4 Tips to Declutter Quicker & Stay Motivated!! (Simple Living 2020)
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- Опубликовано: 17 окт 2024
- Decluttering can be alot of work and not always easy! Today let's talk about how to declutter quickly, keep momentum going and push through when we feel stuck!
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You have LITERALLY changed my life! I wish I could show you all the stuff I just got rid of (donated)! I. Feel. AMAZING.
Great..go ahead..
Same here! From this point on my life feels better and will continue to feel better because of this woman
Same here!
Dawn, thank you for walking me through my decluttering journey!
I love your analogies and you share the most thought through considerate explanations as if you have known me.
You are a wonderful teacher!
Ditto here!! Totally DITTO!!
!wqwa×eq++@@christinamccarte9369
I grew up with a hoarder so people coming over was always an event filled with anxiety. I had a big win on Monday when 6 family members stopped by unannounced and my house was picked up and it was all just so easy to welcome them in and pull out the iced tea.
Thats Great JM 🤗 🏆🎉 thats my ultimate goal !
Wow, that’s great!!! I’m a hoarder and I’m trying to change my ways for my children. I don’t want them thinking hoarding is “normal” household behavior. I’m happy to see that you didn’t become a hoarder even though you grew up with one. Gives me hope 🙏🏻
@@ahoardersheart my mom is finally tackling the issue and she is 67 (her mom was a hoarder as well). It is never too late to work through our habits, mental outlook, and emotions. I am so proud of her. It is a slow but steady process. You can do it! I promised myself when I got married to do my best in this area. It has taken many years of effort and many books read and videos watched. Dawn's videos have really catapulted me into a new and easier phase. Blessings on your journey.
Praise God 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌😁
Well done 🏋️♀️
I started making sure I did my dishes and picked up my living room floor EVERY NIGHT about 3 months ago. I just realized it's impossible to ever "catch up" if I don't. Our nightly cleaning has become a habit now and my husband had even claimed the dishes as his own chore! (It only takes about 20 min now that we have minimized our dishes and wash them after most meals :)
I’m a boomer and love my collections! We have downsized from 3600 square feet to1100square feet so we are learning to let go. It’s not been easy and our garage is full while we are going through everything but our goal is to be organized by summer.
I’m so glad you mentioned, teach your kids to help pick up. So many times, I see Mothers picking up after everyone. There are even ways that toddlers can help pick up their own toys! I always included my kids in the process and they automatically picked up after themselves as they grew up. In fact, they learned to not make messes, because they didn’t want to have to clean them up. It was great!
I totally agree Allan, we have an almost 2 yr old and he enjoys helping unpack the dishwasher. Puts his teddies back in his cot for example.
AND the sweet children should be taking all the donations, if possible. Ours, 8 and 10, have been raised doing this. They know nothing else 😁💞💗
never occurred to me to take a tidy day inbetween : always thought gogogo declutter until it's done......uhmmmmmm....merci beaucoup!
I’m a Boomer and our generation felt that possessions equaled affluence. We had discretionary money and credit cards! Now I’m becoming minimalist at 69 ! Love it.
Wanda Benton same! I’m 60 and have been decluttering all the stuff that I accumulated, that I never use, and I finally, don’t feel bad doing it. I’m loving ‘less’!
Ditto kiddo! My daughter asked me to go through my stuff now so she won't have to. Lol 😆 I'm a level one hoarder of fine things. Too valuable to donate to Goodwill. And my kids do not have the same taste as me & my hubby. 42 yrs of accumulated possessions. We're Baby Boomers of the 1950's. Baby steps...baby steps. Lol
I'm glad you mentioned the generation thing. I'm a boomer and started purging areas of my home last July, starting with the garage and its attic. Then the shed, then my desk, which was literally stacked a foot high with papers/documents/books/junk. Yesterday, I did our bedroom closet, but still have all the other closets, the house attic, the full finished basement, and every other room to go through. I have things/photos/papers from when my grandmother was young, and even some stuff from my great-grandmother when she came to this country. I also have a lot of my three kids' stuff that they didn't take when they moved away/married. My point is, I was taught that you keep EVERYTHING if you want to be proper. To throw something away was sinful because it's wasteful, or at the very least, rude and ungrateful. I started watching organization type videos, including your channel, and I feel somewhat better, but also very guilty and irresponsible. The only thing getting me to move forward is that I'm actually doing this for my kids and grandkids so that they don't have to if something happens to me. My own mother died in 2014, and not only did she have generations of normal stuff, she was also a hoarder (in the clinical sense). It was a nightmare that I don't want my kids to go through. Thank you for recognizing that not everyone feels a sense of joyous relief upon purging their things--quite the opposite. It can feel like throwing a whole life and memories away, depending on what generation you come from. I'm a conflicted boomer loving the cleaner open spaces, but feeling a bit dirty after each session, LOL.
@@Mustangmom2k And tell me, why did we let our kids move away without taking all of their stuff with them???!!!
Yay you!
My garage area was hanging over my head for a while. But this last weekend I prayed before I started ans asked the Lord to help me make quick decisions... and I finished the next morning !!!! Thank you Jesus!!! So blessed to have gotten that done!!
Hallelujah 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
Doesn't it feel phenomenal?
Me too Praise God!!!
Thank you so much for this I don't know why I forget to ask the Lord for help.
I have asked the Lord for help too. I like to put things away and the house looks great but it was more stuff than we needed. I have been minimalizing for about a year. I love it. One of my favorite things was getting rid of all my unused and really old cook books. I then stood my cookie sheets in the cabinet. I just kept the cook books I liked. I love that the stove is now empty of cookie sheets.😊
Messy Middle! Love this phrase. So true. Gotta make a mess before it get better.
I’m the Baby Boomer child of a Depression-era father and a collector mother, so decluttering has never been easy. I need outside structure and help most days. Thanks for the tips and inspiration!
Becky Underwood , I am so right beside you! Maybe there’s hope for us!
Me too! Stay at it. I've been at it two years and have made great progress. I had a lot of inherited furniture, collections, treasures that have largely been removed. Be kind to yourself. Negotiating all the removal and sorting is time consuming. It does get easier but I keep taking more "breaks" (that last weeks) than is productive for me.
TheDriftwoodlover , sounds like a great plan.
Ditto here! I'm still plugging away, but it's taking forever!
I'm a retired Boomer, with the same parental units. 👵😉. This group of supportive nourishing people are so very helpful and blessings to me. 🌹
Dawn I have a huge problem, I love looking at your videos rather then actually tackling the decluttering! You have such a nice way of explaining things! Thanks!
Love your channel and your tips. My mum always said “do things once, don’t do double work”. Put things away properly the first time, rather than moving it somewhere else and then having to pick it up again. I don’t always do this but your video reminded me!
Love this!!
Don't do double work, I like that. I always tell my kids 'don't move the mess, clean the mess'
That's a great tip, there's nothing worst than searching for days before you finally find what you're looking for !!!
OHIO!..Only Handle It Once!!
Yes! I tell my kids, ‘don’t put it down, put it away!’
I am in the group of a millennial and totally understand what you are talking about in this video. I came from parents that came from Colombia and they don't like to waste anything because they remember when they had nothing. That is why at first it was hard to let go of things. But the more I learn that I wanted to spend more time with family and less time managing the mess that things were creating I saw how important it was to have less. I don't welcome things that are just because I like them. I have all that I need to work well in my home and my son has seen the differences. He has been my push since he works with me on this journey of decluttering. I am thankful to have seen these videos two years ago and follow all the tips you have shared. For those that read this, you can too feel peace in your home one step at a time.
Woohoo!!!
I love advice "tidy up!" And I agree.
That's not my nature eather but if you push yourself just a bit it can become a habit. One of my friends sad to me :"Your place is so peaceful and tidy! How long did you tidy?" And I couldn't rememeber that I even did tidy, it become a habit! That coment made me so happy!
The best gift is something you can't buy called TIME
I’m on the young end of millenial but was raised by boomer parents and definitely recognize that desire to keep everything holds me back. With certain things it comes in very handy (keeping ribbons from gifts, brown gift bags I get supplements in to reuse for gift wrapping). But 95% of the time it makes me want to hoard. Definitely have recognized that and am continuing to learn to grow past that and just keep what we love and use.
I KonMari'd my whole home in July/August last year and got rid of about 60% of my 'stuff'. The 'messy in the middle' part was very disheartening as I felt it would never get better. But now, 5 months later I am still loving how everything has a 'home' so tidying and cleaning are so much easier! It truly was life changing for me coming from a family of hoarders and always being messy myself. I even did the minimalist challenge in November (to get rid of one thing on the 1st, two things on the 2nd etc)
and couldn't believe I could still find that much stuff to part with. I love decluttering and the positive changes it has had on my life. Thanks for all your videos :)
I love your videos!!! And I am 32 years old and I DEFINITELY got my “let’s keep this JUST IN CASE” from my mom and dad who got it from their parents as well!!! As I am slowly decluttering I have noticed how many “just in case items” I have and NEVER USE 🐿
The tidying really does help!!! I have set the goal of 5 items de cluttered and out the door per day for the entire year. My husband and 2 sons said they could do that too on the weekends. So, knowing that, the progress will be slow, but so far we have stuck to it. I won’t de clutter what isn’t mine and I decided to gratefully accept whatever effort my guys are willing to give. Persistence will be key. Keep the great videos coming! They are motivating and inspirational!
Wow! 366 X 5 = 1,830 items! That's fabulous! Then if your husband and sons each do it Saturday and Sunday, that's another 30 items per week X 52 = an additional 1,560 items! That is really a great idea.
@@Romans828girl The math is motivating too! I had not done that! Thank-you!
Yes to all of these. Especially the TIDY tip! Before I made big progress in my decluttering journey, every day after the kids went to bed I'd say... "ok I better tidy this debacle of a house before bed!" And then one day as those words were coming out of my mouth, I realized the house was not that bad and it wouldnt take long to put it back into order! It was then that I knew that this was all so worth it.
Love your videos Dawn!
I totally thought of you yesterday. I cleaned out my glove box for the first time in ages! The things I found in there were astounding: 4 sunscreens, 13 packs of hot sauce/ketchup/mustard, 2 empty bottles of lotion, 3 plastic spoons (one was broken), restaurant napkins, baby wipes (my baby is four), feminine products, Band-Aids, ibuprofen, cough drops, pencils, chapstick (from 6 yrs ago), a map, a hang tag, along with the car's user manual & registration. It pretty much was a Dumping Ground for things "I may use later." It felt so good to clean out whole thing out! Thank you for the awesome motivation!
I love your definition of the verb of "tidying" that was helpful, and it is a realistic, attainable standard; gathering things together before getting rid of them later when the opportunity is available. And so glad that you emphasize the value of family and friend time over stuff !
Thank you so much for the encouragement Dawn! I am a Baby Boomer who inherited my childhood home. I have been knee deep in the process of paring down the contents of the entire house with the goal of downsizing to a smaller home. ( Smaller home equals much less storage.) Like @Becky Underwood my parents grew up in the Depression era too. So this has been a challenging task, and at times I don't think I'll ever be finished sorting, wrapping, boxing, donating, and on and on. Talk about decision overload! It has been daunting, exhausting, emotional, and overwhelming, but I think I'm finally getting very close to having the house ready for listing. I am sentimental so I know when I move I'm going to have to pare down some of the things I've saved so that I can have the simplified home I desire.
Messy middle....that says it all and is very helpful. Yesterday on a whim I emptied the kitchen window sill that is in front of my sink from every little thing. Now when I see it empty it reminds me that I am on a mission to minimize everything in my house for good. I spent all last week dealing with paper and when I thought my brain would explode, I cleaned out the refrigerator! It was a quick way to be productive and give myself a paper break so I could go back to finishing the mammoth shredding marathon.
I have a donation pick up scheduled for tomorrow. I was planning on holding onto multiple bags of clothes to try and sell, but I realized this is just going to clutter my house more and I will likely buy more clothes with the money I make. I now have doubled my donations and I hope it blesses the donation I picked for the blind. Thank you for helping me realize this!!
Love the phrase "messy middle."
This couldn't have come on a more perfect day. I was just talking to my husband about this last night, I feel so overwhelmed this week by everything in our house
“The messy middle...” ❤️
So overwhelmed by decluttering the storage room (the LAST room in my year long declutter!!!). I would say I’m very much in the messy middle of that room. Junk we have saved for later, sentimental items, unfinished craft kits, furniture from previous homes...ugh. Thank you for the motivation. I’m in the home stretch (then I get to start all over and peel the next layer back!).
Your videos always have gems for me! I'm a tidy person, constantly cleaning and it is exhausting because it never ends. So, you making a distinction between maintenance days and days/ time to tackle a project is a great reminder to me! Similar to bits of the Fly Lady system and just doing a small amount and given self permission to be done for day helps me alot.
The theory about parents (grandparents) having value of not wasting is SO true, and it's important to take the good lessons from each (e.g experience vs not wasting), and not be on one extreme or the other.
The commodity that matters to me after money, is SPACE and the feeling of being FREE which comes from SPACIOUSNESS. Thank you, Dawn for helping us to understand what is holding us up from achieving our dreams of a calm, restful, nourishing decluttered environment.
Loved this video! Your channel is just so inspiring. Thanks for all that you do.
I know Im asking the wrong place but does anyone know of a tool to get back into an instagram account..?
I was stupid forgot my password. I appreciate any assistance you can give me.
@Colt Liam instablaster ;)
@Aron Jamal thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and im in the hacking process now.
Takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Aron Jamal it did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I'm so happy!
Thank you so much you really help me out!
@Colt Liam no problem :D
You are full of wisdom. I’ve been battling the belief that I can’t get rid of all these things I paid my hard earned money for, instead of realizing my bank account is unchanged, and furthermore, spinning my wheels means I’m wasting time, my most precious commodity. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I've been getting rid of stuff like crazy. I don't gave a ton of clutter, but its insane how fast things accumulate with kids. We're selling stuff or trying to before donating, paying extra on mortgage principal with the $ 😁🙌
One of the best pieces of advice you gave was “don’t put it down, put it away”! You are so inspirational and this one has really stuck with my husband too!! Win/win!!
I do find that I have to be in the right kind of mood to declutter. Run with it when it’s there but be open to taking a break for a few weeks. Seasons!
You are amazing..l was raised by world war two parents..they were children in great Britain, they never knew their monent,my mother was in London in an underground shelter every night for years.they taught me to never waste. You are now helping me to only have items that are helpful and mean something. Thankyou. Love heather
Thank you once again Dawn! I recently heard of the term 'clutter blind' and that really hit home with me as I have become clutter blind and now I'm a lot more intentional about bringing stuff into my home!
I’ve saved almost everything from my children’s childhood. I mean even worksheets. I have no problem with drawers, closets, picking up every night, etc. I will donate or throw away something in a hot second if I don’t use it. My boys were involved in a lot in school and college, so I threw it all in neat little containers and said I’d think about it later. Well, now it’s time to pay the piper. 🤦🏼♀️ They aren’t going to want everything. I’m reluctant to start, because of the Messy Middle, you talked about. It’s going to take weeks to properly do this, and I dread the mess. 😊
I hear ya! I kept it too! (I know it's because my mom hardly kept anything from my childhood and I have very few photos.) Also, they're my babies! Anyway, you can do this! I got a filing tub from Walmart with 4 colors of files for my 4 kids. Each has 1 file for school pics, 1 for art/creative writing & 1 for awards/final report cards. Have them help you. But, if you go through it alone, start with sorting into who it belongs to, no name? Out it goes. Weed out the best from that year or take one art piece from the first of the year and one from the end to show their progress. But honestly, as Dawn says it, the most important thing is that they had enjoyment while they did it! Also, keep in mind they won't even remember 3/4 of what you kept! Best wishes!
Great timing for a really encouraging and informative video!! January and February are my months to dig in and sort, declutter, tidy and power through the ‘messy middles’ of so many closets and rooms. Trying to get it done before Spring when the focus shifts to more outdoor projects. It is so easy to get bogged down in the short gloomy days of winter and just want to take a nap or run away, eat ice cream or read a good (or not so good) book. Your
wise words are so helpful today.
I am going to take pictures right now. Befores and afters are always an encouragement when it doesn’t feel like there is any progress. Thank you so much for spurring us on to bring order and peace to our lives. I would hug you if I could 💕.
Yes! I’m in the messy middle! I had accomplished so much in the beginning, but now it seems like a very slow process. Thanks for the gentle push in the right direction!💙
I'm STILL in the messy middle of my living room. My bedroom I just go in put something away, or on the bed. But I have nowhere to put the things I have to sort and purge. But I know, and I do give myself credit for what I have gotten done. But it sure does get discouraging, esp when your mind and body move as slow as mine to :P .
I know we're from different generations, but I feel like you are my younger sister! You're the absolute best motivator to me in this job of blessing my home. Thanks again, Dawn!
I just watched a baby video from about 3 years ago and I was shocked at how FULL my living room was in comparison to today! I'm terrible about taking before pics, so it was fun to find evidence of how much progress I've made!
Great video and helpful tips, thanks Dawn. I find that decluttering for me is a process and I see it as waves. I declutter an area and get rid of a lot of stuff but I'll come back to the same area and find I am ready to let go of more items. Like everything, it's a process and a journey. That's why I love Dawn and this group, everyone is so supportive and it's wonderful to share and cheer each other on.
I do the same Linda, I find it really helpful to declutter in waves. Been pairing down for about 4 years getting better at it. But still can't do it all at once. I often find decisions hard to make IE what to let go of and also i need to have the energy to do it too. But is extremely rewarding frees up space in home and mind. Sending hugs keep up the good work.
I recently found pics from my one month minimalist chalange. They made me realise my progress. It is wonderful.
I can't remember where I heard this quote about things you don't need, but it has stuck with me "The money was wasted when you bought it." This helps me remember that letting something sit in my closet or spare room gathering dust IS wasteful too.. Better to cut my losses and donate it.
I LOVE that quote! Why punish ourselves for a mistaken purchase in the past? Letting go of the items should be felt as freeing ourselves from the guilt. I am posting your words on my bulletin board.
Amen !!!! What the heck posses someone to hold on to stuff that can't benefit them sell it or give it away ! I donate regularly, there's always something new and improved to replace my old stuff.
Wayne Regehr my father! That’s who. He has a digital camera he found and yet won’t take pictures of anything to put on selling sites and just seems to want to hold on to everything as a jolly reminder that he found it for free! It’s crazy! His hoarding began after he retired at 55 and he started having time on his hands so he would dumpster dive and come across all kinds of things people threw out including food! Yuck!
Every room is packed full and they can’t use some of the rooms in a two story 3 bedroom house as every room is cluttered to the brim. Only functioning rooms is the bathroom tho crowded, the kitchen - almost unusable and the one bedroom of my mom’s office. And the basement is ridiculously packed my mom can’t even use or get at her sewing machine!
Decluttered the utility room & guest room today. The guest room was a disaster...major, barely able to get to bed. Brand new room now...ready for guest. Love it. I tried the method of taking items where they belong right away...trash, donations, etc... Thanks for your videos, motivated me today!
I just got in the habit of tidying the last six? months. And this enables me to feel and see the progress much better than before. It helps to reinvent the decluttered spaces. We tend to let them as they are, just emptier. And they become dumping grounds. But if you tidy regularly then you will get a idea of how a space could work better. I’m In decluttering for three years and a half now and love how you show that it is normal to need some time. I admire the minimalists who declutter for a month and have empty spaces and always clean surfaces and are essentially „done“. But I am not that kind of person and I think most people are not. Just reached the next layer in the last few month andI am amazed how much stuff I still had and how I can still improve our space. Now it is easier, because my husband’s more involved, too, now.
Wow! Love all your videos, but this really hit it out of the park. Every tip resonated. (It feels like I’m in the messy middle for every area of our house. But actually you’re making me realize, I have made progress. I just didn’t visually realize it.) Thank you Dawn! p.s. Whenever we decorate for the holidays I temporarily put away many regular decorative items. This year after we put away all the Christmas decor, I made a choice not to bring a lot of the stuff back out (ex: items on top of the piano). Now a few weeks later, we’re already used to the cleaner surfaces (I guess our brains quickly adapted) making it easier for me to make donation decisions. Yay!
I’m a baby boomer and my mother never had clutter in our home. My mother-in-law was the exact opposite. They both grew up during the depression era but were so different. My mother-in-law became a hoarder and had stuff stuck everywhere. My mother only had what she used and didn’t believe in having stuff to store. I appreciate you sharing ideas and solutions for getting rid of clutter and organizing our lives. Love f we aren’t careful we out to much importance on material things and not in our families, our faith, or our health. Thank you!!!!
I am a boomer and have been trying to downsize for 2 years and still have a way to go. Your videos are encouraging me to keep going. Thank you and I identify with much of what you spoke.
Boomer here and you are totally spot on about my mental struggles with de-cluttering. Thank you SO much for this simplification as I truly think it will help me power on!!
Just discovered you. You saved me. I’m in the messy middle and you came in and saved me from despair.
Ok I did step one...took a pic of every messy messy room in my house 😂. Hoping for some after photos...need some prayers...
You can do it!!!!
A E - I would take pics a week later and review. Especially my messy desk with all sorts of piles. A week later the pic showed I had gone through 2/3 of it. That was very helpful because as Dawn said, we forget what it was really like.
The Minimal Mom thanks! I did one room today! I have been following your videos for half a year. I got so many things decluttered but was having some after Christmas clutter with small kids our house gets so messy so fast. This video just motivated me so much. Thank you for all you do! 🥰
Prayers sent I need some prayers myself do you have any update on your progress? Go girl!
Praying that God will bless you and help you have order and beauty in your home and life.🙏😊
Very good tips to remember. I am really enjoying your channel. I’m a Baby Boomer whose parents felt the affects of the Depression. Mom especially found it hard to throw anything out, even food. I am now realizing more than ever that clutter just clutters my mind. I appreciate simplicity much more!
I’m a Boomer, your description was spot on. It was very enlightening for me to see where I get my tendencies to hang onto everything. Thank you for all you do!
I've decluttered a lot in the past year, and I feel like I am still always on the hunt for anything to get out of the house! But there's really not heaps! So what I have done is saved a medium sized box, put it in the spare room, then as i find items here and there that I want to get rid of, I can easily put it straight into the box.
So smart discussing the generational views. It is absolutely a key component. Such respect that you go beyond the surface when you discuss topics!
Thank you so much for bringing up the generations with regards to things. My grandparents on both sides were all immigrants and participated in WW2 and Vietnam, so my parents grew up not wasting anything. This has been very hard to work through as I agree we shouldn't be wasteful. It helps me so much to think of others enjoying whatever I'm releasing. Thank you again for the fresh perspective you bring!
I am totally in the messy middle right now. Thanks for the encouragement.
Great tips! So practical! I have recently gotten used to tidying up as I go along, particularly the dishes, which always seemed to pile up all the time! I have actually grown to like quick tidy ups (sweeping, toy pick up, etc) every day and I love to do it before going out! It’s so nice to come home to a tidy house!😊
I have been decluttering for years. I have been creative memories scrapbooking. Putting together albums. I have been going holiday to holidays pitching out. I am excited with before and after pictures. Having a tidy kitchen is awesome. Yep i am in messy middle.
Dawn, thank you for the continued encouragement! I am definitely feeling the need to peel off another layer of the onion, but when I started I was on summer break. Now that I am back to teaching and have lived in my recluttered space, I am searching for energy to tackle it! This video really helped! I may even rewatch it when I start feeling in the middle again 🤗.
Also, there is the 4 animal personalities - The Lion - self-starter, takes charge, wants to be in control; The Beaver - needs details, organized, analytical; The Otter - Fun loving, doesn't follow the rules, promoter; The Golden Retriever - Loyal, doesn't like change, peace-maker. I share because sometimes these tendencies help or hinder us.
I’m obsessed with before and after photos on minimalism!
Just remembering this is a journey as well! It does not all happen overnight and we don't have energy to do it all at once! But continuous progress is progress and that's such a good feeling. I'm still finding things to get rid of and I thought I was done. And then I remember the stuff in the basement and that's a whole layer all by itself. But every time I take another box to donate I feel so much better. Progress is progress!
Thanks for all the encouragement! I'm dealing with three death cleaning plus my own decluttering on top of grieving/depression... Your videos help keep my head above water and your positivity just shines through. Thank you thank you thank you and God bless you!
Watched this video again today and realized again how much I am loving simplifying my house! I am a Boomer, kids grown and moved out. We have 6 salad plates and 4 dinner plates and when they are in the dishwasher I turn it on unless I need to do them sooner because of the smell when adding more to it. 🤥 Love all your tips!
Yess!!! exactly how i feel jaja i say there’s no way i had that much stuff . I literally have gotten rid of so much stuff and i still feel cluttered 😩
We are in the messy middle 🤪 Been in it for a year because we’ve had so much sickness in our family- it’s driving me crazy. Thanks for the encouragement to keep going!
Tidy every day. Yes oh yes! I am living in a smallish home with my husband and two young children. We have a lot of stuff, or so it seems to me. If we all chip in and put things away everyday, it’s manageable. Thank you!!
You are so awesome Dawn! I discovered your channel at the beginning of the pandemic, and not only did it help to distract me throughout that nightmare, but I learned that I was at heart a minimalist, even as a kid! This video really sums up the key to living minimally, and it really does feel good. Thank you for making the process so fun and freeing!
I discovered you today in Chicago here.
Inspiring encouraging and worthwhile.
My friends and family think I’m crazy but they all envy my new found freedom.
My layers of a onion are near the heart of the onion now.
Your smile and enthusiasm is great !
I’m a gay retired guy down sized intentionally.
I love my new life! Thank you for the content and ideas. We all learn from each other. David chicago
Dawn, I am addicted to your videos. You help me calm my anxiety of keeping up with my house.
Respectfully, I love you! You are so real and speak true feelings. We all go through these thing with our homes and our “stuff” and you are such a wonderful motivator! I have a couple of GIANT areas that need tackling, and now that I’m almost 66 I find that my body isn’t as willing as my brain, but your motivating videos are giving me the courage to take that first step. Thank you so much!
I just wanted to let you know how very much I appreciate your videos and what a blessing they have been to me. You motivated me to start a journey on getting my house in order. Coming from a generation of never throwing anything away, my house was (and parts still are) a disaster. It's a work in process but I've cleared out sooo much stuff and will continue to do so. I'm a baby boomer so no spring chicken (62) with back problems so limited to what I can do. I try to do a minimum of 15 minutes a day and if not hurting I do 2 hours or more. I also want to mention I love the Sunday videos as well. You all keep me inspired. 💗
Thank you thank you for all you do! My grandmother recommended I watch your videos. I’ve been battling anxiety and needed tips on how to start decluttering. I have decluttered so much and donated to Goodwill. I’m already feeling so much better. Less stuff = less time cleaning. Plus, y’all’s positivity in your videos is so contagious. Keep doing what you’re doing! 💗
This was great! Thank you for also showing that even well organized homes can have their messy moments! This does two things for me. It reassures me that a mess doesn't mean I am doing it wrong, and, honestly, I super neat, perfectly in order house makes me anxious! Weird, right?! I want it to be neat and organized, but feel lived in.
This was great! We are in the messy middle of serious downsizing. I’m a boomer and am sentimental, which makes it hard to throw things away. My kids (gen X) have made it clear they are not interested in “stuff” - especially “old” stuff like antiques. It’s made me rethink about all our things, and just keep what we really love and want for ourselves- no need to save for someday...well maybe a couple of things 😉
Wow....Dad and Mom depression raised so same for me! Kids not interested so now I need to decide what only I want to keep. Should be easier...right?
Yes, this is good!!
It’s not easy , but it feels great once you’ve pushed through!!! Keep going 😊
You can do this ❤️
Robin, I agree the kids (my kid is 24) are NOT currently interested in our things. But do save one or two special items. I have only one small Westminster chime clock of my grandfather's, and I think of him when it chimes and then of my Dad, who had the clock cleaned when grandpa passed.
I was struggling with the weight of all my husband's things after he passed away. It was helpful to put it in perspective because someone else certainly could use it!
LOVE this❣️ Such great reasons to de-clutter. Definitely we are a product of our upbringing....no matter what.
Hubby and I are boomers and we grew up in families that were on the poverty line. Our parents never let anything leave the house if it had a use of any kind, and you take that mentality with you. It is very hard to shake. Even once you get to a point when you have some expendable money, you still can't leave the "poverty mentality." When you buy, you buy against a rainy day. That is... more than you actually need. And you keep things... just in case, and finally you can barely move in your house and garage and shed because of it. The things you say make so much sense. I put it into practice today in a small area of my kitchen. Wow! That is all I can say for now.
Definitely I identify with this video. Raised by grandparents and taught to save everything so as not to be without in the hard times. Thanks to your videos I am learning to let go! Thanks.
Thank you again for another great video! I tell anyone who will listen about your channel and what I have learned from you, and how it's changed my life. May God continue to Bless you all!
I am amazed at how many clothes I have gotten rid of that I never wear!
Very encouraging video Dawn. You clearly state goals, repeat them and add grace along the way. My parents came for the weekend and their new room has no nightstands. The room is very simplified, beautiful and functional with no bells and whistles . I hope to pick up the pace with other rooms.
Hi Dawn et al, my hubby Jeff is 76 and I am 64 we are baby boomers and yes we have inherited some of our parents' traits as well as some of their possessions. We are both hoarders and do keep lots of clutter, we watch your videos and those of Cas and Donna as well as others, however, I do mean watch we do not declutter. That was until a certain young lady of 22 from the next village came into our lives a few months ago. She advertised herself for a cleaning job and we answered, she came to see us and we all just clicked she started that day and she cleaned our upstairs bathroom. She was wonderful and the whole room looked brilliant. Slowly over the months, she has helped us declutter no end of things and takes them to the local charity shops for us
today she went through all our medicines in the cupboard and disposed of all the out-of-date items, and cleaned and organized what was left. I do hope she stays with us for a long time as it would be sad to lose her, We have met her partner and he is a wonderful young man too. the thing is we feel we can let lots of our things go as we won't need many of our items and our 4 children are all grown up and moved away. we are away next week so she is going to look after our 2 cats and water our garden, she truly is a godsend and I'm so glad
we met her and her partner. Chel and Jeff UK XXXX
Yes TIME is the real treasure! It’s the one thing you cannon replace. Wade through the “messy middles”. They will come to an end and will be worth the effort!
You are so right about the generations. I feel that pressure to hold on to things because I "might" need it.
Now that you mention it I am reminded I'd heard somewhere else to take photos. We just completed a total kitchen redo, like ceiling to floor, and you're right, I so quickly adjusted to the new room. It wasn't until I looked at the photos I'd taken only 1/2 hour into demo that I really remembered how far we'd come. First thing, even before a declutter of "just" a drawer, out comes the phone for pix! I promise! With love from the Southern California desert, MK. ❤️🌞🌵
Thanks for all the tips! I have zero motivation for anything right now. But watching your videos push me to at least try! Thank you!
I’m 40 something. I had three kids in the 90’s. I’m a minimalist but married to a maximalist. And I was raised by a mom who wouldn’t declutter anything. So I’ve taken decluttering to a whole new level. I still need help. But I don’t like to save things. I wish we were friends in real life.
My Mom is 100 yrs old, lived in our family home for decades before moving into assisted living. She was always making do, saving old things rather than buying newer, better ones. Patching our clothes, towels and sheets. It horrifies me that I have those tendencies. My husband is irritated and angered by my clutter but not his own. I wish you well in your quest to simplify while living with someone who likes his stuff and who doesn't mind clutter. I sort of wish I had someone like that to gently urge me on, not nag. Good luck.
🙋🏼♀️ married to a maximalist too. So hard to “let it go” let him decide when it will be time even though he recognizes the benefits of the rest of the house being minimal.
Perfect timing! I am right in the middle of a bathroom declutter and needed that extra push to help me finish! Thank you for the inspiration to move towards a simpler home so I can spend more time with my kids!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! I so needed to hear these 4 things. I am a Gen Xer and struggle to throw or give things away as I've spent good money or might need it again. I also HATE the middle mess. I started cleaning my closet and am in the middle mess and feel overwhelmed with the mess. And I ALWAYS forget the "before" photos - I always say I'm going to do that but then forget... Love the "tidy, tidy, tidy" reminder - I'm a single mom and work full time and sometimes I forget that a quick "tidy = like with like" would be a huge improvement. Thank YOU again for all the fabulous videos, tips and encouragement! So glad I found your channel!
I don't know how I came across your channel (God!) but between your channel and Tidying Up (yes, I'm always a year behind whatever is trending) there have been life altering changes in my life and home! You and Marie gave me the permission I didn't realize I needed in order to let go of "stuff". My parents are both "keepers" (grew up very poor) and I am a people pleaser, so I felt obligated to keep stuff. As I get rid of stuff, I realize there was so much guilt attached to all that stuff. I was keeping it because it was a gift, or because I might possibly need it someday (feeling my parents virtually looking over my shoulder) and all this stuff was holding guilt over my head. Letting go of it has felt so empowering & freeing! Pushing guilt out of my house & my line of vision! Its still a process, but I am really happy with the changes I have made, all because you told me it was OK to let it go! The struggle I have right now is the kids and the hubs are constantly leaving their stuff everywhere and I spend all day tidying up tables, counters, floors, etc. I get into a very frustrated state of mind because I'm trying to keep this peaceful clutter free environment, but I feel like everyone is working against me & making me work to keep things clutter free!
I dream about making my living room into an amazing sewing and art studio for myself. We never entertain anymore and no longer have a tv. I also would like to store my craft, art, and sewing supplies in my kitchen cabinets, since my kitchen, dining, and living rooms are open to each other. I really never cook anymore....just simple meals. It would be so AWESOME!!! I should do it. My husband would be supportive, too. I should do it. But, it may make me seem weird.
Just do it 😇
However your space makes you guys happy! Nobody has to adhere to other people’s expectations of what their homes should be :)
It's your house. As long as your husband is on board, go for it!
I moved myself and bed into the box room so I cld use the “master bedroom” as my studio. Loved it!
Moving forward as I’m in the messy middle …. I set a timer and that helps! Thanks Dawn ❤
Thank you so much for your videos cause they have helped me with decluttering my house room by room!
Thank you thank you thank you! Drove from Idaho eight hours back to Western Washington to help my parents do this in their house right now and it has been exhausting but thank you for the much needed encouragement!💗
I am a Gen X and was raised by 2 WWII generation parents. It definitely played a roll in how I learned to keep so many things, though I have finally made changes in the last couple of years, that have made my life so much better!❤
As always, so helpful and encouraging! Thank you so much for all your ideas!I'm starting to get in the grove and it is becoming easier to get rid of stuff when I think about my time investment. Tidying has become quicker with less stuff so I have more time for better things.😊❤