I have followed you throughout your entire journey in your move towards minimalism and I am astounded by the speed in which you have turned your life around! I am amazed by your drive, determination and commitment. What you have achieved is incredible 😊
If only Erica from 6 months ago could see this Erica. When your decluttering journey seemed so overwhelming, if you could have foreseen where you are in your life now it would have felt so much easier. You had to go through that to get to this point, but by sharing your journey you are helping other people who are struggling to believe they will be able to overcome their 'stuff'. So thank you for taking the time to make these videos ❤️
For future reference: 1. Have a routine 0:18 2. Realistic expectations 1:12 3. Be intentional 1:24 4. Kickstart productivity 2:07 5. Do laundry early 2:34 6. Practice gratitude 2:45 7. Organise intentionally 4:27 8. Centralise items 4:27 9. Capsule wardrobe 6:02 10. Prep coffee the night before 6:53 11. Write tasks the night before 6:53 12. Removing things that dont belong 7:12 "If it makes you happy then it is not a waste of time." 13. Meal planning 9:30 Becky at Russells loving life Katie at life in the mundane 14. Restrict electronics 11:00 15. Recalibrate 13:07
Number 12 was incredibly eye opening for me. I just paused and got rid of a huge folder filled with tips on how to deal with my narcissistic mother. At this point in my life, that issue and even my mother, don't belong in my life anymore. I have to focus on my pregnancy to feel happy everyday instead of worried and sad. It's time to change that. So thanks for the advice! 💜
Speaking of laundry and being grateful - I am so grateful to have a washer and dryer in my home. There is a woman on my street who drags her laundry in a cart to the laundrymat. I always say to myself “I am so blessed”. I really enjoy your channel.
I agree. I spent so many years using a laundromat in hot Florida with my young daughter while I worked full-time. Everytime (really, everytime) I throw a load in, I am so grateful to have my own machines. That feeling never left me. Now that my daughter is an adult, she remembers going to the laundromat and she is grateful for her own machines, as well.
Lisa Gavin - thanks for the correct spelling of laundromat - lol. I couldn’t think of how to spell it. 😊. We recently (before the virus) had to get a new washer. I was in panic mode until the new one arrived - 3 days later. Looking back I was a jerk to panic about my washer when a real crisis was on the way. I’m still grateful for my blessings. I’m happy you and your daughter are grateful also. Stay well, stay safe.
We have a shared washer and dryer in the basement of our apartment (4floors down). It’s pricey and small. Ive missed our own washer/dryer for the last couple years. It’s motivating me to save more, minimalism more, prepare more so we can hopefully buy a house next year ❤️ when I walk down and up all the stairs I try to remind myself how I am getting exercise I really need and that I only have to go to the laundromat for large items instead of it all-after I catch my breathe. Haha. Finding ways to look at the gratitude view definitely helps ❤️ I am trying to be more intentional with my time. It’s so easy to commit to things because of the feel of obligation. Which then leads to me stressed and running around like crazy. This is the bump in the road I am having right now. Especially as Covid restrictions are lessening. It scares me that I will fall into crazy hectic schedules.
I know this video is not a new one, but I just happened upon it. It resonates with me. I am retired now, empty nested, a lot of the things you are discussing, I actually did when my kids were home. But afterwards, life seemed to be like carrying milk in a saucer instead of a cup. I volunteered for everything, said yes to whatever anyone asked, I was so busy being a mom, I did not know how to slow down. The positive thing that came out of the lockdown for me was, I learned that I could relax. That was a lesson not easily learned, but is serving me well. I have learned to say no, I have learned that I am not everyone’s chauffeur, I have learned that it is okay to not make a two column to do list, and it’s okay to not finish everything. I am embracing minimalism, decluttering and organizing is my new hobby! That’s probably how I found your channel. I just wanted to say thank you for the inspiration and affirmation that you are giving me.
I'm finishing up college and what I have done to digitally declutter is to "seasonally" declutter at the beginning/end of each semester. I go through all my emails, docs, and pics and choose which ones to save or which ones are important to save and get rid of all the rest.
For digits deciliter I’d recommend 2 differ t tactics: 1. Turn off all the notifications and then see what you actually miss seeing - turn those back on and delete the other apps 2. Make the deck utter a month long project and every day do a different task (phone apps, pictures on phone, pictures on computer, email inbox, files on computer, files on online drives, notification settings on phones, etc)
I love routine it simplifies your life..yes it gets a bit boring but it gives you focus and quick achievements to your goals...I end up getting a lot more time to do other things...your a superstar for how far you have come from the chaos you were in...xxxxx
Such a pleasure to watch and listen to you Erica. Your explanations are simple and clear. Everyone of my family and friends are very aware of my disinterest in my phone. I actually wish they were never invented, though I know there is a place for them 🙄🤔. I've recently Unsubscribed from all the auto emails from stores etc such a relief. I hardly use FB or Instagram....actually it's been weeks since I was on either one. I very rarely answer my phone when it rings. I prefer texts. Mostly my phone is for me...make appointments, safety etc.
Dear Mrs. Lucas, you find in me a consumer who deeply enyoes your channel. Thanks a lot for your content. I am living in germany and your way inspires me. So please ceep in going to declutter your attic and your shed. Stay healthy and fine as you are. Kind regards.
I don’t know how people can be so negative! Don’t listen to the nasty comments. You are doing such an amazing job! With email clutter, I found that when I unsubscribed from all of the marketing emails it helped me immensely and freed up my inbox
I absolutely LOVED your piece on 15 things to simplify life! So many of the things you said resonated with me! May you and your family be blessed and stay safe 🥰
I love your channel. I swear we could be sisters, you are so much like me. Watching all you’ve done has been so inspiring to me and made me feel so much better about my own progress and my own journey. Thank you for sharing with us and for being you. So many people are fake, I love that you are real!
Digital de clutter is huge! I find I get really overwhelmed when I have a full inbox (either at work or home). First, I unsubscribed from pretty much everything besides a handful of things that really really wanted to be notified of. Second, I create folders to hold different types of emails (bills, photos to save, receipts, etc) This can take a ton of time in the beginning but now I just maintain it each day. Third, I turn off email notifications! The little red dot stresses me out! I also have done this for most of my other apps as well. Honestly very little is so important that I need to know instantaneously. Hope this helps! Love your channel :) ❤️
When my children were growing up, I took the time doing laundry to pray for each member of the family as I did his or her laundry. Although I never hated doing laundry, I found more gratitude by this one change in my daily routine.
Great video, minimalism looks good on you 😀 digital decluttering is amazing. I did its few years ago, my steps were; 1. I turned off social media notifications 2. My emails only come through when I open the app. 3. I unsubscribe from emails as they come in so it's not a big project of doing them all at once. 4. I only open a text message if intend to reply at that time. My lifestyle is very different to yours, I don't use my phone or emails for work and I don't have a social media presence so it was a lot easier for me. I need to get back on track with being intentional with my phone usage/scrolling because that has definitely slipped in the last few months. Your video has given me some inspiration for my day. Thanks from Ireland x
I had that problem with emails and internet. I did what you did with your house; I took the time to go through EVERYTHING-deleted, unsubscribed from what didn’t need. I now do it everyday-it is less stress for me!!
Categorizing art supplies 🤯 a paint bin!!! Omg I love this idea and don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself. An actual bin just for painting supplies 🤯🤯🤯 I might actually let my kids paint more! Wow thank you
Awwww we adore you, folks who leave mean comments clearly havent watched your other videos where your closing talks about leaving positive comments. So happy you can keep your chin up and keep truckin along!
Thank you for all of your advice!! Also-the authentic content on here assures all of us that life is hectic and real-btw-your dog taking something from the dining room table in the background totally cracked me up!!
I just love watching your channel you make it all seem like it's doable. And I like the fact that you put in mistakes so we can learn that this is not a perfect change and that it requires some mistakes along the way.
I've started making a time to handle email. So far that's it lol. Every afternoon I delete emails or unsubscribe to emails from places I no longer want to emails from. I have to work on voicemails and making a good habit of deleting. Love your videos, I've truly taken so much from them.
@@EricaLucasLoves i had 2000 emails. Yup. That's how hard I ignore them. I had to take the time it took to just erase all the non essential email and start fresh. Unsubscribing has really cut down on the amount of emails I receive now
Erica, I love your videos! You really are a genuine, caring person....the way you interact with your kids and your furbaby (he's so funny). You would make a great teacher! You would be everyone's favorite!
I love your honesty and passion for your new way of life. It's been great watching you work through things as you film and have those light bulb moments. I've started my second pass of my little house in the UK and take inspiration from you and your journey. Thanks for sharing.
Meal planning right now. I hate it with a passion. But it definitely pays off. I wouldn't do it otherwise because it is the worst task in the world. I used to do a month at a time but it's just too much. My brain would explode and I constantly put it off. Sometimes for 2 months lol. Now I do 1-2 weeks. Works well. Love your videos. You are easy to watch and listen to and your advice and attitude are inspiring.
You’re just what I was hoping to find! Someone who is obviously very intelligent and shares my struggles with clutter and someone who is drastically changing for the better with pitfalls along the way. And I love that you’re still going through the learning process so I can take the journey with you. Thank you so much for letting us onboard and I’m sorry you have to deal with haters. But I’m glad you’re strong enough and you don’t let that get in your way of progress. I just found you through a shared video, The Minimal Mom, in which I’m subscribed to already. So glad I found you! God Bless!
Digital life declutter idea- mark all messages outside of one month old as ‘read’ and then archive them...you’ll still be able to search, but they won’t be in your active inbox. Then, set aside time daily (15 minutes or so...Mimimal Mom style) or weekly to go through new emails and unsubscribe, etc. Also, I have found having two emails to be beneficial...I keep one for private/correspondance only and the other is my ‘junk’ email for utilities, memberships, etc. I still manage both, but I know which one has more importance. Hope this stimulates your creative juices!
Love you Erica! I've come to your channel after watching you on The Minimal Mom's channel. So grateful that I saw you and now subscribe to your channel. Love you humor, honesty and being real.
Thank you so much for all your videos. I finally started decluttering yesterday. I've started in my bedroom as I want to be able to relax without looking at all the "stuff" I've accumulated. I was starting to hoard. Your honesty about everything, from the start, has helped me realise I need to sort this now. Xx
I love watching Ranger doing things in the background, like he literally takes something off the table. LOL He must be thinking no one is watching him, but there he is at .20 seconds LOL I remember when you started decluttering and going minimal, your expression when you spoke to us was so sad and it felt to me as if you felt you were going to fail before you even started. How proud I am of you to have done so much, I mean, you are truly and inspiration to me and tons of others. You must be proud, and I love your videos, thanks for all the hard work you do for us!
OMG girl...I had done a digital declutter the beginning of the new year. I had to...I had tons and tons of unreads and I just didn't want to delete it all, I had to look through things. The one thing that helped me was actually UNSUBSCRIBING to things I no longer needed/wanted. OMG WHAT A CONCEPT, UNSUBSCRIBING!!! Seriously, I would get weekly and sometimes daily things that I don't even remember how I signed up for in the first place. A week later, half of those kept coming, so I went again and unsubscribed. So about 2 weeks later, my inbox is like 90% better, with only things that I WANT. Try that
Try unsubscribing from 5 email newsletters per day. For example say you signed up for a lego newsletter. Unsubscribe from lego and then go back to your email and do a search of your inbox for all lego emails. You can then group select all the lego messages and group delete them. Another suggestions is that any emails that are older than 2 years old I would just mass delete. If you know that there are important files in your email that are older than a year, do a search for that specific sender and put them in a folder till you can individually sort through the emails. The biggest thing that has helped me delete has been searching emails by sender and then mass deleting them. It helps me get rid of of the junk quickly and then be left with the emails that I need to actively read and sort.
I found you about 4 months ago and you inspired me to deep clean my entire house...... That included 3 trips of donations. Life looks so much different on this side of it. Thank you
I have been watching your "minimalish" journey from the beginning. A joy keeping up with your transformation. I've been on same journey for past year or so and its amazing how quickly perspective changes and the stress and fog quickly lifts. thanks for the extra motivation :)
I was shocked that u r 44 Erica! U look so much younger! I love your videos. I laughed when I saw your puppy steal something off of your dining room table at the beginning of your video.😀
I’ve followed you from the beginning. You’re one of my 3 favorites to watch! I’m a gramma now (GG) and much of the decluttering and simplifying has been done in my life but I still need inspiration to keep it going. I’ve recommended you to my younger mom friends....kudos for developing such a real and honest channel!
Excellent video. To stop unwanted emails unsubscribe from them, it’s usually at the very bottom of the notice in teeny lettering. Makes a huge difference ❤️🇨🇦
Definitely agree with others who say to turn off notifications and any badges showing number of outstanding messages. I also keep only my most used apps on the first page if my phone. My other tip is to disable social media apps as having to enable them again is an additional step I have to take before I can check them - this means I often can't be bothered so don't check social media as often as I previously did.
Oh Erica if only you knew how extremely proud of you we are! The transformation we have seen in you and your life from 6 months ago has been incredible and inspiring! You have worked hard to achieve the point you are at. Thank you for bringing us along for the ride! Also your method of gratitude - turning what you aren’t grateful for into something you are is such an awesome mindset shift that I have to keep working on. Hugs from Australia 🤗
I am so proud of you Erica. I've been watching you from almost the beginning of your decluttering journey. I'd just searched decluttering videos to motivate myself and came across your first video of your minimalist intentions and I have to be honest, I was intimidated for you after seeing the amount of work that was waiting for you. It was incredibly satisfying to watch you conquer every step of the way until now and your content keep me motivated still. You've given me an open mind about the amount of stuff people might be dealing and the reasons and made me far less judgemental about perfectionist ideals. You are an inspiration and a guide through all this and I applaud you.
I love this list! As someone who has been a minimalist for 3 years....You have summed up the journey! The only thing I differ on is a capsule wardrobe. I know it works for so many people and that is so wonderful, but I don't have space to store items to pull in and out for a season(small house with three kids). I just keep it minimal, choose mostly pieces I can layer and use for multiple seasons, and keep it to stuff I love and feel good in. But if someone else wanted to try a capsule wardrobe I always say it is a great idea to try! I have seen so many people so happy with them, and I am so glad it has worked for you too!!!!!☺❤ Stay healthy and safe!
If u wanted to try the capsule idea, u could just rearrange so this this draw(s) and this part of ur hanging space have the seasonally appropriate mix and match clothes all together and ready to go. Just an idea, diff things work for diff people
Very true. I just do not have a closet in my bedroom or armoire to hang clothes. I only have a small antique 3 drawer dresser. It keeps you honest for sure! I think if someone has the space though, a capsule would work well! That was kind of what I was getting at. 😊
I love, love, love your channel! I look forward to every video. I am on the same decluttering/simplifying journey, and you are SUCH an encouragement. I loved your kitchen video! Wow! Great job!!!👍🏻 I told my daughter that if you and I lived close by each other we would be good friends! Thanks for being real! May the Lord keep you all safe and healthy!❤️
Thank You Erica! This is Exactly what I need today. ===Seriously. I appreciate you & your content. Your honesty, openness and integrity are so refreshing and Helpful. I hope you keep moving onward, helping those of us who still haven't made it thru our crawl out of too-much-stuff. ✌🌷😀
Thanks for your encouragement - I have followed your journey from the beginning and found it so inspiring! I definitely agree - as my kids grow I constantly recalibrate - the layout of rooms, what toys are out, what storage works best... always in search of the best solution. I am now decluttering much more and have seen an improvement. Now we have finished having kids I am loving passing on all the baby gear and clothes as she hits each new stage!
Dear Erica, your videos are an inspirational lifeline to me. I have rewatched your declutter minimalist videos numerous times and am still gaining knowledge from them. Your countenance has changed since those first minimalist videos. I am encouraged by the freedom I can see on your face. I am slowly wading through, trying to gain that freedom as well. Thanks for being real. I look forward to each video.
You seem so much more confident and carefree, than you did 6 months ago! From the first video that popped up of your minimalist journey, I have been so excited to see what content you have put out next! Im still looking forward to the rest of your crawlspace and shed declutter. You are so relatable and inspirational! ❤️
Dear Erica, this video made me happy. I was smiling the whole way through. Doing all the 15 Steps too. I am still getting used to the stress free days. Yay. In regards to digital declutter. Matt D'Avella has a great youtube video on this or Joshua Becker in his Book "The Minimalist Home". Somewhere I read in a comment that setting up an email account just for ordering or subscribing is a great way to declutter your personal inbox (as we know our mail addresses get sold on😕). I've tried this and it works a charm. All the best.
I have been following along your journey and, if I may say, you look so much better comparing to the first videos- so beautiful, happier and that much more peaceful! Thank you for sharing. I find so much encouragement and motivation here 😊
Awesome video! In terms of decluttering an I overwhelming inbox, I group it to the 'from' category - that way I clear up emails from the same source all in one hit. This works particularly well when you get frequent promotional emails from one website or company. To make it less overwhelming I tackle one or two letters of the alphabet per day, which helps me see progress and save my energy in working out if I really need to be on that particular mailing list. Hope this helps!
Hi Erica, thank you for the 15 points. I too, like others, have followed your declutter journey. You have grown in confidence and radiate positivity whilst being completely honest. Stay safe, love xx Shirley, London Uk xxx
you have make good progress. i like to see you. And talk about minimalism-ish. Why the ish. i am 5 years in the progress. And mine other people in the house are not so ish. Small steps, but we keep are moving forward. So how is you crawl space, your shed and attic. yes i know, sometimes it is so hard when everyone is at home. i doing secretly stuffing a garbage bag. lol. husband and home and he want to safe mine stuff also. be safe, it gonna be allright. I think that people are thinking about work work work. Not having money now, have a big morgage and there family arround them. I hope for all the family's in the world that there are thinking what is the new important. a very big house or time with family. big hug Ellen
Great video Erica! I turned off all notifications except texts and calls. Then I spent 10 minutes decluttering me email a couple of times a day for a week or so. I unsubscribed from all store emails. I changed email settings for things like netflix so I don't get a notification of the new show that they think I might like. Then I reduced the number of groups I was a part of on facebook and turned off all notifications except for the ones I posted or I am tagged in. Also went through and unfollowed people or unfriended them. I have gotten pretty ruthless over the years with the 2nd one. If I don't see you in real life or I don't have consistent conversations with you or you aren't family I unfriened. Now I see less but the ones that I do see are the ones that I actually care about.
Thank you for sharing this!!! While it’s not all “new”, there are so many points where I hear it and see inside, yes! I do I have done that to some extent or I’m doing it or I know it can be wonderful in my life as well. Being intentional for example. I can certainly become more intentional with my intentionality! I like the thought of that. And that actually flows through a lot of your points. About meals, about use of electronics, about what we include in our day-to-day life experience,… ❤️💖🌸🌿
Excellent video, Erica, and thank you! I love your 15 ways to simplify. I've appreciated your candor as I've followed you through your minimizing process. Your sincerity is no doubt helping people to be more honest about their situations and themselves, always the first step in moving forward! A tip to simplify email: use one account for emails only to and from friends, family, and us, your followers, the people you want to hear from. Or possibly a separate account just for your followers, clients and business correspondence. Use another account for personal business, newsletters, subscriptions, notifications, basically everything else. With love and gratitude from Paris xx
I know you watch Dawn on The Minimal Mom. She has a great video on a QUICK way to declutter your emails. Another great video with your lovely personality and ‘realness’ shining through. Thank you xx
Erica, I love this! Sitting down with a coffee to watch your latest video is always a highlight! Your totally real life and down to earth, honest approach is soooo helpful and encouraging! Xx
Loved the dog grabbing something off the table! I can’t do block scheduling either. Not at this phase of my life. Although, as a teacher who’s whole school day is blocked...in my personal life..uh, no.
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I have followed you throughout your entire journey in your move towards minimalism and I am astounded by the speed in which you have turned your life around! I am amazed by your drive, determination and commitment. What you have achieved is incredible 😊
Cerridwen Rowan the more I did the more I wanted this.
If only Erica from 6 months ago could see this Erica. When your decluttering journey seemed so overwhelming, if you could have foreseen where you are in your life now it would have felt so much easier. You had to go through that to get to this point, but by sharing your journey you are helping other people who are struggling to believe they will be able to overcome their 'stuff'. So thank you for taking the time to make these videos ❤️
tkdally how true!! Wow if I could tell myself to relax.
She would say who dis?
poodlegirl55 yes!
For future reference:
1. Have a routine 0:18
2. Realistic expectations 1:12
3. Be intentional 1:24
4. Kickstart productivity 2:07
5. Do laundry early 2:34
6. Practice gratitude 2:45
7. Organise intentionally 4:27
8. Centralise items 4:27
9. Capsule wardrobe 6:02
10. Prep coffee the night before 6:53
11. Write tasks the night before 6:53
12. Removing things that dont belong 7:12
"If it makes you happy then it is not a waste of time."
13. Meal planning 9:30
Becky at Russells loving life
Katie at life in the mundane
14. Restrict electronics 11:00
15. Recalibrate 13:07
Thank you!! I wanted to write them down to mull them over more. ❤
Nice reference, thanks.
Erica, whenever I see a flashback of your home before decluttering, I realize you have come such a long way Girl❤️
Number 12 was incredibly eye opening for me. I just paused and got rid of a huge folder filled with tips on how to deal with my narcissistic mother. At this point in my life, that issue and even my mother, don't belong in my life anymore. I have to focus on my pregnancy to feel happy everyday instead of worried and sad. It's time to change that. So thanks for the advice! 💜
Speaking of laundry and being grateful - I am so grateful to have a washer and dryer in my home. There is a woman on my street who drags her laundry in a cart to the laundrymat. I always say to myself “I am so blessed”. I really enjoy your channel.
I agree. I spent so many years using a laundromat in hot Florida with my young daughter while I worked full-time. Everytime (really, everytime)
I throw a load in, I am so grateful to have my own machines. That feeling never left me. Now that my daughter is an adult, she remembers going to the laundromat and she is grateful for her own machines, as well.
Lisa Gavin - thanks for the correct spelling of laundromat - lol. I couldn’t think of how to spell it. 😊. We recently (before the virus) had to get a new washer. I was in panic mode until the new one arrived - 3 days later. Looking back I was a jerk to panic about my washer when a real crisis was on the way. I’m still grateful for my blessings. I’m happy you and your daughter are grateful also. Stay well, stay safe.
Karen Santos you are some right!! I AM grateful for the machines. Thank you for that reality check.
We have a shared washer and dryer in the basement of our apartment (4floors down). It’s pricey and small. Ive missed our own washer/dryer for the last couple years. It’s motivating me to save more, minimalism more, prepare more so we can hopefully buy a house next year ❤️ when I walk down and up all the stairs I try to remind myself how I am getting exercise I really need and that I only have to go to the laundromat for large items instead of it all-after I catch my breathe.
Haha. Finding ways to look at the gratitude view definitely helps ❤️
I am trying to be more intentional with my time. It’s so easy to commit to things because of the feel of obligation. Which then leads to me stressed and running around like crazy. This is the bump in the road I am having right now. Especially as Covid restrictions are lessening. It scares me that I will fall into crazy hectic schedules.
Showing gratitude towards the negative comments - that’s the best advice.
Having a lists of "to do's" helps me a ton.
Our Blessed Life yes, as my family increased and brain went to fog, I needed that too.
It is like you are weightless now, compared to your first videos ♥️
I know this video is not a new one, but I just happened upon it. It resonates with me. I am retired now, empty nested, a lot of the things you are discussing, I actually did when my kids were home. But afterwards, life seemed to be like carrying milk in a saucer instead of a cup. I volunteered for everything, said yes to whatever anyone asked, I was so busy being a mom, I did not know how to slow down. The positive thing that came out of the lockdown for me was, I learned that I could relax. That was a lesson not easily learned, but is serving me well. I have learned to say no, I have learned that I am not everyone’s chauffeur, I have learned that it is okay to not make a two column to do list, and it’s okay to not finish everything. I am embracing minimalism, decluttering and organizing is my new hobby! That’s probably how I found your channel. I just wanted to say thank you for the inspiration and affirmation that you are giving me.
My routine is watching your videos! 😄
glockenrein ❤️❤️❤️❤️😂
I'm finishing up college and what I have done to digitally declutter is to "seasonally" declutter at the beginning/end of each semester. I go through all my emails, docs, and pics and choose which ones to save or which ones are important to save and get rid of all the rest.
Rachel Cross that’s good then it’s not a regular task
For digits deciliter I’d recommend 2 differ t tactics:
1. Turn off all the notifications and then see what you actually miss seeing - turn those back on and delete the other apps
2. Make the deck utter a month long project and every day do a different task (phone apps, pictures on phone, pictures on computer, email inbox, files on computer, files on online drives, notification settings on phones, etc)
Yes! I find if I don’t get busy on things when I immediately think of them, I tend to loose all motivation.
How cute is Ranger stealing a sock off of the table at :30! I love him.
Karen Borek stinker!
I was wondering if anyone else noticed that!!!! 😄
I love routine it simplifies your life..yes it gets a bit boring but it gives you focus and quick achievements to your goals...I end up getting a lot more time to do other things...your a superstar for how far you have come from the chaos you were in...xxxxx
Such a pleasure to watch and listen to you Erica. Your explanations are simple and clear. Everyone of my family and friends are very aware of my disinterest in my phone. I actually wish they were never invented, though I know there is a place for them 🙄🤔. I've recently Unsubscribed from all the auto emails from stores etc such a relief. I hardly use FB or Instagram....actually it's been weeks since I was on either one. I very rarely answer my phone when it rings. I prefer texts. Mostly my phone is for me...make appointments, safety etc.
Dear Mrs. Lucas, you find in me a consumer who deeply enyoes your channel. Thanks a lot for your content. I am living in germany and your way inspires me. So please ceep in going to declutter your attic and your shed. Stay healthy and fine as you are. Kind regards.
Gratefulness is a big one for us.
I thrive on routine too! Having 3 things I am intentional about getting done in a day helps guide me through especially when I lack motivation!
I don’t know how people can be so negative! Don’t listen to the nasty comments. You are doing such an amazing job! With email clutter, I found that when I unsubscribed from all of the marketing emails it helped me immensely and freed up my inbox
I absolutely LOVED your piece on 15 things to simplify life! So many of the things you said resonated with me! May you and your family be blessed and stay safe 🥰
You are soooo reassuring . Your declutter videos are so good. I wish you posted everyday.
I love your channel. I swear we could be sisters, you are so much like me. Watching all you’ve done has been so inspiring to me and made me feel so much better about my own progress and my own journey. Thank you for sharing with us and for being you. So many people are fake, I love that you are real!
Digital de clutter is huge! I find I get really overwhelmed when I have a full inbox (either at work or home). First, I unsubscribed from pretty much everything besides a handful of things that really really wanted to be notified of. Second, I create folders to hold different types of emails (bills, photos to save, receipts, etc) This can take a ton of time in the beginning but now I just maintain it each day. Third, I turn off email notifications! The little red dot stresses me out! I also have done this for most of my other apps as well. Honestly very little is so important that I need to know instantaneously. Hope this helps! Love your channel :) ❤️
When my children were growing up, I took the time doing laundry to pray for each member of the family as I did his or her laundry. Although I never hated doing laundry, I found more gratitude by this one change in my daily routine.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing!
Great video, minimalism looks good on you 😀 digital decluttering is amazing. I did its few years ago, my steps were; 1. I turned off social media notifications 2. My emails only come through when I open the app. 3. I unsubscribe from emails as they come in so it's not a big project of doing them all at once. 4. I only open a text message if intend to reply at that time. My lifestyle is very different to yours, I don't use my phone or emails for work and I don't have a social media presence so it was a lot easier for me. I need to get back on track with being intentional with my phone usage/scrolling because that has definitely slipped in the last few months. Your video has given me some inspiration for my day. Thanks from Ireland x
I had that problem with emails and internet. I did what you did with your house; I took the time to go through EVERYTHING-deleted, unsubscribed from what didn’t need. I now do it everyday-it is less stress for me!!
Categorizing art supplies 🤯 a paint bin!!! Omg I love this idea and don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself. An actual bin just for painting supplies 🤯🤯🤯 I might actually let my kids paint more! Wow thank you
Awwww we adore you, folks who leave mean comments clearly havent watched your other videos where your closing talks about leaving positive comments. So happy you can keep your chin up and keep truckin along!
I can see the joy in you! You shine and look even more beautiful. I bet your children are more joyful also
Thank you for all of your advice!! Also-the authentic content on here assures all of us that life is hectic and real-btw-your dog taking something from the dining room table in the background totally cracked me up!!
I checked the comments to c if anyone else saw that too!!!
I just love watching your channel you make it all seem like it's doable. And I like the fact that you put in mistakes so we can learn that this is not a perfect change and that it requires some mistakes along the way.
I've started making a time to handle email. So far that's it lol. Every afternoon I delete emails or unsubscribe to emails from places I no longer want to emails from. I have to work on voicemails and making a good habit of deleting. Love your videos, I've truly taken so much from them.
Christine Shultz Mayer I will try that. Answer 5 and unsubscribe from 5.
@@EricaLucasLoves i had 2000 emails. Yup. That's how hard I ignore them. I had to take the time it took to just erase all the non essential email and start fresh. Unsubscribing has really cut down on the amount of emails I receive now
I need to implement this! Thanks for the idea.
i feel minimalism brings abundance in all sorts of ways. I love your videos, thank you for sharing! Hi from France =)
Erica, I love your videos! You really are a genuine, caring person....the way you interact with your kids and your furbaby (he's so funny).
You would make a great teacher! You would be everyone's favorite!
I had the same thought! Her kiddos are so blessed with her as their homeschool momma. Makes me wish she was our neighbor! ❤️ She’s a great person
I love your honesty and passion for your new way of life. It's been great watching you work through things as you film and have those light bulb moments. I've started my second pass of my little house in the UK and take inspiration from you and your journey. Thanks for sharing.
Meal planning right now. I hate it with a passion. But it definitely pays off. I wouldn't do it otherwise because it is the worst task in the world. I used to do a month at a time but it's just too much. My brain would explode and I constantly put it off. Sometimes for 2 months lol. Now I do 1-2 weeks. Works well. Love your videos. You are easy to watch and listen to and your advice and attitude are inspiring.
That is such a great way to view negative reviews on youtube. I love your perspective and your tips.
Going through the fire certainly makes us stronger.
You’re just what I was hoping to find! Someone who is obviously very intelligent and shares my struggles with clutter and someone who is drastically changing for the better with pitfalls along the way. And I love that you’re still going through the learning process so I can take the journey with you. Thank you so much for letting us onboard and I’m sorry you have to deal with haters. But I’m glad you’re strong enough and you don’t let that get in your way of progress. I just found you through a shared video, The Minimal Mom, in which I’m subscribed to already. So glad I found you! God Bless!
Digital life declutter idea- mark all messages outside of one month old as ‘read’ and then archive them...you’ll still be able to search, but they won’t be in your active inbox. Then, set aside time daily (15 minutes or so...Mimimal Mom style) or weekly to go through new emails and unsubscribe, etc. Also, I have found having two emails to be beneficial...I keep one for private/correspondance only and the other is my ‘junk’ email for utilities, memberships, etc. I still manage both, but I know which one has more importance. Hope this stimulates your creative juices!
Love you Erica! I've come to your channel after watching you on The Minimal Mom's channel. So grateful that I saw you and now subscribe to your channel. Love you humor, honesty and being real.
Thank you so much for all your videos. I finally started decluttering yesterday. I've started in my bedroom as I want to be able to relax without looking at all the "stuff" I've accumulated. I was starting to hoard. Your honesty about everything, from the start, has helped me realise I need to sort this now. Xx
I love watching Ranger doing things in the background, like he literally takes something off the table. LOL He must be thinking no one is watching him, but there he is at .20 seconds LOL I remember when you started decluttering and going minimal, your expression when you spoke to us was so sad and it felt to me as if you felt you were going to fail before you even started. How proud I am of you to have done so much, I mean, you are truly and inspiration to me and tons of others. You must be proud, and I love your videos, thanks for all the hard work you do for us!
OMG girl...I had done a digital declutter the beginning of the new year. I had to...I had tons and tons of unreads and I just didn't want to delete it all, I had to look through things. The one thing that helped me was actually UNSUBSCRIBING to things I no longer needed/wanted. OMG WHAT A CONCEPT, UNSUBSCRIBING!!! Seriously, I would get weekly and sometimes daily things that I don't even remember how I signed up for in the first place. A week later, half of those kept coming, so I went again and unsubscribed. So about 2 weeks later, my inbox is like 90% better, with only things that I WANT. Try that
Try unsubscribing from 5 email newsletters per day. For example say you signed up for a lego newsletter. Unsubscribe from lego and then go back to your email and do a search of your inbox for all lego emails. You can then group select all the lego messages and group delete them. Another suggestions is that any emails that are older than 2 years old I would just mass delete. If you know that there are important files in your email that are older than a year, do a search for that specific sender and put them in a folder till you can individually sort through the emails. The biggest thing that has helped me delete has been searching emails by sender and then mass deleting them. It helps me get rid of of the junk quickly and then be left with the emails that I need to actively read and sort.
I found you about 4 months ago and you inspired me to deep clean my entire house...... That included 3 trips of donations. Life looks so much different on this side of it. Thank you
I have been watching your "minimalish" journey from the beginning. A joy keeping up with your transformation. I've been on same journey for past year or so and its amazing how quickly perspective changes and the stress and fog quickly lifts. thanks for the extra motivation :)
I was shocked that u r 44 Erica! U look so much younger! I love your videos. I laughed when I saw your puppy steal something off of your dining room table at the beginning of your video.😀
You look so beautiful in this video. I cannot imagine people giving you bad feed back. I love your video’s you inspire me so much. Thank you Erika.
I’ve followed you from the beginning. You’re one of my 3 favorites to watch! I’m a gramma now (GG) and much of the decluttering and simplifying has been done in my life but I still need inspiration to keep it going. I’ve recommended you to my younger mom friends....kudos for developing such a real and honest channel!
Really great !
THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIDEOS!!!
Brynna Meade thank YOU for watching!
I need to go to the beginning and watch your journey. Your story is so relatable
Thank you for your sincerity, originality and being able to Express it. Good job.
Excellent video. To stop unwanted emails unsubscribe from them, it’s usually at the very bottom of the notice in teeny lettering. Makes a huge difference ❤️🇨🇦
You are such a beautiful person. Thank you for being so willing to share your insights as you move through this process.
Erica, you are a joy to watch. Your energy is inspiring. Thank you! I am a homeschooling mama on a minimalist journey as well and love your videos.
You go girl 💜💜💜
Meal planning literally saves my sanity!
Sneaky dog caught on video. Busted! How cute!
Love your channel , great content , and I love to see your personal and family transformation , it is all very honest and very inspirational x
Definitely agree with others who say to turn off notifications and any badges showing number of outstanding messages. I also keep only my most used apps on the first page if my phone. My other tip is to disable social media apps as having to enable them again is an additional step I have to take before I can check them - this means I often can't be bothered so don't check social media as often as I previously did.
Thank you for changing my life
Oh Erica if only you knew how extremely proud of you we are! The transformation we have seen in you and your life from 6 months ago has been incredible and inspiring! You have worked hard to achieve the point you are at. Thank you for bringing us along for the ride! Also your method of gratitude - turning what you aren’t grateful for into something you are is such an awesome mindset shift that I have to keep working on. Hugs from Australia 🤗
I am so proud of you Erica. I've been watching you from almost the beginning of your decluttering journey. I'd just searched decluttering videos to motivate myself and came across your first video of your minimalist intentions and I have to be honest, I was intimidated for you after seeing the amount of work that was waiting for you. It was incredibly satisfying to watch you conquer every step of the way until now and your content keep me motivated still. You've given me an open mind about the amount of stuff people might be dealing and the reasons and made me far less judgemental about perfectionist ideals. You are an inspiration and a guide through all this and I applaud you.
Gratitude. A Great response to reverse a negative mindset & to others negativity. Thanks gt
I love your channel watch it every day I’ve been inspired by your declutter videos and I’ve paired down stuff I don’t need
I am learning so much from you. You are the real deal, authentic.
Great, helpful ideas. Love your thots on gratitude! Thank you! 💖🥰
very relatable. ive experienced most of these as being a minimalist over two years. it's awesome getting to see your journey :)
I love this list! As someone who has been a minimalist for 3 years....You have summed up the journey! The only thing I differ on is a capsule wardrobe. I know it works for so many people and that is so wonderful, but I don't have space to store items to pull in and out for a season(small house with three kids). I just keep it minimal, choose mostly pieces I can layer and use for multiple seasons, and keep it to stuff I love and feel good in. But if someone else wanted to try a capsule wardrobe I always say it is a great idea to try! I have seen so many people so happy with them, and I am so glad it has worked for you too!!!!!☺❤ Stay healthy and safe!
If u wanted to try the capsule idea, u could just rearrange so this this draw(s) and this part of ur hanging space have the seasonally appropriate mix and match clothes all together and ready to go. Just an idea, diff things work for diff people
Very true. I just do not have a closet in my bedroom or armoire to hang clothes. I only have a small antique 3 drawer dresser. It keeps you honest for sure!
I think if someone has the space though, a capsule would work well! That was kind of what I was getting at. 😊
I love, love, love your channel! I look forward to every video. I am on the same decluttering/simplifying journey, and you are SUCH an encouragement. I loved your kitchen video! Wow! Great job!!!👍🏻 I told my daughter that if you and I lived close by each other we would be good friends! Thanks for being real! May the Lord keep you all safe and healthy!❤️
Thank You Erica!
This is Exactly what I need today. ===Seriously.
I appreciate you & your content. Your honesty, openness and integrity are so refreshing and Helpful.
I hope you keep moving onward, helping those of us who still haven't made it thru our crawl out of too-much-stuff. ✌🌷😀
Thanks for your encouragement - I have followed your journey from the beginning and found it so inspiring! I definitely agree - as my kids grow I constantly recalibrate - the layout of rooms, what toys are out, what storage works best... always in search of the best solution. I am now decluttering much more and have seen an improvement. Now we have finished having kids I am loving passing on all the baby gear and clothes as she hits each new stage!
I definitely need to start purging my wardrobe!🙃
Dear Erica, your videos are an inspirational lifeline to me. I have rewatched your declutter minimalist videos numerous times and am still gaining knowledge from them. Your countenance has changed since those first minimalist videos. I am encouraged by the freedom I can see on your face. I am slowly wading through, trying to gain that freedom as well. Thanks for being real. I look forward to each video.
You seem so much more confident and carefree, than you did 6 months ago! From the first video that popped up of your minimalist journey, I have been so excited to see what content you have put out next! Im still looking forward to the rest of your crawlspace and shed declutter.
You are so relatable and inspirational! ❤️
Dear Erica, this video made me happy. I was smiling the whole way through. Doing all the 15 Steps too. I am still getting used to the stress free days. Yay. In regards to digital declutter. Matt D'Avella has a great youtube video on this or Joshua Becker in his Book "The Minimalist Home". Somewhere I read in a comment that setting up an email account just for ordering or subscribing is a great way to declutter your personal inbox (as we know our mail addresses get sold on😕). I've tried this and it works a charm. All the best.
I love these ways to simply my life! I do find small ways to simplify my life and sometimes I do not realize I'm doing it. 😊
Ever inspiring & close to heart...God bless u all
I have been following along your journey and, if I may say, you look so much better comparing to the first videos- so beautiful, happier and that much more peaceful! Thank you for sharing. I find so much encouragement and motivation here 😊
Wow! Great value video. Congratulations! I can see your progress and you inspire me a lot! Thank you for your videos.
You inspire me in so many ways... Thank you so much dear Erica.
Awesome video! In terms of decluttering an I overwhelming inbox, I group it to the 'from' category - that way I clear up emails from the same source all in one hit. This works particularly well when you get frequent promotional emails from one website or company.
To make it less overwhelming I tackle one or two letters of the alphabet per day, which helps me see progress and save my energy in working out if I really need to be on that particular mailing list.
Hope this helps!
Hi Erica, thank you for the 15 points. I too, like others, have followed your declutter journey. You have grown in confidence and radiate positivity whilst being completely honest. Stay safe, love xx Shirley, London Uk xxx
Great tips with wonderful insights, thank you Erica
Love, love, love your words and advice on gratitude! Right now it's so easy to become negative when there is so much I don't have control over.
you have make good progress. i like to see you. And talk about minimalism-ish. Why the ish. i am 5 years in the progress. And mine other people in the house are not so ish. Small steps, but we keep are moving forward. So how is you crawl space, your shed and attic. yes i know, sometimes it is so hard when everyone is at home. i doing secretly stuffing a garbage bag. lol. husband and home and he want to safe mine stuff also. be safe, it gonna be allright. I think that people are thinking about work work work. Not having money now, have a big morgage and there family arround them. I hope for all the family's in the world that there are thinking what is the new important. a very big house or time with family. big hug Ellen
Great video Erica! I turned off all notifications except texts and calls. Then I spent 10 minutes decluttering me email a couple of times a day for a week or so. I unsubscribed from all store emails. I changed email settings for things like netflix so I don't get a notification of the new show that they think I might like. Then I reduced the number of groups I was a part of on facebook and turned off all notifications except for the ones I posted or I am tagged in. Also went through and unfollowed people or unfriended them. I have gotten pretty ruthless over the years with the 2nd one. If I don't see you in real life or I don't have consistent conversations with you or you aren't family I unfriened. Now I see less but the ones that I do see are the ones that I actually care about.
You hit the nail on the head. This list was #everything thanks goth insights.
Thank you for sharing this!!! While it’s not all “new”, there are so many points where I hear it and see inside, yes! I do I have done that to some extent or I’m doing it or I know it can be wonderful in my life as well. Being intentional for example. I can certainly become more intentional with my intentionality! I like the thought of that.
And that actually flows through a lot of your points. About meals, about use of electronics, about what we include in our day-to-day life experience,… ❤️💖🌸🌿
Sooo much truth in your words. Congrats in this amazing journey to minimalism. Please stay safe! 🙏🏻🌹❤️😘🥰
Excellent video, Erica, and thank you! I love your 15 ways to simplify. I've appreciated your candor as I've followed you through your minimizing process. Your sincerity is no doubt helping people to be more honest about their situations and themselves, always the first step in moving forward! A tip to simplify email: use one account for emails only to and from friends, family, and us, your followers, the people you want to hear from. Or possibly a separate account just for your followers, clients and business correspondence. Use another account for personal business, newsletters, subscriptions, notifications, basically everything else. With love and gratitude from Paris xx
I know you watch Dawn on The Minimal Mom. She has a great video on a QUICK way to declutter your emails.
Another great video with your lovely personality and ‘realness’ shining through. Thank you xx
All great tips!
It's so lovely to see how the changes you have implemented have 'maximalized' your family's happiness x
Erica, I love this! Sitting down with a coffee to watch your latest video is always a highlight! Your totally real life and down to earth, honest approach is soooo helpful and encouraging! Xx
Loved the dog grabbing something off the table! I can’t do block scheduling either. Not at this phase of my life. Although, as a teacher who’s whole school day is blocked...in my personal life..uh, no.
Your videos help me so much!