My 5 Favorite Minimalism Rules
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ค. 2024
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Thank you so much for watching! Find a free printable with these decluttering rules here: www.theminimalmom.com/pl/2148197280 Have a great day!!! - Dawn
Thanks Dawn! Great advice. I did some decluttering of my clothes and I am finding that I need a couple pairs of leggings and wondered if you had any recommendations for leggings?
It’s so weird! I can’t seem to comment on the main chat, only as a reply. I have also benefitted from a smaller wardrobe. I have about 50 pieces, now. I wear a uniform, of sorts, at my school, so I only wear those things at work. I don’t count my dance costumes or workout gear because they’re only for a certain purpose. I would say that my winter wardrobe only consists of about 30 things. The other items are for warmer weather. I do want proper dress shoes and new sandals this spring, but that’s all I can think to buy. This is great progress! Thanks for the great video!
@@Repent-and-believe-in-JesusFor thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever!
Thank you ❤
Thanks so much for the printable - so helpful! And as always - love your videos and all your advice. Especially love your cheerfulness - I don't feel so hopeless when I watch you.
Hi, Dawn,
I’m an active and healthy 84 year old, and I’m decluttering as a gift for myself, my husband, and for my kids. There’s no way on Earth that I want my kids to have to deal with our clutter! I can only imagine how grateful they will be when they come into our home when we’re gone and have so little to do!
I knew I had to do this, but I didn’t know how to do it. You are a master class teacher. Thank you so much!
Betty
My Grandmother and Grandfather were from the Depression years and poor before then, so they gathered and gathered. Their home was full when they passed. My Mom was given so much from the thrift stores by her parents and she bought more as she aged , that when she passed there was so much that the really meaningful pieces were missed because of the sheer volume. I am working to decrease my tendency to gather because I have repeatedly seen what distress and absolute work it requires to deal with their emotional losses held by things. My Gen Z's may never love or think of other family members when they touch or see an ornament or a special cake plate or even a tablecloth. It is not easy or particularly without reflection to just "let go" but it is also involved in living and not just dying.
Thanks.
In '04 my MIL passed away. We ended up, a little later at the beginningof '05, living with my FIL and had to go through all my MIL's stuff in her drawers and closets so we could live there. It was work. I told my mom to please go through hers before she died. Then later that year Hurricane Katrina wiped away her home. A few things were found, but 99.5% was gone. I laughed and said, I didn't mean like that momma. ( At whatever point I could laugh. The damage everywhere was devastating. ) It's been 18 years, so the stuff's accumulated and I am having that conversation again. My dad has been working to declutter a lot of areas so that's been so nice. Children don't need that unnecessary burden of too much stuff to have to sift through.
As someone who had to help go through endless piles of stuff after my dad passed away I’ll say thank you now on behalf of your family. It will be much appreciated.
Oh, I wish you were my mom. My parents are downsizing but struggle to get rid of anything that's not clearly trash.
You are giving the best gift of all to your children. I had to deal with a house full of stuff in a short week and so much went into a dumpster. It is really difficult to toss a parent’s life into the trash. Your kids are blessed.
Hi Dawn. I’ve followed you for years. I’m not one to leave comments but I’m feeling so grateful for you and your guidance in changing my life. today was a truely momentous day because I had visitors for lunch and I was calm and proud to have them in my home. It was not preceded by days of yelling at my kids & husband to help me clean & tidy. There was no shoving things in random drawers and cupboards or rooms that were not allowed to be opened. The final layer of the onion has been peeled and I feel free and the happiest I have been in years. From the bottom of my heart all the way over in Australia Thank you!
I have a celebration, and I don’t have anyone I can tell in my real life. But yesterday my husband decluttered a garbage bag full of clothes! I body doubled with him, and used the black trash bag. I have been waiting for this moment for years.
So I am so happy for him. Of course I can’t tell him that I’m so proud of him because he is a bit anxious about having just let go of perfectly good things that he has been hanging on to for so long.
This is a start though. The first step finallyyyy!!!!
And soon, when he realizes he really doesn't miss it, he will continue. There have been a handful of things I wished I hadn't of gotten rid of, but really I don't miss any of it. It's a process, but when he realizes it was easier than he thought and he doesn't miss it, he will feel great about it and will do another bag. Sometimes it's literally a bag at a time process.
Honestly, I *would* tell him how proud you are, because that's the opportunity to acknowledge *to him* that you understand he has a lot of anxiety about letting things go, but he was strong/brave/loving enough to start letting go and work toward a less cluttered life.
@@susanprice3377I completely agree. Acknowledge it. You don’t have to throw a party but you should definitely say something. He’s probably really proud of himself. Don’t project your Ashcroft for him onto him. Reinforce his effort.
That’s awesome!
Yea! for you AND your husband!! I don’t really have anyone to share my little victories with EXCEPT my husband and college-sophomore son. They are supportive & my son has become amazing @ decluttering over the last few years. Dawn is so gentle & understands the challenges & the crazy things we think to try & justify keeping things. My son has absorbed all this & can look forward to a clutter-free life! I’m decluttering both my home & my parents’ home in CO (they are gone now). Congrats from Kansas!🌻😊
Recently I realized I treat my belongings like employees who have a 90 day probation period - if they aren't serving a purpose or delivering results or fulfilling their job duties within 90 days, we have a quick review, and usually they're gone.
😂 love it!
Clothes as hired workers is a hilarious AND a genius approach! 😄
Yep, great analogy, love it!
Clothes in particular work for that process. Too often things remain in a closet because “I might need or wear this again for this occasion or that one” and it NEVER happens.
A suit to wear to a wedding or funeral is one thing, but a whole bunch of shirts taking up space just because of their color or whatever, when all you generally wear is six of them, tops?
Donate, donate, donate. And just because something was a Christmas or Birthday gift doesn’t obligate you to keep something if you don’t use or wear it; donate those, too and tell folks please don’t buy me certain things.
Beautiful!!!
My favorite rule, or more of a mantra, is what Dana K White says: “I would rather live with regret than live with clutter.”
Especially because it’s a little regret vs. a lot of clutter
Hi Dawn, I just want to say that you changed my life! I’m only 25 and I know my life will be better from here on out and it’s because of the things you’ve shown me. Thank you
I feel the same! I found Dawn when I was 25 and had my first baby, and I'm grateful it wasn't any later!
You ladies are amazing 🎉I wish i had that mindset when I was you age… but hey it’s not too late Im enjoying my journey being minimalist for going 3yrs and stronger. Our house is not look like a garage anymore and my kids love to stay home and play now than before❤Cheers to you ladies🥰🎉
I wish was still 25 or even 30 seeing all this. But no time like the present. I'm on my journey now, 41 still young enough to benefit for years to come, with the energy to do it :)
You have changed my life for the better! I never thought about reducing inventory in my house until I started watching your videos. As a mom of 1 and 3 yr old boys, it was so hard to mange my home. After getting rid of so many items, I’m never overwhelmed by picking up my kids toys or straightening up a room because I know I can do it in under 3 minutes. Thanks for all your knowledge! ❤
Dawn has influenced so much change in my life too.
I remember reading about a court case where someone had sued an advertiser for lying and the judge sided with the advertiser and told the plaintiff that we, the consumers, are responsible for knowing when we're being lied to. So every bit of advertising I see/hear/read, my brain starts with 'they're lying to me to take my money' and it puts all the bright, shiny, new stuff into a category of unneeded because I'm being lied to. It may sound weird, but it works for me.
As much as it's good to learn to be discerning, that judgement from the courts doesn't sound right. False advertising, at least in Australia is illegal.
Fraud is illegal in America but there’s a broad swath of things that aren’t fraudulent necessarily but are not good quality and so a waste of money. Like everything from Temu lol. As someone who is marketing my novels for instance, I don’t WANT to falsely advertise the product. I want the right people to find my books and enjoy them and I put effort into creating them. So the advertising is selling you an experience and it’s not guaranteed that you will love it, so the responsibility is on the buyer to ensure your money is wisely spent. The free market decides. I wouldn’t necessarily say every seller is LYING but they do want your money exchanged for value. It’s just you get to decide what has value in your life. Most things offered on the market are not worth it so you need to be discerning. But if you like adult paranormal romance novels and think the premise looks enjoyable to you, then maybe it’s worth $3 to buy an e-book from an indie author for example 🥰 or just go to a library :3
Good advice 🎉
I've been decluttering for over thirty years, and my experience is that for every hundred things I get rid of, there's usually one that should not have gone. But the value of the 99 things that NEEDED to go FAR outweighs the one mistake. I can't let the mistakes keep me from the 99%!
How can you be decluttering for this long?! Surely you do it once (albeit over a certain period of time dependent on how much you have) then wise up and don't allow stuff to mount up going forward? 😊
I have had this experience too. I have regretted a couple of items, out of the dozens and dozens of garbage bags worth of items that have left my home. It is SO worth it to declutter, it's a no brainer!
There are different seasons - so something can be welcomed into your home and be valuable and then 3, 5, 10 years later need to be declutterred. So yes, decluttering is a constant process even if you’re intentional about what you welcome into your home. My dog broke my incense dish with his tail so I get to choose am I going to repair it? I used it ALL the time so I will either repair it or replace it (and declutter the broken pieces).
@@schuylergeery-zink1923 This is more home maintenance than actual decluttering I think. Sorry about the accident! Dogs are so lovable though :-D
Good advice for life in general😊
"I give myself permission to throw it away" literally changed my life. In a time when I was mentally paralyzed by my clutter, simply giving myself permission to just put it in the black trash bag instead of trying to donate or sell it completely changed my trajectory. I was able to get the space I needed to make better future decisions, and on days when I am overwhelmed I still remind myself that I have permission to just throw it away!
Awesome. ♡
That is one of my favorites
Sometimes I ask myself: If I was moving house, would this item be worth the effort of packing, transporting and unpacking again.
Great tip as we are slowly preparing to move into a retirement community in 5 years or so.
"Will I actually clean this?" is a fabulous question to ask BEFORE buying things, lol. Especially kitchen stuff! (I've banned myself from buying mugs that can't be put in the dishwasher for this reason.)
Hubby keeps a gift list. Things loved ones mention or that he sees broken, etc. We shop for them only using this list. Most of the items are consumables or experiences. It’s not a decluttering rule, but I feel good about not cluttering the lives of those we love.
I love this
That’s such a loving approach. I’m sure your loved ones appreciate this.
I like that!
People think Gift Cards are impersonal , NO! I would much rather have what I can use...Lowe's, Winn Dixie/Publix etc
I’ve just started doing this too! I keep a list in my phone of things I notice at my mom and dad’s house that they like (annuals my mom plants in her flower bed, my dad’s liquor he drinks sparingly) or need (a new welcome mat or whatever) because they are at the age where they have just about everything and I don’t want to clutter up their house)
I now ask myself “if this burst into flames would I be happy?” This was the perspective change I needed. Now we fill donation boxes almost weekly and we are slowly decluttering our house. Thank you Dawn! I love your outlook on our things.
😂
That's my most helpful decluttering question too!
I've been watching your content for a couple years now, and the grace and kindness and peace you bring to the table is such a gift. The last time my parents visited us, my mom walked in the door and looked around and said, "Your house looks so big now! Where IS everything?" That honestly felt like the biggest compliment in the world. My husband regularly remarks how much less time it takes to straighten up on "cleaning days" too, and our 5-year-old is already developing her giving heart and decluttering muscles; I can give her a box and tell her to go find things we can give to other kids, and she LOVES it. Thank you so much for making this journey more navigable, especially for a mom of 3 under 6. God has given you a talent, and you're passing the blessing along.
Oh! And my favorite tip is to always have at least one donatable donate box in easy access at all times. Usually I have one in the kitchen and one in the master bedroom.
My husband retired six months ago, and our kids are grown. Our parents are dealing with health issues and we are realizing the burden that a house full of things will be for our own kids. We have been cleaning out closets and drawers and it is an amazing feeling to have less to manage.
Hi everyone, I started decluttering, simplifying and organizing 3 years ago, now there are times when I sit and relax or spend time with my kids and I don't feel like there's a list of "things-to-do" growing while I'm not looking. It feels amazing. I enjoy it when I clean because things are so simplified. Meals are easier, laundry is easier, finding things is easier, relaxing is easier, it is truly unbelievable. I sort of feel like I cheated, I don't feel like I put in enough work to have received these incredible benefits!
My 21 yr old daughter wanted to donate her giant teddy bear that had been in her bedroom for years. So we put it sitting in the back seat of my car to take to the shop. I keep making excuses not to carry it to the shop so there the bear sits in my car in the passenger seat! I will take it to the shop eventually, but for now, I am getting many smiles as people look through my car window ha ha!
Right now, it's serving a purpose. Let it ride for a few weeks before ubering it to its final destination. 😊
I do often shop my house when I’m feeling the urge to get something new!
I find if I just rearrange my furniture, It gives me a new feeling without getting anything additional and it costs nothing.
That's how I like to think of it too. I'm not giving up shipping just doing it at home😂
I listened to the book "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" by John Mark Comer last year. He said that our society in America is built upon slavery, especially in regards to clothes and electronics. The majority of them are made by slaves. That cut my spending like nothing else ever has. If I have to buy something, especially if it's new (socks and undies, etc) I try to pray for the people who picked the cotton and sew this item of clothing, etc.
I’m on a no-buy this year and I am learning to be creative with what I have. Here is an example…I bought a roast and forgot that I decluttered my slow cooker. I had to figure out how to cook it in my stove. I didn’t have a roasting pan either so…I put the roast in my cast iron, put the pizza pan on top of it and put it in the oven. It worked 😂😂
Exactly! There are so many conveniences that we can make do without if forced to. Makes me think of when the microwave was broken for over a month…
Yep. I taught my granddaughter about improvising when she doesn't have the right thing, ie dental floss can replace string.
You are nuturing your creativity!! Awesome😊
I can really relate to the example you gave about inheriting mom's sewing stuff. I like to sew and my mom loved to sew, she passed away about 4 years ago and I've been cleaning out her sewing room. I was determined not to keep stuff unless I was sure I would use it. Though we both sewed we sewed very different things. I either gave it away or sold it dirt cheap on Facebook. I cleared out a lot of stuff, found new homes for good things, and the highlight was that I met some of the nicest people as I gave these things away. I heard some wonderful stories about Grandmas teaching grandkids to sew, about a young woman who decided to learn to sew and was shocked to find out how expensive fabric was. A lovely young man who bought two boxes of Christmas fabric cuz he knew his mom loved to quilt Christmas stuff. All that stuff went from being a burden to me to a blessing for others and I was left with lovely stories. Win-win
I'm disabled and I have had hoarding disorder but I kind of don't anymore? I process visually and I have extreme issues with memory and working memory
Anyway I've gotten my kitchen, bathroom and hall minimized, at least the work spaces are (i can do more in the cupboards). I knew it was way easier for me to function but today I realized that my brain is actually working better, because of my usable spaces, even though other health issues are way worse. There is so much more open empty reliable space that I don't have to try (fail) to memorize where everything is over and over, or constantly scan piles of stuff to look for things. Everything is always in the same spot. Anything in usually-empty spaces is in the wrong spot. Empty spots mean something is missing
It sounds simple and silly but it has made a colossal difference. Before it was like i had to repeat a phone number or to do list or something like that all the time while i was trying to think. Now i just have way less background cognitive load. I'm so grateful I've been able to access all this info (from Dawn and Dana especially), and access the resources to actually change things. We aren't quite done yet but pretty soon we'll be able to have inspections or let maintenance in without doing anything other than like hiding our drawers in the hamper lol. The places I've fine tuned are truly always clean and tidy enough for people to see. It's easier to put stuff away than to dump it, so that's what we do. It's incredible, I'm so thankful and proud of myself
How wonderful your success must feel! Way to go! ❤
Wow that is so awesome!! So happy for you and thanks for sharing. You really motivated me😊
My new 2024 rule is NOT to buy until the day I need it.
Story: I purchased house paint to do the job later. Guess what? 6 months later, I still haven't done it. Then I started to watch myself and I actually - buy to do later alot...😮
So now I go look at what I want, note, take photos etc and plan to buy the day I'm ready to do it. I have saved a heap of $$ I'm guilt free 😊🎉🎉🎉
Thanks Dawn 💚 I love your videos
I'm starting that TODAY thank you😊
OMG! This is wonderful. I've noticed my husband buys things for projects and then doesn't do them or doesn't complete them. It's so easy to see in someone else but if I look at myself, I can see it too. But it is more like buying for my fantasy self who works out and organizes things. Buy it the day I NEED it!
I have 6 different colored quarts of paint for my kitchen cabinets. They remain u finished after 8yrs.
Some items we have are purely for joy. Pretty. Colorful. Cute. When we look around, shouldn’t be cluttered to where our lovely things are hidden but we CAN HAVE THINGS JUST FOR MAKING OUR SOUL FEEL HAPPY. Keep what we love. Reduce the extra stuff that takes away from the aesthetics.
😊So true!
When I got rid of a lot of my extra kitchen items, I found some that I really love and now use them more frequently because I can see them and access them.
My best trick is to keep your voice in my head repeating “this is all inventory I have to manage” and then chucking stuff in a happy rampage!❤😂❤😂
Mine is “5回迷ったら捨てる” by Fumio Sasaki😊 Translated, if I wonder whether to keep/discard a certain item 5 times, then get rid of it. I’ve read that rule a long time ago, but when you said in one of the video “in the future, when I come across this item again, do I want to struggle with keep/toss decision making AGAIN???” or something like that. That’s when Fumio’s rule clicked for me. I realized I was wasting my time and energy.
When my dad passed away there was SO much stuff my family and I had to go through and we ended up getting rid of probably 95% of it! It was absolutely mind boggling how much stuff he held on to!!! That is not something I ever want to do again!
To my fellow sufferers with depression and anxiety: the less items in your house the better! Most days I hardly have the energy to take care of myself so I make a point to not keep anything that isn't useful or beautiful.
If I get rid of something that I eventually need again, it is an opportunity to build community. For instance, I’m not a super crafty person, so I gave a friend my super glue gun because she uses it way more than I do. But when my son needs it for something, I ask her first and she is happy to let me borrow it again. I probably gave it to her 6 years ago and have borrowed it twice.
My favorite trick/tool is to look at all of the similar items I have like sweaters or jeans and ask myself ‘which one will I grab first? Okay that’s my favorite. Now grab my next favorite. Okay, the rest can go.’
Yeah, let's be realistic. We all have our favorites and the rest is back up we don't visualize we even have. It's just space we could use in a better or more comfortable way. I don't think I'm a hoarder but I know of some (clothing) items when going through my wardrobe with the thought " oh, I never seen you, where are you coming from?". I kind of try the Kon Mari method "does the item bring you joy" ? Well, when I don't remember its existence, then no joy. When it reminds me of having to lose weight, definitely no joy. So in the end get rid of it. A method I saw online was putting these "almost ready to go" items differently on a hanger (the opposite side). After a while, a month or whatever schedule you want, look at it again. Easy to identify. You don't have to g through every item again, bc you already "seperated" it.
You are so RIGHT! I hate to admit it but having less stuff makes a difference. I have hauled off 5 car loads to donation. All that stuff came from just 2 rooms we couldn't use because they were too full. Still have some more work to do but I will get there!
Wow. How fabulous for you!!👌🏼
Wow that is great!! Congratulation😊
It may not be a minimalist thing per se but I recently came across a pantry challenge - use what you have in your pantry without shopping except for perishables for ... a month, 3 months ... and the rules are up to you. It helps you to see what you use, how creative you can be and clears up space. Thanks for all you share. Also - hope Tom is busy and okay, miss Rusty Judgement
I have been noticing my neighbors in the process of moving out over the course of at least 6 months, piling things on the curb for trash day, and one morning I heard a loud boom and it was a dumpster pulled up to the house and things being thrown from the second story! Then came the moving TRUCKS, semi trucks to be filled... There were only two or three people in that house.
Dawn, the saying “season of your life” is wonderful. Everyone’s season is theirs personally, so it always fits.
I learned a helpful hint years ago called “Improve a room.” Basically, as you walk thru your home and see an item in the living room and know it should be in the kitchen, simply pick it up and take it to the kitchen as you walk thru the house.
Yes! I decluttered a rice cooker and missed it so I rebought it. THEN, decluttered it again because I remembered why I didn’t like it. 🤷🏼♀️ I have never rebought anything else I’ve decluttered in the last 7 years.
I cook my brown and white rice in the instant pot and it's perfect every time. 1C rice, 2C 2 water. If you have one that is maybe worth a try.
@@danaerakstad7924 I have a large pot that has a fitted strainer. It was designed for pasta, and it's great for stock, too (you can lift the bones, etc out of the stock and discard). A friend introduced me to the pasta method for cooking rice and I've never looked back! You boil a large quantity of water with the rice for about half the cooking time it would normally take, then lift the strainer and let the water strain out. Less cook time and rice never burns. It's fantastic.
I once gave away a microwave and got an older model instead. Doesn't make sense I know. Then went years without one. Finally gave in and got myself one again. Maybe not needed, but it's "off the list".
Often after decluttering an item, a couple of days or weeks later I think "oh, I miss this or oh, I need that". Strange phenomenon. 😅
That is classic thanks for sharing!
This will be a HUGE blessing to someone. I donated a wedding dress and all of the the wedding flowers (silk) to the thrift store. The dress was a work of art and since it was worn just a few months ago the style was/is still very current. I think of blessing others whenever I have to de-clutter something that is truly valuable. God is so good to me allow me to be a blessing in someone else's life.
Thinking of my possessions as "inventory" that has to be managed is the most useful mind shift I've had. Thanks to you, Dawn!❤
We are getting new carpets so moved our furniture out, it's so nice without excess furniture that we won't be putting it all back
“If it’s not a definite yes then it’s a no”. It has saved me so much money, space and time.Thank you for all you do to help us ❤❤
You hit the nail on the head with the part about inheriting your parents things. My mother passed away, and then 10 1/2 months later, my father passed away. I ended up with siblings that weren’t interested in helping with any of it, so my basement is full of my mother’s things, and my garage is full of my father’s things. It’s overwhelming, and I hardly know where to begin. But I am determined this is the year it’s going to happen!
Wishing you the best for these endeavours
I found when I kept everything of my relatives, nothing was special and I was miserable. When I picked out 1 or 2 treasures, they make me very happy and everything else is gone and I have peace. I have my grandmother’s opal ring and a cute photo I love. My father was a hoarder. I kept 2 stained glass lamps he made and turn them on every day. I kept a few letters and photos and shared some. I don’t miss anything and their past is not infringing on my future. They’d be happy for us and We were able to move to Hawaii.
I found when I kept everything of my relatives, nothing was special and I was miserable. When I picked out 1 or 2 treasures, they make me very happy and everything else is gone and I have peace. I have my grandmother’s opal ring and a cute photo I love. My father was a hoarder. I kept 2 stained glass lamps he made and turn them on every day. I kept a few letters and photos and shared some. I don’t miss anything and their past is not infringing on my future. They’d be happy for us and 15:05 We were able to move to Hawaii.
I like that you refer to our belongings as "inventory " it helps to step back the attachment to the items as see it all from a more unemotional perspective.
I have a donation box which I empty without excuse on the 15th of every month.
Believe it or not in over ten years of decluttering, It never happens that I had nothing to give away.
That's amazing!!!❤
Wow! I love this idea! Thanks!!!
I am delighted to see young people understanding how important Dawn's information is for a happy life-I went through unnecessary decades of 1)having too many of each item, b)failing to part with things, c)not having a "home" for each item resulting in chaos, and d)preventing future clutter by policing what gets shopped for and what gets allowed into my house. Once you follow through with the changes, you have more time and space and confidence to have guests, be creative, and engage in healthy habits. It is such a quality of life issue. They should teach this in school.
I’ll bet you attended school back when they had home economics classes! What a great idea to teach this in schools! I am going to pray about teaching it in Christian schools and/ or churches… Thank you for the idea 😄
@@karenhanson8004 That's a great idea!
As a 26 yr old mom of a 4 month old, you have helped me so much! I was raised in a clutter home and my mom was always stressful. They collect but don’t let go. I like your rule “if it’s not a definite YES than it’s a NO.” These rules are life changing for me and all of your advice. Going through your Declutter in 15 minutes a day book checklist that is my Mother in law’s.
I like the rules but I like verses that help me too.
I'm inspired to memorize Luke 12:15 right now while I declutter and get organized. " And he said, Take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Also Ecc.3 specifically vs.6 has been a help to me in the past with cleaning/ decluttering or moving.
"A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;"
Thanks for the tips.
Use it or loose it! I find myself saying this multiples times a day now. I have something I say when it’s sentimental but just sitting tucked away. “I can’t take it with me.”
...my children are grown adults with children of their own...
Younger moms, you are very blessed to have a mentor like Dawn! Thank you for being mothers; you & your families make our world better! Take a digital picture of 'sentimental' items, let it go - share it! Then, visit it online anytime you want or make a flash. As well, bless your items for the next steward of your inventory. Today's love is what truly counts, not our things. ♡
These are great, thanks Dawn! 🥰 My household's go-to rule is: "You can only move 1 thing to get to the thing you need." It keeps us from making tall or deep stacks of stuff in closets and drawers, and is a constant reminder to let something go when something new comes into the house. I so appreciated this when we had an epic ice storm last week - there was no stress of digging thru bins to find those warm hats & gloves, YakTrax, etc. when we needed them.
Hi ! Melanie from A Hoarders Heart said that we get a dopamine hit when we put things in our cart. Now when I shop in a store I put things in my cart and walk around. I find I put most of the stuff back.
Also I had a minor flood in our basement and it was so freeing! I didn’t have to choose what to throw away. Not that I’m recommending it!😂
Hi Dawn, I’ve been watching you for 6 months and you have changed my whole life as a wife and mother of 5. We were able to declutter so much that we turned a storage section of our basement into a living space!!! Your theories and principals stick with me and I find myself referring to them when I go to clean out another drawer or closet!
You have changed my life so much.
I’m 62 and have struggled in the past getting rid of anything I brought or was given.
I am relearning that it’s ok to get of things and it’s not the end of the world.
“If it’s not a definite yes, it’s a no”. This rule has helped me over many decluttering decision hurdles!
Dawn "The Minimal Mom" has made a huge impact on my life. I talk to my Mum and say " Dawn says this..." and she knows 😊
I never realized how stressful just getting dressed in the morning was for me. My highly simplified closet means I can quickly choose one thing out of 5 or 6 favorites rather than plowing through an overstuffed closet or drawer full of things that were just ok. It's such a gift to myself each morning!
Thanks for sharing your favourite tips. We recently paired down our kids wardrobe in a major way. I instructed them to choose 5 tops and 5 bottoms, and I was surprised by how easy this process was for them and how quickly they decided which were their favourite clothes to wear. I was also surprised with how happy our kids felt since decluttering their wardrobe. Laundry is easier, getting dressed is easier, and it just makes their room feel nicer overall!
I’ve just done exactly the same with my daughter. Feel like a weight’s been lifted. She has special needs so all the decisions about what she wears are mine too. I didn’t realise this was overwhelming me. I already have a very minimal wardrobe myself. I’ve had to ask family not to buy any clothes for her going forward. I’ve asked them to maybe gift experiences as treats instead. Little gift cards and the like. I had to get rid of so many nice clothes. Doing this meant I could get the massive wardrobe out of her small room. Then decided to redecorate etc. Her room looks so calm and beautiful now. She seems happy and relaxed in there.😊
@@Chrissyhappy that's amazing! I also am moving away from material gifts as well. The more gifts received, the more inventory I have to manage. Now if only I could figure out how to reduce the flow of stuff that the rest of the family brings in, especially all the kids random things they pick up or find (do they really need to grow their rock collection?! 😜)
I am trying to declutter my kids clothes as well. I have 7 kids. It's so overwhelming trying to keep up with all the clothes. Doesn't help that my boys won't stop going through them and changing constantly 🤦🏼♀️
I love the idea of a ten item wardrobe. I’m getting rid of most of my clothes soon!
Not that long ago I realized that when something gets broken and I don’t get upset…it was a sign I didn’t need it, and had too much stuff. When I’m decluttering I try to remember to ask myself “would I care if this broke?”
As always ~ messages from the heart. This is why you resonate with so many. Thanks Dawn!
Thank you for continuing to inspire me to declutter and to not bring home things I don’t need. My home runs like a well oiled machine now because of your advice. I’ve have literally saved THOUSANDS And saved HUNDREDS OF HOURS not having to manage the extra things. You’ve given me extra time with my family and for that, I’m forever grateful. Thank you.
Today is a present, bring your best self, you're worth it! Wear the fancy clothes, shoes, use the special handbag! Do what makes you happy!
Yes! By keeping the "special occasion" things unused, after years of this I am sick and tired of looking at them on the shelf or hanging in my closet. Sad thing I never got to enjoy them so using them if I am tired of them is no longer special.
I have just started this journey...I'm 72, still working full time because all this "amazing stuff that I just had to have" cost me money! Now I'm spending precious retirement years paying off plastic...and I'm disgusted with myself. So it's time to take my home back!!! I so enjoy your
me with encouragement and hope. God Bless you!!!❤ I've given myself 2024 to make the first pass through. I'm quickly realizing that decluttering for me will require more than one trip through my mind boggling mess! Wish me luck and please keep the awesome content coming!!! Love ya back...
Sometimes I would feel guilty about throwing away half used lotions or body care items… So I came up with this rule: if it’s going to be trash anyways, (and the main reason to keep
It is to “use it up,”) why not throw it away now
And also if it can easily be replaced, let it go- i’m so proud I came up with this rule on my own before I read anything about it
thanks Dawn! good stuff still and again! I have a funny(?) "spontaneous combustion" story.. there was a wildfire that caused us to have to evacuate within 2 hours not knowing if we would have a house to return to. . Hubs and I walked around the house and asked "can we live without this?" for most of our possessions ... Mostly the answer was yes, we can. And its AMAZING what we didn't try to take with us. After we returned to our home 2+weeks later, I REALLY got in to decluttering! I'm SO MUCH happier/calmer/freer now. Cheers!
"Everything in your home should serve you in some way."
This reversed the role I was in, where I endlessly slaved over my household everyday, giving my all to the point of utter exhaustion in the futile attempt to maintain order in a house over-stuffed with "useful" objects that weren't serving me at all.
Thank you so much, Dawn, for every cheery word of encouragement and every drop of wisdom that has refilled my cup.
We're retired now and are enjoying traveling. The rule I'm using most these days is: Will my kids want or use this?.We don't want stuff to be a burden on them later on. We've already talked to them about the 3 really meaningful items that we have and told them why they mean so much.
I need to carve out time to just start. I've been listening and watching for awhile. I have two littles and work from home and i just know the feeling of drowning will end as I simplify. 😂
Hey Dawn :D The thing that has helped me most is giving stuff away. If it is a good item I consider who might "need" the item or even "want" the item and I just give it away. Then I tell myself "it must have been purchased for them....not me" LOL I feel satisfaction and zero guilt. Also I use the Pray before you Pay rule - this helps me with the impulse purchases.
I recently was overwhelmed when we received stuff from two donors. I couldn't use most of it but have been able to bless others. While it's frustrating to get stuff others think I can use. Having that outlook, helped me endure the stuff laying around for a little bit while it's new owners picked it up.
I’m calling this the “I’m not in high school anymore” rule. Often I’m influenced to buy the trendy/cool/hot new items. I ask myself would you STILL want this item if NO ONE ever knew you owned it? It really helps me reflect on whether I love an item or I’m trying to be the “cool” one and impress people. I don’t need to be cool anymore!!!
I forgot how helpful the spontaneous combustion rule is!! And my husband (lovingly and helpfully!) quotes the $20 in 20 mins rule (just the other day for an old water bottle I was holding onto for ‘just in case’!) …further to these favourites I value verbally processing in the store where something new coming in will live, who will look after it, whether it will add value later down the line. Helps so much with impulse purchases. Someone once said ‘I can know and enjoy that something exists in the world without having to buy it’. I often say this when passing cute kids toys or dress up stuff to help me not just wanna own it all!
Dawn, tonight my partner and I went through the food pantry. It really needed some help. It's not really meant for foods! It was designed to be a laundry cabinet, but we live in a 825 sq foot apt, so we make do. It was a HUGE win to say, lets spend 10 minutes on this ok? But then 10 min turned into like an hour because we got really excited about how nice it was looking :D And we even found this auto off and on strip of light that can be recharged through USB. And, we found an outlet in there! After much rearranging, we made this laundry cabinet turned into pantry space looking FIERCE. & We feel so fancy & adult opening the slider doors & the light automatically turns on :D
Shop your house. I.E. Just prior to pantry cleaning I wanted to make some white beans and I knew I had cans but didn't know where ^.^ (this was the catalyst of the evening), and mid way through 2 cans of white beans had the audacity to show themselves. LOL
Welp. It's all an experience, you know :)
2nd win: I use Mint Mobile. & I buy older phones because I just don't need the fancy high priced ones. Well, last week I managed to yeet my phone off somewhere into the unknown one busy morning coming out of third shift, and haven't seen it or located it since. So, instead of buying a whole new phone, I found one in my apt that I had bought only 2 years ago, called, & it can be compatible w/ the SIM card requirements. So now I don't have to pay anything to replace my phone!
It's been a busy but very productive week. Thanks for letting me share some good news.
Hi Dawn one of the greatest perks I have found about decluttering my spaces regularly is that I know the inventory of my stuff, what I have and where it is so that I can shop my house first before buying something new. 😊
I even still use small cardboard boxes for drawer dividers and it makes me happy to repurpose things I already own.
One of my tricks is to approach this as an experiment. TRY IT. Commit to living with these ideas for 1 to 6 months. If you know you can return to a messy living hovel if you REALLY miss that, then what is the harm in "pretending to live like Dawn" for a while? It's not a permanent choice IF you don't want it to be. TRY IT, then after time passes you will know if it improves your life or if you miss being buried by your stuff. Our stuff shoudl SERVE us not RULE us.
I often ask myself if I would buy this item today. That question works especially well when declutterring clothes and shoes. I love the container concept for kid items (clothes, treasures, books, etc). Kids went to keep everything and the boundary really helps them.
I've been finding it really tempting to buy home decor. Instead, I've been re-arranging rooms and moving decor that wasn't working in one room into the other. Rearranging plants/ pictures and things like that. I may be causing a little chaos but decorating is a process and sometimes the answer is already in the things you own just in a different layout! :)
I love your videos. I've been a minimalist for about 3 years, and still working on it! I love it when people come into our home and say how nice it is!!
Same here. People come into my home and always say they feel relaxed and calm and comfortable. 😊
People think my house is super clean, it’s really just spare, which looks cleaner! And no where for dirt to hide!
I grew up with the "Time will tell" rule. Basically if we wanted our parents to get us something big, they would say that if we still wanted it in 3 - 6 months then they would get it. The two things that have helped me in the past year since I've really started decluttering is the Container Concept and permission to just throw it away. I still donate a lot and give things away in my Buy Nothing group, but on days and weeks that I just can't handle that, I can just throw it away. So freeing.
Thanks for the motivation today. We're a big family of nine Mom Dad kids from 3 years old to 18-year-olds old all living at home. I just counted all the towels. We have 48 possibly more hiding in the house. So now I've got it down to one pool towel for each person and two other towels for each person. So 27 it's progress!
Quit buying random things is my best advice. Easier said than done.
I try to *actively appreciate* my space when it is simplified/decluttered so I can “bank” that good feeling and remember it as I’m going along and hit roadblocks. It’s akin to remembering the “why” of what you’re trying to accomplish. “Why am I trying to declutter?” Opens mental bank and pulls out good feeling…) “Oh, right, that’s why!” 😊❤😊
My children never went to a school, as I homeschooled them their entire childhood (many years ago). What I found was that our house was often overwhelming because of the toys, crafts, books, school material, etc. If I lived my life again, I would have divested myself of probably 80% of the items- we simply did not/could not use all that stuff. Presently I have been “Swedish Death Cleaning” my house and I really appreciate the encouragement I get from you to let go of so many things- thank you!
When Back packers cut the handle of the tooth brush off, or tear out the cardboard in the toilet paper roll, to make their packs lighter, it can seem silly. But all those tiny things add up and make the pack pounds lighter. So as I clean a drawer, I'm looking for things I don't use. It may only be a piece of paper, but more often it is a small pile that I declutter. I really feel the things add up and make my mental journey lighter.
Yes! "Every ounce counts" as my grown-up backpacking children say... and even that broken pen, or sticky notes that are so old they don't stick, or the batteries that need to be recycled: getting rid of them counts! 😊
My "current-season-of-life" self is having a much-needed talk w/ my "fantasy" self in regards to craft items...aka USE IT OR LOSE IT!! ❤️😉
The rule I find nost helpful is the container concept and, going hand in hand with that, the 1 in,1 out rule. It took 2 years, but my house is easy now, and I'm never going back.
My rule: no more than three things on a horizontal surface. Yes, that includes the kitchen counter. Before I go to bed at night, I clear everything that doesn't belong and return to my three things (examples: lamp (1), book (2), ceramic dove (3); computer (1), printer (2) coaster (3)). It forces me to rethink storage, visual clutter... so helpful!
Due to health problems my weight fluctuates regularly. It drives me nuts when it comes to keeping clothes that don't fit. I realized that I can ask myself, "If I become this size again, would I WANT to wear this again?" That has allowed me to get rid of some blah clothes in storage.
Same here. I love your suggestion and am going to adopt it! ❤
I like the rules but I like verses that help me too.
I'm inspired to memorize Luke 12:15 right now while I declutter and get organized. " And he said, Take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Also Ecc.3 specifically vs.6 has been a help to me in the past with cleaning/ decluttering or moving.
"A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;"
Thanks for the tips.
Hey Dawn, thank you. You and your friends and ideas have changed my life and many others around here. Been at it for a bit over a year and have managed to purge like 70% of our stuff. 90% in some areas and 50% in others. It is a gradual process to keep going and maintain. We find now with stronger decluttering muscles, it will only be thrown later, so just do it. And, while the creep does continue in some areas, it’s easier to stay on top of. It is harder to replace things now though. I tend to wear worn out favourites instead seeking new versions.😂 My rule or clutter creep question continues to be, why was this so hard to put it away? Then I investigate and fix the problem.
I like Nike's slogan 'Just Do it!' - I use it all the time, 'cause nothing is as hard as we all make it out to be. So, Just Do it! Just get rid of it! Just take it upstairs! Just clean it now! Just pick it up! Just throw it out! Just donate it! Just don't worry about it!
Many many years ago, my mom gave me a piece of decor. I liked it but found that as I decluttered and downsized, I really didn’t need it. Someone suggested taking a picture of it along side a picture of my mom who passed away 6 years ago. However, now, my heart hurts when I see the picture. 😢😢. I miss it that decor. I regret that decision. It had such a strong tie to my mom, that I didn’t realize how much it meant to me. 😢😢. So when deciding to give something away that your mom gave you, think of how you will feel after she is no longer with you. I miss my mom everyday. 😢😢.
Are you able to go to Walmart, and have the picture, in their Photo Department, reproduced on their 'canvas' wall art, ... then you can hang the picture on your wall...Whether it is the actual decor piece, or a picture of it on your wall, you can remember your mom, the happy times, the good memories... You miss your mom, not the item... your mom meant a lot to you - not the item! So even if you don't do anything with the picture... think of something that makes you smile everyday in memory of her...
@@DH-qz2so I actually feel bad when I see the picture of it but you are right, I miss my mom. I still have things she gave me. And I have gotten rid of others. Just this particular one. And I do want to put out there that Dawn was the first minimalist channel I found and she and others have helped me so very much. I used to be super stressed about all that we had. My life has changed for the better with all the decluttering I have done! Just the items from one’s mother, to be careful when removing.
You don’t need to keep the physical possession in order to remember your mom…. She’s always in your mind and heart. You can also remember the item often! We think when we hang onto an item, it will lesson the pain, but the item actually brings back the pain.
@@Itallnewso true ❤
I'm so sorry for your loss 😢❤. And for the pain you feel as you regret that decision to get rid of the decor piece. For me photos of items are no help at all, worse than useless. I know many people feel differently and that's fine. But sometimes all we can do is feel our feelings, if that makes sense... recognize and move through those times of pain and regret... I miss my precious father every day. He's been gone over 10 years. It does get better. God bless and comfort you 🙏 ❤
With the "Wait for It" rule, a saying that works for me is - "If it's a good idea today, it will be a good idea tomorrow". I used to impulse buy and now I remind myself of this and it has helped me take space to assess if I really need or want something.
I love Dana K White's concepts: Keep only what fits in the designated container, the positive value of empty space, having a spot for my ongoing donations box, and the rule of thumb that if a space keeps getting out of control that means it still has too much stuff. Thank you Dawn and Dana! You've both and a HUGE impact on my life. ☺️💕
The questions that work for me are: If this broke/got lost would I buy it again? If this fell in mud, would I spend time trying to clean it or just throw it away?
Thank you Dawn for always beating this drum. I'll be 60 in a few months and while I have decluttered a lot, thanks to your inspiration, but I do have room for improvement. I also think a generation or so ago homes just didn't seem to have so much stuff. We are truly a consumer driven culture. Keep up the good work! God bless you!
I was paralyzed to decluttering after I made a mistake, but then looking back I replaced the item with something that worked much better for our family. After a long time, I have come back to decluttering and I'm on a bender and things feel soo much better now!
Dawn, Great video. Since we started watching your videos, we rarely buy things that we're going to have to manage long term. I've wanted a nativity for the past few yrs & I finally found one I love this yr. It's all one piece & very simple. Keep up the great work. 😊
Thank you for the continued encouragement. When I was packing my suitcase recently to visit family in US it did really make me think about what are my favourite toiletries, clothes & shoes. Now back home de cluttering asking myself - “am I using this or storing it?”😊
This video was great. My idea was… and you snuck it in in the last few minutes… shop your house first.
I needed a toothbrush holder in bathroom. Found a mug in kitchen i wasn’t using. Perfect color match too!
Needed a floor lamp for computer area. Switched some around in other parts of the house.
Had too much furniture in living room but could use one piece (chair) in office. I now use it!
Also. When i feel the need to declutter (i am pretty simplified) I do 5 things per room and it goes right to Goodwill that same week.
Thanks Dawn. P.S. if you remember me, the pennies are GONE. 😂
I don't have children and decluttering my modest home is liberating. I think a component to decluttering and letting go relates to we don't want to admit we make a purchasing mistake. Consequently, we try to make it (the wrong purchase) work. For me, it took over a year to declutter: A stand up Kitchen Aid Mixer and the hutch to place it on, gadgets, a cedar chest filled with sheets, bakeware, clothing, unmatched dishes, pots, pans, decor, pillows, books, my college books too, I could go on and on but I am a new person for it.
I love that these gentle, direction guiding tips are helpful no matter how far you take them. I think that's what is so resonating to us. I'm not a minimalist to 100% but somewhere around 50-60% yet I benefit from your videos just as much! Alright, taking the motivation I have now, I'm tackling my pajama drawer! Yay!
You have a pajama drawer?? How many do you need😊
@user-ex4mp1ug4y We live in a 4 season area of the country.
Ahhh, I have a pajama drawer too lol😂! I’m going to go through it tonight!!
"Minimalism insurance". Dawn, that is brilliant!