I am a hoarder and kept a whole cupboard of 'memory boxes', full of stuff even things like old wrapping paper etc. I found your videos during lockdown last year and they were so inspiring. I have been decluttering my whole house slowly but I couldn't face this cupboard of memories, from my entire 32 years. Then disaster struck and there was a leak and the cupboard was damaged. I lost a lot of precious items. It was heartbreaking but also a harsh wake up that I am not treasuring my memories by throwing everything in boxes. I was forced to actually declutter what was left and very quickly I had two black bags full of complete rubbish. Now I am only keeping things that are true treasures and I am going to treat them in a way that they are treasured.
I lost both my parents last year and had to clean out my childhood home. LOTS OF MEMORIES. I had to face the fact that the memory isn't in the stuff, it's in ME! It's helped me look at the items more logically than emotionally which has helped a lot.
@@virginiagrenier8572 I'm going trough a similar story, the difference: My Father is alive and moved to a Seniors Home. Now I'm in the Process of Decluttering the Entire house in which they live for 32 years, a lot of work for just me 🥵 but it's achievable. How do you declutter sentimental items that you know they no longer serve a purpose or can't be reused?
@@daianar6873 I enlisted the help of my children. They had no attachment to the items. I would have them go through boxes to be sure there wasn't any important papers and then had them toss them or donate. Out of sight/out of mind.
@@virginiagrenier8572 First of all, Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question and second, although I don't have any children's, I will apply your advice to myself and don't look at the items as something I should hold on to it, but just make Peace with it, let it go and understand that it needs to be done in Order for me to move on with my life. God Bless You and Your Love ones 😇🙏🏻.
I was a foster care provider for 20 years. I have a couple of points. 1. Move EVERYTHING out of your foster care bedroom. The child needs to feel like it's their room and they're not staying in a store room AND they won't leave your stuff alone. 2. Keep your overnight bag. The Foster child will need one and you can let it go easily with them. Not many foster kids come with stuff they need.
Another foster/adopt parent. Keep the overnight bag & spare backpacks. I kept bins of child clothes labeled by size so kids could “go shopping” in the bins and pick a few outfits they like. Stuffed animals or teddy bears to hug are also nice to have handy. I liked how what you keep in the wardrobe can easily transfer out because food would be eaten/crumbs in the room, and less care to your items if left there.
Agree completely. Every foster kid that came into my home, brought their items in a trash bag. And every one of them left with their own backpack and/or overnight bag.
@@fiberterian every time I hear of a foster child carrying their stuff in a trash bag it just breaks my heart....is it really so hard for people to provide a nice backpack? Thank you for what you do😊👍
@@fiberterian I guess I understand that, what I don't see is how any adult can see this and not provide a decent bag or backpack🤔 I repeat, thank you to all who work with these children and give them a safe haven and hope for the future❤
It's strange, but along the way I figured out that walking into a clean and decluttered space gave me a similar dopamine hit. Once I figured it out, I now look forward to getting spaces to that point....just as much as I used to look forward to buying things and opening those boxes. :-)
My number one tip for organizing/cleaning/decluttering: just do 1 thing. Starting is the hardest thing. I do 1 thing, then I do 1 more thing, and so on. I did this last night with our catch-all room and now it's gorgeous and uncluttered in a way it hasn't been in MONTHS. The other stuff helps, but not if you don't ever begin ❤
I was just commenting similarly - it’s so hard to get started - and then even areas I’ve done, I know I need to do again - it’s hard to be really ruthless the first go-round !
@@Melody-285 So true. I'm on my 3rd time round & I can't believe I still have so much stuff. I did take before & after pics, so I can see how much progress I've made, but I ask, why didn't I get rid of this before. Oh well I'm strengthening my declutter muscles. Each time it gets better.
@@lindapedersen-hylka7170 I like that - strengthening your declutter muscle” ! I’ve always thought kind of the same thing about creativity - that it’s like a muscle - the more you use it, the stronger it gets - hadn’t thought about that for a while but your comment reminded me - I’ll have to try to use both of those muscles more !
I hear you. I have such a problem starting things, worse after a brain injury. Now I just look at one surface and try to clear that. I have to start with small chunks.
Do I want to manage this inventory? - Has been a game changing question for me. Great video, Dawn! Storage is not free - it has to be managed. So true!!!
What makes me want to declutter? Do I want my husband to have to deal with this after I die? (Not that I'm dying, or that I'll die first, but it does the trick. Replace husband with children, or whoever...)
We rescued a puppy 11mos ago. He came w a crate he refused to enter. (He had been in a shelter 48 days) we decided to donate it. & Have our Living room back! 🙋💓
Read about one woman who found it hard to get rid of magazines, her coach had her put them in a cardboard box on the porch & it didn’t take long before they were destroyed & had to be thrown out. Been through many floods - the less you have, the easier it is.
When my mother was elderly and lived alone in a very small one bedroom apartment (which she loved keeping house in) I would ask her to make a list of groceries she needed for me to get for her. After each item she would put in parentheses (small). I would tell her that she would save money by buying the larger sizes and they would last longer, she would say that it was not saving money if she had to eventually throw them out when expired, dried out, moldy, rotten or rancid, or ended up not working like she thought they would. She also would say she didn’t have the space for large items or amounts in her little home. Smart Mama. I thought of her when you showed the large packages of camper supplies. Also I don’t know about others but I tend to be wasteful of food and supplies when I have lots of them. I’ve learned a lot from her and YOU! Thank you Dawn. Donna, Mike’s wife.
Just found a bunch of pens in a junk drawer and most don’t work although they were never used… I k dried out even with covering but have been there about 20 years. My husband buy stuff on sale and in quantity and when I went through food I found old cans of beans that were dated a few years ago as expired.
My motivation is that my husband will willingly watch the kids so I can clean, organize, and declutter. It’s an easy guilt free time alone plus it allows me to binge X Files while doing it!
"Keep the extras at the store and get it when I need it." - Brilliant thinking! I tend to store way too much and quickly become overwhelmed managing my inventory. I'm constantly shuffling items around. Thank you Dawn for this tip! I love your videos, they are so inspiring.
A lot of times, though, it costs more later, especially if it's no longer on sale and it's a regularly used item (like bathroom tissue, dish detergent, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, creme rinse, sanitary products, etc.)
@@djondjon that's why you have a "storage" spot for extras, like the basement, or the garage or a closet. We keep an extra case of toilet paper in the garage by the washer & dryer.
That is absolutely a luxury! When you're poor & can't rely on having the money to get the item or finding a ride to the store when you need one, the idea of simply getting things when you need them isn't so simple! It's the same reason why minimalism, itself, is a luxury. Not trying to knock you or your life, anything like that - just... chatting, I guess? I hope you understand! I think it's a great idea, if you're able to do it, and I hope it helped you! 🌻
Like Dawn, I keep some overflow pantry items in the basement too. If I have extra of something (cereal, canned goods, Gatorade, etc.) I take a small piece of masking tape and write “More Downstairs” and attach it to the item that is upstairs so I don’t forget I already have some. I even do this with items that have to be refrigerated after opening, like salad dressing. It has saved many unnecessary purchases and has been a game changer for me.
‘5 Minutes Matters’ is still at the top of my list but ‘The Silent To Do List’ is a close second. It always amazes me how clearing the thing that has been bothering me takes such a short time but I have put it off because it seemed so overwhelming. Thanks for sharing. 💝
Woohoo! Literally every room in my 2900 sq ft home needs decluttered. So far I have done 2 hallway closets and the master bath medicine cabinet. So so much more to go. Considering I just started last week, though, I'm not too upset about it. Progress, not perfection. I plan to spend 2 or more hours daily working my way through the house. Clutter is making me feel crazy, anxious, out of sorts, frustrated..... In the kitchen, for instance, I miss seeing my counter tops. I know how hard this is so kudos to you and good luck on finishing... baby steps... we can win this war on clutter. 🙌
@@Karen_Busch Dawn partnered up with Dana K. White of A Slob Comes Clean and Cass from Clutterbug for the Take Your House Back course. It was the biggest game changer for me.
Thanks to your videos, when our sump pump quit and our basement flooded all we had to do was mop the floor! I had recently followed your decluttering advice and I’m so glad I did! 👍
YOU are the voice I needed. We're selling our house and I've been a life-long pack rat. (30 years in this house) So we must streamline, minimize and make the house look pristinely perfect. You've given me courage to get rid of the things I have been reluctant to let go of. You're the voice of reason and practicality. Your videos are so watchable. You don't go off track, like so many other videographers do. Unnecessary chit-chat bores me to tears. You are never boring. Each sentence has meaning. You steel my reserve, and make me feel strong enough to go against my innate hoarder nature to make my life cleaner, neater and clutter-free. Thank you so much for what you do!
@Jackie Schmidt Update: Clutter cleaning successful. Minimized all but essentials. The house sold quickly. We are now living (clutter-free) at our dream location near the beach in NC... albeit in a much much smaller house. It's all good, and our place is wonderful/small/amazingly perfect. You helped us get here. Thank you!
I hear you. Been in my house 22+ years, it's overwhelming bc we want to move to SC (family) in a year. Like where to start! Happy for this video & your comment about moving states away & you did it!!
Dawn, add one tiny tray or bin to your drawer to store the oil in. If it leaks again it won’t spread the mess (and you might even salvage some of the oil if the bin is clean!)
I've been dealing with depression that I wasn't even aware of and really stuck on TH-cam videos having absolutely no idea that that feeds into dopamine. So now I just connected a few pieces to my puzzle. Thank you Dawn
I have had a few doctors tell me I suffer from depression and I thought they were nuts. But then a channel I was watching on decluttering said something about how our environment reflects our mood and mental health. 🤔 I was like woah. The clutter has taken over my home and I'm sick of it. I'm frustrated by it. At times I have thought how I wouldn't be mad if the house burned down... terrible, I know. 🤷♀️ Clutter is making me feel frustrated and anxious and like what is the point because even when I spend days cleaning my house, it never looks/feels clean due to all the junk!! So I'm taking the plunge... I already did 2 hallway closets and the medicine cabinet in the master bathroom. I plan to spend 2 or more hours DAILY until I have worked my way through every single room in my house. I'm doing the best I can do. Maybe I *REALLY WAS* depressed... but I sure don't feel that way and so *I AM READY TO MAKE A CHANGE.* Good luck to you Mozel! We can do this and we will... one cupboard, drawer, closet, and room at a time. 👍
Lately, the question “Do I want to inventory this item?” Has really helped me decluttering. I’ve realized life’s to short to keep track of so many things that rarely, if ever, serves me.
Dawn, could you please do a video like this for another space outside of the home... like the garage! My husband tries to "clean" the garage but he gets so overwhelmed. Having a little bit of Tom's POV would help also 😉
My garage is horrible. 🥺😥😭 We have a walkway to the mudroom door. My mom helped me declutter it once and then we did it once as a family. We have lived here 6 years and it is totally out of control again. But first..... my house! So far I have decluttered and organized 2 hall closets and the master bath medicine cabinet. Oh so much more to go.
Hi from ct My husband and i just decluttered our entire home. We have five rooms a laundry room and one bath! WOO we are pooped lol. we sold what we could gave away anything wanted by family and friends then made more trips to the dump than i care to say!!! We can breath again! THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO . NOW WE NEED A VACATION!!! LOL
The end thing cracked me up. I do not enjoy decluttering and minimizing but I woke up this morning telling myself that I needed to do this today. What was the first thing I did after getting my donation bags and trash bags? Started to watch videos on minimizing. 😂. I’ve learned that pairing the videos while I am cleaning and decluttering, I stay on a roll
Yes, I find that alternating between watching hoarding videos ("I don't ever want to get there, or anywhere close!") and watching decluttering videos is great motivation to declutter an area. Then repeat.
Was going to take a nap while the kids watched TV after lunch but your new video came out so instead I watched it, cleaned my kitchen and did the dishes. Thank you!
Thank you for walking us through Dana's slob comes clean method and for showing us your home and cupboards too! One of my friends said, "Target is like your storage unit. You just have to pay a small fee to take an item out when you need it." :)
I think most of us get overwhelmed with the overload of stuff for the rush of getting a "bargain" or fear that it won't Be there or available when you go back to pay your storage fee to purchase it. Love all these tips ❤
I have a product, similar to the one that spilled in your drawer, and have done the exact same thing! I ended up putting a small container in the drawer, where the product goes. And at the bottom, I put a label that says "LID?" Ha!!!!
Omg. I too spilled some pricey oil just a few days ago. Luckily on counter only. Now I make it a habit to move bottle against the wall out of my moving hands way until I can secure the lid.
I was watching this while unpacking from a long trip, and when you said “pair the chore with a dopamine hit” I was like GIRL, I AM THERE. 😂 Thanks for helping me unpack and put everything away!
SECOND COMMENT😍 it's so ironic that this is the topic that you are discussing today. I just left from my friend's house helping her declutter her overwhelming space. We did an hour and used a combo of yours, Dana's, and A Hoarder's Heart's methods.
Love all your inspiring ideas! I just have to add that it’s so sweet of you to say “I love you” at the end of your videos. I know you appreciate your viewers but it is really meaningful to hear positive, affirming words. Thanks, and I love you too🥰
I’m enjoying your older and new videos so very much! Your You Tube channel has changed my life bc even with the stressors of life coming at me, I’m still able to declutter more every week. I can’t wait till I get to goal! I found your channel when God knew I needed it. Thank you and Diana so much! ❤️
I had the same experience years ago when I discovered Dawn. It was a direct gift from God, an answer to prayer, and one that I even now think about and thank the Lord for regularly. Monumental.
Great recommendation about the dopamine rush - cleaning used to be my lowest priority until I started watching TH-cam videos while cleaning - now cleaning is a higher priority because I love watching TH-cam.
Nothing inspires me like a visit to my sister’s house! It’s not that it isn’t clean, it’s her kitchen and bathroom counters being so full of stuff! I just got back yesterday from a 3 day visit with her, and although my husband keeps things clean (actually cleaner than me!) while I’m away, the first thing I did when I got home was unpack and make sure everything was put back where it belongs. Then I made sure my kitchen was clean and counters cleared before going to bed.
I only allow myself to watch your videos if I am doing laundry! And so now I really love folding my laundry because I know I get to watch a TH-cam video! So that dopamine rush is working for me 😃
Oh my gooooosshhh!! Dawn, this is what I needed!!! We are moving and I am DETERMINED to take no more than 30% of our items. I created a system where we only take the furniture then we live in our new house and pay attention to the items we need in order to take care of our basic needs (e.g. brush teeth, wash face, etc). It’s an awesome plan! Noooowww, I’m left with everything else and it’s OVERWHELMING! This video is right...on...time!! God knows exactly what we need when we need!!! Bless your whole life Dawn!! Continue being Sprit-led. 😉
Your videos are reminding me of a line from Thoreau's book, "Walden." When in his little cabin, he collected a rock and put it on his desk. Then he realized he'd have to dust the rock, and around it, so he threw it out the window.
My fantasy world is appropriately SHATTERED by this wonderful video - we have been striving to simplify and have been able to kid ourselves because the junk room has a door we can close. Time to open that door and go in...
This is so timely. In the process of going through my Mom's home since her passing paired with moving out and going through our personal belongings has been so overwhelming. This gives such a positive way to think through the process and getting something accomplished every day. Emotions attached are making it difficult so to process it with the tips you provided will help for sure. Thank you
I relate completely. Allmoms stuff is in my garage.the first year, I just cried. Now, in the second year, I've donated the easy stuff,but things she loved? Things that were precious to her? Well,that's a different story.
This is our basement. It's such a nightmare. We had a huge move and honestly I keep decluttering things and getting ticked off that we wasted space in the moving truck with things that I'm now getting rid of. I'm getting a lot of inspiration from your channel. My husband and I are committing 15 minutes per night after the kids are in bed to work on the basement!
My overwhelming space was my entire 1500 sq ft house when I moved after 42 years. All the decluttering videos and my kids encouragement got me through it.
I have always dreaded laundry and dishes, the two jobs that seem never ending 😕 soooo, I started watching all my favorite organizing TH-camrs while I do them and now I actually look forward to it! It’s crazy how something so simple can completely change how you think and feel ❤️❤️❤️
Dawn you are so inspiring! I have been following your videos for a long time and I find myself applying more and more of your tips and tricks. However, it is so important to see that you also still have these spaces that turn into dumping grounds. Seeing how you deal with them is so motivating and it puts everything into a realistic perspective because it is constant maintenance (which I sometimes forget when I see all the pretty minimalist photos of spaces in the house). Thank you so much!
MY favourite thing for decluttering is staying in one room until it is finished. If you need to leave to feed family etc. Close the door and then make that your come back to point. Also make a spot in the corner of the room for trash donation and move stuff. I find if I leave the room then I get distracted with other things and do not get done what I wanted too. But I love your videos. They have inspired me to declutter my sewing and my pantry and my storage garage.
Thanks for the inspiration! Because of this video I just got over myself and decluttered my living room closet in just one hour. Found a ridiculous bunch of stuff I forgot about for years. A lot of donations, and also collected half a bag of trash.
I love this idea of inventory. I’ve been majorly decluttering my whole house and a day or two ago I was thinking how much freer my mind feels just KNOWING that even non visible places have been cleaned out. I was thinking it’s because I know more what I have, but I also think it’s just having less inventory weighing on my mind! Things like cards and such that have been moved IN BOXES in four moves since my marriage have been purged and it feels GREAT!
Funny that you would talk about pairing a video with a declutting activity because when I tell myself that I need to do some decluttering and I need motivation, I watch Dawn just a few minutes and it gets me going. I don't know what it is, your voice, your laugh or your energy but....it works every single time. Thank you Dawn.
Thank you so much for watching! Here are a few of the links that I mentioned in the video! Canvas clothes storage bags: amzn.to/3zjkGIe Overnight Bag: amzn.to/3BkEuNj Power of 5 Minutes Video: th-cam.com/video/fU329ksKxrE/w-d-xo.html Decluttering Storage Spaces Playlist: cli.re/declutter-storage-spaces .....I hope you have a great day!!! - Dawn
Our garage/tv room is primarily my husband’s space. I only have two Christmas containers stored. It gives me major anxiety to walk in there when I do laundry. He doesn’t see what a mess it is.
We just got a new RV after having our old one for 7 years and it’s amazing all the stuff I pulled out of the old one that doesn’t need to go back into our new one! I feel you on the extra camper stash!
I like the idea of starting with the most loved/wanted things first. Then as the container fills, it causes me to donate or throw away or use the one in one out of the remaining items.
About to start on my 'junk room'. It took years for it to get this bad, (been having health problems) but I have plans for that room! I'm so glad I found so much motivation here. TFS
Ahhhh!!! The end of the video is BRILLIANT in talking about rewarding ourselves!! I just realized that I MIGHT actually FINALLY get my bedroom/sewing area unpacked and decluttered IF I tell myself that I can get new carpet in there once it's done. OhmyLord, I want new carpet in there SO BAD. So, duh! Use the one to get the other. Let's just hope my husband agrees to this amazingly brilliant plan!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
Do I want to inventory this... Thank you so much for including this question and explanation in your video. I have had a lot of difficulty through The years getting rid of stuff that I can use just in case, or when something else breaks, or if it's something I like but it's not my favorite. I have renewed decluttering hope more!
"Do I want to inventory this" for me is "Do I want to move this?" Like many of us I've had to move so many times. Even if I don't think I'm moving anytime soon, the memory is useful trauma! Always so much shock at the amount of inventory I possess. That question helps me clarify odds and ends really quickly! The other one is "cleaning begets cleaning" haha. You're so right about that dopamine. Once I get started I know the dopamine will carry me through. When I find myself doing more than I planned and I just laugh, because cleaning begets cleaning! I love the way you Dawn and Cas have joined forces. It's so great to see you three ladies cross-pollinating each other!
Dawn, you make so much sense! Decluttering is so hard for me but, I think of it like, “ Is this container worthy” that is so smart to think that way! Thank you!❤️
I found your videos yesterday and felt so inspired. Since yesterday I have managed to de clutter 11 black bags full of items from old boyfriends, cards and letters from people I no longer have in my life and items not worthy of recycling. I have 9 donation boxes ready for goodwill, that will be dropped off in the morning. I had 1 relapse and keep 4 glasses I never use, but wasn’t ready to part with. I’m on your 3rd video and looking forward to more. Thank you for the great content and motivation.
Dawn. Thank you. You have changed my life. I feel so motivated. I completed the one month minimalist game in June and I loved it. May try it again next June. You and your family have been a true blessing to me. I’m 57 , far from minimalism, but feeling better every day!
That is so exciting, way to go! My mom is 65 and she has begun the journey as well! I started the minimalism game in May and didn't exactly follow it to a T, but it certainly had the intended effect! It makes one feel unstoppable! ☺ Keep up the great work!
❤ sometimes I get frustrated with myself if I have a space like this even after I've done huge amounts of decluttering. I know messes still happen, but I tend to be very hard on myself when a space becomes a dumping ground after I've already addressed it before. Thanks, Dawn. 😊
What I find hard also is that regular house cleaning never stops so decluttering has to be sandwiched in there with cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc., etc.
This is what I have been asking myself every time I go through stuff to get rid of, especially clothes!!! But the same thing with everything else and asking myself “Do I NEED this?” Does this outfit/shirt/skirt etc make me feel good about myself? Make me feel like I look really good? Do I love it and the way it fits? Is too small or too big or too young looking or too old looking for me? Mainly DO I NEED THIS or can I live without it? Can I replace it if I realize I shouldn’t have gotten rid of it? The answer is yes the majority of the time! I love your tips 💗
I like how you say that I don’t have to be a minimalist, do you, do what is comfortable for you and your family. I don’t like labels! I don’t want to be a minimalist. BUT..BUT I want my home to be organized, clean and welcoming to my family and guests. New subscriber, love your channel. Not ready for all of it but getting ready to get organized and get rid of stuff. 😂 here I go 🧡
I really like your guest room/foster care room. It's kid friendly with the little dots of color and happy looking stuffed animals, but not overwhelming. It is cheerful yet calm at the same time.
I do this with my bedroom so often. It tends to become the storage room. I’ll tell myself, just get this surface/corner done and before I know itC I’ve got the whole room done. Just getting started is the hard part. Also I watch TH-cam while folding laundry. It helps to pair like you said.
My husband and I recently moved to a newer home an WOW, we found out that there isn't much storage space compared to our 1955 home. It's not until you get into a home that you realize how much space you have. So now I'm reevaluating my stuff and yes, I will be donating many things. Now for my yarn, um, our real estate agent said that I need a 16' truck for my stuff. Somehow I can't get rid of it yet. The IKEA cubical that I had stored the yarn doesn't fit in my sewing room now. I'll have to work that one out. Thank you Dawn for your inspiration. It has moved me forward dealing with my stuff!
You have such a pretty smile. I have decluttered more this week than all year. Thank you! When we first started decluttering we played trash or treasure. Meaning junk or not. Then we added a donation box. So the game became trash, donation, or treasure. We did this 15 minutes daily.
Who gives these videos a thumbs down!! You need to go watch someone else’s video!! I love The Minimal Mom!! I talk about her passionately all the time. She changed my life! 💜
I always think that too!!!! If you don't like it, turn it off. Who watches something they don't enjoy just to leave a thumbs down or negative comment. They need to get a hobby. Like decluttering!!! Lol
Thank you for this! It helps to have a box labeled, "Move to another room," while decluttering. And a permanent spot near the door of each room for placing things that need to be taken out of the room to elsewhere.
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Wow I'm following you since you used to say you had kids aged 3 through 8 ☺️ a lot has changed, mainly so much clutter has left our house🥰
Thank you for sharing these tips. We have a large, finished attic that has become the dumping ground of our home. I’m going to make a game plan and take back that space this winter!
Great video, Dawn! You have taught me so many great concepts when it comes to decluttering! My husband and I refer back to them all the time. I think my favorite is "do I want to manage this?" and "would I buy this again?" Thanks for all you do! :)
I have watched this video before but I decided to watch it again because I have a room that I am trying to get where I can keep the door open. I have been organizing this room since I moved here in January. I have made strides but it’s not there yet. It’s a pantry and my sewing room and I want to put my tv in there to get it out of my bedroom. It also has my recliner in it. Ugh I want organization in there. I work on it on and off. When I get tired I stop for the day. I still have to much stuff for it to be organized well. I am still decluttering it since I moved.
I wish I had this video to help me 6 years ago when I had to clean out my Mother's house to renovate and sell to pay for their care. You make some points that others don't make which are the tools that helped me power through the big huge job that it was. Keep up the great work. I have subscribed and look forward to your new videos.
I was in the hospital for 11 days and watched the whole January decluttering video playlist. It’s all I could do to while in the hospital, the staff even learned a thing or two. Now that I’m home, I’ve been decluttering my kitchen drawer by drawer, cabinet by cabinet slow & steady along with help from my 3 kids. I love gifting things to friends and passing on donations to our buy/sell nothing group and to a charity that picks up. Thank you for sharing & I look forward to your content. I was hoping the decluttering class was open but it is not. When does it open again?
My decluttering block is actually having access to the space that needs decluttering. Our office space is being used for remote work and our garage is only tolerable for the early hours. Using Dana’s methods has been great because I can make the space better while only having limited time. It also leaves the space functional when I have to leave it.
I love the reminders that this isn't a one and done thing and that even you don't always put things away right away and find yourself back here! Thank you for the encouragement and sharing real life ❤️
Yes! I do the same with some lists in Evernote, my theory being that I can easily share it with my husband. Because I just know he’s dying to find out what’s in ‘Halloween Box 3’ 😅
I love the “is this worth my time and energy question”. It’s such a game changer having the right questions to ask yourself while pairing down and minimizing! I love your videos!!!!!! I also love bubbly lol
I just want to thank you for continuing to make your videos. I’ve been going through a difficult season, and my house has really gotten put on the back burner, and is now just adding even more stress to this hard time. It had been a while since I’d watched one of your videos, but this one just popped in my recommendations, and I’m glad I watched it. Sometimes, it’s helpful just to see things from a different perspective. It will probably take a while, but this definitely helped me feel a little more motivated to tackle the clutter in my house.
Ugh I'm so conflicted. I was doing great getting rid of everything we dont need here and now. The threat of hyperinflation has me second guessing everything and feeling like I NEED to stock up on foods and things we will need in the futue..hard to find a happy balance doing this
I started on my minimalism journey around 8-10 years back. One thing that really helped me was to use up the things I already have I used the stuff that I cherished and couldn’t part with. I stopped shopping a lot and now I have a minimal home and tons of cash .
I am a hoarder and kept a whole cupboard of 'memory boxes', full of stuff even things like old wrapping paper etc. I found your videos during lockdown last year and they were so inspiring. I have been decluttering my whole house slowly but I couldn't face this cupboard of memories, from my entire 32 years. Then disaster struck and there was a leak and the cupboard was damaged. I lost a lot of precious items. It was heartbreaking but also a harsh wake up that I am not treasuring my memories by throwing everything in boxes. I was forced to actually declutter what was left and very quickly I had two black bags full of complete rubbish. Now I am only keeping things that are true treasures and I am going to treat them in a way that they are treasured.
The memory is in our head .not in the thing..I get it..I take zillions of pictures..♡
I lost both my parents last year and had to clean out my childhood home. LOTS OF MEMORIES. I had to face the fact that the memory isn't in the stuff, it's in ME! It's helped me look at the items more logically than emotionally which has helped a lot.
@@virginiagrenier8572 I'm going trough a similar story, the difference: My Father is alive and moved to a Seniors Home. Now I'm in the Process of Decluttering the Entire house in which they live for 32 years, a lot of work for just me 🥵 but it's achievable. How do you declutter sentimental items that you know they no longer serve a purpose or can't be reused?
@@daianar6873 I enlisted the help of my children. They had no attachment to the items. I would have them go through boxes to be sure there wasn't any important papers and then had them toss them or donate. Out of sight/out of mind.
@@virginiagrenier8572 First of all, Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question and second, although I don't have any children's, I will apply your advice to myself and don't look at the items as something I should hold on to it, but just make Peace with it, let it go and understand that it needs to be done in Order for me to move on with my life. God Bless You and Your Love ones 😇🙏🏻.
I was a foster care provider for 20 years. I have a couple of points. 1. Move EVERYTHING out of your foster care bedroom. The child needs to feel like it's their room and they're not staying in a store room AND they won't leave your stuff alone. 2. Keep your overnight bag. The Foster child will need one and you can let it go easily with them. Not many foster kids come with stuff they need.
Another foster/adopt parent. Keep the overnight bag & spare backpacks. I kept bins of child clothes labeled by size so kids could “go shopping” in the bins and pick a few outfits they like. Stuffed animals or teddy bears to hug are also nice to have handy.
I liked how what you keep in the wardrobe can easily transfer out because food would be eaten/crumbs in the room, and less care to your items if left there.
Agree completely. Every foster kid that came into my home, brought their items in a trash bag. And every one of them left with their own backpack and/or overnight bag.
@@fiberterian every time I hear of a foster child carrying their stuff in a trash bag it just breaks my heart....is it really so hard for people to provide a nice backpack? Thank you for what you do😊👍
@@deboraballes9044 Oh I wish that were possible but if a kid came into the system with a nice backpack, then likely they wouldn’t need foster care.
@@fiberterian I guess I understand that, what I don't see is how any adult can see this and not provide a decent bag or backpack🤔
I repeat, thank you to all who work with these children and give them a safe haven and hope for the future❤
It's strange, but along the way I figured out that walking into a clean and decluttered space gave me a similar dopamine hit. Once I figured it out, I now look forward to getting spaces to that point....just as much as I used to look forward to buying things and opening those boxes. :-)
So right! Since I finished my front sitting room, I still get that rush and ahhhhhh moment every time I go there.
Same!!
Oh, wow ! I think you gave me great motivation right there ! Thank you ! 🥰
Yes!! Totally agree!!❤
Agree!
My number one tip for organizing/cleaning/decluttering: just do 1 thing. Starting is the hardest thing. I do 1 thing, then I do 1 more thing, and so on. I did this last night with our catch-all room and now it's gorgeous and uncluttered in a way it hasn't been in MONTHS. The other stuff helps, but not if you don't ever begin ❤
I do the same, but I say 3 things! the second two can be easy.
I was just commenting similarly - it’s so hard to get started - and then even areas I’ve done, I know I need to do again - it’s hard to be really ruthless the first go-round !
@@Melody-285 So true. I'm on my 3rd time round & I can't believe I still have so much stuff. I did take before & after pics, so I can see how much progress I've made, but I ask, why didn't I get rid of this before. Oh well I'm strengthening my declutter muscles. Each time it gets better.
@@lindapedersen-hylka7170 I like that - strengthening your declutter muscle” ! I’ve always thought kind of the same thing about creativity - that it’s like a muscle - the more you use it, the stronger it gets - hadn’t thought about that for a while but your comment reminded me - I’ll have to try to use both of those muscles more !
I hear you. I have such a problem starting things, worse after a brain injury. Now I just look at one surface and try to clear that. I have to start with small chunks.
Do I want to manage this inventory? - Has been a game changing question for me. Great video, Dawn! Storage is not free - it has to be managed. So true!!!
It's helped me explain my minimalism to my husband - he's a shopkeeper's son :)
I love the way she explains things, it makes us look at things differently & helps us make wiser decisions.
For me too! It's so simple yet I never thought about it myself. Now this is my key question when decluttering and it has helped me so much.
What makes me want to declutter? Do I want my husband to have to deal with this after I die? (Not that I'm dying, or that I'll die first, but it does the trick. Replace husband with children, or whoever...)
We rescued a puppy 11mos ago. He came w a crate he refused to enter. (He had been in a shelter 48 days) we decided to donate it. & Have our Living room back! 🙋💓
I will definitely be asking myself, “If this room were to flood, would I be disappointed in what I was keeping in this room?” Love it!
Read about one woman who found it hard to get rid of magazines, her coach had her put them in a cardboard box on the porch & it didn’t take long before they were destroyed & had to be thrown out.
Been through many floods - the less you have, the easier it is.
@@sunshine3914 I'm on the rock
I ask the same question. I use, Fire 🔥, instead of flood.
@@deadmanswife3625 like, addicted to crack cocaine?
@@gokblok lol no
When my mother was elderly and lived alone in a very small one bedroom apartment (which she loved keeping house in) I would ask her to make a list of groceries she needed for me to get for her. After each item she would put in parentheses (small). I would tell her that she would save money by buying the larger sizes and they would last longer, she would say that it was not saving money if she had to eventually throw them out when expired, dried out, moldy, rotten or rancid, or ended up not working like she thought they would. She also would say she didn’t have the space for large items or amounts in her little home. Smart Mama. I thought of her when you showed the large packages of camper supplies. Also I don’t know about others but I tend to be wasteful of food and supplies when I have lots of them. I’ve learned a lot from her and YOU! Thank you Dawn. Donna, Mike’s wife.
Just found a bunch of pens in a junk drawer and most don’t work although they were never used… I k dried out even with covering but have been there about 20 years. My husband buy stuff on sale and in quantity and when I went through food I found old cans of beans that were dated a few years ago as expired.
My motivation is that my husband will willingly watch the kids so I can clean, organize, and declutter. It’s an easy guilt free time alone plus it allows me to binge X Files while doing it!
I watched the entire X Files series years ago by only allowing myself to watch while on the treadmill. Great motivation!
I would love that so much. 😂 I could use some quiet cleaning without the kids.
Wow - that’s a win-win for everyone !
I feel like I could have written this 🤣
@@happypace9414 I do the same and it works!
"Keep the extras at the store and get it when I need it." - Brilliant thinking! I tend to store way too much and quickly become overwhelmed managing my inventory. I'm constantly shuffling items around. Thank you Dawn for this tip! I love your videos, they are so inspiring.
Yes, she is so smart.
A lot of times, though, it costs more later, especially if it's no longer on sale and it's a regularly used item (like bathroom tissue, dish detergent, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, creme rinse, sanitary products, etc.)
@@djondjon True. It's a balancing act between saving money and having too much stuff.
@@djondjon that's why you have a "storage" spot for extras, like the basement, or the garage or a closet. We keep an extra case of toilet paper in the garage by the washer & dryer.
That is absolutely a luxury! When you're poor & can't rely on having the money to get the item or finding a ride to the store when you need one, the idea of simply getting things when you need them isn't so simple! It's the same reason why minimalism, itself, is a luxury.
Not trying to knock you or your life, anything like that - just... chatting, I guess? I hope you understand! I think it's a great idea, if you're able to do it, and I hope it helped you! 🌻
Like Dawn, I keep some overflow pantry items in the basement too. If I have extra of something (cereal, canned goods, Gatorade, etc.) I take a small piece of masking tape and write “More Downstairs” and attach it to the item that is upstairs so I don’t forget I already have some. I even do this with items that have to be refrigerated after opening, like salad dressing. It has saved many unnecessary purchases and has been a game changer for me.
☑️P
Great idea with masking or painter’s tape
‘5 Minutes Matters’ is still at the top of my list but ‘The Silent To Do List’ is a close second. It always amazes me how clearing the thing that has been bothering me takes such a short time but I have put it off because it seemed so overwhelming. Thanks for sharing. 💝
The silent to do list is my absolute favorite! Dawn deserves an award for the enlightenment she brought forth with this concept.
Yes and AMEN!
I agree, "the silent to do list" was a real eye opener.
Silent to do list!! Yes!!! Life changing, right?!
Are they books?
A home you 'stock' vs a home you 'manage'. Right!
The worst room I had to start with the trash I could reach, then the donations I could reach. Eventually, I finished it.
Way to go! You should be very proud!
Woohoo! Literally every room in my 2900 sq ft home needs decluttered. So far I have done 2 hallway closets and the master bath medicine cabinet. So so much more to go. Considering I just started last week, though, I'm not too upset about it. Progress, not perfection. I plan to spend 2 or more hours daily working my way through the house. Clutter is making me feel crazy, anxious, out of sorts, frustrated..... In the kitchen, for instance, I miss seeing my counter tops. I know how hard this is so kudos to you and good luck on finishing... baby steps... we can win this war on clutter. 🙌
@@Karen_Busch follow Dana's visibility rule! The closets and cabinets will get done, but finding your counters will make you smile everyday.
@@eahuebner1 I will check her out. Thanks so much for the suggestion. Happy Thanksgiving! ❤
@@Karen_Busch Dawn partnered up with Dana K. White of A Slob Comes Clean and Cass from Clutterbug for the Take Your House Back course. It was the biggest game changer for me.
Thanks to your videos, when our sump pump quit and our basement flooded all we had to do was mop the floor! I had recently followed your decluttering advice and I’m so glad I did! 👍
YOU are the voice I needed. We're selling our house and I've been a life-long pack rat. (30 years in this house) So we must streamline, minimize and make the house look pristinely perfect. You've given me courage to get rid of the things I have been reluctant to let go of. You're the voice of reason and practicality. Your videos are so watchable. You don't go off track, like so many other videographers do. Unnecessary chit-chat bores me to tears. You are never boring. Each sentence has meaning. You steel my reserve, and make me feel strong enough to go against my innate hoarder nature to make my life cleaner, neater and clutter-free. Thank you so much for what you do!
@Jackie Schmidt Update: Clutter cleaning successful. Minimized all but essentials. The house sold quickly. We are now living (clutter-free) at our dream location near the beach in NC... albeit in a much much smaller house. It's all good, and our place is wonderful/small/amazingly perfect. You helped us get here. Thank you!
@@IdentityQuandry Congrats 🎉
I hear you. Been in my house 22+ years, it's overwhelming bc we want to move to SC (family) in a year. Like where to start! Happy for this video & your comment about moving states away & you did it!!
Garage sale time!!!
Dawn, add one tiny tray or bin to your drawer to store the oil in. If it leaks again it won’t spread the mess (and you might even salvage some of the oil if the bin is clean!)
If the oil is small enough, put the jar in a plastic prescription bottle.
Better. Store all oils in upright bins
@@minkademko2335 Excellent idea. Thank you.
I've been dealing with depression that I wasn't even aware of and really stuck on TH-cam videos having absolutely no idea that that feeds into dopamine. So now I just connected a few pieces to my puzzle. Thank you Dawn
I have had a few doctors tell me I suffer from depression and I thought they were nuts. But then a channel I was watching on decluttering said something about how our environment reflects our mood and mental health. 🤔 I was like woah. The clutter has taken over my home and I'm sick of it. I'm frustrated by it. At times I have thought how I wouldn't be mad if the house burned down... terrible, I know. 🤷♀️ Clutter is making me feel frustrated and anxious and like what is the point because even when I spend days cleaning my house, it never looks/feels clean due to all the junk!! So I'm taking the plunge... I already did 2 hallway closets and the medicine cabinet in the master bathroom. I plan to spend 2 or more hours DAILY until I have worked my way through every single room in my house. I'm doing the best I can do. Maybe I *REALLY WAS* depressed... but I sure don't feel that way and so *I AM READY TO MAKE A CHANGE.* Good luck to you Mozel! We can do this and we will... one cupboard, drawer, closet, and room at a time. 👍
Lately, the question “Do I want to inventory this item?” Has really helped me decluttering. I’ve realized life’s to short to keep track of so many things that rarely, if ever, serves me.
Dawn, could you please do a video like this for another space outside of the home... like the garage! My husband tries to "clean" the garage but he gets so overwhelmed. Having a little bit of Tom's POV would help also 😉
@@marglam6123 we tackled ours last weekend… my husband and I and our 3 teenagers were exhausted afterwards! It took all day and we were filthy 😩
My garage is horrible. 🥺😥😭 We have a walkway to the mudroom door. My mom helped me declutter it once and then we did it once as a family. We have lived here 6 years and it is totally out of control again. But first..... my house! So far I have decluttered and organized 2 hall closets and the master bath medicine cabinet. Oh so much more to go.
Hi from ct My husband and i just decluttered our entire home. We have five rooms a laundry room and one bath! WOO we are pooped lol. we sold what we could gave away anything wanted by family and friends then made more trips to the dump than i care to say!!! We can breath again! THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO . NOW WE NEED A VACATION!!! LOL
WOW! Way to go!!!!
Let's all go with Tom and Dawn to a camp site!! Hahahaha 🤣😂!!
@@debrahurtado5491 What?
Congratulations!
May I ask how long it took you? I’ve got a lot of decluttering to do.
The end thing cracked me up. I do not enjoy decluttering and minimizing but I woke up this morning telling myself that I needed to do this today. What was the first thing I did after getting my donation bags and trash bags? Started to watch videos on minimizing. 😂. I’ve learned that pairing the videos while I am cleaning and decluttering, I stay on a roll
Yes, I find that alternating between watching hoarding videos ("I don't ever want to get there, or anywhere close!") and watching decluttering videos is great motivation to declutter an area. Then repeat.
Was going to take a nap while the kids watched TV after lunch but your new video came out so instead I watched it, cleaned my kitchen and did the dishes. Thank you!
Way to go!!!
Thank you for walking us through Dana's slob comes clean method and for showing us your home and cupboards too! One of my friends said, "Target is like your storage unit. You just have to pay a small fee to take an item out when you need it." :)
I think most of us get overwhelmed with the overload of stuff for the rush of getting a "bargain" or fear that it won't Be there or available when you go back to pay your storage fee to purchase it.
Love all these tips ❤
Exactly
🤣
Hahah, what a great way to look at it!
I have a product, similar to the one that spilled in your drawer, and have done the exact same thing! I ended up putting a small container in the drawer, where the product goes. And at the bottom, I put a label that says "LID?" Ha!!!!
Great idea. 💡
@@eileenlester4342 And, I suppose, if I still put it in there, without the lid screwed on, it's easy to take that small dish out and wash it. :-)
Omg. I too spilled some pricey oil just a few days ago. Luckily on counter only. Now I make it a habit to move bottle against the wall out of my moving hands way until I can secure the lid.
Great video!!
💞
Dawn you are such a help to me.
Feeling overwhelmed by clutter.
I was watching this while unpacking from a long trip, and when you said “pair the chore with a dopamine hit” I was like GIRL, I AM THERE. 😂 Thanks for helping me unpack and put everything away!
SECOND COMMENT😍 it's so ironic that this is the topic that you are discussing today. I just left from my friend's house helping her declutter her overwhelming space. We did an hour and used a combo of yours, Dana's, and A Hoarder's Heart's methods.
I’m going to a friend’s house today to tackle her kitchen.
You can consider a room a container too! If it is overloading the room, it’s not being contained anymore.
Love all your inspiring ideas! I just have to add that it’s so sweet of you to say “I love you” at the end of your videos. I know you appreciate your viewers but it is really meaningful to hear positive, affirming words. Thanks, and I love you too🥰
I’m enjoying your older and new videos so very much! Your You Tube channel has changed my life bc even with the stressors of life coming at me, I’m still able to declutter more every week. I can’t wait till I get to goal! I found your channel when God knew I needed it. Thank you and Diana so much! ❤️
I had the same experience years ago when I discovered Dawn. It was a direct gift from God, an answer to prayer, and one that I even now think about and thank the Lord for regularly. Monumental.
Great recommendation about the dopamine rush - cleaning used to be my lowest priority until I started watching TH-cam videos while cleaning - now cleaning is a higher priority because I love watching TH-cam.
Nothing inspires me like a visit to my sister’s house! It’s not that it isn’t clean, it’s her kitchen and bathroom counters being so full of stuff! I just got back yesterday from a 3 day visit with her, and although my husband keeps things clean (actually cleaner than me!) while I’m away, the first thing I did when I got home was unpack and make sure everything was put back where it belongs. Then I made sure my kitchen was clean and counters cleared before going to bed.
I only allow myself to watch your videos if I am doing laundry! And so now I really love folding my laundry because I know I get to watch a TH-cam video! So that dopamine rush is working for me 😃
Love that!
Oh my gooooosshhh!! Dawn, this is what I needed!!! We are moving and I am DETERMINED to take no more than 30% of our items. I created a system where we only take the furniture then we live in our new house and pay attention to the items we need in order to take care of our basic needs (e.g. brush teeth, wash face, etc). It’s an awesome plan!
Noooowww, I’m left with everything else and it’s OVERWHELMING! This video is right...on...time!! God knows exactly what we need when we need!!! Bless your whole life Dawn!! Continue being Sprit-led. 😉
Your videos are reminding me of a line from Thoreau's book, "Walden."
When in his little cabin, he collected a rock and put it on his desk.
Then he realized he'd have to dust the rock, and around it, so he threw it out the window.
My fantasy world is appropriately SHATTERED by this wonderful video - we have been striving to simplify and have been able to kid ourselves because the junk room has a door we can close. Time to open that door and go in...
It’s my first time hearing the question “ Do I want to manage this item “? And I just think it’s BRILLIANT!!! Game changer. 🤯
Great examples with the face oil and the flood in the basement!
This is so timely. In the process of going through my Mom's home since her passing paired with moving out and going through our personal belongings has been so overwhelming. This gives such a positive way to think through the process and getting something accomplished every day. Emotions attached are making it difficult so to process it with the tips you provided will help for sure. Thank you
So sorry for your loss.
So very sorry for your loss. Prayers 🙏💜🙏
I'm so sorry about your Mom passing. I'm thinking about you. ❤️
So sorry for your loss - I lost my mom in 2017 & I miss her so much
I relate completely. Allmoms stuff is in my garage.the first year, I just cried. Now, in the second year, I've donated the easy stuff,but things she loved? Things that were precious to her? Well,that's a different story.
This is our basement. It's such a nightmare. We had a huge move and honestly I keep decluttering things and getting ticked off that we wasted space in the moving truck with things that I'm now getting rid of. I'm getting a lot of inspiration from your channel. My husband and I are committing 15 minutes per night after the kids are in bed to work on the basement!
Thank you for changing my life!
My overwhelming space was my entire 1500 sq ft house when I moved after 42 years. All the decluttering videos and my kids encouragement got me through it.
I have always dreaded laundry and dishes, the two jobs that seem never ending 😕 soooo, I started watching all my favorite organizing TH-camrs while I do them and now I actually look forward to it! It’s crazy how something so simple can completely change how you think and feel ❤️❤️❤️
Dawn you are so inspiring! I have been following your videos for a long time and I find myself applying more and more of your tips and tricks. However, it is so important to see that you also still have these spaces that turn into dumping grounds. Seeing how you deal with them is so motivating and it puts everything into a realistic perspective because it is constant maintenance (which I sometimes forget when I see all the pretty minimalist photos of spaces in the house). Thank you so much!
Yes! Dawn is honest, real, and humble: all part of her charm, yes? And why her videos are so helpful.
Exactly.
MY favourite thing for decluttering is staying in one room until it is finished. If you need to leave to feed family etc. Close the door and then make that your come back to point. Also make a spot in the corner of the room for trash donation and move stuff. I find if I leave the room then I get distracted with other things and do not get done what I wanted too. But I love your videos. They have inspired me to declutter my sewing and my pantry and my storage garage.
Of all the things that resonated with me Dawn has pointed out "silent to-do list" is on the top of the list. Thanks Dawn🌺🌼🌺
Yes, that has made a big impact, love the idea.
Thanks for the inspiration! Because of this video I just got over myself and decluttered my living room closet in just one hour. Found a ridiculous bunch of stuff I forgot about for years. A lot of donations, and also collected half a bag of trash.
I love this idea of inventory. I’ve been majorly decluttering my whole house and a day or two ago I was thinking how much freer my mind feels just KNOWING that even non visible places have been cleaned out. I was thinking it’s because I know more what I have, but I also think it’s just having less inventory weighing on my mind! Things like cards and such that have been moved IN BOXES in four moves since my marriage have been purged and it feels GREAT!
Funny that you would talk about pairing a video with a declutting activity because when I tell myself that I need to do some decluttering and I need motivation, I watch Dawn just a few minutes and it gets me going. I don't know what it is, your voice, your laugh or your energy but....it works every single time. Thank you Dawn.
Thank you so much for watching! Here are a few of the links that I mentioned in the video! Canvas clothes storage bags: amzn.to/3zjkGIe
Overnight Bag: amzn.to/3BkEuNj
Power of 5 Minutes Video: th-cam.com/video/fU329ksKxrE/w-d-xo.html
Decluttering Storage Spaces Playlist: cli.re/declutter-storage-spaces
.....I hope you have a great day!!! - Dawn
You showed us this random narrow closet, what do you store there, I can’t remember
Our garage/tv room is primarily my husband’s space. I only have two Christmas containers stored. It gives me major anxiety to walk in there when I do laundry. He doesn’t see what a mess it is.
We just got a new RV after having our old one for 7 years and it’s amazing all the stuff I pulled out of the old one that doesn’t need to go back into our new one! I feel you on the extra camper stash!
Who else is *in love* with Dawn?
♡
The dish soap Yes
@@deadmanswife3625 ?
@@FrogeniusW.G. Dawn dishwashing liquid is my favorite dishwashing liquid. I love Dawn
I like the idea of starting with the most loved/wanted things first. Then as the container fills, it causes me to donate or throw away or use the one in one out of the remaining items.
About to start on my 'junk room'. It took years for it to get this bad, (been having health problems) but I have plans for that room! I'm so glad I found so much motivation here. TFS
Ahhhh!!! The end of the video is BRILLIANT in talking about rewarding ourselves!! I just realized that I MIGHT actually FINALLY get my bedroom/sewing area unpacked and decluttered IF I tell myself that I can get new carpet in there once it's done. OhmyLord, I want new carpet in there SO BAD. So, duh! Use the one to get the other. Let's just hope my husband agrees to this amazingly brilliant plan!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
Do I want to inventory this... Thank you so much for including this question and explanation in your video. I have had a lot of difficulty through The years getting rid of stuff that I can use just in case, or when something else breaks, or if it's something I like but it's not my favorite. I have renewed decluttering hope more!
"Do I want to inventory this" for me is "Do I want to move this?" Like many of us I've had to move so many times. Even if I don't think I'm moving anytime soon, the memory is useful trauma! Always so much shock at the amount of inventory I possess. That question helps me clarify odds and ends really quickly!
The other one is "cleaning begets cleaning" haha. You're so right about that dopamine. Once I get started I know the dopamine will carry me through. When I find myself doing more than I planned and I just laugh, because cleaning begets cleaning!
I love the way you Dawn and Cas have joined forces. It's so great to see you three ladies cross-pollinating each other!
Dawn, you make so much sense! Decluttering is so hard for me but, I think of it like, “ Is this container worthy” that is so smart to think that way! Thank you!❤️
I found your videos yesterday and felt so inspired. Since yesterday I have managed to de clutter 11 black bags full of items from old boyfriends, cards and letters from people I no longer have in my life and items not worthy of recycling. I have 9 donation boxes ready for goodwill, that will be dropped off in the morning. I had 1 relapse and keep 4 glasses I never use, but wasn’t ready to part with. I’m on your 3rd video and looking forward to more. Thank you for the great content and motivation.
Leave the excess in the store! Genius, thanks Dawn x
The mindset changes with containers really helps
🎶I don't care who you are, where you're from, what you did, as long as you love me🎶 vibes 😅 Love ya and you are awesome 🤩Dawn 🤗 💕
Sssss
I love BSB.... Which is also part of my TH-cam name ;)
Great song!
Dawn. Thank you. You have changed my life. I feel so motivated. I completed the one month minimalist game in June and I loved it. May try it again next June. You and your family have been a true blessing to me. I’m 57 , far from minimalism, but feeling better every day!
That is so exciting, way to go! My mom is 65 and she has begun the journey as well! I started the minimalism game in May and didn't exactly follow it to a T, but it certainly had the intended effect! It makes one feel unstoppable! ☺
Keep up the great work!
❤ sometimes I get frustrated with myself if I have a space like this even after I've done huge amounts of decluttering. I know messes still happen, but I tend to be very hard on myself when a space becomes a dumping ground after I've already addressed it before. Thanks, Dawn. 😊
What I find hard also is that regular house cleaning never stops so decluttering has to be sandwiched in there with cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc., etc.
Do a little something everyday for five minutes.
My favorite decision making tip- Would I buy this again?
I printed out and put that phrase on my closet wall!
@@susanknox1102 I would buy it again if I was in the same frame of mind that I was in the first time I bought it
This is what I have been asking myself every time I go through stuff to get rid of, especially clothes!!! But the same thing with everything else and asking myself “Do I NEED this?” Does this outfit/shirt/skirt etc make me feel good about myself? Make me feel like I look really good? Do I love it and the way it fits? Is too small or too big or too young looking or too old looking for me? Mainly DO I NEED THIS or can I live without it? Can I replace it if I realize I shouldn’t have gotten rid of it? The answer is yes the majority of the time! I love your tips 💗
I like how you say that I don’t have to be a minimalist, do you, do what is comfortable for you and your family. I don’t like labels! I don’t want to be a minimalist. BUT..BUT I want my home to be organized, clean and welcoming to my family and guests. New subscriber, love your channel. Not ready for all of it but getting ready to get organized and get rid of stuff. 😂 here I go 🧡
I really like your guest room/foster care room. It's kid friendly with the little dots of color and happy looking stuffed animals, but not overwhelming. It is cheerful yet calm at the same time.
Wow, that was the perfect motivation I needed to get the donation bags out of our room and into the van. Thank you! 😊
I really like that you go to your basement during making the videos and that you look around what else you can take with you then.
I do this with my bedroom so often. It tends to become the storage room. I’ll tell myself, just get this surface/corner done and before I know itC I’ve got the whole room done. Just getting started is the hard part. Also I watch TH-cam while folding laundry. It helps to pair like you said.
My husband and I recently moved to a newer home an WOW, we found out that there isn't much storage space compared to our 1955 home. It's not until you get into a home that you realize how much space you have. So now I'm reevaluating my stuff and yes, I will be donating many things. Now for my yarn, um, our real estate agent said that I need a 16' truck for my stuff. Somehow I can't get rid of it yet. The IKEA cubical that I had stored the yarn doesn't fit in my sewing room now. I'll have to work that one out. Thank you Dawn for your inspiration. It has moved me forward dealing with my stuff!
Thank you for the extra motivation. I'm decluttering a terrible storage place. I needed a bit of extra encouraging. 💐
You have such a pretty smile. I have decluttered more this week than all year. Thank you! When we first started decluttering we played trash or treasure. Meaning junk or not. Then we added a donation box. So the game became trash, donation, or treasure. We did this 15 minutes daily.
Who gives these videos a thumbs down!! You need to go watch someone else’s video!! I love The Minimal Mom!! I talk about her passionately all the time. She changed my life! 💜
You're so kind-- thank you!!!!!
I always think that too!!!! If you don't like it, turn it off. Who watches something they don't enjoy just to leave a thumbs down or negative comment. They need to get a hobby. Like decluttering!!! Lol
I love this comment ❤. I too feel so great when I walk in a room that is calm and clean
Thank you for this!
It helps to have a box labeled, "Move to another room," while decluttering.
And a permanent spot near the door of each room for placing things that need to be taken out of the room to elsewhere.
Wow I'm following you since you used to say you had kids aged 3 through 8 ☺️ a lot has changed, mainly so much clutter has left our house🥰
I love the Daybed in the video!! Nice place for company. ❤❤❤
Thank you for sharing these tips. We have a large, finished attic that has become the dumping ground of our home. I’m going to make a game plan and take back that space this winter!
3x watching this…I’m getting it, slowly but surely 😂
Great video, Dawn! You have taught me so many great concepts when it comes to decluttering! My husband and I refer back to them all the time. I think my favorite is "do I want to manage this?" and "would I buy this again?" Thanks for all you do! :)
I have watched this video before but I decided to watch it again because I have a room that I am trying to get where I can keep the door open. I have been organizing this room since I moved here in January. I have made strides but it’s not there yet. It’s a pantry and my sewing room and I want to put my tv in there to get it out of my bedroom. It also has my recliner in it. Ugh I want organization in there. I work on it on and off. When I get tired I stop for the day. I still have to much stuff for it to be organized well. I am still decluttering it since I moved.
I use the 5 minute trick all the time!… now just trying to convince the rest of the family of its power ;)
I have found that if I go into it thinking it will only be 5 minute, I usually can manage to do 15 or 20 !
I wish I had this video to help me 6 years ago when I had to clean out my Mother's house to renovate and sell to pay for their care. You make some points that others don't make which are the tools that helped me power through the big huge job that it was. Keep up the great work. I have subscribed and look forward to your new videos.
How fitting that this comes out when I'm tackling my garage. 😀
I was in the hospital for 11 days and watched the whole January decluttering video playlist. It’s all I could do to while in the hospital, the staff even learned a thing or two. Now that I’m home, I’ve been decluttering my kitchen drawer by drawer, cabinet by cabinet slow & steady along with help from my 3 kids. I love gifting things to friends and passing on donations to our buy/sell nothing group and to a charity that picks up. Thank you for sharing & I look forward to your content. I was hoping the decluttering class was open but it is not. When does it open again?
My decluttering block is actually having access to the space that needs decluttering. Our office space is being used for remote work and our garage is only tolerable for the early hours. Using Dana’s methods has been great because I can make the space better while only having limited time. It also leaves the space functional when I have to leave it.
Every time I watch one of your videos, I declitter something 😁
I love the reminders that this isn't a one and done thing and that even you don't always put things away right away and find yourself back here! Thank you for the encouragement and sharing real life ❤️
THANKS! You were my Dopamine hit while I folded clothes and listened to you 💓
I find that I get motivation from thinking about how good it'll feel to be able to use the decluttered version of the space.
Wow!! Just one container of out-of-season clothes! You’re my 🦸♀️ heroine!!
When I had stuff stored I would keep a notebook somewhere handy that listed everything (written as it was stored) to refer to easily.
Yes! I do the same with some lists in Evernote, my theory being that I can easily share it with my husband. Because I just know he’s dying to find out what’s in ‘Halloween Box 3’ 😅
I love the “is this worth my time and energy question”. It’s such a game changer having the right questions to ask yourself while pairing down and minimizing!
I love your videos!!!!!! I also love bubbly lol
I just want to thank you for continuing to make your videos. I’ve been going through a difficult season, and my house has really gotten put on the back burner, and is now just adding even more stress to this hard time. It had been a while since I’d watched one of your videos, but this one just popped in my recommendations, and I’m glad I watched it. Sometimes, it’s helpful just to see things from a different perspective. It will probably take a while, but this definitely helped me feel a little more motivated to tackle the clutter in my house.
The big containers in the basement on shelves really help to keep the space organized 💗🙏
Ugh I'm so conflicted. I was doing great getting rid of everything we dont need here and now. The threat of hyperinflation has me second guessing everything and feeling like I NEED to stock up on foods and things we will need in the futue..hard to find a happy balance doing this
Keep storing food- don't second guess that. Just be sure no food is going to waste.
Donate what you do not like to food pantries.
@@VelvetWurm is it called “Home Food Storage” with a little brown house with a few icons inside it? A medical kit, water and some food?
@@peakay6729 Yes! That's the one.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
@@VelvetWurm I couldn't find the app (I have Android) but I found something similar. Such a great idea!
Thanks for the family intro! Nice to meet you all!
Your work is SO important and helpful, thank you!!
Thanks for all you do.
I started on my minimalism journey around 8-10 years back. One thing that really helped me was to use up the things I already have I used the stuff that I cherished and couldn’t part with. I stopped shopping a lot and now I have a minimal home and tons of cash .