely do not give them up. Enjoy them❤.
As a child I found it fun to save all the items I got over the years, as most children do. Now as an adult I find it prettiest when decor items are few and mindfully placed throughout the home 😊 It feels very natural to declutter things I haven’t looked at or used in years, and sometimes I like to see it as proof of how much I’ve grown as a person.
Ah that's such a wonderful way to look at it 🙂 I also used to save everything when I was a kid :)
A Japanese style is to have one decorative item alone on a wall or shelf.
I've gotten to the point where everything in my life is seen through the lens of maintenance. If I don't enjoy taking care of it or have the energy for it then I don't need it. Really helpful with certain decisions. This was a good list.
I totally get that :D
I deleted my Facebook and Instagram a year and a half ago and I don’t miss it one bit. It would clutter my mind with things that upset me or knowing information that I would rather not know. I like quiet, drama free living. I seen too many keyboard warriors and wars of words played out on social media. Watching your video there are still things I need to work on like recreational shopping but I have greatly reduced it just to keep clutter from coming in to my home. Congratulations on your move. It can feel chaotic for a while but you will get there; be kind to yourself during the transition. 😊
Thanks so much!!! Congrats on deleting FB and IG! :) Happy to hear it's working out for you :) Also love the term keyboard warriors hahaha
This was such a great reminder of all the mindless, time-consuming activities we entrap ourselves to. I love the alternative activity of investing in skills that will enrich our lives, like the language course you featured. Thank you for another great video.
Thanks so much Joy, happy you enjoyed it!! Wishing you a great weekend 🤗🌼
It's also interesting to look at it from a time perspective, rather than a number-of-possessions or space perspective/
❤❤❤ on my way 😊
Agree with all of your ideas. The key is starting to look at what works in our lifestyles and questioning what we really need I've always been intentional in my shopping.
2 things hit home for me. The wardrobe/clothing topic. I was in scouts as a kid, joined the Army in high school and was in 2 jobs/careers that wore uniforms so pretty much in uniform all my life. Now that I am retired I found a simple capsule style wardrobe of the same pants and shirts in different but intermix and match colors and the same clothes for all seasons and at home or travel has been a huge time and money saver. Adding in a fleece insulation layer and waterproof shell works in any weather year round. I also connected with the lack of social media. I only have a FB account to keep in touch with friends from where I used to live and moved away from and for research on moving to the EU. "Comparison is the thief of joy" Teddy Roosevelt has always struck a cord with me.
Vera, I do agree with all of your comments except for what you call ‘decor’ items. For me! I’m a visual artist and have a lot of beautiful and meaningful objects accumulated over my long life and they give me so much pleasure. Yes, they collect dust but my environment would be drabber without them. Having said that, I don’t buy nicknacks and mass produced decorative items, they’re mostly handmade or original pieces.
Thanks for sharing Judith! I'm with you on that, handmade or original pieces over mass produced items :) And if you don't mind the cleaning or dusting that much, then I'd say it's definitely worth keeping them around! :) Take care and have a lovely Sunday
😂😂😂❤😂😂❤❤❤❤❤😂❤❤😂❤
The one drawback to pedicures, is the possibility of picking up a fungus at the salon. We really don't know if the salons are following the sanitation protocols as they should be. I picked up a fungus that affected both big toes. I've been to a podiatrist, used OTC, prescription, and DIY products. Finally bought some pedi tools online and watched some TH-cam videos. 3 years later, I'm just getting back to normal. I'll never get a salon pedicure again, too risky.
Having children forced me to let go of some of these things, like beauty treatments and not having too many decor items around. The one that got me is that I put to many books/courses/crafts into the “later line.” I sometimes don’t even remember courses I’ve paid for and never started. So that was a very helpful reminder:)
Happy to hear you got a helpful tip here! 🤗💕
Totally agree!! I decluttered the iron and board a few years ago, I do not do the salon, knick knacks gift boxes or the gym, still working on social media! Great video Vera!
Thanks Anna! Happy to hear there are more people out there who don't own an iron and board and don't miss them haha :)
Totally with you on most of these! I do get my nails done, I never used to but I have started going with my MIL every three weeks. I have a chronic illness so it is one of the few things I am able to go out and do. We get our nails done and then have lunch together and it's really good for both of us to spend the time together.
Same with the smartphone, too. I keep all social media and games off of it. My phone is for communication, and listening to music or audiobooks. It's also convenient for me to have a search engine readily available whenever I come up with a crazy questions. But I am far too ADHD to be trusted with mobile games or things like pinterest readily available.
Decor items too! A few years ago I got rid of 90% of decor items that were wedding gifts or thrifted and weren't really serving me anymore. Now I have started adding some pieces back in mindfully. I like things that are visually engaging with a lot of color and the choices I make are reflecting that now. I recently purchased a painting from an artist friend of mine and it is so nice to have something made by someone I know, and I even watched her paint that piece in one (five-hour!) session on twitch, rather than something mass-produced and without the same charm.
I love the nail routine with your MIL. Precious time well spent! ❤
Thanks for the thought-provoking content. 😊❤️ 100% agree about the "no ironing" rule! I will frequently shake out & hang up washed items to air dry. Helps the items last longer & saves energy/electricity by not drying them... 😊❤
Felicidades por aprender español!
Hace un par de años que veo tu canal.
Ahora comentaré tus vídeos con más frecuencia.
Saludos 🙋🏻♀️
I found that my ironing board is fantastic for folding laundry! It is higher than a standard table and much better for my back.
Nice topic, both money and time savers :) What gives me joy and save time: use things longer. When i choose a nice outfit and i like it, i wear it several days until dirty. When decorating the table with a nice tablecloth, i leave it on for days until it is dirty. So no switching around things that can be enjoyed longer.
Oh that makes sense! :) Thanks for sharing Ineke, fijne zondag nog!
This video is spot on. I follow most of the advice you’ve given but I am hooked on Facebook and I confess that I spend more time on it than I should, I could be doing something more enjoyable, creative or useful. Thank you for this reminder. I appreciate your calm, sweet demeanor. You truly are a genuine and authentic person and a lovely young lady. We are all happy you are here. ☺️
Aw thank you Kathleen for your kind comment! Good luck with your goals around time spent on social media! Take care and have a lovely Sunday 🤗🌺
This is perfect for people who can't be bothered with anything besides necessities. Which is good. I usually only purchase second hand now, and only items with an actual purpose, that actually look good.
I don't have social media Vera but I love watching stuff that interezt me on utube bad for me I know good luck with the move 💗💗💗💗
Thank you so much Deborah! I personally also really like TH-cam, and I think if we can be intentional about it, it can be a good use of our time :)
The only thing I would say here is a (respectful!) counteract on the clothes point! Whilst I totally agree if something is far too fussy, I've recently been focusing on adding pieces to my wardrobe made of natural fibres - organic silks, cottons, wool, leather and flax linen (a lot of second hand/vintage stuff as much as possible). On one hand yes they do take more time and maintenance to care for, but the time I spend looking after these pieces - whether by hand washing, steaming them, hanging/storing them properly, and even mending them - has let me to cherish/appreciate these items better. The act feels like a 'slowing down' and almost like a rejection of the dopamine hit induced by fast fashion in a way, and I draw a lot of joy in knowing that my time looking after these pieces means my investment will serve me in turn - as they are high quality and timeless, and I know that one day when they do break down they won't cost the earth. It has really changed my relationship with my wardrobe and consumption in a positive way, and made me see clothes are far less disposable.
Great advise and video. One more thing i have adopted lately is never to buy anything expensive on an impulse. Eg i wanted a pair of Dr Martin boots recently they around £150 and I had the money but I deliberately did t buy them for a couple of months to see if i still wanted them. Bought some yesterday in a sale and got them at a discount lol so it was defo worth waiting
Hello Vera! You speak Spanish very well 😊, you've got a good accent. I was greatly impressed when I heard you.
I try to stay clutter free but not very minimalistic. The thing I own and have on display make me feel cozy, so it's fine with me. Sometimes I try to take some things away but I think there's something missing and they come back. I don't accumulate, but just have what makes me happy. I don't mind cleaning, I like it. I have three cats so I must take care of dust and hair, but I don't mind .
I don't go shopping for fun anymore, when I need clothes I buy online if possible (except for jeans), so I don't have to spend half an hour to get there, shop, and then back home again. That way I also avoid crowds. I can't stand disrespectful people in shopping centers.
About games, I don't like console games, I prefer to play on my phone to some kind of game that stimulates my brain. I have installed three or four, play a little time, not everyday, and only one game a day. If i don't use a game in a while I desinstall it and can then try another one if I want to. Always free games. I live on my own so it's not that I'm waisting time that could be with my partner. I'm maintaining my brain healthy. Better this that scrolling on tik tok.
I use very little beauty makeup items. Face cream, anti -wrinkel eye cream, mascara and eye liner. Never foundation, powder, blush or whatever else goes on the face.
Greetings from Spain and continue practicing your Spanish, you're good at it.
Thanks for sharing !❤🎉😊
No ironing ! Whatever needed ironing was always ignored !
Everything else is so relevant , too !
No games, no social media, no iron or shirts with buttons, no knickknacks or decor items. Too many clothes and tools/hardware items. I figure if I can’t pack and move in one, maybe two days I have too much. When I retired it took two months to sort everything and decide what to keep. That’s how I ended at one backpack of essentials. Now I’m curious to see the new place after you move. 😄😍 No moving stress Vera, if possible. 🚚
When I was in high school an older cousin came to stay with us. She arrived in a Volkswagen filled with stuff. I assumed that was all her possessions, and that inspired me to live lightly after that. Now all my possessions fit into two or three pickup truck loads, which is less than most people around me.
@@sluggo206 👍. I had so much stuff I didn’t remember or want at all. 10 years to the good now.
Great idea on the backlog. I went into my Netflix and realized I had so many shows on my list to watch that I literally would never have time to watch them all. I culled the list down to a dozen. Great idea.
Ah nice! Happy it helped 😁
This was a great list, thank you. I don't play games, have my nails or hair done and I don't go to a gym; however, I did at one time, and oh I save so much money and time now to do more important things. Best wishes with moving. I know how it is...moved 22 times around the world and back. We are done now, in my forever home.
Wow 22 times!!! Very impressive 😯 You're a pro now!
You really don't need to have an Instagram, I for myself can only reassure you in keeping it simple and don't also post like the same thing on every social media platform. It's just not necessary 😊
Boxes packed for move may feel messy, but it's a wonderful mess. Enjoy the journey to your new home! ✨️
A Japanese minimalist (I forge the channel) talked about the difference between cleaning an empty room vs cleaning a room that's empty except for one decorative sculpture in the middle of the floor. The latter is significantly more work.
Good afternoon Vera
something that came to my mind when listening to this was. I eliminated "should "and "ought to " out of my life along time ago and I think I needed to be reminded of that again, my daughter passed away 2 months ago, it has been a very heartbreaking time for me and my family, one of the things my daughter put into practise along time ago was, her words
I didn,t chose possessions
I wanted experiences
thats how I intend to live the rest of my life from now on
thank you as always for sharing,
xxxxx
I’m so sorry about the loss of your daughter, u must be heartbroken. I wish you well on your healing journey and hoping that living by your daughters words will help with that xoxo❤
I have never got my nails done at a nail shop. I also check labels to make sure clothes are easy to take care of. I limit my makeup routine and don't use mascara unless special occasion. I color my own hair at home. I have started to reduce home decor items and I'm not buying anymore seasonal decorations. Good video. I agree with almost everything you said.
Thanks Margaret, take care and have a lovely Sunday 🤗🌱
I love all this content, but really want to say thanks for mentioning that pedicures aren't all about appearance. I struggle with a little toe nail issue, and also walk a lot, so calluses and sometimes cracked heels. For me, knowing they'll be getting some excellent treatment every other month has proved beneficial. When we spend a lot for great work out shoes, I look at it like an additional investment in foot health. But I always get that smirk when I try to explain it to others. So thank you for not making me feel I"m just trying to justify pretty toes. :)
Pedicure treatment is essential as one grows older and less adept at foot care , in my case ! ❤❤😊😊
For sure! Foot health is really important :) They keep us up all day :)
I get pedicures for both the practical and beautifying reasons. I like seeing pretty toe nails and getting the assistance with my foot health with keeping the toenails trimmed is priceless.
I really find your messages calming and inspiring…. Both at the same time! Makes me want to declutter a little more every time I watch one of your videos.
I watch a fair number of TH-cam channels regularly and find yours to be one of my favourites.
Something that I also appreciate is how clean and simple your decor is. Some people may not understand this, but I think you will, I find that seeing a cluttered messy room in a video’s background makes me feel distracted and agitated. It’s the same in my own life…. I breath better and feel so much calmer in a uncluttered environment. Although I have to admit that I love decorating and have done it professionally when I worked, so tend to have more than we need!
Now that I’m retired, decluttering is a big goal that you’re helping me with! 😂 Thank you.
Aw thank you! So happy you're enjoying my videos and find value in them! 🤗🌺 Good luck with the rest of your decluttering goals!
OMG, I think I relate to ALL of them! I agree with everything you said in all 10 points. However I could say that there are three of them that I relate the most: decor items! I used to be a decor items hoarder! I had them everywhere around the house! Even in the bathroom! For serious! And one day I started feeling tired of all the visual pollution! Little by little, I gave them away, donated or threw them away, and now my decor items are shells and stones! They’re free, when I don’t want them, that’s ok, I didn’t spend money on them and they don’t need to be cleaned a lot. Secondly, ironing! I too don’t own anything that needs to be ironed! It’s a waste of time and electricity! And social media: I’m only on instagram in which I follow really very few people, because I like to connect to those who make art like me. I only follow artists. And I subscribed to some TH-cam channels, but very few and I watch them while I do something else.
Thanks for the great video. Happy weekend 💙❤️💛💗💚♥️🖤🧡💜
Awesome! Thanks Alexandra! :) Yes hahahaha we used to have decor items in the bathroom too. Now there's nothing there hahaha
"Visual pollution"...I like that.
@@jasmeenv7504 Thanks ❤️
These videos are really good, I like listening to them while I do chores 😆✨
I’m seeing that minimalism is a lifestyle shift-It’s mindfulness from inside and out-and way of organizing by surrounding ourselves with peaceful and even joyful energy- and doing away with negativity and meaningless stuff. Lately, I’ve been using the “owning only one” decluttering inspiration from your other videos. I’m simplifying my hair routine- I don’t need electronic styling tools any longer; and I’ll cancel the beauty box subscription since I’ve learned what my skin needs to thrive, I want to use what I already have before bringing more items in, and let’s not underestimate the plastics pollution that the various product packaging adds to the environment. Thank you for such valuable reminders 💕
I found that I've come to do most of these things over the past 15 years without being intentional. It just kind of happened because my job was stressful and I had to keep paring things back to have capacity for the job and my life. As a fellow lover of video games I only buy digital copies now to reduce the material and visual clutter. I know this isn't necessarily a channel about gaming but I would love to see a video on your favourites, I'm always looking for cozy games to relax to. Thanks for all the helpful reminders 💜
Thanks so much!!! :) I agree about the digital games. However, if we know we will only want to play a game through once, and it's still a little popular, we might get it on disk so that we can bring it back to the store after we're done and get some cash back :)
@@SimpleHappyZen I never thought of that, but what a great way to save a few dollars 😁
I agree on the handwash thing being high maintenance, but some of the time you can get away with machine-washing the item as long as you put it in a laundry bag for delicates and/or use the delicate wash cycle, and then hang it up to dry. If you google the fabric type you can find out if it would work to machine-wash this way instead :)
Yes! Plus I dry all my clothing on racks after a very brief tumble in the dryer to shake out wrinkles. Saves electricity since I only use the dryer for sheets and towels.
@@j.m.7056 I wish I could use the dryer for sheets but unfortunately mine can shrink if dried in a machine😄
There's a great washing machine-LG- that has a mini basket you can safely wash delicates in. It really is great-never a snag!
I have done that for years. The clothes seem to last longer .
Kathy B
I agree with not buying clothing that's hard to take care of. I've never gone to the dry cleaner, and I almost never iron. But, one time we had overnight visitors that needed to iron their dress clothes, so I was glad I still had an iron & a small ironing board from college 🤣 I also used it to iron patches onto my son's baseball shirts. It's out of the way in a cabinet in the laundry room, so I don't mind storing it for those rare occasions that I need it.
Definitely! If it's not in the way, then that's a good reason for keeping it I'd say. I've kept it all this time for the same reason. However, when we move I do think it will be in the way, so that's why I'm probably going to declutter it soon :)
Excess decor, backlog items, phone games, and social media are the four most helpful tips for me right now. And since I am just beginning to declutter, doing the last two (staying away from phone games and social media more) might help me do the first two (declutter excess decor and backlog items). 😅 Thanks for this helpful video! It was nice to see you again. I hope you have a stress-free move! 🙂
Ah that's a good way of looking at it! 🤗😁 Good luck with your goals, you can do it!
Hi Vera! I am definitely part of the people on this planet that have never ever ironed a single piece of clothing in their entire life and I am perfectly okay with that. I don't even know where I would keep my iron and my ironing board in my small appartment 😅
😂✌🏻
I like the time saving tips. That’s one of the reasons I hate eating out. It feels like it wastes so much time! I’m more for just grabbing take out if we want something and I’m not cooking for whatever reason. You’re at the mercy of the waiter who these days is generally overbooked with tables and can’t be efficient, no fault of their own. I’ve been not wearing make up as much. I’m 63 and still like to look pretty but I go without makeup a lot of days now. When I was younger I would have never done that! I used to iron everything but got so tired keeping up with stuff and noticed the clothes get wrinkled as soon as you put on a seat belt or put a kid in a car seat, so I don’t iron a lot anymore. Thanks for the tips.
I really like the point of shopping as a recreational activity, if we cut that down it would definitely help with decluttering and keeping things simple.
100% this!
Thank you for these tips! I realized I am intentionally working on most of them. 😊
That's great! 🤗💕
Thanks for this great video! Actually I never started a lot of the stuff you mention and now feel even happier about that. No Instagram, no tiktoc, no phone games, no foundation make up...
Hola Vera. Es un gusto siempre ver tus videos, he aprendido mucho de ti y si algún día vienes a Florida aquí tienes una amiga para conversar y practicar español. Un gran abrazo!
Bueno, no sólo sí vienes, cuando quieras! Podemos chatear😂 eres una muy dulce y linda persona.
Hi Vera. I liked all of these tips. Especially the ones where I can save time cleaning. Since I’ve been making more of my own meals at home, and saving money from not eating out, I feel like all I do is dishes. Even though I have a dishwasher, but it’s an energy hog too. Can’t win. Any tips? Also would love a video on cleaning up one’s digital space. My bookmarks and inbox are out of control. Welcome back ❤
Hi there!! Maybe try searching for one pot recipes? :) They can really help with the dishes
A very good video, thank you. Decluttering your life in order to have more time for the things that really matter is a really good idea. Thank you for sharing these tips! I changed to a much healthier diet and as a result my skin has improved so much that I need no more make-up, which I think is great because it saves me a lot of time and money.
wow, amazing! Congrats Luise for taking care of your health like that :)
Do keep the ironing board and iron! I never iron but getting rid of clothes moths really requires that and the board is great for folding laundry!
Ironing helps with getting rid of clothes moths? I've always been curious about this. I've never had moths? How do you get them?
@@SimpleHappyZen I have always wondered this too! When we moved into our house the previous owners left boxes of mothballs in the closets and they smelled so horrible we threw them away
I've been thinking about ditching the phone games, and you have convinced me to take the plunge. I have only two left on my phone and have been playing them less as the weather warms, and I spend more time outside, so there's not much left to ditch. I'll probably keep the puzzle game because my phone is much smaller and lighter to take to wait for appointments than my book or my knitting, but I found myself really resenting the time I spent on Pokémon Go. It's such a distraction, and the price for in-game purchases just went up about 75 percent.
Wow that increase in in-game purchases... that's crazy! Happy you got a valuable tip here! :) Have a lovely Sunday
I agree with all the things you stopped buying or doing.... Very smart... Thanks for sharing 👍
Happy to hear it, thanks Lulu! Have a nice Sunday 🤗🌼
Hi Vera! Lovely video as usual. I have been decluttering a lot lately and I have already noticed how much less I have to clean! I've also noticed I'm less worried about what to wear since my wardrobe has been decluttered as well. Minimalism is wonderful, isn't it? XOXO 💞
Hi Vera lovely video. I don't wear makeup, don't play games on my phone and no social media except TH-cam. Thank you for sharing. Hugs ❤
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed the vid :) Take care and have a lovely Sunday
Thanks so much ! It’s very interesring to hear your point of view. 😊
I'm with you on the gym thing! I have a yoga mat, some small weights, and a stationary bike. If I have to leave the house I'm not going to do it either. LOL
Me too 😁
Thanks for the tips Vera. You’re smart.
Hi Vera, I so do appreciate your channel. Backlog items: what a good statement. I always have tons of videos here on watch later as I am interested in many things but then feel pressired when not up to date and have to delete them from my list…
Hi Vera, congrats on the new apartment and good luck with the move. 🥳🥳🥳
All great tips as usual, I found the high maintenance part refreshing. I've been following some minimalist channels and they're all about the highest quality you can get for durability, especially for clothes. But when I look at the videos of how they care for their clothes, I get tired just by watching. Can't imagine putting in all that effort myself.
So it's nice to see someone looking for a good compromise. 😁😁
For example I stay away from wool and cashmere sweaters because they require so much effort. I've gone with 100% cotton knit which is machine washable. It'll still last years without having to hand wash with special detergent and dry in a special way.
For my home I've also picked slightly cheaper items for things like coffee table and tv stand where I know I will have friends over, families with kids. I don't wanna stress about someone damaging something I spent a lot of money on. I invested in our bed, mattress etc because I know we can take good care of them and they will last.
Hi Vera, I am really sensitive to dust so I dust quite often, having excess clutter, nik naks, no more photo albums, stuff all over surface tops and the floor can take so much time to pick up and move out of the way. It is good to reevaluate the things we use every once in a while, buying extra time for ourselves can enrich our lives. Great tips to think about Vera 🌼
Thanks Joan!! Totally get what you mean :) I'm sensitive to dust too, but it's mostly my boyfriend who does the dusting around here hahaha
In the 'Thing#4', you got rid of ironing equipments.. I too don't like ironing my clothes, but need to do it every week. Because here in India, the weather is hot and humid in the plains. So, cotton clothes are a necessity, which need frequent ironing.
Yes, definitely some things are different depending on where we live, our lifesyle, etc :)
Hola Vera, me dio mucha felicidad saber que estás aprendiendo Español. Me encantan tus videos, tu pronunciación me ayuda mucho a ejercitar la "escucha" en Inglés. Saludos desde Argentina. Also, i know just a little german. It will be great if you made a video speaking in German.
Ah thank you so much!!! :) Nice that you also know a little German :) My German is actually quite bad hahaha, so I wouldn't be able to make a video in German. Maybe I'll speak a little Dutch sometime :)
I do almost everything you mentioned as well, and it was a change from previously. I like your presentation. I've also put furniture that can be put on wheels, such as TV console table, to more easily dust.
I am from Nepal and I love your videos n I am learning many things from minimalism. Everyday I watch at least one video of minimalism and it has helped me a lot to grow.❤️🇳🇵
Thank you so much! So happy you're enjoying my videos 🤗🌺
I love this! I don’t know if I missed it but did you mention in a video what you’ve been using for your hair? It looks amazing! I have naturally curly hair too and haven’t found anything to work on it yet.
Thanks so much Stephanie! I'm still planning that video haha. :) For now, I use the products from Bounce curl. I have their shampoo and conditioner, clump and define cream and light hold gel cream. Works well :) But I'm not really sure about their shampoo not having silicone, they work really well because my curls are much better defined, however my hair does feel dryer.. But overall, their products work very well for me :)
I don’t iron now. I do have the iron and ironing board but that’s because I have ten year old twins so every so often there may be something desperately needs an iron but I try and avoid it at all costs! I am now trying to accrue less stuff so enjoy watching your videos for ideas. I don’t buy make up as I don’t bother wearing that and I get my hair cut maybe twice a year now but go to a reasonable price salon and it’s £40 each time. I don’t colour my hair and I don’t get my nails done either as I work from home. Like you, I also don’t go to the gym but do pay for a les mills subscription for my home workouts. Similar to you, I don’t have instagram. I don’t have TikTok or twitter but I do use Facebook a little too much. I need to use it less as it doesn’t make me happy anyway! With regard to things like ornaments, I saw how many my husband’s parents had accrued when we cleared their house after he had lost his dad (after losing his mum a few years before) and it was just ridiculous.
Thanks so much for sharing Lucy! Sounds like you're also already quite intentional when it comes to these things :)
Thank you for a very interesting video Vera. I'm doing a huge book declutter today and then it's going to be knick-knacks next. I liked all the points you made and I don't enjoy shopping either! Xx best wishes
Love it!!! Good luck with your decluttering Helen 🤗🏠🌱
Me encantan los comentarios en español, ya que lo estás aprendiendo. A todos, que tengan buen fin de semana!
Muchas gracias! A tú tambien, que tengan buen fin de semana!
Great time savers, thank you! Would you do a hair care / product show..love your hair!?
Thank you Melissa!! I'm still thinking of making a video like that hahaha, just don't really know how to film it yet. I'm not really comfortable filming myself in the shower (plus our bathroom is tiny) and I don't think it will be very interesting if I just talk about it, instead of showing it. But it's definitely on the list. :)
Thank you for this video. The other thing I’ve stopped doing is getting haircuts and I just do it myself now. It saves me so much money and also commute/booking time etc. it’s pretty easy even with my long curly hair that needs layering ❤
Wow really?? That makes sense! :)
Ha, me too. But that started when I lost most of my hair.... a blessing in disguise, maybe.
¡Hola Vera! Tienes muy buena pronunciación hablando español. Gracias por mostrarnos esta forma de estudiar idiomas. Yo estudio inglés y francés. Así puedo ver vídeos como los tuyos que son de gran inspiración para tener una vida y un mundo mejor. Un abrazo desde Madrid 🇪🇸
Ah muchas gracias!! 🤗🌱💕 I LOVED my trip to Madrid, can't wait to visit there again sometime!
Great video🎉
Yes many people shop as a sport. I used to do that myself. I used to get my nails done and go to the gym. Now I also see it as such a waist of time and money. I am also a widow but I stopped doing that a long time ago. I'm more into "natural". I don't really feel the need for false lashes, or false nails, or false anything. Now I only use base makeup for special occasions.
Really interesting video, thank you Vera. Watching the video made me realise how many of these things I have already done in the past few months without being really intentional about it, like no subscription boxes, simple beauty routine, simple exercise routine, no phone games. I have lessened my backlog of tv shows, not having netflix anymore has helped with that massively. The thing I could spend a lot less time on is social media. I'm already using a screen time app to stop me using it for too long each day. I have a few accounts on different platforms, some related to my job which have to stay, and some I just don't personally use anymore, so those personal accounts/platforms could be taken down - which feels freeing! ☺ Good luck with the move and packing boxes!
Tu voz suena muy bonita en español 🥺 I'm so proud that one of my favorite youtubers is learning my native language 🎉
Aw thank you so much!! Qué tenga un buen fin de semana!
Simply happy me after watching your video :)
🤗🥰
Speaking of foot health, have you looked into barefoot minimalist shoes?
It’s a shoe that does not have a lift in the heel and it has a wide toe box so the toes can splay. This is so the foot can be in anatomically correct, therefore letting the rest of the body be in alignment.
While it is quite the transition to switch to this type of shoe - because of different reasons, the big picture is to have good foot and body health.
Yes, this will take up some of your time to transition but it is for long term affects of better health.
I didn't buy knick-knacks for decades but I finally wanted a few little decorations. When I'm in a thrift store I check the knick-knack aisle and see if anything is calling me. Then I might choose one or two items if they fit my style: simple elegant or art deco. Half the stuff I get at thrift stores I end up keeping; the other half I end up donating back or it doesn't work, so I figure the net cost of what I keep is twice the sale price. But that's OK because it's less than the items would be new, and the nonprofit store uses the money to teach ex-prisoners and others who need it job skills.
I've had two regrets about decluttering knick-knacks. One was a miniature mailbox, and the other was a miniature watering can. I used the mailbox to put notes for my roommate and put the flag up, but the maibox was a bit too small so I got rid of it, but now I miss it. Still, those are two small losses, and you have to expect a few mistakes when decluttering.
I agree with you 100% on all spoke about
I actually put on Facebook marketplace FREE ironing board, I never regretted not keeping it, I also don’t buy clothing that has to be ironed any longer.
Oh awesome!! :) Thanks Christine, have a lovely Sunday!
So inspiring! especially the 'nik nack decorations' - that's really inspired me to add some things to sell at the Koning's dag vrijmarkt!! Thank you so much 😇
Thank you for these useful ideas.
What a wonderful reminder
Congrats, Vera! Your Spanish sounds great 😊 your efforts are worth it and you’ll enjoy a lot more your next trip to Spain, we love to talk with our visitors and appreciate the efforts for learning our not-so-easy language 😅😅
Aw thank you!! I love being able to speak with people in their language, so I'm really looking forward to it :)
Gosh we are so alike with reasons to be more minimal with the hair, nails, trinkets. 😊
Also, love your natural hair color. It’s so pretty and seems to be a unique color.
Aw thanks Audrey! Honestly, I had no idea what my natural hair color was hahaha. This is what it turned out being. And it also lights up a little in the sun
Hi Vera, your hair looks beautiful today. I own a steamer in case I need to iron my clothes. Have fun moving :)
Thanks so much!!! ooooh I'm sooooo looking forward to it hahaha
Not having a TV saves me the time I would be wasting sitting in front of it watching reruns I've seen twenty times before.
Awesome video! I have basically abandoned social media, and I don't miss it one bit!
Glad to hear it! 🤗
I got hooked on phone games recently, so I removed them completely along with a few other apps that didn't really need to be on the phone, and my sleep quality improved as a result :D
Awesome!!! Great job 😁
I'm finding that every time I try to get my nails done at home, it never lasts- and I agree that the whole process of getting them done in general seems to be a waste of time. I'd rather just keep my fingernails bare 99% of the time these days, but when it comes to pedicures, it's really the experience of getting them done that makes it worth it for me every once in a while. It's like a little self-care treat, and the last time I got myself one (which was during my spring break), it was really nice and relaxing! 😊
Love it! If you're enjoying the experience, I think it's a different story :) Suddenly it makes it worth the time investment then :)
Hi Vera this was such a good video - I can relate to almost all. Your Spanish sounds really good well done 👍🏼 btw love your hair like that. Have a stress-free move 🙏 so looking forward to seeing your new home ❤
Thank you so much Sharon 🤗🌺 Hope you're doing well!!
I enjoyed this very much and found that I am in good shape with the areas you mentioned. Perhaps it is my age - senior or my upbringing on the farm! A helpful hint to reduce hair care products is to use either lemon juice or vinegar for rinsing. Lemon juice for light hair and vinegar for dark and once in awhile smash up an egg and massage this into your freshly washed hair to condition! Thank you for your program. I love it!
We have no iron or ironing board and make a conscious effort to have clothes that don’t need it! We do have a small handheld steamer instead if something really needs de-creasing.
Ah nice!!! Can you use that for cleaning as well? I'm thinking of maybe getting something like that for cleaning the rugs, couch, mattrass etc...
I have been reducing my decor items bit by bit. I have very few subscriptions. I'm spring cleaning and weeding stuff that just sat in my house saying hey, hey, hey! Fine. Ignore me. This year I am freeing them from being ignored.
I love this concept! I’m inspired to cull my decor items with this thinking. Someone else can be giving them the attention and care they deserve !
Welcome back ❤
Hi Vera! Good to see you. Thank you for this video. I’ve been working towards minimalism for a couple years and this video helped me realize how to do more towards my goal.
So glad you found some helpful tips in here! :) Good luck with your goals 🤗🌱
You're right about number 3, I had a bunch of things on my watch list on Netflix that have been there for months and I went and deleted 7 of the 9 things. Now I only have 2 things to watch. I'm guilty of spending too much time on phone games 🙃 Def need to cut back on that. I have cut back on social media. Before I would spend 3-4 hours a day on social media, now it's maybe 1 hour or so
I've been waiting for your video🤗
@@dr.christopherjohnson935 Thank you, Dr.Christopher🤗 I'm from Russia. I like Vera's blog very much, because it makes me calm. And I practice my English leastening)
I'm still guilty of having a huge backlog of things, and like you say, it's overwhelming. There was a sale on the Nintendo eshop and I purchased a couple of games when I have games from 2 years ago that I haven't played 😂same with adding things to my watchlist, I have so much things that I think I need to watch that it ends up stressing me out and I rewatch a old show or anime I've alreasy seen.
I haven't change my skincare routine ( and I do have a backlog of my favourite products) but since Covid and I don't wear that much makeup anymore, I only wear it when I feel like it, when it makes me happy to put it on, but I don't feel like I have to wear it anymore. Sometimes I go out looking like an extra on the Walking Dead, but that's fine 😂
I'm also with you on things that are high maintenance or things are too precious or expensive that you're scared to use them, I try to only buy things that I will use or clothes that I will actually wear.
I relate to the walking dead comment. That made me laugh thank u. I think went too minimalist with my getting ready routine. 😂
Good morning here in Canada. The topic of the gel nails and even just nail polish - a nurse at the foot clinic I go to said that your nails are an organ on your body as well and they need to be able to breath so if you put anything ie: gel nails or nail polish, etc on them -that's not healthy for your nails. Really that makes sense.
I know what you mean...I bought a set of dishes because the were glass, had chickens on them (I'm a country girl). I almost never used them & when I did use them a couple times, I worried that "he" would break them. I gave them to the Goodwill, it hurt to let them go, but they took up so much cupboard room (that I needed) & I worried I would break them....all the time! I told them at the Goodwill, "I love these dishes, but all I do is never use them & constantly worry I will break them, so I am giving them up to be without the stress! Good advice you give! xxxooo Judie
Hahahaha YES I know exactly what you mean!! 😁 Thanks for sharing Judie, have a lovely Sunday!
Thanks for bringing up phone games and not advertising them! I started to play some when I suffered from a burn-out and didn't have much energy for anything. The games are free to download, but they make money by making you hooked and then introduce gameplay elements that you must pay for. It's a cynical way of earning lots of money. Instead of making costumers pay once for a game, they will have you continuously pay to continue playing or get special items in the game. Even just a chance to get special items, like a lottery. When this was the only entertainment I had energy for, it made me lose a lot of money. I got disillusioned and have never played any phone games ever again. Get a hand-held console instead if you want to play games, then you only have to pay once for them.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! Yes, I really dislike games like that... So disheartening to think of people making games like this to purposefully exploit people. Like you, I play games you have to pay for once and then their yours forever. We also have a streaming service that let's us stream lots of games, so we don't even really buy any new ones anymore. Lastly, if I buy a game on disk, I can bring it back to the store when we're done with it, and get some money back for it. All these things together make gaming a very affordable hobby for us. We really don't spend a lot on it at all, but get lots of fun from it :) Take care and have a lovely Sunday! Hope your burnout has healed by now...
@@SimpleHappyZen Thank you Vera! Yes, I'm much better now.
Excelente video , Vera !
Me gusta tu acento en Español.
🙏🏻
Aw thank you Teresa! 🤗🌺🌼