There are some huge decluttering lies out there that keep people stuck! But not you! Today I'm breaking these lies down. Click here for a clean & tidy home! www.youtube.com/@tarynmaria_?... Join my mailing list for emails that will make your life easier! eepurl.com/iB2aE2 Decluttering playlist: • My Decluttering Journey...A Frank Con... Time saving cleaning hacks playlist: • 12 *LIFE CHANGING* Cleaning Hacks Eve... Cleaning Routines playlist: • The *ONLY* Weekly Cleaning Routine Yo...
It has taken me nearly three years to get me where I am at in my decluttering journey. I live in a 750 sq. foot apartment where I have lived for 11 years. I think that I am just about at the maintenance phase. I am not about being a minimalist. I just want to be able to manage what I have. My biggest categories are clothes, books, and seasonal decor.
I came from an efficiency that was stuffed. I am in a 2 bed now and now I have more clutter than when I started. Still a mess because I can't get up energy to clean it
As a perfectionist, I had the 'all or nothing' mindset and it made me procrastinate on decluttering and doing cleaning tasks too. Starting out with the 30-Day Minimalism Game was an excellent way to get started for someone like me because it was a fun challenge with simple parameters. Instead of feeling like I had to declutter my entire house in one go, I just had to find 1 thing to declutter on the 1st of the month, 2 items on the 2nd, and so on.
Kind of morbid but I've been asking myself "what will happen to this item when Im dead?" And if my spouse/children would dispose then I will donate now - obviously nothing I'm using just excess. There's also an episode of Bluey where the children discuss sentimental toy - it's REALLY great! That same key point if everything is special, nothing really is
Same boat, not only is it a bit embarrassing to imagine all the 'stuff' those left behind us will have to deal with, I certainly don't want to burden them with things like that. And equally valuable is the freedom to be more mobile when desired or necessary. Also on the Will and Living Trust journey ..
@@ellenherman9543 My mom is kind of doing this but she's getting rid of some things I want thing she doesn't know I want and keeping things I don't care about (which of course makes sense because she should keep stuff she wants.) There's this idea that young people don't want their parent's stuff, but it doesn't hurt to ask If there are things they would like.
I just went through my home in preparation for going back to school and finishing my degree. I am an OWL (older, wiser learner). I took the 3 months I had off to go through everything and declutter, repair and clean. So many people tell you not to do just this because it slows you down. True, but the results were what I needed and I had the time. I used it wisely. I'm glad I found your Chanel and your message of "do what works for you." I made a plan and boom, results.
May I add that sometimes with sentimental items, you can decide to START using it rather than saving it for the right occasion. Go ahead and use your beautiful things everyday.
I've been really getting into decluttering and organizing mini projects. Listening to your first point, I realized that while, yes, some of this has meant throwing out and giving away things, a lot more of it has been about changing the way I use something. E.g., I have a large Ominigrid Mat that, in my mind, is a craft thing. But my husband once put a big pot of hot spaghetti on it. They're not heat resistant, so it's been warped ever since. This is super inconvenient for crafting, but the darn things are so $$, I couldn't bring myself to throw it out. A couple of days ago, I realized it might solve my need for a mat under my rolling desk chair that has worn a hole in the floor. I tried it and, voila, the warping doesn't matter at all for this purpose. So I get to keep the mat, stop being annoyed about the fact that hubby warped it, and saved $$ not buying a floor mat.
Decluttering is essential if you live in a small space! My daughter is great at this. She and her family of 4 live in a small 2 bedroom townhouse and she absolutely has to keep up on clutter or the home will become so chaotic and uncomfortable.
So true! I’m 💯 % a minimalist in 50% of categories and 50% maximalist! I have quite a large wardrobe. But I turned my small storage closet into a walk in closet. So it’s organized and doesn’t seem over loaded because it’s not crammed into one small space. But I only have 4 plates, 4 bowls, 4 cups. My night stand has two drawers that are completely empty. But I have a massive shoe rack filled 😂
A very insightful video! 😊 I’ve always wondered why the process of decluttering is filled with negative-sounding principles and emotions. Maybe it’s because even the word decluttering sounds negative - a process of taking away, destroying, losing our initial investments, facing up to our mistakes. If we approached the process with a more positive terminology, such as “optimizing” instead of “decluttering”, we might come to understand that the goal is to surround ourselves with things we need, use and love. So that our lives would be better. We would focus on something positive - creating a better life for ourselves. For instance, when I recently wanted to “optimize” my wardrobe, I took into consideration my advancing years, my actual current body, the kind of clothing that would be more flattering to me at this stage in my life, the colours that the current me wanted to wear, the fact that I’d now rather launder items than dry clean them, etc. This gave me so many ideas for a newly edited wardrobe that reflected me as I am today, made me look and feel my absolute best, and was easy for me to mix and match and maintain. The newly edited wardrobe would consist of natural and eco-friendly fabrics, created with care by quality manufacturers. This newly edited wardrobe would last a long time, would be made up of classic pieces, and would make me happy every time I opened my closet. And yes, this newly edited wardrobe would be quite a bit smaller, even though I would have to add some intentionally wonderful items to it to increase my happiness.
WOW! I LOVE that approach and the word You used.... OPTIMIZING.... instead of decluttering! I truly hope that will catch on, and become the new word for improving your stuff, instead of "decluttering" it! Thanks for your helpful sharing :) Rachel in Nashville:) 🎨👩🎨😺🛐
Thank you so much for the distinction between “decluttering” and “minimalism.” I’m not a minimalist at all, but I have too much stuff for my own peace of mind and easy maintenance. Visitors will say something like, you don’t need to declutter. Well, actually, I do. The benefits you list are very real; I found out for myself. I’ve done the “easy” obvious parts like trash, clothes, kitchen, etc. It was not an easy journey, sentimental and books are still in progress. I still need help paring down, and your tips here seem to fit my mindset. So-subbed and thanks!
I agree. I declutterred and feel so much better. There is a difference for me in minimalism and essentialism. I am a halfway minimalist. I use a chair so my home must be clutter free. It wasn’t always like that 😂. Love your videos. ❤
This is the only decluttering video I've seen that actually makes sense, so that a person doesn't end up feeling somehow bad about getting rid of something, or not. For one thing, I've found that something I thought I really needed ten years ago can be completely unnecessary for me now. I'm not referring to simply 'outgrown' things, like clothes or kids' toys, but in the psychological sense. Even some sentimental things might be displaced by more recent items, because I'm in a different emotional phase, or I've had them so long that the emotional memory is internalized and I don't need the physical item anymore. So if you don't get rid of something right away, it's time will likely come and it's okay to wait a bit. I think it's hard for people who create or repair. Imagine going to Home Depot and they only had 'necessary things'. You don't know when you're going to need a certain screw or bead. It just needs to be organized so you can actually find and use it when the time comes. Many hoarders save 'valuable' items but because they're disorganized they can't utilize them and they have become a messy waste. (We shouldn't store beyond the space we have, though.)
None of the minimalist/essentialist and decluttering is one size fits all. Make it fit your lifestyle and what is important to you. I found the space this opened up just made a huge difference, and I am far from done. But some things, for instance, like some really nice hand made aran wool sweaters I had collected over a decade but wear each seldom, and some cooking paraphernalia that I use rarely, I could not part with....yet. So, I stashed most of that very neatly in an attic but it is not taking space now in my day to day living areas, closets, drawers, etc. The thing is, to not just declutter but to organize with thought. Then the next step, try to figure out why clutter keeps happening, if it still does. I know, for example, one culprit of mine was buying at the big box stores. You end up with way too many of one thing. So now, even though costs me more per item, I do not buy in bulk. I actually save money avoiding buying in bulk.
I think small homes benefit even more from decluttering than big homes because every inch is valuable real estate. You don’t have extra closets and spare rooms that can become “junk” or “miscellaneous” spaces. I had my “wait, maybe I *don’t* need all this stuff, actually” epiphany in a tiny house when I realized I was spending more time moving stuff around to clean under than I was actually cleaning. I was wayyy over my clutter threshold (as Dana from “A Slob Comes Clean” calls it), and I feel like it would have taken a lot longer to realize that if I had more space to hide all that random junk.
I am a very sentimental person who decluttered the entire house approximately seven years ago -- and continue to declutter twice per year -- Spring and Autumn. With regard to items of sentimental value, I do have some that I can count on one hand. When I reminisce about the wonderful people and adventures I have experienced in my lifetime, never have I thought "Gee, I wish I still had that (thing) to remind me of it." All I need is in my heart and mind. Thank you for sharing this great video.
I am new to your channel. I truly appreciate how you keep emphasizing to keep decluttering in small time frames and spaces but to do it as often as possible. You are also a good motivator by saying not to worry about keeping things and that this is about organizing as much as going through items you don’t want, use or need anymore (with the exception of sentimental items… unless everything is sentimental which then means nothing is truly sentimental but rather an excuse). My most sentimental things are photos, important papers and documents and things that were handmade by family and / or friends.
Thank you for being so balanced and practical in your videos. I am not a minimalist and many videos loose me as they focus on that concept. Your tips are very helpful.
Decluttering is especially important in smaller homes. - I've had some family members tell me, "If I just had a bigger home, it would be cleaner." Nope. You just have too much junk.
That's what I told my family. They kept saying we need a bigger home, and I was like nope, we need less stuff! A bigger home would only mean we have more space to add crap to. I did a MASSIVE declutter last summer and it fully motivated the rest of my family to do the same with their things as they saw how much of a burden it lifted off everyone's shoulders to have less "stuff". We just had to pack 90% of our house into storage to get some massive renovations done (new ceilings, insulation, electrical, etc) and as we unpack we're taking our time and deciding if we REALLY need each item (like do we really need 30 plastic plates meant for toddlers when our youngest is 7? And why do we have 25 mugs when there is only 1 coffee/tea drinker in the house?)
Finally! A de-cluttering video that doesn't emphasuze that you have too much stuff! So much is always a said about not having more stuff than what your space allows. While it's true to a point, sometimes, we actually really use all or most of our stuff and just have a challenge in figuring out how to fit it into our homes. But at the same time, the minimalist rules for determining what to keep and what to toss or giveaway still apply. I find, including de--cluttering during my zone cleani g sessions, and de-cluttering a little here and there during my daily tidying up sessions, and during the times when I'm re-organising my space, helps keep the feeling of overwhelm to a minimum...because instead of speding huge chunks of time de-cluttering, I'm just spend 5 minutes or 15 minutes a day, 5-6 days a week on de-cluttering something. Is it taking longer to get my house back in order than it would if I spenr a few days or weeks on It for several hours a day? Yes. But I'm also not burning out or collapsing from exhaustion. It just requires being consistant eith these daily few minutes, and alot of patience through the process. My home didn't get this way overnight. It will not get back to where I'd like it to be overnight, either. Plus, along the way, I'm developing routines and habits that wil be well in place when the house is in alnmost full maintenance mode, which will make it way easier to maintain than it would have been if I tried to de-clutter and organise it in a really short period of time. And that's what I'm aiming for... the results that will remain for the long haul.
Your video made me think. 1. General housekeeping (cleaning up after myself, washing clothes and dishes, dusting, vacuuming, mopping, waxing floors, cleaning carpets) is different from 2. Organizing; which is different from 3. Decluttering; (actively moving stuff out of the house and garage and car), which is different from 4. Pet and plant care (time and energy consuming though they bring pleasure); and child care for you still of that age, are different from 5. Physical maintenance of the house, garage, and yard (pressure washing, painting exterior and interior, wood rot repair, lawnmowing, pruning, spraying for bugs, weeds, fire ants, and termites); and they are all quite different from 6. Packing to downsize to another location. Though I don’t physically do all of the maintenance, I must hire people, prep the area, make sure the job is done correctly, etc., and ultimately, pay for the service. No wonder I am exhausted. I expect so much of myself, and I’m no longer a spring chicken.
after spending months emptying out my parents home, they were organized hoarders, start getting rid of your stuff so your kids don’t have to, it’ll be months before i have all this distributed or donated, declutter before you get too old to do it!
“Organized hoarders”--I love that! Sounds like mine. They were Depression era, and never threw anything away. At least it was relatively clean and organized. But So. Much. Stuff. Clearing those houses (other fam, too) is the worst job I’ve ever done, emotionally AND physically. I still wonder about some things I just tossed or donated…but my time and strength are limited.
@@bettyparker3317 your time is limited, it does affect us, physically and emotionally. i’m the project manager among the siblings…i plan conferences for my job…so it’s easier for me. my youngest sister wanted to have an estate sale, but the parents are still alive. i took a picture of all the precious knick knacks and just started sending pictures to all the family, 3-4 items at a time, if someone wants it i put their name by that number onnsn excel grid….but my garage is full of this stuff. my goal is this june, everything is distributed, donated, or sold to an antique store. their house finally sold, i’ve been managing that too. i’ve been pulling stuff out since march, did a big push before christmas because i feared it would sell…and it did right after…so we’re in a good position…but it’s because i just kept working at it so i could still enjoy my weekends. you are right to take care of yourself….
You nailed it on the time spent decluttering. One of my TH-cam sewing stream did the one month decluttering your sewing room challenge , she was specific on that you get a timer and set it for 10 or 15 minutes only. As some areas are require more but it's ok to come back the next day and do the same thing with fresh eyes😊. But it's so true otherwise you get overwhelmed. Sentimental? I learned over the years I will keep it but then I change so I still love it but am I using it or displaying it at all , is it packed away taking up space? Eventually I let it go when I feel I have been sentimental enough / taste changes? The n I will give it away to someone who can use it or needs it . I also discover decluttering that even if I only use it once a year. It's still being used and those things get put in a special place I can access but it's not in the way of things I use daily or one a month. So many things play a factor in decluttering.. I had to laugh at "only big house get decluttered" I have learn big the space / more stuff to go through.😊 But more storage for stuff to have a home 😊 anyway great video and so true! Take care.!
Thank you so much - I so appreciate your comment! And I so agree about keeping things even if you use them infrequently but do use them. I have a large roasting pan that I only use for Thanksgiving and one day I decided why am I storing it in my kitchen- and I ended up moving it to the basement. But every Thanksgiving I get it and use it 😊
@@tarynmaria_ exactly that's why I hate some decluttering influencers that say haven't used in a year chuck it. Ok now that just contributed to throw away society. Then if it's a yearly thing. Oh hey guess what ? you spend money you don't have it anymore for that once a year use or rare but every second year use.. I believe there is a 3 to 4 category when decluttering. A person can use the year ,month, week and daily use to separate. Then go by use. Do you use at all, or used to and don't anymore ,if ever.? Once I realized more of that decluttering became easier and kind of enjoyable. I do it once a year unless a spot becomes the toss cupboard or drawer to get to later and you don't and it's full then I get to it. Otherwise just when I feel the need became of no room or if a spot is collecting dust and wonder why is that area not touched then time to go through. 😂 Anyway. Sorry for the short story 😂
It's hard decluttering. For me I was going for minimalist but I still feel I have more items to declutter but I do use my things. So I'm a usememalism 😄😁😉
love that you said "Declutter little, declutter often." That is the best. Even though I already knew that, I constantly need to be reminded of that. Funny thing, I actually thought decluttering is more beneficial for people with small homes, because if we don't declutter our small house it becomes a cluttered mess. Whereas people with large homes could just organize everything to look nice and wouldn't have to worry about space.
I think a lot of people fill up whatever space they have (large or small) if they're not actively trying to declutter or be more minimal. Thank you so much for commenting 😊
Thank you. I have grown to really strongly dislike the minimalist ideology because I feel like it is a desperate attempt to be branded. I so appreciate that you debunked the all or nothing mentality. I have listened to minimalist on TH-cam talking about how viewers claim they aren't minimal enough and I can see how it is a lack of balance just like hoarding. I agree there are a lot of benefits...but I have a hard time seeing the idea when there are magazines on minimalism for us to take home to add to our stuff...just ironic to me. I don't need a label, just ideas on how to let go of some unnecessary things.
Thank you so much! I so agree - I think the all or nothing mentality keeps people stuck. Minimalism has so many amazing principles but at the end of the day decluttering is so personal and needs to be how you want it ☺
I've found that 'sentimental' changes over time. Things/people I've outgrown over time, I can let go of, and that's fine. Doesn't mean I'm a terrible person, just means I've moved onward from that chapter in my life. Did that this morning. 3 am, and I was keeping one picture of someone I knew 'way back when' but discarded the rest. Was only a handful of items, but that's still, a handful I'm not dealing with, or more importantly, my family has to wade through when I'm gone.
I like that part about being a minimalist in some categories and a maximalist in others. I'd never heard that. I have a lot of books, some I have read a long while ago but I still want to keep because I still love them. And all the decluttering videos always tell me to get rid of books I don't read anymore, and it always makes me feel guilty that I'm unable to let go of them. And that's okay! I can have a minimalist kitchen and a huge library filled to the top. Who cares?!
That’s what I say! I think decluttering is great, but at the end of the day, your stuff that you keep has to be functional and is personal to you so no one can tell you what to get rid of 😊
I sew, bake, cook, crochet, knit, wool felt, do other crafts, and while i dont buy a lot of clothes, i have them to fit five different sized women, and three different pregnant women 😂 Books galore too ❤
I like your attitude. As an historian, I have more than my share of history books, and as a re-enactor, a good collection of gear for Civil War, and for Medieval. However in other areas, not so much.
i max out on craft and sewing supplies, but i do have it organized, so i can see my paint colors, threads, so i buy only if i’m out. i’m an empty nester, i want to produce as much as i can before my hands and eyes give out…or my lung liver disease goes south…i completely agree with clutter slowly but often, that’s what i’ve been doing. the weather is bad though so either i wait for a nice day, or eventually i call for donation pick up. i’ve had to empty out my parents house, so much of their stuff is waiting to be distributed among all of us or donated.
My husband has a really hard time parting with things. I found if I took a picture and made the thing a page in our scrapbook, then he was fine with getting rid of the thing itself. It's the memories he's afraid of losing.
One item in... two items out works for me... as I find something I haven't used for ages, out it goes... passed on to someone who will make use of it.. Some people would think my house is cluttered... It's stuff I still use ,but I don't have a lot of places to store stuff....
I always have a bag hanging on one door handle (that door is almost always open so nobodie sees it). Every time I fold the laundry I check if it´s not too used, if I felt comfortable using it that last time, specially when seasons change.. do I want to keep it for next year? And when de answer is NO.. there it goes to the bag. Same with those corporate presents you get at conferences, how many mugs with a company logo you want? or pens or notebooks ot teeshitrs... so as soon as I get home they go to the bag... And when the bag is full it gets donated..
@@tarynmaria_ That's Great Taryn. I'm a video editor and will save your time by editing them for you. I can share my portfolio with you. Let's connect:)
My basement and garage can't be used, and it's mostly because of me. 😳😳😳 I want to get it all done, but letting go of so many things give me real panic 😢😢😢
Excellent video! 🐹 I'm learning a lot from You :) thank you so much for your helpful tips and advice, and for presenting it in such a friendly manner :) God bless You and your family :) Meanwhile, I'm making progress a little bit at a time....⏳🤔😅😅👩🎨😺🛐
As a non-native English speaker, I can't help but read the subtitles, although I understand the voice clearly. I wonder when this habit is going to go away 😅
You know what - I am the same! Even as a native English speaker I can't help but read captions :) I did a poll and a lot of my subscribers preferred captions so I've added them, but let me know how you feel about them!
When watching a decluttering video or reading an article....STOP....PAUSE.....and do that specific thing that needs to be done in your home. Do NOT take notes & wait! Press the PAUSE button & DECLUTTER NOW! Continue watching or reading, REPEAT!
![[[OFFICIAL MV]] เอิ้นขวัญให้อ้าย- อ๊ะอาย สกุณาพร | ค่ายเพลงเป็นหนึ่ง](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/83x6L3X3qh0/mqdefault.jpg)
There are some huge decluttering lies out there that keep people stuck! But not you! Today I'm breaking these lies down. Click here for a clean & tidy home! www.youtube.com/@tarynmaria_?...
Join my mailing list for emails that will make your life easier! eepurl.com/iB2aE2
Decluttering playlist:
• My Decluttering Journey...A Frank Con...
Time saving cleaning hacks playlist:
• 12 *LIFE CHANGING* Cleaning Hacks Eve...
Cleaning Routines playlist:
• The *ONLY* Weekly Cleaning Routine Yo...
It has taken me nearly three years to get me where I am at in my decluttering journey. I live in a 750 sq. foot apartment where I have lived for 11 years. I think that I am just about at the maintenance phase. I am not about being a minimalist. I just want to be able to manage what I have. My biggest categories are clothes, books, and seasonal decor.
Great job so far! Once you can manage what you have, I think that's the perfect place!
I came from an efficiency that was stuffed. I am in a 2 bed now and now I have more clutter than when I started. Still a mess because I can't get up energy to clean it
@@adriennedecerce3479 do one drawer pr one corner or one shelf...at a time, and you will soon see the difference without being overwhelmed. 🌹
As a perfectionist, I had the 'all or nothing' mindset and it made me procrastinate on decluttering and doing cleaning tasks too. Starting out with the 30-Day Minimalism Game was an excellent way to get started for someone like me because it was a fun challenge with simple parameters. Instead of feeling like I had to declutter my entire house in one go, I just had to find 1 thing to declutter on the 1st of the month, 2 items on the 2nd, and so on.
Yes, love that challenge! So much easier to do small chunks 😊
Kind of morbid but I've been asking myself "what will happen to this item when Im dead?" And if my spouse/children would dispose then I will donate now - obviously nothing I'm using just excess.
There's also an episode of Bluey where the children discuss sentimental toy - it's REALLY great! That same key point if everything is special, nothing really is
The thing I think I like most about death cleaning is it helps me make decisions faster. That’s so cool about Bluey!
Same boat, not only is it a bit embarrassing to imagine all the 'stuff' those left behind us will have to deal with, I certainly don't want to burden them with things like that. And equally valuable is the freedom to be more mobile when desired or necessary.
Also on the Will and Living Trust journey ..
More people should think this way...when my parents died i had to go thru 50 years of stuff...just horundous! Im not doing that to my kids❤
@@ellenherman9543 My mom is kind of doing this but she's getting rid of some things I want thing she doesn't know I want and keeping things I don't care about (which of course makes sense because she should keep stuff she wants.) There's this idea that young people don't want their parent's stuff, but it doesn't hurt to ask If there are things they would like.
I just went through my home in preparation for going back to school and finishing my degree. I am an OWL (older, wiser learner). I took the 3 months I had off to go through everything and declutter, repair and clean. So many people tell you not to do just this because it slows you down. True, but the results were what I needed and I had the time. I used it wisely. I'm glad I found your Chanel and your message of "do what works for you." I made a plan and boom, results.
Great job, that's amazing!! I love hearing things like this!
May I add that sometimes with sentimental items, you can decide to START using it rather than saving it for the right occasion. Go ahead and use your beautiful things everyday.
YES! Great reminder, thank you :)
@@tarynmaria_ I have my own wedding gift stories, 32 years later :)
I've been really getting into decluttering and organizing mini projects. Listening to your first point, I realized that while, yes, some of this has meant throwing out and giving away things, a lot more of it has been about changing the way I use something. E.g., I have a large Ominigrid Mat that, in my mind, is a craft thing. But my husband once put a big pot of hot spaghetti on it. They're not heat resistant, so it's been warped ever since. This is super inconvenient for crafting, but the darn things are so $$, I couldn't bring myself to throw it out. A couple of days ago, I realized it might solve my need for a mat under my rolling desk chair that has worn a hole in the floor. I tried it and, voila, the warping doesn't matter at all for this purpose. So I get to keep the mat, stop being annoyed about the fact that hubby warped it, and saved $$ not buying a floor mat.
Love that! I love trying to repurpose things, I have a scratched Bundt pan I’m going to turn into a pot for plants 😊
Great job!! @@Galaxy-Goat
Yes, but, luckily you held onto it long enough to find another purpose for it. That’s the other side of the “keep” coin. 🙄
Decluttering is essential if you live in a small space! My daughter is great at this. She and her family of 4 live in a small 2 bedroom townhouse and she absolutely has to keep up on clutter or the home will become so chaotic and uncomfortable.
For sure! I didn't know a lot about clutter in my 2 bedroom condo back in the day and it was so cramped and cluttered!
So true! I’m 💯 % a minimalist in 50% of categories and 50% maximalist! I have quite a large wardrobe. But I turned my small storage closet into a walk in closet. So it’s organized and doesn’t seem over loaded because it’s not crammed into one small space. But I only have 4 plates, 4 bowls, 4 cups. My night stand has two drawers that are completely empty. But I have a massive shoe rack filled 😂
Awesome! Definitely do what works for you! I also think I'm a maximalist in clothing 😊
A very insightful video! 😊
I’ve always wondered why the process of decluttering is filled with negative-sounding principles and emotions. Maybe it’s because even the word decluttering sounds negative - a process of taking away, destroying, losing our initial investments, facing up to our mistakes.
If we approached the process with a more positive terminology, such as “optimizing” instead of “decluttering”, we might come to understand that the goal is to surround ourselves with things we need, use and love. So that our lives would be better. We would focus on something positive - creating a better life for ourselves.
For instance, when I recently wanted to “optimize” my wardrobe, I took into consideration my advancing years, my actual current body, the kind of clothing that would be more flattering to me at this stage in my life, the colours that the current me wanted to wear, the fact that I’d now rather launder items than dry clean them, etc.
This gave me so many ideas for a newly edited wardrobe that reflected me as I am today, made me look and feel my absolute best, and was easy for me to mix and match and maintain. The newly edited wardrobe would consist of natural and eco-friendly fabrics, created with care by quality manufacturers. This newly edited wardrobe would last a long time, would be made up of classic pieces, and would make me happy every time I opened my closet.
And yes, this newly edited wardrobe would be quite a bit smaller, even though I would have to add some intentionally wonderful items to it to increase my happiness.
Love this so much, Melissa! What a great idea to think of it as optimizing - for your current life - and put a positive twist on it!
WOW! I LOVE that approach and the word You used.... OPTIMIZING.... instead of decluttering! I truly hope that will catch on, and become the new word for improving your stuff, instead of "decluttering" it! Thanks for your helpful sharing :) Rachel in Nashville:) 🎨👩🎨😺🛐
Thank you so much for the distinction between “decluttering” and “minimalism.” I’m not a minimalist at all, but I have too much stuff for my own peace of mind and easy maintenance.
Visitors will say something like, you don’t need to declutter. Well, actually, I do.
The benefits you list are very real; I found out for myself. I’ve done the “easy” obvious parts like trash, clothes, kitchen, etc. It was not an easy journey, sentimental and books are still in progress. I still need help paring down, and your tips here seem to fit my mindset. So-subbed and thanks!
Thank you so much for subscribing and for your comment!! Wishing you lots of luck in your decluttering, it's a process but so worth it!
I agree. I declutterred and feel so much better. There is a difference for me in minimalism and essentialism. I am a halfway minimalist. I use a chair so my home must be clutter free. It wasn’t always like that 😂. Love your videos. ❤
Thank you so much, Robin!! 😊
This is the only decluttering video I've seen that actually makes sense, so that a person doesn't end up feeling somehow bad about getting rid of something, or not.
For one thing, I've found that something I thought I really needed ten years ago can be completely unnecessary for me now. I'm not referring to simply 'outgrown' things, like clothes or kids' toys, but in the psychological sense. Even some sentimental things might be displaced by more recent items, because I'm in a different emotional phase, or I've had them so long that the emotional memory is internalized and I don't need the physical item anymore. So if you don't get rid of something right away, it's time will likely come and it's okay to wait a bit.
I think it's hard for people who create or repair. Imagine going to Home Depot and they only had 'necessary things'. You don't know when you're going to need a certain screw or bead. It just needs to be organized so you can actually find and use it when the time comes. Many hoarders save 'valuable' items but because they're disorganized they can't utilize them and they have become a messy waste. (We shouldn't store beyond the space we have, though.)
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this!
I declutter on trash days. And I leave stuff for donating at recycle centers neatly packed and clean.❤
I love Swedish death cleaning! I just finished my house
Amazing! I am still doing my basement and attic but I love it too!
None of the minimalist/essentialist and decluttering is one size fits all. Make it fit your lifestyle and what is important to you. I found the space this opened up just made a huge difference, and I am far from done. But some things, for instance, like some really nice hand made aran wool sweaters I had collected over a decade but wear each seldom, and some cooking paraphernalia that I use rarely, I could not part with....yet. So, I stashed most of that very neatly in an attic but it is not taking space now in my day to day living areas, closets, drawers, etc. The thing is, to not just declutter but to organize with thought. Then the next step, try to figure out why clutter keeps happening, if it still does. I know, for example, one culprit of mine was buying at the big box stores. You end up with way too many of one thing. So now, even though costs me more per item, I do not buy in bulk. I actually save money avoiding buying in bulk.
Totally agree about figuring out the root causes of clutter! Thank you for sharing! ☺️
I think small homes benefit even more from decluttering than big homes because every inch is valuable real estate. You don’t have extra closets and spare rooms that can become “junk” or “miscellaneous” spaces. I had my “wait, maybe I *don’t* need all this stuff, actually” epiphany in a tiny house when I realized I was spending more time moving stuff around to clean under than I was actually cleaning. I was wayyy over my clutter threshold (as Dana from “A Slob Comes Clean” calls it), and I feel like it would have taken a lot longer to realize that if I had more space to hide all that random junk.
I was the same in my apartment! To clean anything I had to move so many things!
The first thing I'd declutter in a tiny bedroom with a queen size bed is the bed ^_^
I am a very sentimental person who decluttered the entire house approximately seven years ago -- and continue to declutter twice per year -- Spring and Autumn. With regard to items of sentimental value, I do have some that I can count on one hand. When I reminisce about the wonderful people and adventures I have experienced in my lifetime, never have I thought "Gee, I wish I still had that (thing) to remind me of it." All I need is in my heart and mind. Thank you for sharing this great video.
That is so great to hear, thank you so much for sharing!!
I am new to your channel. I truly appreciate how you keep emphasizing to keep decluttering in small time frames and spaces but to do it as often as possible. You are also a good motivator by saying not to worry about keeping things and that this is about organizing as much as going through items you don’t want, use or need anymore (with the exception of sentimental items… unless everything is sentimental which then means nothing is truly sentimental but rather an excuse). My most sentimental things are photos, important papers and documents and things that were handmade by family and / or friends.
Welcome, I'm happy you're here! Thank you for sharing these thoughts, I'm so glad it's helpful 😊
This is one of the best declutter video I've ever watched. The so much for sharing
Ahhh thank you so much!!
Just started Swedish death clean Hard to start off but four days in and I'm a changed woman!!! Feels good so far Love from Yorkshire England xx
Amazing job! Getting started is for sure the hardest part! ❤
Thank you for being so balanced and practical in your videos. I am not a minimalist and many videos loose me as they focus on that concept. Your tips are very helpful.
I am so glad - thank you for the comment!!
Decluttering is especially important in smaller homes. - I've had some family members tell me, "If I just had a bigger home, it would be cleaner." Nope. You just have too much junk.
For sure!! 😊
No, to them, and yea, you are right! The stuff always, always expands to fill the space (unless they are already truly committed to having less).
That's what I told my family. They kept saying we need a bigger home, and I was like nope, we need less stuff! A bigger home would only mean we have more space to add crap to. I did a MASSIVE declutter last summer and it fully motivated the rest of my family to do the same with their things as they saw how much of a burden it lifted off everyone's shoulders to have less "stuff".
We just had to pack 90% of our house into storage to get some massive renovations done (new ceilings, insulation, electrical, etc) and as we unpack we're taking our time and deciding if we REALLY need each item (like do we really need 30 plastic plates meant for toddlers when our youngest is 7? And why do we have 25 mugs when there is only 1 coffee/tea drinker in the house?)
Yes! Love all of these thoughts and great job on the massive declutter!!@@catlady9123
Love your videos! But it’s important to edit- deprivation, not depravation. Thank you for your help with decluttering!
Absolutely!!
Finally! A de-cluttering video that doesn't emphasuze that you have too much stuff! So much is always a said about not having more stuff than what your space allows. While it's true to a point, sometimes, we actually really use all or most of our stuff and just have a challenge in figuring out how to fit it into our homes. But at the same time, the minimalist rules for determining what to keep and what to toss or giveaway still apply. I find, including de--cluttering during my zone cleani g sessions, and de-cluttering a little here and there during my daily tidying up sessions, and during the times when I'm re-organising my space, helps keep the feeling of overwhelm to a minimum...because instead of speding huge chunks of time de-cluttering, I'm just spend 5 minutes or 15 minutes a day, 5-6 days a week on de-cluttering something. Is it taking longer to get my house back in order than it would if I spenr a few days or weeks on It for several hours a day? Yes. But I'm also not burning out or collapsing from exhaustion. It just requires being consistant eith these daily few minutes, and alot of patience through the process. My home didn't get this way overnight. It will not get back to where I'd like it to be overnight, either. Plus, along the way, I'm developing routines and habits that wil be well in place when the house is in alnmost full maintenance mode, which will make it way easier to maintain than it would have been if I tried to de-clutter and organise it in a really short period of time. And that's what I'm aiming for... the results that will remain for the long haul.
So smart! Thank you so much for sharing! 😊
@tarynmaria_ I hope it helps someone who is feeling impatient and over-whelmed, because I was there for nearly 3 years until recently
that sentimental clutter is the most..LOL!! and it does take time and intention to part with it
Sentimental clutter is so hard!
Your video made me think.
1. General housekeeping (cleaning up after myself, washing clothes and dishes, dusting, vacuuming, mopping, waxing floors, cleaning carpets) is different from
2. Organizing; which is different from
3. Decluttering; (actively moving stuff out of the house and garage and car), which is different from
4. Pet and plant care (time and energy consuming though they bring pleasure); and child care for you still of that age, are different from
5. Physical maintenance of the house, garage, and yard (pressure washing, painting exterior and interior, wood rot repair, lawnmowing, pruning, spraying for bugs, weeds, fire ants, and termites); and they are all quite different from
6. Packing to downsize to another location.
Though I don’t physically do all of the maintenance, I must hire people, prep the area, make sure the job is done correctly, etc., and ultimately, pay for the service.
No wonder I am exhausted. I expect so much of myself, and I’m no longer a spring chicken.
It's a lot for sure! Thank you for sharing!!
after spending months emptying out my parents home, they were organized hoarders, start getting rid of your stuff so your kids don’t have to, it’ll be months before i have all this distributed or donated, declutter before you get too old to do it!
That is my plan - doing it now while I have a lot of energy to get it done rather than putting it off until much later :)
“Organized hoarders”--I love that! Sounds like mine. They were Depression era, and never threw anything away. At least it was relatively clean and organized. But So. Much. Stuff. Clearing those houses (other fam, too) is the worst job I’ve ever done, emotionally AND physically. I still wonder about some things I just tossed or donated…but my time and strength are limited.
@@bettyparker3317 your time is limited, it does affect us, physically and emotionally. i’m the project manager among the siblings…i plan conferences for my job…so it’s easier for me. my youngest sister wanted to have an estate sale, but the parents are still alive. i took a picture of all the precious knick knacks and just started sending pictures to all the family, 3-4 items at a time, if someone wants it i put their name by that number onnsn excel grid….but my garage is full of this stuff. my goal is this june, everything is distributed, donated, or sold to an antique store. their house finally sold, i’ve been managing that too.
i’ve been pulling stuff out since march, did a big push before christmas because i feared it would sell…and it did right after…so we’re in a good position…but it’s because i just kept working at it so i could still enjoy my weekends.
you are right to take care of yourself….
I'm classed as an organized hoarder too ❤
You nailed it on the time spent decluttering. One of my TH-cam sewing stream did the one month decluttering your sewing room challenge , she was specific on that you get a timer and set it for 10 or 15 minutes only. As some areas are require more but it's ok to come back the next day and do the same thing with fresh eyes😊. But it's so true otherwise you get overwhelmed.
Sentimental? I learned over the years I will keep it but then I change so I still love it but am I using it or displaying it at all , is it packed away taking up space? Eventually I let it go when I feel I have been sentimental enough / taste changes? The n I will give it away to someone who can use it or needs it .
I also discover decluttering that even if I only use it once a year. It's still being used and those things get put in a special place I can access but it's not in the way of things I use daily or one a month. So many things play a factor in decluttering.. I had to laugh at "only big house get decluttered" I have learn big the space / more stuff to go through.😊 But more storage for stuff to have a home 😊 anyway great video and so true! Take care.!
Thank you so much - I so appreciate your comment! And I so agree about keeping things even if you use them infrequently but do use them. I have a large roasting pan that I only use for Thanksgiving and one day I decided why am I storing it in my kitchen- and I ended up moving it to the basement. But every Thanksgiving I get it and use it 😊
@@tarynmaria_ exactly that's why I hate some decluttering influencers that say haven't used in a year chuck it. Ok now that just contributed to throw away society. Then if it's a yearly thing. Oh hey guess what ? you spend money you don't have it anymore for that once a year use or rare but every second year use.. I believe there is a 3 to 4 category when decluttering. A person can use the year ,month, week and daily use to separate. Then go by use. Do you use at all, or used to and don't anymore ,if ever.? Once I realized more of that decluttering became easier and kind of enjoyable. I do it once a year unless a spot becomes the toss cupboard or drawer to get to later and you don't and it's full then I get to it. Otherwise just when I feel the need became of no room or if a spot is collecting dust and wonder why is that area not touched then time to go through. 😂
Anyway. Sorry for the short story 😂
Good video, appreciate the time stamps. Thanks!
Thank you!
Thank you for the tips we all do our best
Always! 😊
It's hard decluttering. For me I was going for minimalist but I still feel I have more items to declutter but I do use my things. So I'm a usememalism 😄😁😉
I say if you use it, keep it! 😊
Dang, you blasted my concept... and I love decluttering and declutter often.. Thanks so much and it makes sense..
Thank you so much for commenting and watching! 😊
love that you said "Declutter little, declutter often." That is the best. Even though I already knew that, I constantly need to be reminded of that.
Funny thing, I actually thought decluttering is more beneficial for people with small homes, because if we don't declutter our small house it becomes a cluttered mess. Whereas people with large homes could just organize everything to look nice and wouldn't have to worry about space.
I think a lot of people fill up whatever space they have (large or small) if they're not actively trying to declutter or be more minimal. Thank you so much for commenting 😊
How do you prioritize what you have in your home?
Do you have rules?
Thank you. I have grown to really strongly dislike the minimalist ideology because I feel like it is a desperate attempt to be branded. I so appreciate that you debunked the all or nothing mentality. I have listened to minimalist on TH-cam talking about how viewers claim they aren't minimal enough and I can see how it is a lack of balance just like hoarding. I agree there are a lot of benefits...but I have a hard time seeing the idea when there are magazines on minimalism for us to take home to add to our stuff...just ironic to me. I don't need a label, just ideas on how to let go of some unnecessary things.
Thank you so much! I so agree - I think the all or nothing mentality keeps people stuck. Minimalism has so many amazing principles but at the end of the day decluttering is so personal and needs to be how you want it ☺
I've found that 'sentimental' changes over time. Things/people I've outgrown over time, I can let go of, and that's fine. Doesn't mean I'm a terrible person, just means I've moved onward from that chapter in my life. Did that this morning. 3 am, and I was keeping one picture of someone I knew 'way back when' but discarded the rest. Was only a handful of items, but that's still, a handful I'm not dealing with, or more importantly, my family has to wade through when I'm gone.
Such a good point about changing over time, thank you for sharing!!
I like that part about being a minimalist in some categories and a maximalist in others. I'd never heard that.
I have a lot of books, some I have read a long while ago but I still want to keep because I still love them. And all the decluttering videos always tell me to get rid of books I don't read anymore, and it always makes me feel guilty that I'm unable to let go of them.
And that's okay! I can have a minimalist kitchen and a huge library filled to the top. Who cares?!
That’s what I say! I think decluttering is great, but at the end of the day, your stuff that you keep has to be functional and is personal to you so no one can tell you what to get rid of 😊
I sew, bake, cook, crochet, knit, wool felt, do other crafts, and while i dont buy a lot of clothes, i have them to fit five different sized women, and three different pregnant women 😂 Books galore too ❤
I like your attitude. As an historian, I have more than my share of history books, and as a re-enactor, a good collection of gear for Civil War, and for Medieval. However in other areas, not so much.
Love that! Thank you so much for commenting 😊
I have to wipe out cabinets when I organize my cabinets! I clean as I go! I like functional living! Efficiency
Love that!
i max out on craft and sewing supplies, but i do have it organized, so i can see my paint colors, threads, so i buy only if i’m out. i’m an empty nester, i want to produce as much as i can before my hands and eyes give out…or my lung liver disease goes south…i completely agree with clutter slowly but often, that’s what i’ve been doing. the weather is bad though so either i wait for a nice day, or eventually i call for donation pick up. i’ve had to empty out my parents house, so much of their stuff is waiting to be distributed among all of us or donated.
Sounds like you have a great approach going!!
My husband has a really hard time parting with things. I found if I took a picture and made the thing a page in our scrapbook, then he was fine with getting rid of the thing itself. It's the memories he's afraid of losing.
That’s awesome!
Love this! 💜
Thank you so much!
I've been decluttering for a few years now. Now the battle is keeping new stuff out unless it is a replacement for something that is used regularly.
Great job decluttering! 😊
Thank you
You are so welcome!
One item in... two items out works for me... as I find something I haven't used for ages, out it goes... passed on to someone who will make use of it.. Some people would think my house is cluttered... It's stuff I still use ,but I don't have a lot of places to store stuff....
I think as long as you use it then it's not clutter. Thank you for sharing 😊
decluttering for me is only about intention and peace
For sure!
Your attic is very beautiful
Aww thank you so much!
I always have a bag hanging on one door handle (that door is almost always open so nobodie sees it). Every time I fold the laundry I check if it´s not too used, if I felt comfortable using it that last time, specially when seasons change.. do I want to keep it for next year? And when de answer is NO.. there it goes to the bag. Same with those corporate presents you get at conferences, how many mugs with a company logo you want? or pens or notebooks ot teeshitrs... so as soon as I get home they go to the bag...
And when the bag is full it gets donated..
Thank you for sharing that, what a great idea!
Great video Taryn!
Do you edit them yourself?
Thank you, Prem! I do!
@@tarynmaria_ That's Great Taryn.
I'm a video editor and will save your time by editing them for you. I can share my portfolio with you. Let's connect:)
My basement and garage can't be used, and it's mostly because of me. 😳😳😳 I want to get it all done, but letting go of so many things give me real panic 😢😢😢
Ahhh maybe you could tackle one corner of one of those spaces and see how you feel? Take it slow and see how it goes!
Taking photos of sentimental things makes it WAY easier to let go of them.
For sure!
Excellent video! 🐹 I'm learning a lot from You :) thank you so much for your helpful tips and advice, and for presenting it in such a friendly manner :) God bless You and your family :) Meanwhile, I'm making progress a little bit at a time....⏳🤔😅😅👩🎨😺🛐
I'm so glad! Thank you so much😊❤
Another great video!
Thank you, Cassie!!
As a non-native English speaker, I can't help but read the subtitles, although I understand the voice clearly. I wonder when this habit is going to go away 😅
You know what - I am the same! Even as a native English speaker I can't help but read captions :) I did a poll and a lot of my subscribers preferred captions so I've added them, but let me know how you feel about them!
Oh, thanks for the answer, I'm a newbie on this channel, I'll get used to your way of making videos :)
When watching a decluttering video or reading an article....STOP....PAUSE.....and do that specific thing that needs to be done in your home.
Do NOT take notes & wait!
Press the PAUSE button & DECLUTTER NOW!
Continue watching or reading, REPEAT!
Love it!
Am I the only one who loathes the word “hack”?
Repetitive.