What "Progress Only" Decluttering (Sometimes) Looks Like
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- My No Mess Decluttering Method lets me make progress and ONLY progress. Sometimes that can feel weird, but I focus on the overall forward motion. Here's an example from a recent decluttering project.
My books: aslobcomesclean.com/book
I can definitely attest to your method. I tried decluttering my closet, using the clear everything out method, got called away and when it was time to go to bed (and the bed was covered in clothes), I ended up sleeping on top of the clothes, because it would've taken too long to put it to rights then. With your method, tho, I was finally able to declutter my closet without making a disaster to deal with later. Thank you so much! Love your channel.😊👍🐾
Same
When that happens we call it a "side quest" or a "mini game" in our grand video game challenge of life. Some days are filled with JUST side quests but it is still PROGRESS. 😁
"Side quest" or "mini game"😂😂
I LOVE it!
YES! 🙌 this SO much! 😍
That's such a helpful perspective that I need to adopt!
Love that! TY
Lori...great perspective...love it! 😊💕
I used your No Mess method to clear out a spare bedroom that had the boxes I had kept from clearing out my parents house. I found a picture I wanted to keep. I thought about where I wanted to put it and what kind of frame it needed. I immediatly took the picture and got it framed. I came home and hung it up. I look at it all the time and feel good that it is in its final home. I did this with everything in that room. Yes, it took longer but there was no stuff shifting, just getting those treasures where they should be.
Wow! 🦘🦘🦘
Love this well done ❤
I think it is so helpful that you are transparent enough to share these real-life examples. great video!
I do have ADHD (diagnosed) and also OCD (recently officially diagnosed). I have had multiple big changes in my life over the past several years in succession without having time to process one before another occurred. Some of the changes have been very unpleasant (which is an understatement), and some have been the best things to ever happen in my life. However, I am not one who deals with change well, and it rocks my world until I can adjust. And the chaos in my head is reflected in my environment and the chaos in my environment exponentially compounds my anxiety. What you are describing in this video sounds a lot like what I call "but first" syndrome (I want to do X, but first, I need to do Y, but first, I need to do Z...) and I started A LOT of stuff and never finished anything. Your take on this, though, actually follows the "real" first thought through to completion. I could never figure out how to finish anything. What I will take from this and adjust to my "system" is asking myself "how does this help me complete my original task?" If I can answer the question, I will go ahead with the "but first" task. If it doesn't really help me finish the original task, then I will recognize it as a true distraction/OCD perfectionism/ADHD impulsivity. Thank you for helping me clarify this. Your videos have helped me slowly clear some of the clutter and chaos in my home and in my head.
Your hair is adorable . I’m glad you’re you and can encourage me
I have ADHD and OCD and PTSD. I was diagnosed in midlife. I can get stuck too. Knowing what you are dealing with helps.
I’m learning to acknowledge my body/brain 🧠 is an exceptional machine in quickness of response and noticing things. Noticing potential dangers and beauty in life.
It’s not fun at times … our brains are hyper-functioning. They are not lacking… they work hard a lot!!!
See the super power you have … imagine having no ideas 💡 about anything!!!
I’m also learning to embrace my love to research as a hobby of its own. Maybe I just love to research… maybe I enjoy organizing and re-organizing.
For me, some things are natural, since I was born. And trauma or stress can make some things worse … anyway… I’m working to acknowledge my body/ brains hard work and tell it it’s okay and work to release it. 🙏🏼 ❤🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼
Ummm..... I think we may be the same person, except I haven't been officially diagnosed with either ADHD or OCD (but, I'm quite sure I have both)! I won't pretend to know the things you've been through, but I absolutely get the whole "not good with change" thing. I know it doesn't really help much in your day-to-day life, but I wanted you to know that you're not alone.
I agree - that question will help the "But, first...." cycle, a lot! I'm definitely going to try it.
I hope life is is kinder to you in the coming years, gives you more good days than bad, and things work out better than you dreamed possible! 🌻
I love your plan, thank you for sharing.
You can not know how your thought process has changed my craft room. I'm a quilter, and I forever have TONS of fabric pieces and patterns to deal with: new fabric to give a home, longarm scraps to trim down and put away or get rid of, quilting projects in the works, etc. We have all these fancy terms like UFOs (UnFinished Objects) and WIPs (Work In Progress) but most quilting spaces look like a tornado went through them. Since watching you, as I finish ANY process (not project...any process), I think, "Take it there now" or "Where would I look for this first". That has me putting scissors where they go, fabric is stored in its place, everything has a home, and I finish each day with a clean cutting table for tomorrow. It's Magic. :) You're the BEST!
I now do that too...she's very helpful!
Yes, me too. I have been declutterring for awhile and in the sewing room. She has really helped me too
I love that parking in your garage, the place cars belong, was your ultimate goal. We moved here 30 years ago, and I put my foot down the day we moved in. "We WILL have room for a car in this garage ALWAYS!" I've stuck to my guns with the rare exception of temporary storage for something that was going to be removed in days. Knowing the final goal and making it known to the whole family made the difference between success and frustration.
I love that I can watch these videos and know what you're going to say next. I knew what you were going to do with that suitcase! And it makes sense to me! I've done enough of this in the past year that now when I have a birthday party for a kid (which is happening this weekend) I don't have to overhaul the whole house. I just have to clean the bathrooms and sweep and mop the floors. The visible spaces in my home are not too bad. It's such a great feeling! There are some not-so-visible spaces that still look like a tornado went through them, but we are moving in the right direction.
That is huge! What a great feeling! Good for you! And then in the aftermath of the birthday party, you won't be discouraged and exhausted that the party just trashed the house you had to work so hard to get perfect for company. 😇 Hah, I speak from experience! Only progress!!!
I've been working on decluttering my house for a year and sometimes I get frustrated that it doesn't go faster. However, Dana's strategies help me make sure that whatever I do really makes for a long term improvement, not just more stuff-shuffeling! Thank you!!!
Dana, I’ve listened to you ramble on for hours about how your mind works in relation to decluttering. Yet somehow I still find it interesting to listen. Real life example videos like this are really helpful.
Yours is the first book I bought based solely upon 5 star reviews. I thought I read all the decluttering books out there but your method was truly original and much needed. You’re a real gift to the world.
I call this "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie Mode" (or Mouse Mode for short). And yeah, that mouse is basically the poster child for ADHD. 😆
BUT, it really does work when you do it your way! Before I *thought* this was what I was doing, but I was actually just stuff shuffling. There's a big difference between, "I have to move this pile over here so that I can empty out this thing and stack the contents over there, so I can move that thing over there and fill it back up with that other stuff" versus actually getting stuff out of the space entirely so that you never have to deal with it again!
I take cleaning stuff with me when I decluttering for such events as I tend to let things get really dusty. So after a quick clean I get things away immediately xxxxxxxc
Just spent 40 min with old papers pile and coffee using your method. I heard you saying ‘take it there now’ and I plowed through until I got overwhelmed again. Shred party tomorrow!
You Saved my Perfectionist Self from Misery. Qqqqqqquuueesstion???DO YOU EVEN REALIZE THAT YOU ARE CHANGING OUR LIVES AND LITTERALLY CHANGING THE WORLD????? Well these days That is Priceless. Speaking The Truth. 🙂🙂🙂
Note to self: have spray cleaner and rags if decluttering somewhere that might have dust or dirt.
Oh my God, that sounds like my home so much! One job leads to another, moving the bookcase then the suitcase! How funny, I thought I was the only one. Thank you I dont feel so bad now xx
I love your process! Always better off whenever you stop
If you do have an attention problem it has benefited sooo many because you have insight into your barriers to your vision of how you want to manage and maintain the inventory in your house. Taking charge and finding systems that work and you sharing is so inspiring.
The multiple "things"/steps(usually for me: 5 - 8) that needed to be done, before I could do the very thing I originally set out to do, had always held me back from making any progress! NOW I see getting each of these things done as actual progress...LIFE CHANGER!! Thank you Dana for talking thru this real life example!! 🤗❤ 💡(moment)
If you want to really get some decluttering accomplished, have new flooring installed in your home! I did this a couple of weeks ago. Closets had to be emptied so carpet could be pulled up and new flooring installed. So much stuff I had forgotten about, decorative items that we no longer wanted, craft supplies that had been forgotten, etc. I made 3 donation trips and a couple of trips to the dump. Still have some work to finish but so much better than it was!
So true! We just refinished our floors - so much clutter went along with the old carpet. Next we're putting in new kitchen floors- so the kitchen is getting decluttered next ;)
Ditto!
I had some workmen come over to install a new bathroom floor. They needed kitchen space as well to set up their tools. And it was so easy to move things around to make room for them to work because I had decluttered.
The humor writer Patrick McManus called this 'getting caught in a spiral of sequences.'
You are describing my life 100%!!! The only difference is that I am alone, so I have to do everything myself. Then add my chronic pain diseases (yes, plural ☹️) which are limiting and exhausting in and of themselves on top of my ADD… my entire house is trashed…I’m so overwhelmed and I can’t seem to finish ANYTHING!! I’m crying right now while I’m watching this because you are giving me permission to do those several different things and not feel guilty!! Thank you!!! Oh, and I work full time (55 hours+ a week) outside the home. I feel like such a failure!! I’m going to start with 1 item right now!!! ❤ thank you!!!! Thank you!!!
Thank you Dena! ❤
Narrow your expectations and do small bits at a time. Only take on one task at a time and leave yourself the option to stop or continue at will and without guilt or shame. If you move just one piece of paper or one item to a better placement or toss out just one thing, you've improved your situation and should take satisfaction in that.
Acting on impulse, you will make improvements which will become increasingly obvious over time. If you moved to the sink one glass that previously sat in a room for 6 months, and if you did nothing else for 3 days, you still improved your situation that week; take and acknowledge the win.
The only person holding you to accounts is you. The only person setting the standards is you. The only person judging you is you. That means you have the power to change the context.
You are justified in taking your time and conserving your resources. Be kind to yourself; you deserve it. Lower the expectations on yourself and take your time. Do one thing. If you feel like it, if it feels good to do one more, then do one more. But stop when you reach your body's or your mind's limit. And be happy for the progress.
Thank you, Dana! I will remember your box of books, shelf, and suitcase when I work on my home! You’ve helped me soooo much over the last several years!
Thank you. You are helping me. I'm definitely Adhd...add to that age 73. I could manage clutter when I was younger..age has me struggling and I realized after a year of trying to declutter , it's worse.
I bought two of your books, listen to your RUclips. I'm finally getting my head above water. ( I was a pianist, I compare that to the arts field and we people struggle more than most. I can arrange music and I can find a dozen ways to use something I need to get rid of. We are gifted creative people. Lol
Thank you again. Keep up your good work.
I have been using your no mess process for a while. Well, the other day, I didn't and I took everything out of cupboard.. 15 minutes in I was done mentally, so what happened? I started shortcutting things and making poor decisions. Now, that space really needs to be redone. Ugh! The no mess process is the way!!!
This strategy is working well for my A.D.D. brain, because "taking it there now" in the past I would have defined as letting myself get distracted, and now I realize it is the only way I'll make progress. My previous strategy that killed progress and I used all the time was "for now." I'll put this here for now. Sometimes, that still is unavoidable, but not nearly as often as I thought it was. If I declutter 5 things but they're fully decluttered, that's way better for my peace of mind than rearranging 50 pieces of clutter that are still clutter, just set aside in a new place "for now."
You never cease to crack me up. Thank you for being so real and sharing your own experiences and process. It works!!! Love you Dana!
Made total sense to me and yes a great way to move forward not backwards with decluttering! Thanks for another great video!!
My friend and I were talking about your no mess method today and how helpful is has been. Thank you 🙏
Your processing each item makes sense to my brain processing. I’m decluttering but it was overwhelming. Now I think I can take bites and still call it progress. Thank you.
Thank you Dana for sharing. I love how you explained the steps.
The Dog-Dining Room! Everyone should have one 😀
Awesome! I feel like you just "gave us permission" to use what would feel like a distraction to actually meet our goals. Also, I ♥love♥ Reid's credits--always worth watching all the way to the end!
This is helpful, but I fear the years it will take me to take my house back. We did make some decisions to completely ditch some big items this morning. And we had a conversation about books are probably not going to ever read a second time. Fabric I have had for 20+ years that isn't likely to be sewn, I have more suitable fabric. Those were nagging decisions.
That’s huge progress! Keep it up and don’t worry about how long it takes, just keep working on making it a little bit better for tomorrow :)
In my head much of the now is "take it there now" and "complete the process". I'm still working on this, but I'm getting better at it. Thank you for your videos!
Sorry, I should have said much of the TIME now is "take it there now" and "complete the process".
The commenters have such good analogies. What about the game of traffic jam? If you've every seen it it is a puzzle game where 12? Toy Cars are crammed into grid and it takes 10 to 21 steps of moving cars forward or backward until the red car can exit the grid. Yes? No? Possibly a lot of people are not familiar with the puzzle. Suffice it to say, there is a lot of puzzling and backtracking before you win
I agree with you Dana. ADHA ,or not, sometimes we just try to do too many things at once because we want things finished which is almost impossibile. So we must stop beating ourselves up, accept things take time and take the time needed to do that one thing in that moment. Of course it takes longer if we have a lot of stuff but it can be done!
Thank you thank you thank you for this. Being reminded that those “distractions” are ok if you are making progress makes a huge difference in how I see them now!
I have the attention span of your average 6-year-old, so these tips are very helpful!
This is my life. It's a distorted If You Give a Mouse a Cookie situation. I awfulize my de-cluttering situation. Before doing anything, I start to go through it mentally----I need to work on this area or room, well in order to do that I should do this first, but to do that I need to do this and if I do this I really should do this before that otherwise I am really just not going to finish it, because then I'd have to move all this to put the baseboards on, but I need to paint the baseboards first and it's too cold now. Then, I give up and go do something else.
So helpful that I saved it in my 3 playlists where I may look for it first. If only reality mirrored cyber storage.
You have been a big help to me decluttering our home! I just don't do the take it there now, due to arthritis. I put it close to the door of the room in a basket and sometimes closeby. Whenever I leave a room that goes with me. I find this works better for me. Otherwise, it seems like I am a chicken running around.🤭🐓
My Forgetfulness Level is 8/10... It's exhausting having distraction + forgetfulness x 1 million
talk to your doctor about your distractibility. Smartest thing I ever did.
Love your shirts! They make me smile!❤
Between you and Cas I have finally accepted that I am ADHD -wow, and thanks
PERFECT
If at any time something came up, if you had to quit before you moved the bookcase, or the suitcase, or WHATEVER, the house would still be better off. And when you got back to decluttering, there would NOT be a bigger mess. There would have been progress. Brilliant.
Thank you for sharing.
I am a big fan of to-do lists because I am a forgetful/easily distracted person. I have a command center on my refrigerator with a list of things I want to do for the week, it helps me to stay focused and on track
I love that method! It’s THE best one for me. It changed my life since I discovered your videos 1 year ago! Thank you soo much!
Your method makes SO MUCH SENSE!! (I HAVE been officially diagnosed with having ADD!) THIS is why I have yet to reclaim the formal dining room in our home! EVERY time I've gone in there, determined to declutter/organize, it just gets reshuffled & I end up frustrated. I've been watching your videos over the last few months, but I've really been focusing (ha ha) lately on the ones about making progress with no mess. If I can deal with one item every time I go in there, it's bound to get back to being a dining room someday! Thanks, Dana! Your thought process is counter-intuitive for most people, but makes perfect sense to "The Rest of Us"!
Thank you for such a specific video on this! My friend keeps telling me she wants to declutter but can't because she runs into this issue. If she brings it up again and the moment feels appropriate I will send this video to her.
The jobs of Mom and homemaker lead to a lot of running in 2 directions at the same time. I couldn't solve my clutter problem by pulling things apart traditionally but by doing it your way I am (fairly) free!
Your editor makes me laugh! He reminds me of an older child I have who would make such comments. I look forward to his remarks after videos.
I love the editor's comments at the end of your videos! 🤣
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
I get distracted before 15 seconds when I'm meant to be stopping the microwave 😱😭 how does this possibly happened time and time again 🤪
Absolutely love this video. Excellent real life situation-- no place to store the books & finding a bookshelf. AND solving the problem at that moment. I have High School yearbooks in my garage-- ugh. Never knew what to do with them.
Love you original content!
But now I have gotten so overwhelmed with all the things I need to do to make my first decision work .WHEW, WHAT A RIDE!
It is often not possible to move things to their final home because that place (where I would look first) is not decluttered yet. I can only add to that pile. There is no way I could deal with that item only once.
It’s like a BOGO or 3-for-1 💫 TFS!
We have a sunroon we call the doggie room! It's so nice to see others do this too! ☺
We have the cat room - where we keep his litter tray 🤣
Yay Dana. You are so great at explaining things. Either that, or I now know how your brain works. Haha. Thanks for everything.
So I don’t know if this will help you or not, but I made a cleaning kit. I got a plastic container at Walmart with a handle and I put all my cleaning supplies in there. Spray Cleaner, paper towels, furniture polish, magic erasers, disposable dust cloths, rubber gloves. Everything I can use to clean. When I have something that needs cleaning I grab the kit, and I have everything I need.
I love the comments at the end. Go Reid!
I love the videos where you go help people declutter their spaces!
I just feel like this video needs an applause after the year books & scripts were finally on the bookshelf 👏🏻👏🏻😂 Thank you Dana! This may be my favorite video of yours! You are my person!
Getting distracted would be spending an hour styling the table where you put the plant after you took it off the bookshelf and forgetting to move the bookcase and the books. Been there, done that! I think people get bogged down when it’s not just a suitcase with a home but another big pile of clutter sitting in the spot they need. But sometimes I think they’re just thinking about the process and not actually grabbing the stuff and getting started with trash, duh, etc.
Hey Dana! Do you still sell your shirts? I can’t find them on YT or your website and want to get a Sass Level shirt. Thanks for all of your awesome content!
Yes I do! They are at amazon.com/shop/aslobcomesclean
Thank you!!!
Shoutout to Reid for the funny credits at the end of every video. I always watch to the end so I can see what gem he has in store for us! (And of course, shoutout to Dana for the fabulous video content!)
ADHD is so much more than getting distracted though, I found that out myself Years and years too late, got my diagnosis in my 30's. It's the executive dysfunction that are behind it all and it affects so much more than just "oh look, a butterfly" ;) You talk a lot about things that fit perfectly with executive dysfunction issues that are in ADHD
I love how this separates the kinds of “but first I have to…” into two categories: sometimes the idea of a task that must happen first actually helps accomplish the original goal.(something like moving a shelf from one room to another). Other times the “but first…” idea might be a distraction (changing the wallpaper, buying new baskets… unless you’re at step 5 of consolidating and you know exactly how little you’re keeping, don’t buy new containers yet 🤪
This is exactly the same system I worked out for myself a few years ago. After using it for several years, I can finally see that I’ve made progress. Sometimes I feel like I’ll never get completely done, but I’m starting to lose that negative thought. I searched for encouragement when things started looking grim today, and yours is the video that came up. I feel completely validated and encouraged. Thank you!
I love how you break things down. That's exactly how my brain works. I'm glad you created the five-step method for people with brains like mine. God bless you
That overwhelming feeling you get is likely due to ADD. I have ADD & I get overwhelmed with declutter before I start when it just looks like too much because I can’t see where to start. Luckily your 2nd book & videos have been helping me ☺️
Just today I was cleaning out my daughter’s vanity (surprising her with a new 1 today for her bday😊) and I grabbed a few items that didn’t belong in her room & put them in a random space just to get them out of her space to declutter, but i was just moving clutter from 1 place ti another. & I heard your voice in me head “go put this where it lives now. Where is the 1st place I’d look for this?”
Thank you for all of your help!
I 'decluttered' (de-weeded) our garden. Put a 7 minute timer on. And did progress and only progress. I carried my trashbag with me. I stopped as soon as the timer went off and nothing to clean up after. Normally I would have taken all the weeds out, and then brushed up and it becomes a huge palava because the wind would come and blow the weeds around. I'm so happy. Looks great and I stopped as soon as the timer went off
The tortoise method! ❤
You are a God send!
I totally AGREE with your process!! This is what has always worked with me! Very cool!
Blessings, Lyn in Nampa ID
Lol I love your ADHD comment because when watching your videos and reading your book, the thought that you had ADHD too, kept running through my brain. Especially with your references to timeblindness, like thinking things take forever, but was only 15min or so, or thingd you think will be quick taking hours.
I love your method but had to make a few adjustments for my ADHD brain. If I leave the space while working to put stuff somewhere else than I will get distracted in the other space. So I use carry baskets for other rooms and post it notes. Write down where it goes in the other space than put it in the basket for that room. Once I have the carry bags with decent amounts of stuff in it, before I run out of energy I will put things where they go. And usually at that point I just want to be done so I really do put things where I originally said they went and I'm only done once the baskets are empty.
You said “this is confusing” as I was doing very similar stuff and I really appreciate it! It’s not confusing to me and I love hearing all these details!
Sooooo I’m listening to this thinking you’re being extra wordy today (even with Reid’s editing) and how, if I hadn’t seen your previous videos, I’d move on to a different channel. BUUUTTTTTT then I realized you’re saying E X A C T L Y what comes to mind in these situations.
Thanks to you, I’ve learned what is breaking from the task versus what is needed to move forward without creating those dreaded I’ll-get-to-it-later piles. My house is so much BETTER.
I’m still bad at letting go of things (e.g. I save TOO MANY empty containers) I may need in the future, because I have space and remember that I own whatever it is. I think I’m just above my clutter threshold, though.
Thanks again for progress and only progress!!
So focus on the ITEM instead of the SPACE. I’m am currently decluttering my dining room aka junk room so I will try this!!
Girl. This is exactly me and I'm keeping up with what you're saying just fine lol
I also have said I'm undiagnosed ADHD bc I don't go to the Dr lol
I take my kids there, but I don't go just for myself bc I always have the kids lol
Love this!! This is what I often find myself better off doing as well. Love you and your content Dana!
Hmm, ya know what? I also have never TRIED to be diagnosed with ADHD either!! Only because I was desperate to not be miserable, majorly depressed and could not live like I was anymore and was seriously at my wit's end, I sought help and went to a doctor who suggested that I get tested by one of our nation's top specialist. After two weeks of intensive psychological testing for a couple hours each session, THEN I was diagnosed with severe ADHD. I certainly never TRIED to get diagnosed. I hope you rethink that statement about never being diagnosed because you have never tried to do so. Maybe I'm snowflaking out here. If so I do apologize. Some may want to get the diagnosis but I know I entered deep state of depression after I got the news that I would never be "normal". Thanks for letting me speak my mind.
Putting cleaning supplies everywhere helps me. One less step to discourage me from cleaning. Cleaning supplies in garage helps.
I love your system Dana! I realised that when I've come across something similar to your card table example, I thought it was an interruption to my decluttering, but, as you explain so clearly, cleaning it an putting it in the right place is actually part of the decluttering. A lightbulb moment! PS I think you have ADHD too, and you are developing strategies to overcome the challenges it brings. Diagnosis might still be useful. x
Wow! I enjoyed your explanation about how tidying up often is a chain of events, that it's normal, not an error - can be a drag, but it's not someone's fault! And this also made me realize something a little on the side of what you were talking about: I have been so focused on the mantra "stay focused", because I know I so easily lose focus. When I instead need a system that automatically reels me in, afterwards, whenever I lose focus! Having a low inventory makes the misplaced or unfinished things pop out. And my goal has been to do the right things at the right time, when they most of the time just have to be done in time. I have also reluctantly accepted that it's sometimes better to do things twice, than try to do too many things at once. Multitasking is the worst.
This was extremely helpful and encouraging. Thank you!
Omg Dana, this idea just came to me. Usually I love listening to your videos while I do the dishes to keep momentum… today my neighbor is playing workout style techno music in the background…
You should be like BANG Energy and encourage people to make inspiring techno tracks for decluttering, where the vocal support is peppered in, and the climatic drops are followed by snippets of you dropping key tips on us. 😎 lol
I love this. It’s so easy to make a pile once you’ve decided what to do with something, but I can see how it’s better to just take care of it right away.
So I understand the stigma that comes with ADHD, however the process that you just mentioned is exactly how my every thought is as a person who has been diagnosed with ADHD 😢 I have been attempting your process for the last year, however my biggest struggle is with the “suitcase” in your scenario. I often get to the “suitcase” which is huge, bulky, and doesn’t have a home but I need to keep it cause say I travel for work and it is a must have. All my spaces are full and I have nowhere to put it, so I get overwhelmed and walk away from the whole project and attempt to deal with the anxiety, depression, and now failure felt in the situation. May I ask what you do in these types of situations to keep yourself going? P.S. I am really trying and I do have your books, however, they are buried in one of the 100+ boxes of things I have to sort through 😩. This struggle is real and thank you for taking the time to be honest and open about how you get through life!!!!
I am a
clutter bug.Right now I have to clear out my messie mum's house...find the things that are for keeps...lots of stuff.
So, I need all the encouragement I can get from your videos.
Thank you! The no bookshelf where you would look for it first is me! I would freeze at that point and quit. I find those stumbling blocks all the time. I have been following your method for a year now and my home is mostly finished, thank you! This gives me motivation to tackle those daunting boxes and spaces!
At first it sounded like a distraction, many distractions - for instance, when I used to clean I would be "cleaning forever" and at the end would feel exhausted but not notice a difference because my cleaning would start with a room I want to clean and it would end up with me taking one thing to another room to find something in that room that needed to go to another room then find another thing etc etc etc. Lots of running around, lots of walking, lots of "work" but in the end I'm exhausted, the room I originally wanted clean barely looks different and overall there were just this and that moved from one room to another. BUT what you are talking about is completely different - you are still staying focused on the original task AND everything you are doing is for the greater good too overall. In your "distraction" there are now things moved out of the original space you were decluttering and sent to their permanent home, where you would look for them - and that is progress. I need to remind myself to look for the progress in each step. Thank you for your videos! You are changing my life! I appreciate it!
I get distracted all the time, so I am a firm believer in "take the item to its home". If I try and do "setting things aside", then I end up with a BIG MESS.
You are very clear in your examples and instructions. Thank you, it is very helpful.
I had an epiphany watching this. We are planning a major reno (if I can find a contractor), so I'm boxing up things that have a home now, but won't for a while soon. But there is a lot of clutter mixed in with the stuff we want to keep. So, I'm going to start piling the boxes where they will go when the reno is done, and if I have too many boxes for the room, then I know that I have to do another cull of those boxes. And I probably shouldn't buy any more books for the future library until I have a place to build the bookcases.
Love listening to you!!!
Can you do a video on large family pictures that needs to be packed without frames. Your suggestions