I am a hoarder, but I'm trying to dig my way out. I used to always drag everything out to clean up. I had 3 small kids so I always had to stop way before I was even close to being done. I couldn't believe how it never crossed my mind to just do one step at a time. I'm still working through things, BUT I am not making it worse now. Your book has helped me so much.
I'm trying to lose weight. One thing that helped me is realizing I didn't gain all this weight in one day, one month or one year....and I won't lose it all right away, either. It may take you some time to get your home to the condition that you want it, so don't get discouraged. We work on our issues (homes, weight, money, etc.) as we go, not all at once.
Sending you a happy dance and a hug. I went from living with a hoarder to having empty spaces and even after several months of having empty spaces I’m still not used to it so I do a Wonder Woman twirl in every room. Yes take it one step at a time and trust the process. What I’m learning is the mindset going from hopeless to wow takes time and I need to purposefully celebrate the change. ❤
I am a therapist and I see the benefits from your perspective! I encourage my clients to go to your videos for inspiration. You are my "declutter guru".
I'm so glad you do this! As a therapist, you must absolutely see the correlation between clutter and stress! AND the fact that all our brains don't work the same way. Dana's method (once it clicked for me!) is an absolute life changer for me & my ADD brain.
I find that my eye gets used to the clutter and I don’t really see it anymore, but if I take a picture of a specific area I’m actually shocked by all the things that I can see in the frame. This helps me to make a start. Don’t know why this works but it does. :)
I struggle too. What I do is imagine a family member turning up out of the blue and then when I look at my flat with fresh eyes I realise how bad it is.
100% this - it's embarrassing that I don't / can't see what is so obvious for everyone else. I have started to take pictures too, and like you I found it sobering.... and helpful! Then I focus on the easy stuff first ... and often go longer than I initially intended due to low mental or physical energy levels and overwhelm. Follow the process, it just works 😅😂❤ Thank you
Visibility Rule really works! I cleaned off a small portion of my dresser, literally only about 8 inches by 4 inches (yes it’s that bad) and wiped just that spot. The wood underneath was shining so beautifully like I hadn’t seen it in years. It was such an encouragement that I grabbed another armful of trash! Thank you Dana 😊
I hope you know how much we appreciate these videos. Not everyone thinks or feels the same way about cleaning and decluttering and it is so helpful to have your perspective and experience
Dana I have watched you for years and bought your books but today I want to tell u I could hardly get out of bed...we have been battling my husbands cancer for 17 months and now its stage 4...its so hard to even think but I took your advice from this video, took pics in my spare room and took some trash out and cleaned my bathroom!! TY!
I am a caregiver for a family member, so I need to be honest with myself concerning my energy level. If it is rather low, I might set a goal of putting maybe 3 to 5 things away, be it trash, donate or put away in its proper location. If my energy level is higher, I might set a goal of 5 or more items. Following this method, I have made great progress in the last year.
Caregiving is the toughest thing to do. Decluttering a few things over time like you have done probably helps your own mental health. You see progress and a purpose which distracts from the routine. Good 4 u!
Started three days ago to get rid of basement clutter. Found a basket of candles and half were let go of, three containers of expired juice were put in the trash, and moved a scarecrow back to where it belongs. Three small things that opened up a small space. Finding another small thing today. Visual contrast is really the motivator. An opened space is a motivator. It is like exercising a minute more today, then up to ten minutes eventually.
I sometimes use your method at my office job. This past Friday afternoon not many people were at work and I didn't really want to do much but had a project due on Tuesday. I gathered a few data items and saved them electronically. That was going to be it. Then I did a little bit more. That was going to be it. Then I got motivated and completed the task. I was congratulated for finishing and left for the weekend with a 'clear plate' instead of thinking and dreading Monday when I really had to do the task. Thank you Dana!
Such great advice, Dana! Because of you, I actually said that to myself yesterday... "Is it perfect? No." "Is it better?? Yes!" And that made me feel so good, that I know I will continue moving forward. Thank you!!!
Oh my gosh. You are giving me ways to get to work on my mess. I have a sink full of dirty dishes...the same dishes that have been in the same sink for about 2 full weeks. I have emptied the other sinks dishes in the recent past. Anyway today I will wash 2 dishes every time I get up from the couch. Put them in my non-functioning dishwasher to air dry. And with my very overactive bladder, I do get up often. 🙂
Picked up one dirty teaspoon and put it in the dishwasher. Picked up a cup and put it in the dishwasher. Made a mantra saying “That’s a bit better” for each thing I put in. Completely emptied the dirty dishes from the sink. Then put the dishwasher on. That’s a bit better. Carried on. Filled up the water carafe. Put shoes away. Each one little thing put away properly made things better 😊 Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Feel so much better now.
"Small things, done completely" is so important for so many things! Especially if you struggle with overwhelm. I also rebel against the cheerleader style support because it feels so condescending.
The goal of "better" clicked for me today. Thank you! Cheerleading doesn't always work for me especially if I'm grumpy and 'fake it til you make it' makes want to scream.
your specific approach has truly changed my life bc I too feel like I rebel when I see too much cheerleading as opposed to actually creating motivation - thank you for sharing your perspective!
I was just thinking of this! We are not motivated to go through our garage. I'm not happy with how it looks, and it's overwhelming to think about doing due to having to all that and keep the kids occupied. I was thinking, maybe I just fill a trash bag of trash. It would be better than how it is now. Now I just need to actually do it! I can even just put one thing in the trash each time I'm in the garage to drop off/pickup/errands. At least that's 1 piece of trash out of the garage.
Sounds like a great way to start! And just imagine, maybe in the not too distant future the garage can be a playroom for the kids or something :-) And today it feels better, having one less thing laying around 😊❤🎉
This" better" concept has given me hope.Today, I did the dishes, vacuumed the entryway, and decluttered my entryway closet, using your decluttering without a mess. Winner Winner. 🏆PS (love your dishes math concept too) thank u!!! 😊😊😊😊
Thank you! I really like the concept of taking a before picture and giving yourself a "hooray" for anything done. I find that doing anything when I am unmotivated leads to motivation. Be gentle with yourself. Beating myself up over the mess stops me dead in my track.
You have been such a source of encouragement in the last few months. My house may look tidy but I have the ability to squeeze 10lbs of stuff into a 2lb sack. This means I have so many things in closets to declutter in our downsizing journey. Since we are going from 2300sq ft of well organized belongings to a 288sq ft tiny house in 14 months, I have been blessed by your words and facing the reality. Hubby and I grew up in S.TX so it feels a little like being with a neighbor when I watch you. Good memories.
This video inspired me to clean off my dining table, with before and after pictures. I was feeling pretty down about all the mess. Now the momentum snowball is helping me deal with "the pile" of clothes in my bedroom. Thanks, Dana!
When I felt overwhelmed, I filmed time laps video of myself doing dishes or folding piles of laundry. It’s satisfying to watch at the end, even if it was me that did all the work. It’s satisfying visually to see your place cleaned!
Thank you! This video found me in a really low: Once more I thought that TODAY I would get to the bottom of everything. Then I got overwhelmed, it started raining, my energy disappeared and just as I realised that I had to leave my house, go for a cup of coffee and try to get a new start, I saw you had put up this video. I’m now watching it at a cafe, having a chai latte and thinking that I can actually do something constructive when I get home. I have been following you for a long time, but sometimes I forget your magnificent advices. Like this one about thinking: Better!
I just found you TH-cam channel! Boy did I need this. I am typically very organized. I don’t like clutter and I live to throw junk out. But a few years ago we retired. We sold our very large lovely home that I lived and we moved to another state and bought a much smaller house. As we packed up the old house we got rid of, literally, 2/3s of our stuff. We’d lived there for 25 years and it felt great. A lot of our furniture was too big for the new house so we got rid of a lot of that too. The new smaller house is awesome in a lot of ways. Easier to live in but I have not been able to fit my stuff in this space. But I already did a huge declutter! I have been totally shut down for a few years now. My tiny clothes closet is a mess. My little office/creative space has become the place we stuff things we don’t know what to do with. You videos that I just watched this morning have totally set me free. My brain is working again and I know how to get all this stuff organized. I have been feeling very depressed and hopeless. 😊💖Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! My brain works like yours and this is so helpful!
"I rebel against excessive cheer-leading..." Your videos already looked interesting, but this sold me. I can't deal with the perfect home, forced cheeriness vids. Love your self-awareness.
Oh, yeah--I agree, agree, agree. I have concluded that "overwhelm" is the biggest obstacle to declutter success. Small bites are the ONLY thing that work for me. I CAN handle 15 or 20 minutes. And it's amazing the difference just that 15 or 20 minutes can make. And as for photos... I have a declutter buddy and exchanging before and after photos is INCREDIBLY motivating.
You have helped me so much! My house is 4,000 sq feet and my barn is 7,000 sq feet. My husband died suddenly three years ago. I quickly got overwhelmed by my grief shopping. It feels so good having no clutter and an easy to clean house. Thanks Dana for sharing your journey.🥰
I just trust the process without the expectation of getting it done in one hit. Living with a hoarder who criticised my cleaning left me without motivation. Now I know whatever I do will lead to it getting done over a few sessions even if it doesn’t seem like it on that day. I’m starting to go through the process without thinking about it and more importantly I don’t have the ex’s voice in my head about cleaning. Better is good and I now look forward to rekindle my cleaning practices from when I was a teen. Back then I totally decluttered my bedroom every 2 wks. Not looking to do the whole house every 2 wks, just the feeling of able to keep my home clean and being proud of it.
Thank you Dana for your videos. I’ve done some decluttering in the past but I heard about something recently that is really helping me stay motivated and maybe it will help others. Every day you choose one item for donate and one for trash. I’ve been doing this for two weeks now and actually look forward to this “game” every day. It doesn’t seem like much but every little bit is helping and I’m enjoying finding two items each day. Of course some decisions are harder than others but if it’s been sitting in a box for several years and I obviously haven’t needed it or have room/container for it the time has come to let items go.
When I was learning about habit forming, something that came up in a few different sources is an idea of "1% better". It's the accumulation of small actions that typically make the biggest difference. Having an established routine of "1% better" once a day or once a week will accumulate over time, and even if you have a vision of an ultimatum goal, these bite sized actions feel a lot more obtainable. Similar to the whole idea of baby steps.
You are such a fabulous role model, Dana! I've been decluttering for about 9 months (peeling the onion) and am soooo pleased with my home. My biggest motivator has been just do the dishes. Confession: I used toilet things soak."😅
I used to keep all my Amazon boxes for future donations. One day I realized they were trash. I got rid of all of them. I was given a bunch of multi use totes. Now I use them to make small and frequent donations. 😊
Such a great approach, thanks! It feels a bit similar to my setting a timer for 5 minutes when dreading going through “box mountain” in our rec room, boxes from a move seven years earlier. I considered 5 minutes a complete, 100% success. In your words, it was better. There were only a couple times I worked for 5 minutes; usually I stayed much longer, a couple times several hours. But 5 minutes was as much a success as three hours. People would talk about setting a timer for “only” 30 or 45 minutes. What the what? That’s a lifetime that would make me want to bury my head. Five was my jam and if I stayed longer, that was also fine, but 5 was my trophy and protection from a negative feelings.
This is seriously encouraging... not just for decluttering and lightening the load. But, it is a great way to look at working on my physical body! To start an exercise program or better eating, or any project that seems really difficult! Thank you!
I needed this today. I had been making steady but slow progress before the holidays, but then I lost the spark and things started building up again. I had a small breakdown today where I was just in tears at my perceived ineptitude and failures.
Dana you are the best teacher for this. I have all of your books. Nobody out there like you. Your methods have propelled me little by little to move forward from a state of depression, paralysis and extreme hoard-like clutter. All of this is more psychological than we think and you have the gift and the key for teaching us. Thank you forever. I wish you and your family many blessings in life 🙏🏼❤️
This is life changing advice!!! I have started doing this and feel like I have finally made a huge breakthrough in my attitude. Imagine--doing one small thing can change your life!!! Thank you so much, you are my queen!!!!
I used to look at my messy house and say, " I can't do everything"! But a little voice popped into my head one day that asked, "Well then, what CAN you do"? So I looked at one thing I could actually do and did it. I felt great. I kept asking myself that question until I needed to stop to make dinner. I proceeded to do this every day. YOU can do it, Girlfriend!
I love the idea of starting with the simplest, easy task that I can complete all the way through so that I can at least see some progress without having to expend a lot of energy to do it.
Love this. I would reiterate what you said, that a little thing can make a big difference... My living room has been driving me crazy. It's pretty much decluttered, I thought yesterday, oh, I just need to run the vacuum through and that's why it looks messy... Nope that didn't do it. I finally figured out the one small thing I needed to do which made the room completely change from looking cluttered and messy to absolutely fine: It was the giant blanket! We got one of those 10 ft x 10 ft blankets for Christmas, and it is so huge that there's no way it can look tidy when it's on the couch lol. So I took maybe 1 minute and folded/ rolled it up and put it in this metal tub I have where I keep the couch blanket. Amazing! That one small thing I did made all the difference in the world, just like you said 💚
for decluttering and housekeeping, i treat it like my approach to my job, i don’t try to finish planning the event in one day…it takes weeks to months, depending on the event…so your one thing at a time does work….but remember like your job…clock out…take a break, walk away. These things Dana suggests work for decluttering and for your some jobs, i know it doesn’t for all jobs….but especially if you can’t take a break, at some point focus on relaxing so you don’t wear yourself out. I recently started my overdue pantry declutter, because i switched stuff in shelves, i yad to pull things out…but i pulled out the new location stuff first and then put the new items in, now i’m at a point of extra storage containers…it things don’t have a lid they’re bye bye…. but i have this heap of containers and lids on my table, so i’m going to combine all the lids…and all the containers in separate boxes, and now i’ll do the one or few minutes at a time, that will tidy the mess….pulling all things out really doesn’t work, but i had to, do one thing at a time as Dana suggests if you can.
You are inspirational ! “ Take it there now”. Once we embrace this idea, everything starts to change for the better. This is how I keep my house under control along with the 5 minute pickup. Thanks for sharing ❤
👏yes, Diana, I agree, every cleared space shows me visual progress and that does give me a dopamine flash. To get more such dopamine flashes I always do more decluttering and organizing of little spaces. O just needed 3 months to declutter the top surfaces of my kitchen cupoard. No its empty and i am happy and will go ahead to clean the top surface and they will stay free for ever. Little steps are so good. And also manageable for people with very low energy. Thank you❤
Ohmigosh! Your blouse is adorable on you! You've made my life so much better by sharing your tips. I thought there was something wrong with me for years but your willingness to share your struggles has changed my life. Thank you for being so generous with your time and resources. 💛
My Granny always said anyone can move a mountain if they just move one shovel at a time. That's what I think about the days I have no energy. Loved your programs. I love your approach to life.
I LOVE THIS. I am SO GLAD you're not a "cheerleader" in it. You're not alone in rebelling against that. I do, and so many others do as well that there's a term for it - toxic positivity. Encountering that irks the shyte out of me! It's like the body positivity movement - it's impossible to go from hating your body to loving it. That's too big of a jump. But I can, and have, gone from hating it to just being kind of okay with it. That's doable, and one day I'll reach being fully okay with it. Then maybe more than that. But a 180 degree jump all at once? Nope. That's impossible, and trying and failing at it is a recipe for feeling more like a failure, and even more unmotivated. Thank you for being realistic and demonstrating that perfect is the enemy of good. We don't need to be perfect. Good is good enough. ❤
tthis is funny. I just wrote on a preivious video were you did a one hour declutter which motiated me while I'm sick this week to throw away garbage and duh stuff from my bedroom. most of it went into the kitchen and I did garbage and duh there. 15 minutes until I cldnt do it anymore and its a big improvement I didn't take pictures which I should do next time time. and I know that when I wake up feeling a little better wont wake up in a pile of trash and want to go back to bed😊 thank you Dana!!!!!! and I find ur toughness funny and endearing. u are very fun to watch and watching the process with other people - put ur no nonsense fun voice in my head while I went through it. your videos are better than any others I have seen.
Lady, I absolutely love you! I have been following you for years now... Ever since I read your book... And I LOVE how REAL you are! I love that you don't judge people for feeling "lazy" or "overwhelmed"! You keep it real & that is truly motivating! Thank you!❤️
❤❤❤ Needed this today after being sick a few weeks! Easy to lose motivation when it seems like it's a losing battle because more comes in than goes out, especially if you are unable to stay on top of things for awhile and the house is already bursting at seams! Thank you 😊 💓
I have bad chronic fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia and depression. My place is an absolute mess and I don't have anyone to help me. I can't do the technique of taking everything to its place immediately as I don't have the energy, so I have to have a box or bag to put things in that are going to other rooms. I find your strategy of starting with obvious rubbish and so on very helpful. This video is so motivational for me too as it seems overwhelming ❤
Dana, I love your method! It works so lovely But what I've done to get motivated is actually eat more healthy like fruits and vegetables and meat. Without doing this I had absolutely no energy so it might be something that you guys should look into It has given me so much energy And for my own personal reasons, I've decided to cut out sugar
Thanks so much for this! I just completed a few tasks. I feel so much better, and that chair I cleared of paperwork looks great and can be used to sit in again! ❤
One thing that helps me a great deal (besides your videos and books of course!) is looking at virtual 3d model home tours! It sets a 🔥 under me and I get rid of so much! Love your tips aleays!! ❤
@MissDanaKWhite-TeIegram Why isn't Telegram listed on your blog on how to contact you? The contact info on your blog only shows either your gmail account, Facebook, X, or Pinterest. 🤔
I have the next week off. I have absolutely nothing to do in my house. I'm not sure how to enjoy it. Lol Thank You. I think this is the first time ever. It's definitely better and guess what I don't spend hours doing it anymore. I used to watch Compulsive Cleaners whenever I had an hour's long disaster of a home. The music really helps. It's creepy Oh No music!
I’m struggling with this monster- and I’ve been re-training my brain to notice those little efforts, as you are suggesting here Dana. Giving myself credit for improvements, even small ones, has impacted my motivation and energy levels greatly.
I love the idea of taking a "before" photo with no commitment! I always forget to take before photos, but I think it's because I don't want to set up an expectation of how much I'm going to do.
Since starting your videos, I'm actually able to see more of my office floor than I have in years! Thanks for not giving the cheerleading lecture. Loved the video!
What a relief! Thank you So Much for saying you rebel against cheerleading. I do, too! I have always thought myself ungrateful and been vaguely ashamed, but when I heard those words, I recognized the feeling. Big sigh. 🙂
Hi Dana! I always LOVE all your advice and methods! Another way that I turn off my brain to make decluttering progress and not feel overwhelmed, is I decide on a number of items that I will either put away, or get out of the house, from a particular pile or room. I usually say 50 because it makes a bigger visual impact, and takes less time than it sounds. If a person can only do 5 or 10, it is still making the space better. I pick the easiest, no brainer items and soon I find myself tackling the harder ones. Sometimes I do this when a friend texts to say they will be late picking me up. The reward of an outing in 10 minutes also helps and when I return home I am happy to see a smaller pile or less cluttered room.
4 minutes in and I feel as though you read my mind and comment to the “big stuff” video I just watched before you made this video which is impossible since this is from 9 days ago. Already subscribed and now will be watching all your videos over the next few days. What you just said is going to make all the difference for me. I can’t thank you enough! 👏👏👏👍👍👍💕💕💕
Thank you so much, I really needed this video. I was making progress until mid-January when 4 of my old cats got deathly sick one after the other. Here it is almost April and I'm just starting to put the meds away, some will have continuing treatment, and my house is a disaster. I need a new morning/evening routine for medications now. I made a little progress today, thanks to you. If only the rain would stop for 2 days in a row....
I just followed your tip to take Before photos and wow!! It definitely motivated me sooo much after seeing the After photo! I put the pics side-by-side and that pic absolutely motivated me to do more decluttering!! I love your tip. Thank you so much!🙏🙏
I just watch a couple episodes of hourders I am always motivated after! I also take photos of how awful a spot looks and then I am motivated to fix it.
I love you, Dana!!! Thank you for understanding and speaking clearly to those of us with unique struggles. I am famous for pulling everything out, then tripping over it, cursing the collapsing piles, and living in overwhelm for weeks! I needed this reminder today!
This is such great advice, and this same system works for any other seemingly insurmountable goal as well. I just want to thank you for this channel and for not selling other products with your video. Some of your competition channels have affiliate links to SO MANY products that it's completely overwhelming and disgusting. I normally don't care about that, but when you're literally in the decluttering & minimizing niche, that's just tacky. Thank you for having a classy channel. BTW, I won't subscribe to a channel in this niche if you're trying to get me to buy a ton of new stuff as it is completely inappropriate. I did subscribe to this channel.
No, it was" just right"....I REALLY DO enjoy decluttering....you have been such an AMAZING ENCOURAGEMENT to me thru this journey. All was going pretty well before Christmas...the overall affect of the house was looking good....until, a Christmas card project....the gift wrapping for birthdays and Christmas....leave for out of town... Death in family....leave to go out of town, again....SUPER BUSY with revival music and Easter music practice...and, the garage REALLY TAKES a beating. The rest of the house...overall...kept it at a steady pickup and clean....but that garage....uhhhhhh...and, I SO told myself I would NOT let that space get back to that stage, again!😢 BUT, here we are...working on the mess...the decluttering...the boxes....ALL the stuff that needs to leave....part of the issue here...several types of storage happen in that garage...but, thats okay....little by little ....I'm conquering the mess one more time. Your video WAS ENCOURAGING....AND MOTIVATING....and, as I daily go out there and, slave away😂....I too will get to that point of VICTORY. 😃❤️😃 THANKS DANA....you ALWAYS put it into perspective for me. 🙂
Thankyou for everything you are helping billions. REALLY like those stairs. I hope you find the answers to your inner questions, you are a wonderful person. PEACE
I am a hoarder, but I'm trying to dig my way out. I used to always drag everything out to clean up. I had 3 small kids so I always had to stop way before I was even close to being done. I couldn't believe how it never crossed my mind to just do one step at a time. I'm still working through things, BUT I am not making it worse now. Your book has helped me so much.
I'm trying to lose weight. One thing that helped me is realizing I didn't gain all this weight in one day, one month or one year....and I won't lose it all right away, either. It may take you some time to get your home to the condition that you want it, so don't get discouraged. We work on our issues (homes, weight, money, etc.) as we go, not all at once.
So good to hear! Keep it up one step at a time !
Sending you a happy dance and a hug. I went from living with a hoarder to having empty spaces and even after several months of having empty spaces I’m still not used to it so I do a Wonder Woman twirl in every room. Yes take it one step at a time and trust the process. What I’m learning is the mindset going from hopeless to wow takes time and I need to purposefully celebrate the change. ❤
Thank you so much
Love this. ❤
I am a therapist and I see the benefits from your perspective! I encourage my clients to go to your videos for inspiration. You are my "declutter guru".
I'm so glad you do this! As a therapist, you must absolutely see the correlation between clutter and stress! AND the fact that all our brains don't work the same way. Dana's method (once it clicked for me!) is an absolute life changer for me & my ADD brain.
And it helps that there is no judgment. That is so important. Progress and only progress. Moving forward without looking back and judging.
@@trumax33
I find that my eye gets used to the clutter and I don’t really see it anymore, but if I take a picture of a specific area I’m actually shocked by all the things that I can see in the frame. This helps me to make a start. Don’t know why this works but it does. :)
I struggle too. What I do is imagine a family member turning up out of the blue and then when I look at my flat with fresh eyes I realise how bad it is.
100% this - it's embarrassing that I don't / can't see what is so obvious for everyone else.
I have started to take pictures too, and like you I found it sobering.... and helpful!
Then I focus on the easy stuff first ... and often go longer than I initially intended due to low mental or physical energy levels and overwhelm.
Follow the process, it just works 😅😂❤
Thank you
Clutter blindness is real! When my kids were small and they’d see me cleaning they’d often ask who was coming to visit. Best of luck! 😊
Visibility Rule really works! I cleaned off a small portion of my dresser, literally only about 8 inches by 4 inches (yes it’s that bad) and wiped just that spot. The wood underneath was shining so beautifully like I hadn’t seen it in years. It was such an encouragement that I grabbed another armful of trash! Thank you Dana 😊
I love that success story! Congrats!
Excellent 😊
🎉🥳that’s great!
I hope you know how much we appreciate these videos. Not everyone thinks or feels the same way about cleaning and decluttering and it is so helpful to have your perspective and experience
Dana I have watched you for years and bought your books but today I want to tell u I could hardly get out of bed...we have been battling my husbands cancer for 17 months and now its stage 4...its so hard to even think but I took your advice from this video, took pics in my spare room and took some trash out and cleaned my bathroom!! TY!
So sorry to hear that. If you are interested, watch Dr. Anthony Chaffee MD. Stage 4 Cancers. ❤
@@PlentitudeIsland Oh tysm..I certainly will!
I’m so sorry you’re going through this!
My heart goes out to you. Lost my sister last October to cancer. ❤
Several people got rid of stage 4 cancer by switching to the Carnivore diet and also Google Fenbendazol videos.
"Small things, done completely" - your next T-shirt? Coffee mug? My new slogan!
I have the "Better is Good" one that I wear when I am cleaning.
I need to have a coffee mug with that slogan so I can be reminded every day.
I am a caregiver for a family member, so I need to be honest with myself concerning my energy level. If it is rather low, I might set a goal of putting maybe 3 to 5 things away, be it trash, donate or put away in its proper location. If my energy level is higher, I might set a goal of 5 or more items. Following this method, I have made great progress in the last year.
Caregiving is the toughest thing to do. Decluttering a few things over time like you have done probably helps your own mental health. You see progress and a purpose which distracts from the routine. Good 4 u!
Yes I too like counting items. It took me awhile to recognize the power of small wins. Hugs. ❤
Started three days ago to get rid of basement clutter. Found a basket of candles and half were let go of, three containers of expired juice were put in the trash, and moved a scarecrow back to where it belongs. Three small things that opened up a small space. Finding another small thing today. Visual contrast is really the motivator. An opened space is a motivator. It is like exercising a minute more today, then up to ten minutes eventually.
You've really helped me realize how life-changing the "progess, not perfection" process can be.
Great name/description of this process! I am putting in my phone notes in a large, bold font! Thanks!
@@BobbieJeanM , agree! Thanks to Dana for my new mantra!
I sometimes use your method at my office job. This past Friday afternoon not many people were at work and I didn't really want to do much but had a project due on Tuesday. I gathered a few data items and saved them electronically. That was going to be it. Then I did a little bit more. That was going to be it. Then I got motivated and completed the task. I was congratulated for finishing and left for the weekend with a 'clear plate' instead of thinking and dreading Monday when I really had to do the task. Thank you Dana!
Thank you for showing how this method can be applied to other areas of our lives!❤
Such great advice, Dana! Because of you, I actually said that to myself yesterday...
"Is it perfect? No."
"Is it better?? Yes!"
And that made me feel so good, that I know I will continue moving forward. Thank you!!!
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Oh my gosh. You are giving me ways to get to work on my mess. I have a sink full of dirty dishes...the same dishes that have been in the same sink for about 2 full weeks. I have emptied the other sinks dishes in the recent past. Anyway today I will wash 2 dishes every time I get up from the couch. Put them in my non-functioning dishwasher to air dry. And with my very overactive bladder, I do get up often. 🙂
Way to go!! 😀👍🏼💫
Great job! Good luck! 🍀 😊
Picked up one dirty teaspoon and put it in the dishwasher. Picked up a cup and put it in the dishwasher. Made a mantra saying “That’s a bit better” for each thing I put in. Completely emptied the dirty dishes from the sink. Then put the dishwasher on. That’s a bit better. Carried on. Filled up the water carafe. Put shoes away. Each one little thing put away properly made things better 😊 Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Feel so much better now.
"Small things, done completely" is so important for so many things! Especially if you struggle with overwhelm. I also rebel against the cheerleader style support because it feels so condescending.
Absofreakinlutely!! Like, don't patronize me!
This is great! I can't stand the fake "cheerleading" and just turn off those people. I completely agree with the visual motivation, it is real!
What is fake cheer leading?
The goal of "better" clicked for me today. Thank you! Cheerleading doesn't always work for me especially if I'm grumpy and 'fake it til you make it' makes want to scream.
your specific approach has truly changed my life bc I too feel like I rebel when I see too much cheerleading as opposed to actually creating motivation - thank you for sharing your perspective!
I was just thinking of this! We are not motivated to go through our garage. I'm not happy with how it looks, and it's overwhelming to think about doing due to having to all that and keep the kids occupied. I was thinking, maybe I just fill a trash bag of trash. It would be better than how it is now. Now I just need to actually do it! I can even just put one thing in the trash each time I'm in the garage to drop off/pickup/errands. At least that's 1 piece of trash out of the garage.
Sounds like a great way to start! And just imagine, maybe in the not too distant future the garage can be a playroom for the kids or something :-)
And today it feels better, having one less thing laying around 😊❤🎉
And I just noticed your name! We share last name, and I have a sister-in-law named Rachel! 😃💫
This" better" concept has given me hope.Today, I did the dishes, vacuumed the entryway, and decluttered my entryway closet, using your decluttering without a mess. Winner Winner. 🏆PS (love your dishes math concept too) thank u!!! 😊😊😊😊
Thank you! I really like the concept of taking a before picture and giving yourself a "hooray" for anything done. I find that doing anything when I am unmotivated leads to motivation. Be gentle with yourself. Beating myself up over the mess stops me dead in my track.
You have been such a source of encouragement in the last few months. My house may look tidy but I have the ability to squeeze 10lbs of stuff into a 2lb sack. This means I have so many things in closets to declutter in our downsizing journey. Since we are going from 2300sq ft of well organized belongings to a 288sq ft tiny house in 14 months, I have been blessed by your words and facing the reality. Hubby and I grew up in S.TX so it feels a little like being with a neighbor when I watch you. Good memories.
This video inspired me to clean off my dining table, with before and after pictures. I was feeling pretty down about all the mess. Now the momentum snowball is helping me deal with "the pile" of clothes in my bedroom. Thanks, Dana!
When I felt overwhelmed, I filmed time laps video of myself doing dishes or folding piles of laundry. It’s satisfying to watch at the end, even if it was me that did all the work. It’s satisfying visually to see your place cleaned!
Thank you! This video found me in a really low: Once more I thought that TODAY I would get to the bottom of everything. Then I got overwhelmed, it started raining, my energy disappeared and just as I realised that I had to leave my house, go for a cup of coffee and try to get a new start, I saw you had put up this video. I’m now watching it at a cafe, having a chai latte and thinking that I can actually do something constructive when I get home. I have been following you for a long time, but sometimes I forget your magnificent advices. Like this one about thinking: Better!
I just found you TH-cam channel! Boy did I need this. I am typically very organized. I don’t like clutter and I live to throw junk out. But a few years ago we retired. We sold our very large lovely home that I lived and we moved to another state and bought a much smaller house. As we packed up the old house we got rid of, literally, 2/3s of our stuff. We’d lived there for 25 years and it felt great. A lot of our furniture was too big for the new house so we got rid of a lot of that too. The new smaller house is awesome in a lot of ways. Easier to live in but I have not been able to fit my stuff in this space. But I already did a huge declutter! I have been totally shut down for a few years now. My tiny clothes closet is a mess. My little office/creative space has become the place we stuff things we don’t know what to do with.
You videos that I just watched this morning have totally set me free. My brain is working again and I know how to get all this stuff organized. I have been feeling very depressed and hopeless. 😊💖Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! My brain works like yours and this is so helpful!
"I rebel against excessive cheer-leading..." Your videos already looked interesting, but this sold me. I can't deal with the perfect home, forced cheeriness vids. Love your self-awareness.
One thing I learned from you, and it guides me daily, is "Take it there right now". This makes such a big difference in my world.
Oh, yeah--I agree, agree, agree. I have concluded that "overwhelm" is the biggest obstacle to declutter success. Small bites are the ONLY thing that work for me. I CAN handle 15 or 20 minutes. And it's amazing the difference just that 15 or 20 minutes can make. And as for photos... I have a declutter buddy and exchanging before and after photos is INCREDIBLY motivating.
You have helped me so much! My house is 4,000 sq feet and my barn is 7,000 sq feet. My husband died suddenly three years ago. I quickly got overwhelmed by my grief shopping. It feels so good having no clutter and an easy to clean house. Thanks Dana for sharing your journey.🥰
I just trust the process without the expectation of getting it done in one hit. Living with a hoarder who criticised my cleaning left me without motivation. Now I know whatever I do will lead to it getting done over a few sessions even if it doesn’t seem like it on that day. I’m starting to go through the process without thinking about it and more importantly I don’t have the ex’s voice in my head about cleaning. Better is good and I now look forward to rekindle my cleaning practices from when I was a teen. Back then I totally decluttered my bedroom every 2 wks. Not looking to do the whole house every 2 wks, just the feeling of able to keep my home clean and being proud of it.
Thank you Dana for your videos. I’ve done some decluttering in the past but I heard about something recently that is really helping me stay motivated and maybe it will help others. Every day you choose one item for donate and one for trash. I’ve been doing this for two weeks now and actually look forward to this “game” every day. It doesn’t seem like much but every little bit is helping and I’m enjoying finding two items each day. Of course some decisions are harder than others but if it’s been sitting in a box for several years and I obviously haven’t needed it or have room/container for it the time has come to let items go.
went thru my computer drawer while this was on, one small task done.
One word "Better" is genius! What a difference. Really, I think your whole process is genius!
When I was learning about habit forming, something that came up in a few different sources is an idea of "1% better". It's the accumulation of small actions that typically make the biggest difference. Having an established routine of "1% better" once a day or once a week will accumulate over time, and even if you have a vision of an ultimatum goal, these bite sized actions feel a lot more obtainable. Similar to the whole idea of baby steps.
You are such a fabulous role model, Dana! I've been decluttering for about 9 months (peeling the onion) and am soooo pleased with my home. My biggest motivator has been just do the dishes. Confession: I used toilet things soak."😅
I listened to this while I was already cleaning to stroke my ego 😂
I used to keep all my Amazon boxes for future donations. One day I realized they were trash. I got rid of all of them. I was given a bunch of multi use totes. Now I use them to make small and frequent donations. 😊
Such a great approach, thanks! It feels a bit similar to my setting a timer for 5 minutes when dreading going through “box mountain” in our rec room, boxes from a move seven years earlier.
I considered 5 minutes a complete, 100% success. In your words, it was better. There were only a couple times I worked for 5 minutes; usually I stayed much longer, a couple times several hours. But 5 minutes was as much a success as three hours.
People would talk about setting a timer for “only” 30 or 45 minutes. What the what? That’s a lifetime that would make me want to bury my head. Five was my jam and if I stayed longer, that was also fine, but 5 was my trophy and protection from a negative feelings.
This is seriously encouraging... not just for decluttering and lightening the load. But, it is a great way to look at working on my physical body! To start an exercise program or better eating, or any project that seems really difficult! Thank you!
I needed this today. I had been making steady but slow progress before the holidays, but then I lost the spark and things started building up again. I had a small breakdown today where I was just in tears at my perceived ineptitude and failures.
Dana you are the best teacher for this. I have all of your books. Nobody out there like you. Your methods have propelled me little by little to move forward from a state of depression, paralysis and extreme hoard-like clutter. All of this is more psychological than we think and you have the gift and the key for teaching us. Thank you forever. I wish you and your family many blessings in life 🙏🏼❤️
This is life changing advice!!! I have started doing this and feel like I have finally made a huge breakthrough in my attitude. Imagine--doing one small thing can change your life!!! Thank you so much, you are my queen!!!!
I used to look at my messy house and say, " I can't do everything"! But a little voice popped into my head one day that asked, "Well then, what CAN you do"? So I looked at one thing I could actually do and did it. I felt great. I kept asking myself that question until I needed to stop to make dinner. I proceeded to do this every day. YOU can do it, Girlfriend!
I love the idea of starting with the simplest, easy task that I can complete all the way through so that I can at least see some progress without having to expend a lot of energy to do it.
This is the only decluttering video that helps me. Currently getting stuff out of my house and into black garbage bags.
Love this. I would reiterate what you said, that a little thing can make a big difference... My living room has been driving me crazy. It's pretty much decluttered, I thought yesterday, oh, I just need to run the vacuum through and that's why it looks messy...
Nope that didn't do it. I finally figured out the one small thing I needed to do which made the room completely change from looking cluttered and messy to absolutely fine: It was the giant blanket! We got one of those 10 ft x 10 ft blankets for Christmas, and it is so huge that there's no way it can look tidy when it's on the couch lol. So I took maybe 1 minute and folded/ rolled it up and put it in this metal tub I have where I keep the couch blanket. Amazing! That one small thing I did made all the difference in the world, just like you said 💚
for decluttering and housekeeping, i treat it like my approach to my job, i don’t try to finish planning the event in one day…it takes weeks to months, depending on the event…so your one thing at a time does work….but remember like your job…clock out…take a break, walk away. These things Dana suggests work for decluttering and for your some jobs, i know it doesn’t for all jobs….but especially if you can’t take a break, at some point focus on relaxing so you don’t wear yourself out.
I recently started my overdue pantry declutter, because i switched stuff in shelves, i yad to pull things out…but i pulled out the new location stuff first and then put the new items in, now i’m at a point of extra storage containers…it things don’t have a lid they’re bye bye….
but i have this heap of containers and lids on my table,
so i’m going to combine all the lids…and all the containers in separate boxes, and now i’ll do the one or few minutes at a time, that will tidy the mess….pulling all things out really doesn’t work, but i had to, do one thing at a time as Dana suggests if you can.
Wow, you are so right!! Just a little bit of progress helps you want to see more!! Excellent way to articulate moving forward!!
You are inspirational ! “ Take it there now”. Once we embrace this idea, everything starts to change for the better. This is how I keep my house under control along with the 5 minute pickup. Thanks for sharing ❤
This is solid advice for just about anything. Not just decluttering, but working out, doing assignments
👏yes, Diana, I agree, every cleared space shows me visual progress and that does give me a dopamine flash. To get more such dopamine flashes I always do more decluttering and organizing of little spaces.
O just needed 3 months to declutter the top surfaces of my kitchen cupoard. No its empty and i am happy and will go ahead to clean the top surface and they will stay free for ever.
Little steps are so good. And also manageable for people with very low energy. Thank you❤
The little “kick in the behind” I needed, at just the moment I needed it😄
Ohmigosh! Your blouse is adorable on you! You've made my life so much better by sharing your tips. I thought there was something wrong with me for years but your willingness to share your struggles has changed my life. Thank you for being so generous with your time and resources. 💛
I’m loving “I rebel against excessive cheerleading and encouragement.” YES!😂
My Granny always said anyone can move a mountain if they just move one shovel at a time. That's what I think about the days I have no energy. Loved your programs. I love your approach to life.
Great video, as usual. Looking super cute in that checked shirt, Dana❣️💕
I LOVE THIS. I am SO GLAD you're not a "cheerleader" in it. You're not alone in rebelling against that. I do, and so many others do as well that there's a term for it - toxic positivity. Encountering that irks the shyte out of me!
It's like the body positivity movement - it's impossible to go from hating your body to loving it. That's too big of a jump. But I can, and have, gone from hating it to just being kind of okay with it. That's doable, and one day I'll reach being fully okay with it. Then maybe more than that. But a 180 degree jump all at once? Nope. That's impossible, and trying and failing at it is a recipe for feeling more like a failure, and even more unmotivated.
Thank you for being realistic and demonstrating that perfect is the enemy of good. We don't need to be perfect. Good is good enough. ❤
Your "make it better" mantra has truly transformed my life! 💪💕✨
This is invaluable advice when I’m totally overwhelmed to get unstuck 🙏
tthis is funny. I just wrote on a preivious video were you did a one hour declutter which motiated me while I'm sick this week to throw away garbage and duh stuff from my bedroom. most of it went into the kitchen and I did garbage and duh there. 15 minutes until I cldnt do it anymore and its a big improvement I didn't take pictures which I should do next time time. and I know that when I wake up feeling a little better wont wake up in a pile of trash and want to go back to bed😊 thank you Dana!!!!!! and I find ur toughness funny and endearing. u are very fun to watch and watching the process with other people - put ur no nonsense fun voice in my head while I went through it. your videos are better than any others I have seen.
Lady, I absolutely love you! I have been following you for years now... Ever since I read your book... And I LOVE how REAL you are! I love that you don't judge people for feeling "lazy" or "overwhelmed"! You keep it real & that is truly motivating! Thank you!❤️
❤❤❤ Needed this today after being sick a few weeks! Easy to lose motivation when it seems like it's a losing battle because more comes in than goes out, especially if you are unable to stay on top of things for awhile and the house is already bursting at seams! Thank you 😊 💓
Finally, the concept of "better" clicked for me. Thank you!
Yes❣️. Thank you for sharing your method with us💜 IT WORKS
I have bad chronic fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia and depression. My place is an absolute mess and I don't have anyone to help me. I can't do the technique of taking everything to its place immediately as I don't have the energy, so I have to have a box or bag to put things in that are going to other rooms. I find your strategy of starting with obvious rubbish and so on very helpful. This video is so motivational for me too as it seems overwhelming ❤
Dana, I love your method! It works so lovely
But what I've done to get motivated is actually eat more healthy like fruits and vegetables and meat. Without doing this I had absolutely no energy so it might be something that you guys should look into It has given me so much energy
And for my own personal reasons, I've decided to cut out sugar
Thanks so much for this! I just completed a few tasks. I feel so much better, and that chair I cleared of paperwork looks great and can be used to sit in again! ❤
One thing that helps me a great deal (besides your videos and books of course!) is looking at virtual 3d model home tours! It sets a 🔥 under me and I get rid of so much! Love your tips aleays!! ❤
I needed this, I took off this week to Spring clean, but I haven't even started. I feel defeated. But I love your strategies. Thank you.
@MissDanaKWhite-TeIegram Why isn't Telegram listed on your blog on how to contact you? The contact info on your blog only shows either your gmail account, Facebook, X, or Pinterest. 🤔
Needed this reminder for my no-to-low motivation days!!! ❤️🙏🏼
This is one of Dana's best video's. I've listened to it a few times already. Thank you for explaining better = success!
I love Reid's comments in the credits 😂
I have the next week off. I have absolutely nothing to do in my house. I'm not sure how to enjoy it. Lol Thank You. I think this is the first time ever. It's definitely better and guess what I don't spend hours doing it anymore. I used to watch Compulsive Cleaners whenever I had an hour's long disaster of a home. The music really helps. It's creepy Oh No music!
I’m struggling with this monster- and I’ve been re-training my brain to notice those little efforts, as you are suggesting here Dana. Giving myself credit for improvements, even small ones, has impacted my motivation and energy levels greatly.
I like your Before photo idea, thank you!
Thank you- you really do understand!
Dana, as much as I REALLY appreciate your decluttering method, I ADORE the tag lines of your videos!! Thank you for sharing your sense of humor. ❤
I'm starting to do this also in our garden/backyard. 1 thing better at a time.
Thanks, Dana!
I love the idea of taking a "before" photo with no commitment! I always forget to take before photos, but I think it's because I don't want to set up an expectation of how much I'm going to do.
Since starting your videos, I'm actually able to see more of my office floor than I have in years! Thanks for not giving the cheerleading lecture. Loved the video!
I LOVE the non-cheerleader-y talk. Thank you! You put our thoughts into words! I can't wait to get my home in order using your tips.
What a relief! Thank you So Much for saying you rebel against cheerleading. I do, too! I have always thought myself ungrateful and been vaguely ashamed, but when I heard those words, I recognized the feeling. Big sigh. 🙂
Hi Dana! I always LOVE all your advice and methods! Another way that I turn off my brain to make decluttering progress and not feel overwhelmed, is I decide on a number of items that I will either put away, or get out of the house, from a particular pile or room. I usually say 50 because it makes a bigger visual impact, and takes less time than it sounds. If a person can only do 5 or 10, it is still making the space better. I pick the easiest, no brainer items and soon I find myself tackling the harder ones. Sometimes I do this when a friend texts to say they will be late picking me up. The reward of an outing in 10 minutes also helps and when I return home I am happy to see a smaller pile or less cluttered room.
4 minutes in and I feel as though you read my mind and comment to the “big stuff” video I just watched before you made this video which is impossible since this is from 9 days ago. Already subscribed and now will be watching all your videos over the next few days. What you just said is going to make all the difference for me. I can’t thank you enough! 👏👏👏👍👍👍💕💕💕
Thank you so much, I really needed this video. I was making progress until mid-January when 4 of my old cats got deathly sick one after the other. Here it is almost April and I'm just starting to put the meds away, some will have continuing treatment, and my house is a disaster. I need a new morning/evening routine for medications now. I made a little progress today, thanks to you. If only the rain would stop for 2 days in a row....
Your stairs are so pretty!
I do that. I take before photos. I get so i cannot stand to look at them any longer and that is what motivates me.
It really clicked for me to think of progress as small things done completely. Thank you Dana!
I just followed your tip to take Before photos and wow!! It definitely motivated me sooo much after seeing the After photo! I put the pics side-by-side and that pic absolutely motivated me to do more decluttering!! I love your tip. Thank you so much!🙏🙏
You are awsome. Thank you. I just washed a window. Little at a time is gonna work for me
I just watch a couple episodes of hourders I am always motivated after! I also take photos of how awful a spot looks and then I am motivated to fix it.
I love you, Dana!!! Thank you for understanding and speaking clearly to those of us with unique struggles. I am famous for pulling everything out, then tripping over it, cursing the collapsing piles, and living in overwhelm for weeks! I needed this reminder today!
Dana ...you are incredible... whew... thank you
You nailed it today! Thank you for this video today! It makes sense and better to understand stuff .😊
This is such great advice, and this same system works for any other seemingly insurmountable goal as well.
I just want to thank you for this channel and for not selling other products with your video. Some of your competition channels have affiliate links to SO MANY products that it's completely overwhelming and disgusting. I normally don't care about that, but when you're literally in the decluttering & minimizing niche, that's just tacky. Thank you for having a classy channel.
BTW, I won't subscribe to a channel in this niche if you're trying to get me to buy a ton of new stuff as it is completely inappropriate. I did subscribe to this channel.
No, it was" just right"....I REALLY DO enjoy decluttering....you have been such an AMAZING ENCOURAGEMENT to me thru this journey.
All was going pretty well before Christmas...the overall affect of the house was looking good....until, a Christmas card project....the gift wrapping for birthdays and Christmas....leave for out of town...
Death in family....leave to go out of town, again....SUPER BUSY with revival music and Easter music practice...and, the garage REALLY TAKES a beating.
The rest of the house...overall...kept it at a steady pickup and clean....but that garage....uhhhhhh...and, I SO told myself I would NOT let that space get back to that stage, again!😢
BUT, here we are...working on the mess...the decluttering...the boxes....ALL the stuff that needs to leave....part of the issue here...several types of storage happen in that garage...but, thats okay....little by little ....I'm conquering the mess one more time.
Your video WAS ENCOURAGING....AND MOTIVATING....and, as I daily go out there and, slave away😂....I too will get to that point of VICTORY.
😃❤️😃
THANKS DANA....you ALWAYS put it into perspective for me. 🙂
Thankyou for everything you are helping billions. REALLY like those stairs. I hope you find the answers to your inner questions, you are a wonderful person.
PEACE
Dana, thank you.