I will fight for you - so my son wrote in 2004. No one in our family would have known that that would come true. On September 28, 2005, my son (21) and 4 others were KIA in Iraq when their Bradley Fighting Vehicle exploded due to hitting an IED. He also wrote that freedom is not free. On TH-cam, you can find this poem under Sgt. Eric Slebodnik. He was willing to fight for our freedom. Thank you for your inspiration.😊
I am SO THANKFUL for you. Your videos helped me declutter about 4 years ago. I've been able to maintain that by continuing to watch your videos. I was diagnosed with cancer about 15 months ago. Having decluttered made my life SO MUCH EASIER while undergoing chemo and radiation. On really sick days, I was able to look around and realize that all I was getting behind on was dusting, vacuuming, and laundry. All those things can be done quickly as I have nothing to dust around and nothing to pick up before vacuuming.... Long story short, battling cancer last year was SO MUCH EASIER as I could focus more on my recovery without stressing about the house. So...... I just wanted to drop a big THANK YOU. ❤
As a cancer survivor myself, both breast & uterine, I understand your battle. Sending you kind thoughts and wishes that as time passes you will be completely healed. God bless you.
Thank-you for sharing this. I often think that it is important to have a handle on our home so if challenging events come, we’re in a better position to cope.
Wonderful and thoughtful video. Our ten year old daughter died 40 years ago. My husband didn't want to get rid of anything. I slowly and quietly gave away most of her things. A few years ago I decided to give away her things. It took me a year to go through her belongings because it was so painful. A little bit at a time. I did keep a few things of hers, but most of the items someone else is enjoying now. Especially the doll babies, I'm sure little girls are enjoying them. ❤
My whole life I have been teased and judged for having a messy room and car. I didn't find out until I was in college that I had ADD and Anxiety Disorder. In the last few years social media has made me feel more normal because they often talk about doom piles and clutter and ADD. The problem is... That doesn't help in the long term. Since I discovered your videos a little over a week ago I already feel soooooo much better because I feel normal AND less overwhelmed because I have gotten rid of half my stuff. I am not done but I am on my way and it's been amazing ❤️ thankyou ❤️
I also have Anxiety Disorder. Also, with the help of this wonderful site, I have gotten rid (let go of) of at least half of my positions. I miss absolutely nothing and feel unbelievably better. ❣️
For me, I feel like the normalising of the doom piles and clutter is helpful in that it helped me accept they are thing that happens to folks with ADD and ADHD. I realised I didn't need to feel shame about them and that others understood my struggles. But then videos like the one above helped me to take action to make changes so I have less clutter and fewer doom piles to deal with :)
Ha!! I havent been diagnosed but have similar challenges with overwhelm at my situation that started in 2015 when had horrible fatigue from Lyme. Still challenged with limitations but try to push thru. In my mind I know what to do, but I dont have the stamina to bang it out in 1 or 2 day.. oh how I wish I could just conquer the house already! But I refuse to give up. I know body doubling is powerful for me.. and the declutter days with you have helped but I still have big areas to conquer. Sign me up and lets get to work!!
When my husband passed away it was months before I could THINK about letting things go. Some things were easier to let go than others. There were items that I couldn’t let go for about 18 months. I still have a few things nearly 8 years later but I’m finally ready. All I can say is it takes time and you should take that time. Grief has no set schedule. Be kind to yourself. ❤
My deliberation station is called "the clearance rack" for items I want to declutter. My friends know they can have anything in the "clearance rack". It also gives me time to declutter and collect and decide before removing from my life. Love you and your energy. Thank you for you. 😊
If it's on the clearance rack, you've decided it's leaving. I thought it was like a holding space, where I dithered about if I wanted to keep it? Did I misunderstand, or are you just more decisive than me?
Myself and my 9 year old twin boys “hushed” their room yesterday and they loooove it! They got rid of so much stuff. Way more than if we did a regular decluttering session! Thank you!!
Years ago when my sister and I were shopping we renamed the cart as the "think tank"! We would put whatever we want in the cart, but before check out we would go through each idea to see if we still wanted it, or needed it! Often times we put most, if not all the things back! We got to dream a bit about all of the things we thought we wanted, and had fun shopping together, but left with only the things that passed the test!
Just combo decluttered/hushed my 12yo's whole room with them. We pulled everything out, cleaned, then only brought back in the things they wanted to keep. Amazing! I stayed neutral, positive, and didn't question them. I was shocked how much they let go of. Now, they say their room is amazing, open, and free. It'll be a great space especially while they are home all day for the summer.
My mum took us everywhere but the day of my 16th birthday she picked me up at lunch at school. I went to the DMV took the test. She had me drop her off at home and said I’m not driving you anywhere else ever again. Great day for us both.
I'm in my early seventies and have decluttered to the point of "cozy minimalism", beyond needing the wonderful support you provide, though I continue to be inspired by it. I have more than a few friends my age and older who want to clear the stuff from their homes but are struggling to part with collections , china, antiques, etc. Though some current TH-cam content regarding minimalism and decluttering overlaps into this season of life (and I think I've viewed the content from most of you lovely people). I think there is a need for targeted help for seniors. I am not able to help them because of the particular, individual connections (and perceived value) they have with their stuff, They want to part with the plethora of items but are stuck. They think it must go to a "good home" and such. There is a market on TH-cam for help for seniors.
love the words "perceived value." As a person who finds decluttering easy (and almost fun), it helps me put into perspective -- and thus aleviate frustration -- as I try to help a friend who needs to seriously declutter in order to move to assisted living. She finds perceived value in a broken hanger to the point where I want to pull my hair out. "Value" is individual. To really help her, I have to understand where she's coming from. Thank you.
@@Lisa-ee5ev it's difficult to convey the feeling of freedom (and fun) in letting go to our friends who are stuck. They don't see it the way we do. I wish you and your friend very well.
@@Lisa-ee5evIt sounds like she has a hoarder complex. There's a difference between someone who collected figurines years ago when they actually were valuable and someone who can't let go of broken garbage. That's a whole different level.
It was interesting to go to rummage sales yesterday and see how many collections were not selling. Roosters, China, vases, Christmas ornaments, etc. Beautiful items but nobody was buying them. At one time those things were in every home, in some way, shape or form. Now they are up for sale at rummage sales and are barely getting touched. I think that’s hard for the older generation to perceive.
@@edennis8578 Yes, but it's complicated. Broken hangers are obviously trash, but when do multiple sets of china, crystal, figurines, clothing, etc. cross the line? It's in the eye of the hoarder...Um I mean collector.. It's all stuff and dollar value is what the market will bear which is usually a lot less than people think. I am the daughter of antiques dealers/collectors. maybe that's why I've become averse to collecting.
#1. I love your videos…I can’t not even say enough about them. You are a very common topic at our house, all of my family knows you by name. I’m pretty sure my smallest child will be an innate minimalist because he’s heard you since he was in the womb 😂 #2. I have a friend who is a hoarder but she won’t throw anything away and she won’t give anything to someone if they aren’t interested. She is elderly and in bad health. She needs to clean up so…as terrible as it sounds I started acting interested in her items and then taking them straight to donate or trash depending on what it was. She was so happy to give it and I gently removed it from her house to the donate center.
#2. My mom is a hoarder. I do the same thing. I figure if I just take it and throw it out, it will be less to do when I eventually have to deal with all of it.
Sorry you're in that situation. I think there's a time to do what you're doing, so don't feel bad unless your motives are somehow questionable. Sometimes people are in a season of life, especially near the end, where they just aren't going to overcome their attachments, so what you're doing is easing their current suffering.
??i am completing my fourth move in three years. The first movwas long distance and I asked the question "would I pay a dollar a pound to move this?". Now I am in my forever home and I'm still sorting out little things . If I haven't missed the item in 3 years it either goes to donate or trash. Thanks for all the advice.
On the topic of paying your kids $5 for a box of things to donate, I used to TRADE my kids $1 (in the 90s) for their school award restaurant gift certificates. We enjoyed some of them, but to go to a sit down restaurant was expensive for the others of us who had to take them there. Often the kids would rather have the money than get an ice cream cone that they could get at home anyway. It was less for me to manage timewise and budgetwise as well as help my kids learn to manage their money.
Thank you Dawn. You are such a sweet encourager and provide valuable information and guidance. That is AWESOME-are we living a life worth dying for?🇺🇸👏🙌🏻👍
Today is Sat May 28th. I just found a huge crate of patriotic decorations, tablecloths, etc. It was buried in my extra closet under what I thought was sewing and crafts. My neighbors and I used to do wonderful holiday cookouts, with decorations, and I saved these for the next year. Next year is long past and I just rushed these red white and blue, flags, lights, etc, etc, to the charity shop up the street. Just in time for July 4th, if not for this Monday, Memorial Day! I hope someone is going to have a blast with these. 🇺🇸✌️
I just signed up from Scotland, watching this back while my 12mth old sleeps on my arm like a koala. I cleared out a storage unit I rented the week she was born & having to make some drastic decisions to ensure she has lots of room to grow. I'm a marathoner by nature but am going to need to sprint! X
I just visited Scotland :) Loved it! I was mostly in the highlands and a few islands, and the Inverness / Aviemore area was my favorite. (I'm in SW Missouri)
I love your videos! I started watching your videos two years ago. Looking at positives…9/39/22 I hit a deer, spent 11/30/22-12/26/23 in rehab. My whole apartment became a time will tell bin. I am grateful for many things, it was such a kick starter for me!!! I employ the 5 -15 minute clean constantly. Thank you for ALL the tips and ideas❤️❤️❤️
Dawn, I ordered Mat Paxton’s book while listening to you!! I have been decluttering for past 8 years and can heartily agree that clutter does create chaos!!! Love your channel, love love your content!!♥️♥️♥️ Have a great weekend working your garden!!
I love rewatching this video! I have a three story home, three small kids, one homeschooler, multiple disabilities and differences and I have moved over 25 times in the same number of years. I declutter daily and always before AND after a move! It doesn’t have to be monumental. A drawer can be picked away at while you wait on hold or boil water for oatmeal. Holy socks, old t-shirts, stained tea towels can be tossed when you pull stuff out of the dryer to be folded. Kids books can be dropped in little free libraries in your way to the grocery store. Refrigerator artwork and expired condiments can be moved to the trash bin when you are making school lunches. Dawn, you are such an inspiration and encouragement! How can we see you speak in person?!
I had so many plans for this weekend and a virus had other plans. But while watching this I cleaned up a small area by my bed ! Thanks for the inspiration!
I was holding onto some baby items thinking I could sell them. I gave up and donated them. It felt so good to let it all go and I’m praying the people who need those items will find them! I’m still hunting the house to get rid of things.
I joined the summer Olympics last year and joined facebook again specifically for the event. I loved being able to see all the different groups on my “news” feed. It was extra motivation and transformed the platform from a distraction to a place to find inspiration and new ideas! Highly recommend!
I know most non-military people don't realize it, but please never say happy memorial day. For the military men and women who lost friends and battle, it is the most horrible and saddest day of the year
Thank you! I am in the middle of a food making, laundry catch up, three day weekend for my family of four. This was just what I needed to listen to while making a triple batch of blueberry muffins for the freezer and putting away clothes. The summer declutter looks tempting.
For socks, I keep a shoe box near where I fold and labeled it "lost socks." If I get to the end of folding and find that some socks got separated, I throw them in there. Usually, after another couple loads their matches show up and I do a quick check in the lost sock box for any matches. If there are any single socks that have sat there for a while, I throw them away.
Thanks for another fantastic video.... love listening to you. Your voice is like "Pavlo Dogs" for me. I hear you and automatically feel like cleaning and or clearing things 🙂. Love you too
I live full time in a bus converted to a tiny house. The best things that helped me downsize was to move into a studio apartment 10 months before I moved into the bus. I went so far as to tape out my future living space on the floor of the apartment sounds I really understood how much more I had to declutter. The move was sort of a happy accident, but it really did help.
Great video! I have watched a LOT of decluttering videos and one thing I haven't seen is how to deal with sets that have pieces scattered, or things I would donate but I can't find the remote, or situations like that. I get really, really hung up on things like this. I was ready to get rid of my sewing machine. I had it out and ready to donate. My kids played with it and lost an important small piece and I spent a lot of time looking for the piece. Finally, it got accidentally donated by my son and then I found the instruction manual and missing piece later. I even went to the thrift store to try to find the machine, but that was a waste of time. This kind of thing drives me crazy! We have a LOT of really nice games and puzzles and my kids and I are willing to get rid of about half of them (or more!), but many of the pieces are scattered about and it will be so difficult for me if I toss them and then find the pieces later. Also, nice vintage jewelry that is tarnished or tangled. I think it's too valuable to throw out but I am pretty sure the thrift store will just toss it out because it's tarnished & tangled! Please help! I am really ready to declutter a ton this summer, but I struggle so much with these hang ups!
I have pared down the things from my childhood so that it all fits in one storage tote. I am turning 68 so some of these things are around 50 years old. My plan is to take pictures of them to be put in a scrapbook before getting rid of them. It is just a couple stuffed animals that are losing their fur; a little white fur purse, a doll baby that I must have loved because she has been mended - a lot, and a set of Hansel and Gretel dolls. My Raggedy Ann & Andy dolls are going to a great niece along with a miniature set of dishes for her little girl. Nobody wants any of this stuff and I don't see any sense in hanging on to it just for somebody else to put it in a dumpster when I am gone... My biggest problem is what to do with my brothers things. He died in 1960 after serving in Korea. There isn't anybody in the family that remembers or knew him but me and the one sister I have left and he will be 91 in October. I also have things from my Mother, who died in 1999. That is the hardest things to part with. I haven't decided what to do with her things either. It isn't a lot, but it was Mother's...
I’m signed up for summer ❤. For some of us this is a very slow process and the #1 take away from everything I’ve learned. Decluttering as much as possible before you move. I moved a year ago and moved a lot of undecided items and they have already left but I still have too much 😪 looking forward to summer sessions and reaching my comfort zone with stuff. I realize that as you get less you want less and I know now what level I will be comfortable with!
Dawn, thank you for sharing about Gage. My son was like that when he was young, and he has sentimental feelings for a lot of stuff at age 24. Since he is an only child, and I did not have boundaries, and we have a lot of storage space in our house, we have a lot of his stuff. He is married, and they live in a small apartment, so it's not the time to tell him to take it. I wish I had done better on decluttering, especially his stuff from early on, but I didn't. You are doing well with Gage.
@@dianasimplifies I've decided to have him take his notebooks from classes the next time he visits. One step at a time. Were you ok with your mom doing that?
@@janethunt4037 yes I was. It wasn't that much stuff but I let it pile up instead of dealing with it. That was the unfortunate part. But that wasn't my mom's fault.
@@dianasimplifies Thanks for sharing. I'm concerned about making my son mad. My relationship with him is more important than the space. We have plenty of storage space. Your story encourages me that he will be ok.
I love this idea. I don’t know if you have a group clean out this like this in the winter. During the summer I spend so much time on my land and do vacations with the fam.
Thank you, Dawn!!! Just the motivation I was looking for this morning to push through decluttering the current area I’m working on in my home. Your info and joy are so helpful!
Dawn, thank you for all of your wonderful content! Would you consider doing a segment on what you take camping? Maybe what you use to store or contain the things you use in your camper kitchen? Thanks for considering it!❤
Hi Dawn, Id love if you could touch on tools and screws, wood/other materials, and all those little bits that come with building, owning a property, being creative, fixing stuff - how much do you keep here? Eould you mind touching this topic just as an inspiration? ❤
Just make pictures digital. My husband loves pictures and looks through them often. He knows there are hundreds missing from his mom's collection and she passed away. He is super upset about it. I scan everything now. Even people I don't remember because he will remember them
Oh my gosh, the question about moving! One of my close friends just downsized from a single family home, and I told her so. many. times. to declutter before she moved. But what did she do? Packed up allllll of that clutter and moved it right into the next place. It was painful for me to watch. 🙄😩
@TanaKelton - when throwing away stuff PLEASE ask your mentor teacher or another teacher on your team. You can get in huge trouble if you throw away something that is district owned
For the question about socks... I have a small clear bin near our entrance are for kids socks. A couple years ago i got eid of all kids socks and bought the kind they like now i throw them in bin when i do laundry they grab when they are putting on shoes. we have received cartoon character socks for a bday gift last year for one of the kids and i put them in there too. The other kids know who's they are and ask to wear sometime s . When i had different size socks for different kids i had two bins for that short time.
My Time Will Tell place is a shelf in my laundry cupboard and it works really well. When it's full it's time to glance at it all as I let the stuff go....xxx
It's called tame your silent to-do list. It published earlier this week and even just mentioning it on here makes me feel incredibly vulnerable. I have no idea how TH-camrs deal with it.
I keep one amazon box for this reason in a spare bedroom. It gives me a dopamine rush to declutter and then if I'm stuck on something I can put it in the box and wait but I rarely miss something
Oh my goodness, photos. My Dad moved 32 labeled photo albums to our up north place. It's kind of sad because my Mom carefully put them together and my sister and I both agree that we could not care less about them. The sheer number of them makes us not want to wade through them at all. Even at the risk of missing out on something really interesting.
What if you rethink what your mom did as the first level of decluttering? Now you can go through an album each month and choose 5 photos that recall cherished memories and toss the rest. Now those 160 photos go into 1-2 photo albums, whether physical or digital. This is what I've finally decided to do with my plethora of photos.
Hey! I’d love to join this challenge. My time to focus on decluttering is every other week this summer for 2-3 day stretches. I believe I could be a sprinter but need to know where you think I’d fit best Dawn!
Studies show clutter causes stress but I think sometimes, or for some people it’s the other way around! How much of our clutter is due to our stress? Until we address our mental health we can struggle with decluttering!
I did the Olympics last Summer and had an amazing time! I've sold my house since then and live in a pretty minimal apartment. The idea of joining the group sounds great but I don't know how much I can benefit. I'm waffling. Any advice?
Yes, Dawn I mived recently and I heard your voice in my head all the way through the packing. I decluttered soooo much while packing, it was amazing. It aas definately so much easier to do when I thought "where am I going to put this ?" We moved from having an over sized 2 car garage to not having any garage. Now we do have a storage shed we share with oyr son on his property and I could've just loaded everything in there but, i said absolutely not doing that! In our half i only have some furniture and our daughter in Virginia storage (which i want to deliver to her someday) Any how i want you to know that you saved me from "moving stored items" i either gave to people or donated. Only moving what we would use in our new rental. Niw, that doesn't mean i am decluttered to my comfort yet, not even but at least anything that was in the garage with exception of Christmas and husbands tools is no longer in my possession!!!
It’s so harsh, I see myself as a minimalist but I have sooo much stuff 😂 I’ve been real minimalist before and I’m going back there but woah! takes so much energy…
The group sounds great. I'd be a marathoner. But I'm in Australia, the day is over when y'all are getting started. Also, we are coming into Winter here and it's getting cold. Idk if it would work for me?
I can honestly say that putting items in the donation box. I feel joy when I put items in the donation box. My goal is 10 items a day for the month of May..
?? I'm a nester. I sit in the same spot to do everything. So I zoned. Now my papers, books, shoes, computer, crochet, phone, purse, pens, are all piled next to my chair. This is the first thing people see when they step into the house. What can I do?
Dawn, I’m trying to figure out where to make my Deliberation Station. I live in a small house like you with a family of five with no garage or spare room. That seems to be my sticking point moving from the piles of things I want to get tried of to finally getting it out of the house.
This is so funny. I just moved. As I unpacked anything I wasn't sure where to put went on a separate table (made from a pair of folding TV tables and a board). The spot was visible from everywhere I loiter in the apartment. I could see everything to think about where it might live, or swapping it with something that already had a home, or just to group things that I need to purchase homes for.
????? I am really intrigued by minimalism and by simplification, I have watched you and Clutterbug and I love it and I want to do more but I do not know where to start on that journey. Do you have a jump start list of books to read, starting tips, how to get the family in on it, etc. Also where can I join your $15 a month club for help?
Every time our family comes upon something frightening or “hopeless,” my first instinct is to tidy and clean. That’s what I called it before I learned that decluttering was a thing!
He wants to watch the wedding video if you die. Or thinks the kids may want to watch it. It's your wedding video! & You're still happily married! Keep it.
Is Gage your youngest? My youngest of 8 kids will keep everything his siblings declutter as well, and I tell the kids not to give him the stuff they are getting rid of.😂
how do we know if we are a marathoner, sprinter or weekend warrior? do we need to be onboard to be a full-time minimalist? Or can we just be looking to declutter and purge a decade worth of stuff that isn't for our life anymore?
I am in the group and I'm not a minimalist. It's very helpful for decluttering years of stuff. She has a plan for each group and you don't have to pick one. The marathoners have a plan to do a bag a day. The sprinters go deeper and the weekend warriors have weekend tasks. You could choose all 3 if you want. Or do a diff one every week. She has the whole thing planned out and the printables are already in the files section of the mentorship group.
@@dianasimplifies thank you so much for sharing your experience this really put me at easy, the moment I heard about the challenge it really felt like it aligned with me and where I'm at right now. I just turned 40 and have been in the same living space for a decade and I just need more freedom! I think I'll go get signed up :) -Christine
I have been decluttering for longer than anybody I know. But there is still too much stuff. I realise that some is stuff I have had for a really long time, and the rest is stuff i haven't had long but which has been a disappointing waste of money.
I will fight for you - so my son wrote in 2004. No one in our family would have known that that would come true. On September 28, 2005, my son (21) and 4 others were KIA in Iraq when their Bradley Fighting Vehicle exploded due to hitting an IED. He also wrote that freedom is not free. On TH-cam, you can find this poem under Sgt. Eric Slebodnik. He was willing to fight for our freedom. Thank you for your inspiration.😊
So very sorry for your loss😢
I'm so sorry for your loss.
🫡 🇺🇸💔
I’m so sorry ❤
😢💔🙏
I am SO THANKFUL for you. Your videos helped me declutter about 4 years ago. I've been able to maintain that by continuing to watch your videos. I was diagnosed with cancer about 15 months ago. Having decluttered made my life SO MUCH EASIER while undergoing chemo and radiation. On really sick days, I was able to look around and realize that all I was getting behind on was dusting, vacuuming, and laundry. All those things can be done quickly as I have nothing to dust around and nothing to pick up before vacuuming....
Long story short, battling cancer last year was SO MUCH EASIER as I could focus more on my recovery without stressing about the house. So...... I just wanted to drop a big THANK YOU. ❤
As a cancer survivor myself, both breast & uterine, I understand your battle. Sending you kind thoughts and wishes that as time passes you will be completely healed. God bless you.
@@dsmith9796 Thank you so much for the kind words and encouragement. ♥️
Thank-you for sharing this. I often think that it is important to have a handle on our home so if challenging events come, we’re in a better position to cope.
Wonderful and thoughtful video. Our ten year old daughter died 40 years ago. My husband didn't want to get rid of anything. I slowly and quietly gave away most of her things. A few years ago I decided to give away her things. It took me a year to go through her belongings because it was so painful. A little bit at a time. I did keep a few things of hers, but most of the items someone else is enjoying now. Especially the doll babies, I'm sure little girls are enjoying them. ❤
My whole life I have been teased and judged for having a messy room and car. I didn't find out until I was in college that I had ADD and Anxiety Disorder. In the last few years social media has made me feel more normal because they often talk about doom piles and clutter and ADD. The problem is... That doesn't help in the long term. Since I discovered your videos a little over a week ago I already feel soooooo much better because I feel normal AND less overwhelmed because I have gotten rid of half my stuff. I am not done but I am on my way and it's been amazing ❤️ thankyou ❤️
I also have Anxiety Disorder. Also, with the help of this wonderful site, I have gotten rid (let go of) of at least half of my positions. I miss absolutely nothing and feel unbelievably better. ❣️
J
For me, I feel like the normalising of the doom piles and clutter is helpful in that it helped me accept they are thing that happens to folks with ADD and ADHD. I realised I didn't need to feel shame about them and that others understood my struggles. But then videos like the one above helped me to take action to make changes so I have less clutter and fewer doom piles to deal with :)
❤❤❤🥰🫶🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼💗🌿😊
Ha!! I havent been diagnosed but have similar challenges with overwhelm at my situation that started in 2015 when had horrible fatigue from Lyme. Still challenged with limitations but try to push thru. In my mind I know what to do, but I dont have the stamina to bang it out in 1 or 2 day.. oh how I wish I could just conquer the house already! But I refuse to give up. I know body doubling is powerful for me.. and the declutter days with you have helped but I still have big areas to conquer. Sign me up and lets get to work!!
When my husband passed away it was months before I could THINK about letting things go. Some things were easier to let go than others. There were items that I couldn’t let go for about 18 months. I still have a few things nearly 8 years later but I’m finally ready. All I can say is it takes time and you should take that time. Grief has no set schedule.
Be kind to yourself. ❤
My deliberation station is called "the clearance rack" for items I want to declutter. My friends know they can have anything in the "clearance rack". It also gives me time to declutter and collect and decide before removing from my life.
Love you and your energy. Thank you for you. 😊
Love that idea.. going to use it. Thanks 😊
I like that name "clearance rack" too. Especially because the next step will be "clearing" it from your life! Perfect!
If it's on the clearance rack, you've decided it's leaving. I thought it was like a holding space, where I dithered about if I wanted to keep it? Did I misunderstand, or are you just more decisive than me?
PS I love you and your channel!
Myself and my 9 year old twin boys “hushed” their room yesterday and they loooove it! They got rid of so much stuff. Way more than if we did a regular decluttering session! Thank you!!
Years ago when my sister and I were shopping we renamed the cart as the "think tank"! We would put whatever we want in the cart, but before check out we would go through each idea to see if we still wanted it, or needed it! Often times we put most, if not all the things back! We got to dream a bit about all of the things we thought we wanted, and had fun shopping together, but left with only the things that passed the test!
Just combo decluttered/hushed my 12yo's whole room with them. We pulled everything out, cleaned, then only brought back in the things they wanted to keep. Amazing! I stayed neutral, positive, and didn't question them. I was shocked how much they let go of. Now, they say their room is amazing, open, and free. It'll be a great space especially while they are home all day for the summer.
My mum took us everywhere but the day of my 16th birthday she picked me up at lunch at school. I went to the DMV took the test. She had me drop her off at home and said I’m not driving you anywhere else ever again. Great day for us both.
I'm in my early seventies and have decluttered to the point of "cozy minimalism", beyond needing the wonderful support you provide, though I continue to be inspired by it. I have more than a few friends my age and older who want to clear the stuff from their homes but are struggling to part with collections , china, antiques, etc. Though some current TH-cam content regarding minimalism and decluttering overlaps into this season of life (and I think I've viewed the content from most of you lovely people). I think there is a need for targeted help for seniors. I am not able to help them because of the particular, individual connections (and perceived value) they have with their stuff, They want to part with the plethora of items but are stuck. They think it must go to a "good home" and such. There is a market on TH-cam for help for seniors.
love the words "perceived value." As a person who finds decluttering easy (and almost fun), it helps me put into perspective -- and thus aleviate frustration -- as I try to help a friend who needs to seriously declutter in order to move to assisted living. She finds perceived value in a broken hanger to the point where I want to pull my hair out. "Value" is individual. To really help her, I have to understand where she's coming from. Thank you.
@@Lisa-ee5ev it's difficult to convey the feeling of freedom (and fun) in letting go to our friends who are stuck. They don't see it the way we do. I wish you and your friend very well.
@@Lisa-ee5evIt sounds like she has a hoarder complex. There's a difference between someone who collected figurines years ago when they actually were valuable and someone who can't let go of broken garbage. That's a whole different level.
It was interesting to go to rummage sales yesterday and see how many collections were not selling. Roosters, China, vases, Christmas ornaments, etc. Beautiful items but nobody was buying them. At one time those things were in every home, in some way, shape or form. Now they are up for sale at rummage sales and are barely getting touched. I think that’s hard for the older generation to perceive.
@@edennis8578 Yes, but it's complicated. Broken hangers are obviously trash, but when do multiple sets of china, crystal, figurines, clothing, etc. cross the line? It's in the eye of the hoarder...Um I mean collector.. It's all stuff and dollar value is what the market will bear which is usually a lot less than people think. I am the daughter of antiques dealers/collectors. maybe that's why I've become averse to collecting.
You are always uplifting and cheerful I look forward to when you post another episode thank you from the bottom of my heart
Are you allowed to switch groups if in the beginning it works for you and you grow into another group?
#1. I love your videos…I can’t not even say enough about them. You are a very common topic at our house, all of my family knows you by name. I’m pretty sure my smallest child will be an innate minimalist because he’s heard you since he was in the womb 😂
#2. I have a friend who is a hoarder but she won’t throw anything away and she won’t give anything to someone if they aren’t interested. She is elderly and in bad health. She needs to clean up so…as terrible as it sounds I started acting interested in her items and then taking them straight to donate or trash depending on what it was. She was so happy to give it and I gently removed it from her house to the donate center.
#2. My mom is a hoarder. I do the same thing. I figure if I just take it and throw it out, it will be less to do when I eventually have to deal with all of it.
Sorry you're in that situation. I think there's a time to do what you're doing, so don't feel bad unless your motives are somehow questionable. Sometimes people are in a season of life, especially near the end, where they just aren't going to overcome their attachments, so what you're doing is easing their current suffering.
My husband is a third generation Marine. I appreciate you respecting and honoring the armed services.
??i am completing my fourth move in three years. The first movwas long distance and I asked the question "would I pay a dollar a pound to move this?". Now I am in my forever home and I'm still sorting out little things . If I haven't missed the item in 3 years it either goes to donate or trash. Thanks for all the advice.
My garage is my deliberation station. I frequently just throw a box in the van and drop at thrift store. It’s awesome!
On the topic of paying your kids $5 for a box of things to donate, I used to TRADE my kids $1 (in the 90s) for their school award restaurant gift certificates. We enjoyed some of them, but to go to a sit down restaurant was expensive for the others of us who had to take them there. Often the kids would rather have the money than get an ice cream cone that they could get at home anyway. It was less for me to manage timewise and budgetwise as well as help my kids learn to manage their money.
Thanks for being honest about your kids' tv-watching while you decluttered. That's big-picture thinking
Thank you Dawn. You are such a sweet encourager and provide valuable information and guidance. That is AWESOME-are we living a life worth dying for?🇺🇸👏🙌🏻👍
Today is Sat May 28th. I just found a huge crate of patriotic decorations, tablecloths, etc. It was buried in my extra closet under what I thought was sewing and crafts.
My neighbors and I used to do wonderful holiday cookouts, with decorations, and I saved these for the next year.
Next year is long past and I just rushed these red white and blue, flags, lights, etc, etc, to the charity shop up the street. Just in time for July 4th, if not for this Monday, Memorial Day!
I hope someone is going to have a blast with these. 🇺🇸✌️
I just signed up from Scotland, watching this back while my 12mth old sleeps on my arm like a koala. I cleared out a storage unit I rented the week she was born & having to make some drastic decisions to ensure she has lots of room to grow. I'm a marathoner by nature but am going to need to sprint! X
I just visited Scotland :) Loved it! I was mostly in the highlands and a few islands, and the Inverness / Aviemore area was my favorite. (I'm in SW Missouri)
I love your videos! I started watching your videos two years ago. Looking at positives…9/39/22 I hit a deer, spent 11/30/22-12/26/23 in rehab. My whole apartment became a time will tell bin. I am grateful for many things, it was such a kick starter for me!!! I employ the 5 -15 minute clean constantly. Thank you for ALL the tips and ideas❤️❤️❤️
Dawn, I ordered Mat Paxton’s book while listening to you!! I have been decluttering for past 8 years and can heartily agree that clutter does create chaos!!! Love your channel, love love your content!!♥️♥️♥️ Have a great weekend working your garden!!
I love rewatching this video! I have a three story home, three small kids, one homeschooler, multiple disabilities and differences and I have moved over 25 times in the same number of years. I declutter daily and always before AND after a move! It doesn’t have to be monumental. A drawer can be picked away at while you wait on hold or boil water for oatmeal. Holy socks, old t-shirts, stained tea towels can be tossed when you pull stuff out of the dryer to be folded. Kids books can be dropped in little free libraries in your way to the grocery store. Refrigerator artwork and expired condiments can be moved to the trash bin when you are making school lunches. Dawn, you are such an inspiration and encouragement! How can we see you speak in person?!
I had so many plans for this weekend and a virus had other plans. But while watching this I cleaned up a small area by my bed ! Thanks for the inspiration!
Dawn, thank you for helping me clean out the clutter! It has really helped me think about my choices.😊
I was holding onto some baby items thinking I could sell them. I gave up and donated them. It felt so good to let it all go and I’m praying the people who need those items will find them!
I’m still hunting the house to get rid of things.
I joined the summer Olympics last year and joined facebook again specifically for the event. I loved being able to see all the different groups on my “news” feed. It was extra motivation and transformed the platform from a distraction to a place to find inspiration and new ideas! Highly recommend!
I know most non-military people don't realize it, but please never say happy memorial day. For the military men and women who lost friends and battle, it is the most horrible and saddest day of the year
Agree - I am a Veteran and Memorial Day is not a celebration weekend as most think.
Thank you for explaining
I say blessed Memorial Day. It’s not a happy holiday.
Yes, The appropriate thing to say is Thank you for your service, if you know they've served.
@@seanaames6855 Not quite right. Memorial Day is a national day of mourning and remembrance to honor those who died while in service to our country.
Thank you! I am in the middle of a food making, laundry catch up, three day weekend for my family of four. This was just what I needed to listen to while making a triple batch of blueberry muffins for the freezer and putting away clothes. The summer declutter looks tempting.
For socks, I keep a shoe box near where I fold and labeled it "lost socks." If I get to the end of folding and find that some socks got separated, I throw them in there. Usually, after another couple loads their matches show up and I do a quick check in the lost sock box for any matches. If there are any single socks that have sat there for a while, I throw them away.
Going through photos: you can digitally put a few in a photo frame so that you don't have so much physical objects
Thanks for another fantastic video.... love listening to you. Your voice is like "Pavlo Dogs" for me. I hear you and automatically feel like cleaning and or clearing things 🙂. Love you too
I live full time in a bus converted to a tiny house. The best things that helped me downsize was to move into a studio apartment 10 months before I moved into the bus. I went so far as to tape out my future living space on the floor of the apartment sounds I really understood how much more I had to declutter. The move was sort of a happy accident, but it really did help.
LOL Without my glasses, I clicked on your title thinking it said "...Celebration Station".
Great video! I have watched a LOT of decluttering videos and one thing I haven't seen is how to deal with sets that have pieces scattered, or things I would donate but I can't find the remote, or situations like that. I get really, really hung up on things like this. I was ready to get rid of my sewing machine. I had it out and ready to donate. My kids played with it and lost an important small piece and I spent a lot of time looking for the piece. Finally, it got accidentally donated by my son and then I found the instruction manual and missing piece later. I even went to the thrift store to try to find the machine, but that was a waste of time. This kind of thing drives me crazy! We have a LOT of really nice games and puzzles and my kids and I are willing to get rid of about half of them (or more!), but many of the pieces are scattered about and it will be so difficult for me if I toss them and then find the pieces later. Also, nice vintage jewelry that is tarnished or tangled. I think it's too valuable to throw out but I am pretty sure the thrift store will just toss it out because it's tarnished & tangled! Please help! I am really ready to declutter a ton this summer, but I struggle so much with these hang ups!
Agree!!
I would suggest to hang on to real silver and gold. The value is skyrocketing.
You can donate your vintage jewelry to a high school or college art department. They can incorporate it into their works.
I have pared down the things from my childhood so that it all fits in one storage tote. I am turning 68 so some of these things are around 50 years old. My plan is to take pictures of them to be put in a scrapbook before getting rid of them. It is just a couple stuffed animals that are losing their fur; a little white fur purse, a doll baby that I must have loved because she has been mended - a lot, and a set of Hansel and Gretel dolls. My Raggedy Ann & Andy dolls are going to a great niece along with a miniature set of dishes for her little girl. Nobody wants any of this stuff and I don't see any sense in hanging on to it just for somebody else to put it in a dumpster when I am gone...
My biggest problem is what to do with my brothers things. He died in 1960 after serving in Korea. There isn't anybody in the family that remembers or knew him but me and the one sister I have left and he will be 91 in October. I also have things from my Mother, who died in 1999. That is the hardest things to part with. I haven't decided what to do with her things either. It isn't a lot, but it was Mother's...
That sounds hard. I’m sorry.
@@devinfarrelly3768 Thank you.
I’m signed up for summer ❤. For some of us this is a very slow process and the #1 take away from everything I’ve learned. Decluttering as much as possible before you move. I moved a year ago and moved a lot of undecided items and they have already left but I still have too much 😪 looking forward to summer sessions and reaching my comfort zone with stuff. I realize that as you get less you want less and I know now what level I will be comfortable with!
Super helpful stuff!! As ever!! Thanks for supporting me decluttering in London for 4 years!!
Dawn, thank you for sharing about Gage. My son was like that when he was young, and he has sentimental feelings for a lot of stuff at age 24. Since he is an only child, and I did not have boundaries, and we have a lot of storage space in our house, we have a lot of his stuff. He is married, and they live in a small apartment, so it's not the time to tell him to take it. I wish I had done better on decluttering, especially his stuff from early on, but I didn't. You are doing well with Gage.
My mom gave me a small box of my stuff every time I went to her house, hope this helps.
@@dianasimplifies I've decided to have him take his notebooks from classes the next time he visits. One step at a time. Were you ok with your mom doing that?
@@janethunt4037 yes I was. It wasn't that much stuff but I let it pile up instead of dealing with it. That was the unfortunate part. But that wasn't my mom's fault.
@@dianasimplifies Thanks for sharing. I'm concerned about making my son mad. My relationship with him is more important than the space. We have plenty of storage space. Your story encourages me that he will be ok.
@@janethunt4037 no I don't think you will make him mad. Maybe just explain your decluttering journey to him 💜
I adopted the practice of just buying one type/color of socks. I have 10 pairs of all the same sock, so easy
My husband did that years ago when he worked in corporate world. Black and khaki. No wondering if any were mine for sure.
Yes! Black and white - that’s it!
@@Christina-wb6sg me too black and white socks only
YES! I do this with my sons (4&6). No matching, no folding, no figuring out sizes or whose is whose -- just ALL into a drawer! Life Hack!
I’m attacking/ embracing my garage this weekend. Letting go of so many papers and also discovered my old 1968 Science Books… SO much fun!
Thank you for including the part of the RV. I am going to try to aim to learn to see as a goal to one day live as a if in an RV. ❣️ ❣️ ❣️
I love this idea. I don’t know if you have a group clean out this like this in the winter. During the summer I spend so much time on my land and do vacations with the fam.
Thank you, Dawn!!! Just the motivation I was looking for this morning to push through decluttering the current area I’m working on in my home. Your info and joy are so helpful!
Dawn, thank you for all of your wonderful content! Would you consider doing a segment on what you take camping? Maybe what you use to store or contain the things you use in your camper kitchen? Thanks for considering it!❤
Wow you are good Dawn. Thank you so much...
Can you do a new video on going thru baby clothes/childhood clothes kept for memories...now older thanks
Yes this, even how to approach it if the kids are young but you’re done having kids so it’s the start of moving things out
Hi Dawn, Id love if you could touch on tools and screws, wood/other materials,
and all those little bits that come with building, owning a property, being creative, fixing stuff - how much do you keep here? Eould you mind touching this topic just as an inspiration? ❤
Your comment made me think of my husband’s shop, he passed last November. I love him dearly but organized he was not.
Just make pictures digital. My husband loves pictures and looks through them often. He knows there are hundreds missing from his mom's collection and she passed away. He is super upset about it. I scan everything now. Even people I don't remember because he will remember them
Thank you for your inspiration ❤️🤗
Oh my gosh, the question about moving! One of my close friends just downsized from a single family home, and I told her so. many. times. to declutter before she moved. But what did she do? Packed up allllll of that clutter and moved it right into the next place. It was painful for me to watch. 🙄😩
Dawn I love your nail polish color you are wearing today in this video
Such a very dear lady. Thank you!
As a Christian, are we living a life worth dying for? Are we living a life like Jesus I know I can say I’m not.
Oh no I missed your live! I was watching your reruns 😅
Oh my goodness I sooooooo need this!!!
@TanaKelton - when throwing away stuff PLEASE ask your mentor teacher or another teacher on your team. You can get in huge trouble if you throw away something that is district owned
For the question about socks...
I have a small clear bin near our entrance are for kids socks. A couple years ago i got eid of all kids socks and bought the kind they like now i throw them in bin when i do laundry they grab when they are putting on shoes. we have received cartoon character socks for a bday gift last year for one of the kids and i put them in there too. The other kids know who's they are and ask to wear sometime s . When i had different size socks for different kids i had two bins for that short time.
My Time Will Tell place is a shelf in my laundry cupboard and it works really well. When it's full it's time to glance at it all as I let the stuff go....xxx
It is my dream that one day I will be tune into your channel and you will be reviewing my book 😊
What is the title of your book? 😊
GO FOR IT! ❤
It's called tame your silent to-do list. It published earlier this week and even just mentioning it on here makes me feel incredibly vulnerable. I have no idea how TH-camrs deal with it.
@@juliemarshall7458 thank you for the encouragement, it really means a lot ❤
I keep one amazon box for this reason in a spare bedroom. It gives me a dopamine rush to declutter and then if I'm stuck on something I can put it in the box and wait but I rarely miss something
Thank you so much for your great videos. We need to revisit this so many times rot keep being motivated
Oh my goodness, photos. My Dad moved 32 labeled photo albums to our up north place. It's kind of sad because my Mom carefully put them together and my sister and I both agree that we could not care less about them. The sheer number of them makes us not want to wade through them at all. Even at the risk of missing out on something really interesting.
What if you rethink what your mom did as the first level of decluttering? Now you can go through an album each month and choose 5 photos that recall cherished memories and toss the rest. Now those 160 photos go into 1-2 photo albums, whether physical or digital. This is what I've finally decided to do with my plethora of photos.
That's a great idea!
Hey! I’d love to join this challenge. My time to focus on decluttering is every other week this summer for 2-3 day stretches. I believe I could be a sprinter but need to know where you think I’d fit best Dawn!
We keep socks together with either safety pins or clips called sock locks. It has made such a difference having a few kids with similar size socks.
Studies show clutter causes stress but I think sometimes, or for some people it’s the other way around! How much of our clutter is due to our stress? Until we address our mental health we can struggle with decluttering!
I did the Olympics last Summer and had an amazing time! I've sold my house since then and live in a pretty minimal apartment. The idea of joining the group sounds great but I don't know how much I can benefit. I'm waffling. Any advice?
We have a deliberation station on a table where we put things to declutter. Keep looking at it and then make the decision to get rid of it.
Yes, Dawn I mived recently and I heard your voice in my head all the way through the packing. I decluttered soooo much while packing, it was amazing. It aas definately so much easier to do when I thought "where am I going to put this ?" We moved from having an over sized 2 car garage to not having any garage. Now we do have a storage shed we share with oyr son on his property and I could've just loaded everything in there but, i said absolutely not doing that! In our half i only have some furniture and our daughter in Virginia storage (which i want to deliver to her someday) Any how i want you to know that you saved me from "moving stored items" i either gave to people or donated. Only moving what we would use in our new rental.
Niw, that doesn't mean i am decluttered to my comfort yet, not even but at least anything that was in the garage with exception of Christmas and husbands tools is no longer in my possession!!!
It’s so harsh, I see myself as a minimalist but I have sooo much stuff 😂 I’ve been real minimalist before and I’m going back there but woah! takes so much energy…
Thank you for reading aloud 🎉
The group sounds great. I'd be a marathoner. But I'm in Australia, the day is over when y'all are getting started. Also, we are coming into Winter here and it's getting cold. Idk if it would work for me?
I keep a tote bag to feel up every month...... things creep in when you're not looking.
I really liked Peter Walsh's book, "Let it Go".
I can honestly say that putting items in the donation box. I feel joy when I put items in the donation box. My goal is 10 items a day for the month of May..
When you said, "In the book..." my mind auto-filled "...Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne." 😂 Such a good book, by the way!
?? I'm a nester. I sit in the same spot to do everything. So I zoned. Now my papers, books, shoes, computer, crochet, phone, purse, pens, are all piled next to my chair. This is the first thing people see when they step into the house. What can I do?
Dawn, I’m trying to figure out where to make my Deliberation Station. I live in a small house like you with a family of five with no garage or spare room. That seems to be my sticking point moving from the piles of things I want to get tried of to finally getting it out of the house.
This is so funny.
I just moved. As I unpacked anything I wasn't sure where to put went on a separate table (made from a pair of folding TV tables and a board). The spot was visible from everywhere I loiter in the apartment. I could see everything to think about where it might live, or swapping it with something that already had a home, or just to group things that I need to purchase homes for.
????? I am really intrigued by minimalism and by simplification, I have watched you and Clutterbug and I love it and I want to do more but I do not know where to start on that journey. Do you have a jump start list of books to read, starting tips, how to get the family in on it, etc. Also where can I join your $15 a month club for help?
The link to the mentorship group is in the description box.
That’s a recipe for more piles for someone like me (and Dana K).
I have a graduation video. I am going to have it digitised then I can edit it down and just keep the bits my friends and me are in.
Excellent video Dawn ❤
I am just seeing this in July 2024. Can I still join the $15 per month program? Am a past member of the live declutter challenges.
Would there be a way to gift your membership to someone?
Is there a way to do another day-- if you come up with something that is conflicting with the day
Every time our family comes upon something frightening or “hopeless,” my first instinct is to tidy and clean. That’s what I called it before I learned that decluttering was a thing!
I'm so depressed my house is becoming more cluttered i dont know why and I am so down
He wants to watch the wedding video if you die. Or thinks the kids may want to watch it. It's your wedding video! & You're still happily married! Keep it.
Is Gage your youngest? My youngest of 8 kids will keep everything his siblings declutter as well, and I tell the kids not to give him the stuff they are getting rid of.😂
Is there a way to be in the group if I do not have Facebook, I do have Instagram. Love you too😊
For me it is my family that won't let go...I want to be upfront, but they take itvso hard :( I hate "sneaking" their stuff away(
THIS IS WHAT I NEED!!!
treasure bin is a much better name. I call it "the other box" to the kids but between me and my husband its called the box of crap. lol
Wedding Video: do you have a machine to play it on? It is possible to have it put into a digital format.
Mine was from 2002 it was a VHS. I had it put onto a DVD.
how do we know if we are a marathoner, sprinter or weekend warrior? do we need to be onboard to be a full-time minimalist? Or can we just be looking to declutter and purge a decade worth of stuff that isn't for our life anymore?
I am in the group and I'm not a minimalist. It's very helpful for decluttering years of stuff. She has a plan for each group and you don't have to pick one. The marathoners have a plan to do a bag a day. The sprinters go deeper and the weekend warriors have weekend tasks. You could choose all 3 if you want. Or do a diff one every week. She has the whole thing planned out and the printables are already in the files section of the mentorship group.
@@dianasimplifies thank you so much for sharing your experience this really put me at easy, the moment I heard about the challenge it really felt like it aligned with me and where I'm at right now. I just turned 40 and have been in the same living space for a decade and I just need more freedom! I think I'll go get signed up :) -Christine
@@Orangefish018 you are so welcome! 💜
Way to make me cry within the first 2 minutes! ❤❤❤❤😅❤️
I have been decluttering for longer than anybody I know. But there is still too much stuff. I realise that some is stuff I have had for a really long time, and the rest is stuff i haven't had long but which has been a disappointing waste of money.
How many people are in the private group? I’m in the Take Your House Back group but I’m not active because it feels so big.
2,700