This idea of having a playroom or kids' toys taking over the living room is fairly new. When I was growing up in the 60s-70s this was not the case. Kids' stuff was in their own rooms unless we were actively using something. I never went to a friend's house to see the living spaces full of toys.
@@shannontorrens1 I also found this to be true and I grew up in the seventies. I have noticed younger couples who have playrooms constantly talk about how it's a mess and they're stressed and they have to clean it all up or they say things like I hope no one sees the playroom. I would not want that looming about the house if it were me. Looking back at photos from our house, toys were not even in our bedroom either. They were outside or downstairs in the basement because that was where we played a lot. Our dad had his office down there too but he only used it in the evenings and by then we were already asleep upstairs. So I guess you could say the basement was our playroom?? My mom would not have one of the main living areas of the house messed up. I remember how she would always ask me to clean my stuff off of the dining room table because I was very crafty LOL
Our bedrooms are big enough for a bunk bed, dresser, and bookcase with no floor room and one single small closet, and two of our boys shared one room and the oldest had his own. We split our long living room in half. The one half was their playroom. Our decision wasn’t a child-centric decision. It was a decision made because there was no room in their bedroom for them to play with anything. I loved seeing all the creative things they did in their playtime. There were labeled bins for everything, and yes, they cleaned up at the end of the day. There are no basements in coastal Virginia.
Hi Joy, it really helps me to have more relaxed schedules because while I like to stay organized I find really strict schedules really stress me out LOL.
Once I did my main declutter, I put it in my brain to keep at it daily, when I notice something, one thing a day adds up to over 300 items a year. Then it isn’t so hard on the brain to get rid of a lot of stuff all at once. This thinking keeps me focused and on top of it. Trying to cook once, to eat twice, cheaper on gas/electricity as well.
I think your house is really beautiful. It’s a perfect combination of minimal and comfy. Being that you have kids it’s important to have both elements. Thank you for sharing.
I need these videos. I'm going through this change where I want to start organizing and decluttering. Use what you have. I needed to hear that. I always want to buy new and throw out the old but that feels ungrateful.
Decluttering to your video I’m your moms age your videos really resonate we are very hands on grandparents too and are needy to watch accumulation of kid stuff at our place again 🇨🇦❤️
Oh my gosh, I have that same IKEA bed for my daughter and I’ve often said to my husband that if we ever move house, we will have to sell the house with that bed in it, as there is no way I want to go through disassembling it and trying to get it out of her bedroom! My worst nightmare. :)
Great video ! Your so good at organizing and your house is so clean! Just to add when I was a single working mom I did not partake in a lot of holiday fuss or spending at Xmas. I did not have the time. My son didn't get or do a lot of things the other kids did either. We did all free things at kept it simple. I got a lot of flack from friends, co-workers and family about the way we lived. Families come in all different sizes and finances. Do what works for you and don't cave into social pressure. If you can't buy gifts for people for instance. My son is an electrical engineer with a family of his own and he turned out great. To add he is great with budgeting funds and not over spending. Stop with peer pressure and do what works for you and your unique family.
I'm a single mom to a 3 year old and always feel guilt that I don't take her out all the time like other families do, but it can be expensive and overwhelming for us. Your post makes me feel less guilty about her "missing out"
Shannon, re-evaluating what works & what doesn't; such a great reminder to us all!🥰I'm hosting Thanksgiving; having all the "party stuff" out of the way in one area helps so much!🦃 Thanks again for all of your wisdom!🙌🏼
Absolutely LOVE your home....the colours are so restful yet cheerful. The kitchen is adorable and I will not only use some of these tips but also may copy some of your decor design style! Looks like you live near a beach...jealous 😊
Thanks for this video. A really good reminder as to why we work so hard in our homes and what we are working towards. Thanks for your hard work, efforts and time you put into your content ❤
Great video Shannon!! So practical! You are following your individual path. Good for you! It’s evident you have given this a great deal of thought. You expressed so well. 😘
Reusing stuff allows you to be creative with what you already have. It’s all about the journey not about the destination big ticket item you don’t need or nicknacks that clutter your house.
I actually normally capture the water in a bin when I am doing dishes to throw out in the plants in the back yard. We live where there is a drought so I don't waste water. Some of these clips were from years ago so I might not have shown that in this video. =)
Which is probably fine as there's less stuff to worry about! Some people just don't get it,the consumption and buying everything in sight is still something my friends do..were total opposites!
Thanks for this video ; very interesting ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I have also a minimalist home less decorating; clothes, shoes ………. Just the most important thing 👌👌👌
Hi Lisa, I do have a few older videos on decluttering the kid stuff. Our kids room is the least minimal area in our home but that's because they share a room and everything is in there lol.
Good video. Lots of useful information. Appreciate hearing your thought process as you declutter various items. Only one question: It looks like you have some of your kids books and games on a high shelf where they can't reach them on their own? Am I misinterpreting that?
That is just where we store the books that are not in their reading level and the games being up there, that is the only place to store them and I would prefer they just ask us for a game when they want one. This ensures that we have put away everything else before pulling out more.
thank you for this, very helpful! My main problem, still a big prob, is i can't seem to get on top of laundry and keeping them out of sight ( without a wash room, how do you manage the time to ensure all clothes are out of sight and neatly put away)
I don't have a laundry room either. Our washer and dryer are in our garage LOL, makes it so hard because there is no where to put the laundry. I guess the good thing is it forces me to do the laundry all at one time. So as soon as I take it out of the dryer I fold and put it away. I only start loads when I know I will have the time to do it till it's complete. Once in a while it will sit in the basket for a while, but by the end of the day I always make sure it's put away because I can't stand looking at it.
Real-life question here: what do you do to occupy your boys (especially the baby) during meal clean-up? I can't seem to manage those kinds of tasks until my 3 yo and 10 mo old are asleep.
The truth is those ages combined together are really hard! My boys now are a lot older 8 and 6 and they can entertain themselves with playing in their room. So I can tell you it does get easier with time =) I have a 9 month old right now and we have a gated area where I put all his toys and let him play when I have to get something done, but again I have the 2 older boys who can distract him and help him if he needs something. When my 2 oldest boys were around 3 years old I put them into a preschool that was about 1 hour a day and that gave me a little time too, but I know how hard it can be to get anything done. =)
@@shannontorrens1 thanks so much! That's reassuring! Sometimes it feels like everyone else can get stuff done and I'm over here trying to keep my kids alive 🤪
Im trying to save on food buying, but my husband wint, still trying to talk him into that.I would like to only spend onl 60 for starters, we spend like 150,00 now. Granny
Loved your entire video! I need to STICK to adopting all THIS. It's true that everything you mentioned,...will make our lives easier! I'm a believer....I just need to adopt it! 🥹😖
Nope, that is just what this video is about. These are all simple habits that I do naturally during my day. Finish a project put it away that sort of thing. I actually feel like I never clean lol. I work a full time job and I have 3 kids so I am definitely not spending my whole day cleaning.
Completely agree with you 😊the best things in life aren’t things… and less is more ☺️ I always try to apply the : one IN , two OUT … with donations especially , or recycling , to be enviroment frendly 🌏🌎🌍🍀🌳🌿🍁🪸
Yes I think the clothes ones is often confusing for other people as I always buy quite expensive clothes. The last time I bought clothes was about 10 years ago and everything matches. Most people think I am rich but I probably spend way less than other people as I do not have to buy multiple items to match, or in the rat race of fast fashion.
I'm working on a minimalist lifestyle. I donate stuff every week. We have a lot less in this house than we did 6 months ago. People don't insult me for decluttering. They just nod and smile or say I do that, too. My house takes very little time to clean anymore. Anything we have has a home. If it doesn't, out it goes.
Re-evaluating is the best thing. I used to try for the "one load a day" and it killed me if I missed a day or two. I felt defeated and made me not want to catch up a few days later and then "one load a day" became "two loads a day" and it was just too much for my free hours as well as my mindset. I decided the best for me is "once a week". Sure, I will be doing it for hours, but at the end of the day, I have 6 "laundry free" days and all the things are clean, fresh and put away in it's proper places. It makes my life less stressed and simple.
I’m currently making maybe my 5th pass or so through my house since 2020 and I am FINALLY starting to notice a huge change. Clearing my kitchen counters as much as possible helped me so much mentally with dishes, my kids rooms are finally more under control (legos are the enemy!) and my living room is now always clean (besides the few kid toys that wander over which we clean up) it’s amazing and so motivating for me to keep going. I still have a little more to go but I’m better with gradual change :)
The main reason I like minimalism its because its easier to clean. Not because its always clean, but when I need to tidy some things up, it takes less time.
Yes I feel the same way especially now that we have been doing this for over 5 years. My home is not always clean, but often it looks very tidy because we don't have a ton of stuff everywhere. =) I hope you have a nice day!
This is hands down the best video ever-- packed full of content that will help so so many! I practice so many of these things, but it took over the last 4 years for me to come full circle and realize the benefit of them. For those watching, please believe that all of these things that Shannon speaks about work together for such good! When I first started minimalism I thought that it meant I needed to have what the fly lady called a Control Journal which was basically a book that told you what to do on every day, how to do it, and when to do it.. then I realized that I liked to just clean as I went and I didn't really need a list that told me to clean the ceiling fan blades or the baseboards or to wipe down the walls Etc I realized that I already did those things. It began to stress me out to stick to a rigid schedule of doing things on certain days because then I would beat myself up if I missed the Monday weekly home blessing which meant to spend a whole hour cleaning everything in your house. Finally I decluttered the Control Journal and realized the house looked just as good. I clean as you do-- as needed-- and as I go throughout the day without obsessing over every little thing. This might be a good system for some people but it just really began to wear on me. I started to think that minimalism meant having a house that was clean all of the time at the right times instead of a house that was just minimal-- making it easier to clean because it lacked the Clutter. I appreciate seeing that you have also found this to be true!
HI Julia, thank you for sharing that! I too thought the same thing about minimalism being connected to having a "perfect" or "clean all the time" home. I realized I was also making myself nuts trying to keep everything clean and perfect. At the beginning of my minimalist journey I would run around obsessively picking up all day. Then as I continued to simplify everything I started to realize minimalism was about having less and making life more enjoyable not being perfect. And that is when I truly felt the benefits of being more minimal and clutter free. =) I hope you have a nice day!!
Oh noooo. Yesterday I just brought out 2 big bins of kids toys out of my 15yo closet into the living room because he was the one who ended up cleaning up after them when he cleaned his room. One 1⃣ hand I made him very happy and he has less cleaning to do, but now the toys are in my living room and will be more of a mess
You are teaching your boy's valuable lessons from a young age. They are enjoying life, without the burden of having too much to manage. All they really need is a happy and calm enviroment and happy parents. Too much stuff IS stressful and takes up way too much energy. Well done Shannon. You have the right priorities. Time to enjoy family before anything else. 🙂
I'm still decluttering and storing like with like is a great tip. I went around and gathered all the tape. I found several years of duct tape, packing tape, and tape, tape, tape!
I am having my kids sort through their toys, games, clothes and accessories in their rooms before they give us their Christmas gift ideas.I don't want to bring in more when they need to declutter things they don't use or need anymore. Great ideas Shannon!
I’m finding that my kids are getting better at letting go of things they don’t play with each time we make a pass through their room! It’s like strengthening their little decluttering muscles :)
Great content Shannon. I like so many of your tips and reminders. I just reorganized our small kitchen. I did the same as you and put the stuff that we don’t use daily in the back. I am also working on appreciating the small, mundane daily task. ❤
Great tips, and I love your plants. I'm starting my minimalist journey by teaching myself the habit of not bringing more stuff into the house, and I liked your one in-one out rule. I'm trying to solve household organization problems without spending more money, as I used to do. And I am trying to get rid of one garbage bag of stuff per week. As a result, I am enjoying my space more and really asking myself what would make it more enjoyable. In that vein I purchased my first house plant, a Golden Pothos, which I'm told are easy to care for. I love it, and seeing all your plants inspires me to gradually make my home more inviting in a way that's sustainable and feels positive.
Shannon, Great video. We decluttered our kitchen earlier this yr & it has been so nice not having so much stuff. I'm like you & do laundry all in one day. That way I know everything is clean & put away & don't have to worry about for another wk. BTW...love your curly hair in the last clip.
Tremendous, Shannon ! Your Home looks so happy and peaceful ! And you all look great. WELL DONE ! Great ideas here. And I agree with them all. You should be proud. Thanks for setting such an inspiring example. You truly are an inspiration. A special hello to MOM ! Big blessings to you all. Liz in Buffalo
It’s so funny how people in this country need to be shown or teach about something that should be normal and daily routine. For example clean table after meals and take care of dishes. If you consider yourself a really clean person, your kitchen should be implacable every single day. And having kids or big family is not an excuse.
I know it’s not possible with kids, but now that it’s just my husband and me, and we are retired, we eat two meals a day…breakfast and a late lunch/early dinner with snacks in between. That has saved me all kinds of time and effort.
I would love to do that! But you are right with kids its hard. Sometimes I like to skip dinner (just for myself), I will just eat a late breakfast and late lunch.
When I buy an item of clothing, I donate an item of clothing. Always. So if I find something I want to buy, I have to think about what I will donate. If I love everything in my wardrobe, then I don’t buy.
These tips are all excellent. I like the way you think, especially about mentally making mundane tasks into tasks that beautify your home and honor your possessions so you feel more fulfilled when you do them. Speaking of possessions, I have admired your folk-style living room rug for a long time. The one with the designs and figures on it. Can you tell me where you got it?
Hi S hannon thank you for another great video you have turned your house into a beautiful home especially your kitchen i love it we all see the big white kitchens with the huge islands no yours is so nice and welcoming and what you say makes so mutch sense thanks.
Are you local to the central coast? I got excited seeing some of the locations. It’s nice to know people nearby interested in minimalism. Encouraging for my area if you are. 😊
This was such a great video!! We just got rid of an extra dresser, we also love that it's gone right away. Outside we minimized by cutting all shrubs that were extra work since we are headed towards our 60s😅 . You always create great content🥰
A fantastic video, thank you so much. I love all your tips for both decluttering and lifestyle. I am a naturally tidy and organised person but I find it hard in my season of life to keep our home as I need it. I homeschool our teenage sons and life is busy but I do find the more I declutter the easier it is to clean. I need to batch work more as I have been a bit stressed lately and too busy. I think I will watch this video again and write down tips. Have a great weekend Shannon. 🌷🌸
I am with you on doing laundry on one day a week. I have done that for years and I think it is so much easier. I am watching this as I fold our clothes this evening.
😊 the same, more i decluttered, more i care what i bring in now, buy as the process of decluttering was intense, to sale, as i preferred to be sure not to be too much wasteful at first.. then donating etc.. and i have been judge too at first as it seems to be weird not to wish too much and let go furnitures etc, but i feel so much calmer better now. and felt judge to be too organised..! but i just feel more natural to put stuff back in their place as now things are more clear by category as i have been checking all by categories since years, now i arrive to a point, i feel clarity with what i love using in real (exit the fantasy self..;) i feel the flow of the house more serene now :) it helps me to recover from a professional burnt out even, as i decluttered, i felt clearer in what i feel to care now, what i love.. etc.. it seems not so real the impact of this process for some, but sincerely, i felt the huge difference in my mindset mood and even perception about life :) more serene in all :) i wish it for everyone and i understand why so many share about it, as you wish the same for others for sure :) sharing the advices, thank you :) your channel has been part and keep a channel that help me in the journey, lot of love and gratitude to you and lovely family :) 🙏😊😘✨🐞🌺
O-R-G-A-N-I-Z-I-N-G is My Thing . . . . Really ENJOY It , b-u-t, when it Come's to the Book's, it's just Really Hard to Part with Them. Do You Have Any Suggestion's ? I Do Not want to Donate Them. 🤔 I am Not On Facebook.
Wow! but really one of the things I have to be mindful of is to NOT let my inbox get cluttered up with too many things that I never seem to get to so no bueno for your news letter but thanks so much for the offer. ( That's how you say to do it-- refuse some things that are offered if you really do not need them. Have a great day
Yes for sure! Also its good to unsubscribe to newsletters you don't want because all of those people pay a service for how many subscribers they have so it does everyone a favor to unsubscribe or don't sign up.
So much good content! I absolutely LOVE it… but would not mind it at all if you set smaller limits on your video content. It would be great to see a video about, for instance, laundry - how you started out doing it and how you gradually refined your laundry process into something that is time-, energy-, and cost-efficient, giving you and your family x, y, and z benefits. Less work for you…quality content for us.
I taught our 3 kid kids to do their own laundry from age 13 & assigned them each their own laundry day , weekend laundry days were for Mom only and this worked great for our family of 5. 🌞
I absolutely love that around 1:33 you put a blanket on the couch and baby immediately tosses the blanket to the floor. So real life.
I giggled about that as well😂❤.
Same 😂
This idea of having a playroom or kids' toys taking over the living room is fairly new. When I was growing up in the 60s-70s this was not the case. Kids' stuff was in their own rooms unless we were actively using something. I never went to a friend's house to see the living spaces full of toys.
Yes I completely agree! When I grew up 80's NO ONE had toys in the living room and the only people who had play rooms were really rich kids LOL.
InNZ our toys were everywhere. The bug blocks never fit in our shared kid’s bedroom. Plus our parents could keep an eye on us. 70’s baby here. 🏠⛱
@@shannontorrens1 I also found this to be true and I grew up in the seventies. I have noticed younger couples who have playrooms constantly talk about how it's a mess and they're stressed and they have to clean it all up or they say things like I hope no one sees the playroom. I would not want that looming about the house if it were me. Looking back at photos from our house, toys were not even in our bedroom either. They were outside or downstairs in the basement because that was where we played a lot. Our dad had his office down there too but he only used it in the evenings and by then we were already asleep upstairs. So I guess you could say the basement was our playroom?? My mom would not have one of the main living areas of the house messed up. I remember how she would always ask me to clean my stuff off of the dining room table because I was very crafty LOL
Our bedrooms are big enough for a bunk bed, dresser, and bookcase with no floor room and one single small closet, and two of our boys shared one room and the oldest had his own. We split our long living room in half. The one half was their playroom. Our decision wasn’t a child-centric decision. It was a decision made because there was no room in their bedroom for them to play with anything. I loved seeing all the creative things they did in their playtime. There were labeled bins for everything, and yes, they cleaned up at the end of the day. There are no basements in coastal Virginia.
The only toys allowed in the main living area was the legos on a designated lego table tucked into an otherwise unused corner.
Your home is lovely! It doesn’t feel empty or bare, but rather seems to reflect your personality and look very comfortable.
Oh thank you!
I really like how you give yourself and others permission to have a relaxed cleaning schedule rather than something so structured.
Hi Joy, it really helps me to have more relaxed schedules because while I like to stay organized I find really strict schedules really stress me out LOL.
I totally agree with saying NO to hand-downs! No, thank you - the best answer for me.
Once I did my main declutter, I put it in my brain to keep at it daily, when I notice something, one thing a day adds up to over 300 items a year. Then it isn’t so hard on the brain to get rid of a lot of stuff all at once. This thinking keeps me focused and on top of it. Trying to cook once, to eat twice, cheaper on gas/electricity as well.
What great content Shannon- I love to cook once, eat twice , and eat simpler meals. Less cleanup.
I think your house is really beautiful. It’s a perfect combination of minimal and comfy. Being that you have kids it’s important to have both elements. Thank you for sharing.
Yes, ive been doing limit, it helps a lot
I need these videos. I'm going through this change where I want to start organizing and decluttering. Use what you have. I needed to hear that. I always want to buy new and throw out the old but that feels ungrateful.
Decluttering to your video I’m your moms age your videos really resonate we are very hands on grandparents too and are needy to watch accumulation of kid stuff at our place again 🇨🇦❤️
Oh my gosh, I have that same IKEA bed for my daughter and I’ve often said to my husband that if we ever move house, we will have to sell the house with that bed in it, as there is no way I want to go through disassembling it and trying to get it out of her bedroom! My worst nightmare. :)
That bed is so pretty, but I agree moving that bed is a true nightmare LOL
Great video ! Your so good at organizing and your house is so clean! Just to add when I was a single working mom I did not partake in a lot of holiday fuss or spending at Xmas. I did not have the time. My son didn't get or do a lot of things the other kids did either. We did all free things at kept it simple. I got a lot of flack from friends, co-workers and family about the way we lived. Families come in all different sizes and finances. Do what works for you and don't cave into social pressure. If you can't buy gifts for people for instance. My son is an electrical engineer with a family of his own and he turned out great. To add he is great with budgeting funds and not over spending. Stop with peer pressure and do what works for you and your unique family.
Yes I agree with this so much! I hope you are doing well.
I'm a single mom to a 3 year old and always feel guilt that I don't take her out all the time like other families do, but it can be expensive and overwhelming for us. Your post makes me feel less guilty about her "missing out"
@@teresamunoz91 I'm so glad my post. helped to ease your mind. 😊
Shannon, re-evaluating what works & what doesn't; such a great reminder to us all!🥰I'm hosting Thanksgiving; having all the "party stuff" out of the way in one area helps so much!🦃 Thanks again for all of your wisdom!🙌🏼
Quality over quantity
Love that !
Your home is GORGEOUS!
Absolutely LOVE your home....the colours are so restful yet cheerful. The kitchen is adorable and I will not only use some of these tips but also may copy some of your decor design style! Looks like you live near a beach...jealous 😊
So many helpful tips for a simplified, calm life! Thank you, Shannon!
Very calm voice and well put together video.Great job!!!
Thank you so much 😀
Thank you so much every thing you said it make so much sense really good tips
Glad it was helpful!
That was a ton of content without commercials! Very useful. Thanks!😁
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for this video. A really good reminder as to why we work so hard in our homes and what we are working towards. Thanks for your hard work, efforts and time you put into your content ❤
Thank you Sara! I hope you have a nice weekend.
Thank you sis❤
Great video Shannon!! So practical! You are following your individual path. Good for you! It’s evident you have given this a great deal of thought. You expressed so well. 😘
Thank you so much Beth! I hope you have a nice weekend.
Excellent video. I'm very inspired by this. Thanks.
I clicked on the video expecting to hear the same advice I’ve heard before, but I must say you gave really good and achievable ideas!
I appreciate that! I hope you have a nice day.
Fantastic -- thank you so much! What you're talking about really, is improving quality of life! Nice one! 🙂
I usually clean the kids room when there in school so they won't see am getting rid of some of there stuff
Reusing stuff allows you to be creative with what you already have. It’s all about the journey not about the destination big ticket item you don’t need or nicknacks that clutter your house.
I’m very happy now that my house is minimal
Great tips but minus 14:43 for water waste. It is better to wash in bowl and than just rinse the dishes.
The rest was very practical 😉 great 👍
I actually normally capture the water in a bin when I am doing dishes to throw out in the plants in the back yard. We live where there is a drought so I don't waste water. Some of these clips were from years ago so I might not have shown that in this video. =)
Great tips…I Love your hair …❤❣️😍
When I started getting rid of excess stuff, some of my friends were asking me about my “mental health” 😮😳😅
Which is probably fine as there's less stuff to worry about! Some people just don't get it,the consumption and buying everything in sight is still something my friends do..were total opposites!
Beautiful clean home ❤️
Thank you 😊
I made my deodorant, works great!.In closet i only have less then half closet, blouses and like 4 pants and shorts.
Loved this,new subscriber x
Yes the handed down stuff!
Great tips Shannon! 💕
Very helpful video-thanks! 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Your home is beautiful!
Thank you so much!
That's my problem ...taking things that I don't even want or need from people!
You have the best tips 😊
Oh thank you!
BEST SCENE: 1:31 hahahaha
Thanks for this video ; very interesting ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I have also a minimalist home less decorating; clothes, shoes ………. Just the most important thing 👌👌👌
Great video and full of awesome tips. Had to ask, is that Jekyll Island in your video?
do you have a video on your kids room? I need the most help here. he is very sentimental and wants to keep everything
Hi Lisa, I do have a few older videos on decluttering the kid stuff. Our kids room is the least minimal area in our home but that's because they share a room and everything is in there lol.
Love the turquoises and blues of the painting (seascape?) behind your head💕 Is it one of your creations?
That is something my husband painted he is also an artist (as a hobby). =)
@@shannontorrens1 So cool to hear you all are artistic!
Good video. Lots of useful information. Appreciate hearing your thought process as you declutter various items. Only one question: It looks like you have some of your kids books and games on a high shelf where they can't reach them on their own? Am I misinterpreting that?
That is just where we store the books that are not in their reading level and the games being up there, that is the only place to store them and I would prefer they just ask us for a game when they want one. This ensures that we have put away everything else before pulling out more.
thank you for this, very helpful! My main problem, still a big prob, is i can't seem to get on top of laundry and keeping them out of sight ( without a wash room, how do you manage the time to ensure all clothes are out of sight and neatly put away)
I don't have a laundry room either. Our washer and dryer are in our garage LOL, makes it so hard because there is no where to put the laundry. I guess the good thing is it forces me to do the laundry all at one time. So as soon as I take it out of the dryer I fold and put it away. I only start loads when I know I will have the time to do it till it's complete. Once in a while it will sit in the basket for a while, but by the end of the day I always make sure it's put away because I can't stand looking at it.
@@shannontorrens1 Thanks Shannon. I guess it comes down to being determined to get it done.
Whats the best way to organize, when u have stairs? I forget i left sonething upstairs .want easy ways with this send ideas ya all ty much.
Real-life question here: what do you do to occupy your boys (especially the baby) during meal clean-up? I can't seem to manage those kinds of tasks until my 3 yo and 10 mo old are asleep.
The truth is those ages combined together are really hard! My boys now are a lot older 8 and 6 and they can entertain themselves with playing in their room. So I can tell you it does get easier with time =) I have a 9 month old right now and we have a gated area where I put all his toys and let him play when I have to get something done, but again I have the 2 older boys who can distract him and help him if he needs something. When my 2 oldest boys were around 3 years old I put them into a preschool that was about 1 hour a day and that gave me a little time too, but I know how hard it can be to get anything done. =)
@@shannontorrens1 thanks so much! That's reassuring! Sometimes it feels like everyone else can get stuff done and I'm over here trying to keep my kids alive 🤪
I want to have only 7 items of clothing on each. Like 7 blouses, pants and shorts not there but close.
I love your nightstands! Where are they from pls?
I actually bought those secondhand so I am not sure where they are originally from. =)
Im trying to save on food buying, but my husband wint, still trying to talk him into that.I would like to only spend onl 60 for starters, we spend like 150,00 now. Granny
Loved your entire video! I need to STICK to adopting all THIS. It's true that everything you mentioned,...will make our lives easier! I'm a believer....I just need to adopt it! 🥹😖
I recently started watercolor painting, so I love seeing your artwork!
Thank you so much 😀
Hi, my own habits I didn't adopt from any where
Hi there. What brand is your vacuum?
Hello, it's a dyson. Here is the link to my Amazon store with more information: www.amazon.com/shop/shannontorrens
❤
1:31 omg lol! no matter how hard a mother tries, there's always someone immediately undoing her work
Oh yeah! I can clean and by the end of the day our home looks like a mess again LOL
Love seeing your mam ❤
But what to do when the partner does not want to part with any board games or clothes and just adhd-hoards everything ...
It sounds like you spend all your spare time tidying. That sounds exhausting.
Nope, that is just what this video is about. These are all simple habits that I do naturally during my day. Finish a project put it away that sort of thing. I actually feel like I never clean lol. I work a full time job and I have 3 kids so I am definitely not spending my whole day cleaning.
Completely agree with you 😊the best things in life aren’t things… and less is more ☺️ I always try to apply the : one IN , two OUT … with donations especially , or recycling , to be enviroment frendly 🌏🌎🌍🍀🌳🌿🍁🪸
Thanks for sharing!!
Yes I think the clothes ones is often confusing for other people as I always buy quite expensive clothes. The last time I bought clothes was about 10 years ago and everything matches. Most people think I am rich but I probably spend way less than other people as I do not have to buy multiple items to match, or in the rat race of fast fashion.
I'm working on a minimalist lifestyle. I donate stuff every week. We have a lot less in this house than we did 6 months ago. People don't insult me for decluttering. They just nod and smile or say I do that, too. My house takes very little time to clean anymore. Anything we have has a home. If it doesn't, out it goes.
Same❣️
Re-evaluating is the best thing. I used to try for the "one load a day" and it killed me if I missed a day or two. I felt defeated and made me not want to catch up a few days later and then "one load a day" became "two loads a day" and it was just too much for my free hours as well as my mindset. I decided the best for me is "once a week". Sure, I will be doing it for hours, but at the end of the day, I have 6 "laundry free" days and all the things are clean, fresh and put away in it's proper places. It makes my life less stressed and simple.
I’m currently making maybe my 5th pass or so through my house since 2020 and I am FINALLY starting to notice a huge change. Clearing my kitchen counters as much as possible helped me so much mentally with dishes, my kids rooms are finally more under control (legos are the enemy!) and my living room is now always clean (besides the few kid toys that wander over which we clean up) it’s amazing and so motivating for me to keep going. I still have a little more to go but I’m better with gradual change :)
The main reason I like minimalism its because its easier to clean. Not because its always clean, but when I need to tidy some things up, it takes less time.
Yes I feel the same way especially now that we have been doing this for over 5 years. My home is not always clean, but often it looks very tidy because we don't have a ton of stuff everywhere. =) I hope you have a nice day!
This is hands down the best video ever-- packed full of content that will help so so many! I practice so many of these things, but it took over the last 4 years for me to come full circle and realize the benefit of them. For those watching, please believe that all of these things that Shannon speaks about work together for such good! When I first started minimalism I thought that it meant I needed to have what the fly lady called a Control Journal which was basically a book that told you what to do on every day, how to do it, and when to do it.. then I realized that I liked to just clean as I went and I didn't really need a list that told me to clean the ceiling fan blades or the baseboards or to wipe down the walls Etc I realized that I already did those things. It began to stress me out to stick to a rigid schedule of doing things on certain days because then I would beat myself up if I missed the Monday weekly home blessing which meant to spend a whole hour cleaning everything in your house. Finally I decluttered the Control Journal and realized the house looked just as good. I clean as you do-- as needed-- and as I go throughout the day without obsessing over every little thing. This might be a good system for some people but it just really began to wear on me. I started to think that minimalism meant having a house that was clean all of the time at the right times instead of a house that was just minimal-- making it easier to clean because it lacked the Clutter. I appreciate seeing that you have also found this to be true!
HI Julia, thank you for sharing that! I too thought the same thing about minimalism being connected to having a "perfect" or "clean all the time" home. I realized I was also making myself nuts trying to keep everything clean and perfect. At the beginning of my minimalist journey I would run around obsessively picking up all day. Then as I continued to simplify everything I started to realize minimalism was about having less and making life more enjoyable not being perfect. And that is when I truly felt the benefits of being more minimal and clutter free. =) I hope you have a nice day!!
Oh noooo. Yesterday I just brought out 2 big bins of kids toys out of my 15yo closet into the living room because he was the one who ended up cleaning up after them when he cleaned his room. One 1⃣ hand I made him very happy and he has less cleaning to do, but now the toys are in my living room and will be more of a mess
You are teaching your boy's valuable lessons from a young age.
They are enjoying life, without the burden of having too much to manage.
All they really need is a happy and calm enviroment and happy parents.
Too much stuff IS stressful and takes up way too much energy.
Well done Shannon. You have the right priorities. Time to enjoy family before anything else. 🙂
I'm still decluttering and storing like with like is a great tip. I went around and gathered all the tape. I found several years of duct tape, packing tape, and tape, tape, tape!
I am having my kids sort through their toys, games, clothes and accessories in their rooms before they give us their Christmas gift ideas.I don't want to bring in more when they need to declutter things they don't use or need anymore. Great ideas Shannon!
I’m finding that my kids are getting better at letting go of things they don’t play with each time we make a pass through their room! It’s like strengthening their little decluttering muscles :)
Great content Shannon. I like so many of your tips and reminders. I just reorganized our small kitchen. I did the same as you and put the stuff that we don’t use daily in the back. I am also working on appreciating the small, mundane daily task. ❤
Great tips, and I love your plants. I'm starting my minimalist journey by teaching myself the habit of not bringing more stuff into the house, and I liked your one in-one out rule. I'm trying to solve household organization problems without spending more money, as I used to do. And I am trying to get rid of one garbage bag of stuff per week. As a result, I am enjoying my space more and really asking myself what would make it more enjoyable. In that vein I purchased my first house plant, a Golden Pothos, which I'm told are easy to care for. I love it, and seeing all your plants inspires me to gradually make my home more inviting in a way that's sustainable and feels positive.
Shannon, Great video. We decluttered our kitchen earlier this yr & it has been so nice not having so much stuff. I'm like you & do laundry all in one day. That way I know everything is clean & put away & don't have to worry about for another wk. BTW...love your curly hair in the last clip.
Thank you! I hope you have a nice weekend.
Tremendous, Shannon ! Your Home looks so happy and peaceful ! And you all look great. WELL DONE ! Great ideas here. And I agree with them all. You should be proud. Thanks for setting such an inspiring example. You truly are an inspiration. A special hello to MOM ! Big blessings to you all. Liz in Buffalo
It’s so funny how people in this country need to be shown or teach about something that should be normal and daily routine. For example clean table after meals and take care of dishes. If you consider yourself a really clean person, your kitchen should be implacable every single day. And having kids or big family is not an excuse.
Well this is our normal routine, I would assume that most people live this way. I just share what is working for us. =)
I know it’s not possible with kids, but now that it’s just my husband and me, and we are retired, we eat two meals a day…breakfast and a late lunch/early dinner with snacks in between. That has saved me all kinds of time and effort.
I would love to do that! But you are right with kids its hard. Sometimes I like to skip dinner (just for myself), I will just eat a late breakfast and late lunch.
It's amazing how it flows into the next area of life and then the next and then the next.
When I buy an item of clothing, I donate an item of clothing. Always. So if I find something I want to buy, I have to think about what I will donate. If I love everything in my wardrobe, then I don’t buy.
I just cleared off most of my kitchen counters... I kid you not it looks like the kitchen is twice its size.
These tips are all excellent. I like the way you think, especially about mentally making mundane tasks into tasks that beautify your home and honor your possessions so you feel more fulfilled when you do them. Speaking of possessions, I have admired your folk-style living room rug for a long time. The one with the designs and figures on it. Can you tell me where you got it?
I found that at Rugs USA. The good thing about that rug design is when something spills you can't tell lol!
Hilarious how you threw the blanket on your son and he immediately threw it on the floor! 😅 Story of my life.
Oh I know LOL! The mess never ends luckily simplifying has made it a little easier =)
I agree with appreciating the “mundane” tasks. I’m truly grateful when I have the energy, time & focus to make my home efficient & peaceful.
Hi S hannon thank you for another great video you have turned your house into a beautiful home especially your kitchen i love it we all see the big white kitchens with the huge islands no yours is so nice and welcoming and what you say makes so mutch sense thanks.
Loved the value this video provided and quick, TO THE POINT. Thank you!
Are you local to the central coast? I got excited seeing some of the locations. It’s nice to know people nearby interested in minimalism. Encouraging for my area if you are. 😊
We live in Southern Ca =)
This was such a great video!! We just got rid of an extra dresser, we also love that it's gone right away. Outside we minimized by cutting all shrubs that were extra work since we are headed towards our 60s😅 . You always create great content🥰
Hi Sara, that is great you are simplifying it really makes life more enjoyable. I hope you have a nice weekend.
We are trying to get rid of an extra dresser too. May I ask how you got rid of it. Donate or sell? I’m trying to decide the best way.
@@waterfallpeace8057 we gave it to our kids who are in their 30s. They always benefit from our past purchases lol
I love your philosophy on cleaning.
A fantastic video, thank you so much. I love all your tips for both decluttering and lifestyle. I am a naturally tidy and organised person but I find it hard in my season of life to keep our home as I need it. I homeschool our teenage sons and life is busy but I do find the more I declutter the easier it is to clean. I need to batch work more as I have been a bit stressed lately and too busy. I think I will watch this video again and write down tips. Have a great weekend Shannon. 🌷🌸
I am with you on doing laundry on one day a week. I have done that for years and I think it is so much easier. I am watching this as I fold our clothes this evening.
1:31 the blanket was rejected lol.
😂
I love your home. It’s clean and bright and not filled with junk. I would just add a dishwasher if possible.
FABULOUS JOB
EVERYWHERE
GREAT TIPS
THANK YOU
BLESSINGS
😊 the same, more i decluttered, more i care what i bring in now, buy as the process of decluttering was intense, to sale, as i preferred to be sure not to be too much wasteful at first.. then donating etc.. and i have been judge too at first as it seems to be weird not to wish too much and let go furnitures etc, but i feel so much calmer better now. and felt judge to be too organised..! but i just feel more natural to put stuff back in their place as now things are more clear by category as i have been checking all by categories since years, now i arrive to a point, i feel clarity with what i love using in real (exit the fantasy self..;) i feel the flow of the house more serene now :) it helps me to recover from a professional burnt out even, as i decluttered, i felt clearer in what i feel to care now, what i love.. etc.. it seems not so real the impact of this process for some, but sincerely, i felt the huge difference in my mindset mood and even perception about life :) more serene in all :) i wish it for everyone and i understand why so many share about it, as you wish the same for others for sure :) sharing the advices, thank you :) your channel has been part and keep a channel that help me in the journey, lot of love and gratitude to you and lovely family :) 🙏😊😘✨🐞🌺
I totally relate to a lot of my clutter being things that I’ve been given/things I didn’t buy.
O-R-G-A-N-I-Z-I-N-G is My Thing . . . .
Really ENJOY It , b-u-t, when it Come's to the Book's, it's just Really Hard to Part with Them. Do You Have Any Suggestion's ? I Do Not want to Donate Them. 🤔 I am Not On Facebook.
May I ask what kind of living room ivory chairs you have? I want some like that. Thank you!
I found those at Costco and I noticed they are actually selling something similar right now.
Wow! but really one of the things I have to be mindful of is to NOT let my inbox get cluttered up with too many things that I never seem to get to so no bueno for your news letter but thanks so much for the offer. ( That's how you say to do it-- refuse some things that are offered if you really do not need them. Have a great day
Yes for sure! Also its good to unsubscribe to newsletters you don't want because all of those people pay a service for how many subscribers they have so it does everyone a favor to unsubscribe or don't sign up.
So much good content! I absolutely LOVE it… but would not mind it at all if you set smaller limits on your video content. It would be great to see a video about, for instance, laundry - how you started out doing it and how you gradually refined your laundry process into something that is time-, energy-, and cost-efficient, giving you and your family x, y, and z benefits. Less work for you…quality content for us.
I taught our 3 kid kids to do their own laundry from age 13 & assigned them each their own laundry day , weekend laundry days were for Mom only and this worked great for our family of 5. 🌞