Not brilliant. You can live without furniture, clothes, a car, a TV, a phone, so the question is too harsh. How about, "Can I still manage to live comfortably enough without this?"
@@anasaziroseI think she's referring to de-cluttering specifically when asking "can I live without it"...and not in a literal sense. I mean of course most of us can live without all of the things that you mentioned but is it realistic? I mean yes you're right, we could all live without clothes...but I mean seriously how realistic is that? I think most of us would tend to agree that clothes are pretty much a "necessity". I mean we can't all just start walking around & going about our days and nights naked 😂 & I'm quite sure that's not a sight that most of us would like to see! And we'd probably end up being ticketed/charged for public indecency 😂
I tie it to "... and if I suddenly need it, can I easily get it from a store or a loved one?" Makes it easier to get rid of things that are sort of useful, but maybe haven't been useful for me in a long time, and are just taking up space in my life.
I am the child of hoarders who were both children of hoarders, and that instinct runs strong in me. One of the things my husband did for me was ask, "can we replace it when needed easier than we can store it until needed?" He also asked, "what do you want more: not having to run a mile up the road to re buy that at the dollar store, or the peace of mind you get from having a manageable amount of stuff?" One trap I still fall into is the perceived value of things: I paid for it, searched hard to get it, it must be worth a lot so I can't let go of it unless I get $$$ for it. It's easier to not bring something home than it is to get rid of it later.
She can live without just about everything she has.... I'm not sure who that question helps. Like can she live without a vacuum! Yep! Could she live without double ovens! Yep. Maybe it's good for people who don't interpret the question literally ?
@@lauralaforge558 You have to find the question that works for you to help you minimize the unnecessary stuff in your life. I don't ask "Can I live without it?" I ask myself "Will I use it?" Often followed by "Is there something else I own that can double for this use?" What happens is I often find I can consolidate my stuff to live more efficiently, so that there's less for me to clean. I use less cleaners, and learned how multipurpose a lot of items are. I spend a lot less on single-use items. Another question to ask is "Where will I store it?" Often if I don't have a place to put it, then I might get to "Do I need it?" Because then I can figure out if it needs a place. The "Do I need it" has a strong undercurrent of "Am I keeping this for sentimental value? Do I have guilt attached? Am I afraid of losing something?" Those are more personal and maybe attached to you. Anyway, the point is to find the question that spurs that internal dialogue, and being willing to be honest with yourself.
I started to ask myself “when was the last time I even used/worn this” and it has been such a life changer. Working in retail you have a tendency to buy clothes and anything on sale with your employee discount. Since freelancing, I have realized there are things I haven’t used or worn in literal YEARS! So every so often I go through things and call a church to pick up for donations.
Okay I understand the idea but what about your seasoning clothing and I have always keep most of my life adult life the same weight except a couple of years when menopause hit, so I had to save my seasoning clothing to me dressing beautiful it makes me feel good and lift up my Spirit even if it's just temporarily; but many times that is exactly what I need it 🙂
@@taniatanner7483if you rotate your wardrobe seasonally then you can declutter it seasonally too. At the end of the season when you're getting ready to switch out your clothes look and see if there is anything that didn't get worn before you pack it up. Those things might be good ones to get rid of, especially if you know you didn't wear them the previous year either.
@@taniatanner7483 it doesn’t matter what season. I always keep what I know I use often and I donate what I know I haven’t used in years. I always use all my sweaters during the winter time so I keep all of them. I have some that I’ve had since I was 14yrs old. I take care of my clothes so everything always in excellent condition until it’s worn off completely and the fabric loses structure. Like clothes I use daily. And when that happens I throw them out instead of donating them
This is GREAT advice. If I’m afraid I might regret letting it go I put it outta sight, give myself a time, if I haven’t used it by the date I gave myself, it’s gone!
I've also heard, if you keep it, would you know where to find it? If the answer is no, get rid of it bc you'll wind up buying another one. Also the container principle is to treat each drawer as its own container, which should only be 80% full. Anything above that, something has to be discarded.
I imagine myself dying and my family being forced to go through my stuff. So I'm always trying to get rid of things, and make due with what I have instead of buying more. If you've ever been the one to go through a loved one's home after their passing, then you know we all accumulate way too much stuff.
Same here♥️- I do the same- I think about that a lot; I have been the one cleaning out a loved one’s place & it’s very exhausting and stressful. I want to make it as easy as possible for my children and loved ones when my day comes.
This is called Swedish Death Cleaning, and it’s a great practice to get into! Even if you don’t have close family, it’s a good mindfulness to have, and it’s considerate to WHOMEVER has to come in and clear out your space. The less you have, the easier it would be for someone to decide whether or not to donate or trash your things. Also just less work overall; no one wants to wade through piles of a stranger’s stuff.
@@doyourbesteveryday6535depends on your frame of mind! If you’re going into it with a realistic and charitable mindset, like true Swedish Death Cleaning suggests, then it’s not manifesting anything negative. It’s a pragmatic approach. “We all die someday, and when that day comes for me, I want to leave behind as little mess and stress for my loved ones as possible.” 🙂
Oh my gosh...Truth. lol I've been purging massively for the past few months. I feel like I am in an uphill battle. I have so much more to go. There are about ten young moms at my husband's job that really need donations of everything. It makes me feel so good when he tells me how they gasp, and can't believe what I'm giving them and get so excited looking through everything. They then bring pictures of their family's to show my husband and they say, my family thanks you. Big difference from Goodwill and St Vincent De Paul, you pull up to drop donations, two guys look at each other in slight disgust and start eye rolling. Knowing I'm helping all of these young moms w everything they need, motivates me to even give things away that I still love, because I know they will love it even more. Your house is so clean and beautiful ❤
Than we have always people like this, that go on and on ranting about what they do for so many people. The world has to know how much they gave away, and especially tell how much people they helped.They can't imagine just being normal= do good, without bragging about it on the internet or elsewhere, imagine doing this and tell no one. Like normal people do. Doing good when no one knows, or is watching. That are the real ones. Now you made it all about you, how good you felt , I did this, I did that, I felt so good.
Whatever excuse you find to help you purge is good. If you feel like getting rid of things is hard, and giving directly to families is better, and motivates you to get rid of more, then contact the salvation army. They place poor people into housing, but these people need everything. I donated my new mattress and box springs directly to a young couple with a bunch of kids. No one had a bed to sleep on. When I realized this, I went home and took apart two more beds. I was holding onto them in case we had guests. We never had guests so I got rid of the beds. The reason I found this info was out of desperation. I bought a mattress on Amazon, and it was awful. No one would take it as a donation. I didn't want to get charged by the dump for an oversized item, and I didn't want to have it sit in a landfill. Happy cleaning.
@@IAMinfiniteandfree. The person isn't bragging about helping others. They are struggling with getting rid of their stuff. My mom does the same, but still holds onto more than she needs. Some people have a hard time parting with items. If she was really looking to brag, then she would be listing all of the places she donated to, and the tons more families she helps out. In the end, she just passed her stuff along to the husband's coworkers, because it's easier than just getting rid of it or really taking the time to seek out needy families. It's a way to justify getting rid of some of the many items they have. It's a hoarders way of thinking and my mom's the same way. They hate parting with what they own, but can't live in heaps. They do what is easy and convenient, and justify losing their items by saying....at least I'm helping out, but they aren't really. It's an excuse they use to get rid of items they're forced to part with.
@@IAMinfiniteandfree. Perhaps you should be asking yourself, "Do they really need my comments? Are they kind? Will my comments benefit others?" Keep the ill-mannered, unnecessary comments to yourself. DON'T give those to others. No one wants them, needs them, will use them, or has any place to put them.
For me, “do I use this?” Is the best question. And the follow-up would probably be “do I have something else that could be multi-purpose and take the place of the item in question?”
This doesn't work for everyone - my answer for "can I live without it" would be almost always 'yes' - even for things like bed or table (checked on myself, you can live without it), but it wouldn't be a comfortable life XD For me a better questions are: "would I want to get it if I had to pay for it" or "how sad/angry I would be if I lost it".
I'm adding this question to my list. I also ask myself... 1.WHY did I get it? 2. What am I going to do with it? 3.When have (or did) I used it? 4. How is this helping me move forward in my life? 5.What emotions are keeping me attached to this? I have cleared out so much. For me, different items require different questions...especially those items inherited from my deceased mother. Those items are difficult to address because I don't feel the same way about them as my mother did.
Hoo boy, the struggle my family will go through when my dad passes away (beyond... you know). He is very sentimental and has a lot of big furniture pieces that he cares for. Baby beds that belonged to all of his kids, several pieces that belonged to his father... He knows we don't feel the same about these items, but asks that we respect his belongings while he's still around. I'm grateful that the stuff he keeps is high quality, so it might stay as family heirlooms... With a new coat of paint. My mom, on the other hand... Let's just say she's very crafty and creative and we have referred to her as a goldfish- grows to fit the container she's in no matter how large.
I love this. "Am I willing and able to take care of this?" is another one I like to ask, whether it's a new purchase or something I might already own. In a way, every item you have is an added responsibility.
I became a minimalist on accident.. long story short.. my fiancé died unexpectedly and I had no one there to help me move so I literally had to get rid of EVERYTHING . I could only take what I could fit in my car and I drove from California to Tennessee where my mom was. Now I realize I didn’t need all of that stuff and I am very conscious of what I buy now
So sorry to hear of your loss ☹️ Glad something good came from something bad... I also went through a big change that shook me up & I now live simply instead of simply living.
I'd say Marie Kondo's "does this spark joy for me?" is a better question for me in most situations. It kind of encapsulates the "can I live without it?", but coupled with more emotion. I'm very emotional and get emotionally attached easily, and the phrasing of your question feels too emotionally detached in my mind. Glad you found something that works for you though! 🥰
I FOUND OUT form my granddaughter now that she's grown she didn't bring friends to my house because she was embarrassed because of all the clutter I CAN'T GET THAT LITTLE GIRL BACK EVER Remember Simple living IS all they ask for THEN you have time for THEM Instead of spending ALL YOUR DAYS cleaning and organizing never getting rid of stuff 1. I enjoyed these THING'S now its someone else's time 2. IT'S BETTER TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE. (My personal matra) 3. things are not the most important things in life 4. do I love this enough to take up space in my house 5. do I have a home for this 6. What really is most important to me in my life 7. AM I spending more time cleaning and organizing than I am with God and my family ? 🥺 did for 40 yrs DON'T LET THAT BE YOU 😢
Gruß aus Deutschland, ja ,ich möchten auch mehr Zeit mit Gott verbringen und bin auch zu viel Zeit mit hin und her räumen beschäftigt. Bin 60 Jahre geworden, der Test meines Lebens muss anderst sein.
To me, the key is in having everything you need and nothing you don’t, and then making sure that everything you have, has a home. That way, all you have to do is make sure you put things back in their home when you’re done with them and your house stays pretty tidy.
Yes, I tend to ask myself if I will/could possibly use something, since I already spent the money on it. But that money is gone, and having a cluttery house is costing me my time, energy, peace and happiness.
See sometimes we end up spending MORW money when the house is cluttered cause we can’t find stuff. I’m so tired of that so idgaf if I spent money on something anymore. If it’s not being used, hasn’t been touched, nobody wants it? It’s gone. So many donations for the local library too! I just need a home where I don’t have to move stuff to do things.
Yeeees👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 i struggle with getting rid of things and thinking im wasting it coz ive spent money on it already plus throwing is contributing more to landfill.. till i found a buy nothing group on facebook for my area and its been life changing giving away the things i dont need to people who actually want/need them
@@torakfett3351So true, I can’t find the stuff that I actually use b/c it has been combined with clutter somewhere. I’ve had to replace two things in the last month b/c I’m tired of needing them but not really having them!
For nostalgia items, a good trick is to take a picture of the item. Makes it easier to choose to let go of some things that are overly kept because they're sentimental. Not the family heirlooms, of course, but minor things.
After our house burned down for the most part, around this time last year, the box (wood wrapped in leather) survived. But one of our laptops and one external hard drive did not. So I silll have all of my pictures (30+ years of it). My husband had nothing left.
I can live without curtains but it makes me very sad. I can live without books but they bring me a lot of joy. I can live without many things like lotion, shampoo etc but I feel more comfortable having them. I am glad you found something that works for you, but it wouldn’t work for me. I am reducing clutter at the moment and for me looking at things and asking myself whether they bring me joy works better
Agreed! I threw out a few things when I said "I can live without it" like concert ticket stubs also because I didn't know how to honour them. And wouldn't you know it, a week later on Pinterest I found many pins displaying the tickets thrown nicely in a shadow box. A missed opportunity, kinda bums me out from time to time.
If you are letting go of things I recommend taking photos of the things. We had an emergency move and had to give up a lot of treasures. I started taking photos of things I thought I might miss and be sad that we had been forced to donate them. I took to having a sign that said Goodwill and take a picture of the important things and the Goodwill sign. I have the pictures of some of the things I treasured and it makes it easier to let them go, especially knowing that they are going to be treasures for someone else. Do not donate whine glasses or anything else breakable just before Goodwill closes. The person receiving our donations waited until we were outside to the enclosed area but hadn't driven away and chucked the box of glassware.😔 It has been hard to give them up and to hear them break really broke my heart
On the very day I moved into my current apartment all my things were stolen out of my moving truck. All of my furniture + many packed boxes. Naturally I was very upset and couldn’t afford to replace all of it. Within 1 month I started liking the look of my place without all the stuff. I bought 1 chair and lots of plants and I do have my artwork on the walls. I honestly love it this way, super minimalist. 18 months later people ask if I just moved in, if my things are in storage. Lol.
Getting rid of things is so freeing! It's crazy how much clutter creates chaos and stress, the excessive stuff owns us. With 5 kids I am constantly getting rid of stuff.
Having 5 kids, don't you think you should let some of them go? 😂 It's a joke! I agree with you. Also think about cluttered stuff from relatives that thought your house could be their warehouse. 😂
Growing up, my dad always taught me "Do I Need this or do I Want this?" This has always stuck with me til this day. And help me save money and be conscious of what I buy.
“Can I live without it” phrases the question so that when you answer “yes” you get rid of something…. It’s positive language. It’s naturally going to lend itself to taking action of decluttering. “Do I need it…” “no” doesn’t have the same positive connotation. Brilliant!
Your life has to work for you, not for some outsider you don't know who wrote a best-selling book on minimalism! No comparison to some "standard" you can't, and wouldn't want to meet, no pressure!
I ask myself "is it worth my time"? Is it worth my time cleaning, keeping up with, dusting, etc, etc. I've gotten rid of a lot of my stuff this way. I'm 61, I've got chronic fatigue, chronic pain, arthritis, and one and on and on. I have a finite amount of energy and I'm very stingy with it. Some days I can't even do the dishes, so I don't. But if it's a day, or a cpl hours, that I have the energy I really want to make it count. I want to feel that my home isn't chaotic, I want a peaceful, relaxing home. If I have to get rid of unnecessary items to achieve that, I certainly will. Then I can spend my energy on more enjoyable things ❤
minimalism is like being able to breathe. you can keep some sentimental things in storage, but having your spaces clean and shit-free is like fresh air. open up those windows and doors too every few days and let actual fresh air in.... it makes such a difference.
I started just taking photos of sentimental things. I don't need the actual things, just the trigger for feelings and memories. So I just have the photos and chuck the stuff.
Somehow when we decluttered the kitchen we suddenly stopped running out of dishes!!! Instead of using and using and filling up the sink, we run low on dishes more quickly, which pushes us to do dishes more often. Somehow it works. Loads are smaller, and we havent run out of clean dishes ever since!! ❤
I did get rid of a lot of clutter in my life but some things with emotional or sentimental value I put into boxes and I have one for each of my lifes decades. I go through them every year but it makes me very happy to have them out of sight, but knowing they're still here to revisit when I want to 😊
We are a family of 5 living in 717sq ft we spend most of our time outdoors except winter. I manage to keep the home surface clean fairly well. When we move to our next home I assume we won't even have enough items to fill the home lol and I am so excited about that. I have 4 pairs of pants,3 shirts and 14 dresses. I do allow my littles to cycle through toys in the shed and that works well but it's going to be a very greatful experience moving into a home with more than 1 bathroom
I can " live" without a lot things. But can I thrive and be happy with everthing I can " live without"? Very basic things is all we need to live. But I like my books, my craft supplies, my extra pair of running shoes and my cat 😊 As another commenter wrote, I think it's more about space- do you have room for this? Would you rather be constantly tripping over things and have your closet arrange like a rubics cube?.....choices do have to be made 😅
I ask myself 'Do I use it?' and it's been helpful in my 8 year journey of minimalism. Took me a long time to let go of items I 'might use'. I had to let go of my fantasy self, past interests and past self and keep only the things I actually use regularly. It's an ongoing process and I've realised now that decluttering is a recurring task because new things come into our home over time.
Why aren't the kids picking up their own toys and helping? That way, mom doesn't have to come home from work to more work, and they learn responsibilities and empathy for mom.
Cleaning every "free" moment is a self imposed penance of someone seeking control of the need for the approval of others, or to prevent becoming like a sloppy person/parent who inflicted chaos on their childhood environment. It will lead to stress, anxiety, and adrenal burnout.
Great advice! I am there right now in my life.... always cleaning and don't know how to start decluttering because it paralyzes me. But that question is a great starting point for me Thank you so much for the helpful content!!
Likewise! I get so frustrated and feel like I'm making no progress. It can be very discouraging. 😞 However, this question is EVERYTHING!! I feel like I can start this evening with this particular question in mind, see a difference and get instant gratification!! Lemme start now...😊
Start small. One drawer in the kitchen. How many can openers or cheese graters do we need. One? Maybe two? Choose a favorite. And get rid of the rest. Do the same for the utensils. How many do you use in a week, can you wash and use that again? If so keep just what you need. I found going through little stuff, easy stuff, stuff that doesn't take much thought is the best place to start to declutter. Another easy place to start is the medicine cabinet. What has expired, and what aren't you using. Maybe the last allergy medication really didn't work so why keep it? Move onto the cleaning supplies. Pair down to what you use for the bathroom, kitchen, mirrors and hard woods. Keep just those items. We don't need tons of cleaners when you're reaching for the Clorox wipes, or whatever your go to cleaner happens to be. Once you get the hang of the simple stuff, move onto a more challenging area, like the hall closet. What jackets do you always grab to go out? We tend to go for the same one or two, and leave the rest. That goes for all seasonal things. How many lunch totes do you need, or whatever is in the hall closet that can be pulled. After that, the linen closet (where towels and bedding are kept). Do you find yourself washing sheets only to put them back on the bed? Why keep multiple sets when you're only using one or two sets? A rule of thumb... Look at what you're grabbing to use every day, and that is what you keep. Most other items can go. Don't look back into the donation pile. Don't go through it. Once it's in the pile get it out of the house ASAP. The more you hold onto the donations, the higher the chance you start to second guess yourself. Don't change your answers, the first time around is as always the right answer. You chose your donations well and now go drop them off. Don't donate perishable food items or medications. Throw those out.
@@blairwillis9199 that's a good idea too! I have a 'give away' pile that seems to grow...problem is not getting rid of it instantly, then going through and reclaiming things I know I don't need. Geesh, I'll start with one thing a day and see how that works. Thanks! 💕
@@Ninjanimegamer you hit that nail on the head when you mentioned getting the donations pile out immediately! 🎯 That's a big part of my many decluttering problems!! 😣 Thanks for the tips!! 💕
I'm so Glad I came across this. I'm the queen of "Oh someone can use it!" Whenever I see something that is a good buy at a second hand store or yard sale. So I naturally have SOOO MUCH CRAP that is literally not for me or anyone else in my family but maybe someday someone I know might need it and I have been trying to get over that now that my kids are not small anymore this is a good way to look at it
So true! Didn't even realized that is what I was doing. I went through the kitchen thinking, can I use a different item to do what this thing does? Got rid of the garlic press. Got rid of the pizza cutter. A knife is sufficient. etc. I'm always looking for how I can use one item to do a lot and eliminate single fuctinality items.
I love how personalized this is. I could not live without my pizza cutter. An old injury makes using my dominant hand/wrist difficult and my pizza cutter is amazing for so many things. It's also got a pastry edge trimmer that encloses the wheel when stored. My favorite use for my pizza cutter is the ease with which I can cut homemade pasta noodles, a task that would leave me personally with days of pain. If something happened to my pizza cutter, it would be something I felt an urgency to replace. There's many things I don't feel the same way about. Haven't owned a full sized ironing board in over a decade and the mini is only for crafting. Don't own any curling irons. Could live without my dishwasher, though my family would object. 😆
Interesting. I could live without the pizza cutter, but that would mean I would always have to cut my son's pizza, which I don't want to do. I definitely couldn't live without my garlic press. I'm about to buy a second one because I need it every day. I can live fine without a dishwasher, car and husband, but not without books, flowers/houseplants and art. That would no longer be living, it would just be vegetating.
Actually, that's EXACTLY how we've been doing our Minimalism, Organizing & Donating for Years! Bc we are in our 70s, we also organized all our Mementos into plastic, lidded bins & labeled them! That way, if we pass away, our sons can just go thru about 3-4 bins knowing what they contain! I'vebeen taking my 2-3yr old clothing to a Resale Boutique (picking up checks avg $1000 per year) So that pays for any new clothes I want! I also know a few young couples & have given them special dishes & Heirloom-like decor items (crocheted bedspread etc) & they have just loved me sharing with them! There's never a lack for me bc if I'm replacing something I donate, sell, gift 2-3 items in exchange! Each p.m. before bed we make sure to spend 10min putting living room & kitchen in order, if needed! But when we had the boys at home, our rule was to take used drinking glasses, toys, jackets, shoes out of the living room/kitchen as soon as we leave the room! If I find it after everyone goes to bed, then it may end up in the Trash!
Yes, the papers.. when I was growing up, my House Roofer Daddy had papers everywhere. When he heard that we were going to clean the house, he would organize his papers into stacks.. ( I miss my Daddy) ❤ "Lord, I need Your help in that area as well. Give me grace to let things go. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, our Resurrected Savior & Lord of All!" Lord bless you with His peaceful presence today!!
Paper and books are my weakness. When I start my purge, I'll have to stop treasuring things bc I consider them valuable or think that someone can use this. Instead, I have to think does this fit my vision of my house, especially since I'm retired. So much is available online. The less I have, the more open and clearer our home will be and easier to clean. This sickness of holding on, is taking away from the life we deserve.
I remodeled my house, DIY repairs, and work on cars. So my garage is FULL of tools & supplies that some men would be jealous over. Lol I can’t get rid of stuff because I live by the motto “better to have it and not need it rather than need it and not have it.” I don’t want to have to go buy something I once had and got rid of, just in case I need it later. I’m a pack rat and a penny pincher. Lol But I do wish my hoard was a bit better organized.
I think something good to add onto the can I live without it question is do I use it a lot, because I’ve been ruthless with decluttering before and ended up regretting things I got rid thinking I didn’t really have to have it (could live without) only to realize I actually used it a lot and had to buy a new one. It’s a good test for things that you feel you might not have to have but actually use a lot! ☺️
I think having stuff is not an issue if already have a system to keep organized. I know some ladies who have husband or domestic partners it can be hard because many of them expect their women to clean up or put stuff up after them, and if have kids too young to pick up after themselves or any age with severe enough disability, that is also challenging. But for some people, it can work if have a right way to keep clutter free and such. Myself, I have a system, like, plastic bins mainly, and also have a storage locker for when I do not have room for something that will be enjoyed or used. I have a thing where no matter how tired or do not feel like it I feel, I put stuff away when done.
This is a good add on, because technically my house could burn down and I could live without EVERYTHING... But we still do need to live... Cook, play, work 😂
@@holyexperience1976 Yes! You physically cannot put something away if it has no “home” to be put away in. That is the cause of probably half my clutter!
That is fantastic. You’re so right. It is so easy to come up with reasons why you should keep that old whatever that you haven’t used or worn in five years. Thank you for bring down to a simple question
My parents were babies in the depression. Learned to do with little. Repair, reuse, everything. Envelopes bills came in were turned inside out and used as paper.. THAT frugal. I don’t believe in stockpiling junk, but if I have paid my hard earned money for it, it’s made well, and/or came from a beloved family member, I KEEP it. Here in the south, we typically have big basements that help with that. You can’t imagine how many times, I have exactly what a family needs or wants.. to set up housekeeping, go to college, new baby, etc.. And yes, be mindful of all the JUNK that comes into your home. IKEA furniture is disposable. Buy a mahogany vintage piece from a thrift or antique store. Worth so much more in the long run. I have pieces over 150 years old, in perfect condition.
My husband told me at this point in our life we shouldn't be buying and hoarding things. So he says we should buy to replace it. If we buy one thing we need to throw away one thing... and I also agree with your way. I started doing the same thing....
@@JPcommunicatesjust because you declutter and go minimalist, doesn't mean it's a showroom, or sterile. Think small, clean, neat organized cottage core. There's a lot of detailed items that are kept, but things are out of the way making the space easy to clean. Being a minimalist means you keep what you need, a few things you want and live a simpler life. 100 years ago, people didn't have as much, they didn't have the money for much so they made due. We over spend, over buy and shove our drawers, closets, rooms and houses full of crap. We can get by with far less. Corporate America is driving us to spend, and we need to stop their cycles of production if we want to live cleaner.
@@Ninjanimegamer Also, when we buy we should pay attention to quality. Inexpensive things often don't last that long & wind up in landfills. Quality items should last longer, eliminating the need to buy again. I notice that products now reference its sustainability. Items having multiple applications can be a valuable feature as well.
My house is really tidy. I did a lot of minimalism a few years back and I didn't like it. It didn't look cozy at all. It looked like I was in the process of moving and had everything packed up.
there's differnt stages in life for different things.. i live ina beautiful house with mutli laers, that collects dust like an occupation.. ive had a lot of accidents and injuries. i need the clutter gone.i need a smaller more practical space.
That's where being "minimal-ish" is great, because you can still have all of your cozy and lovely things, they just get to become more of a focal point when the extra unnecessary stuff goes away. It was interesting for me to observe my own decluttering progression because at first I worked to have as many totally clear surfaces as possible, but once I paired down enough to my "clutter threshold" as Dana K. White calls it, I started adding again, but with greater intentionality. Where I first swore off having any open shelving in my kitchen, I now find joy in it...because I now use all of it! ☺️
I’m getting ready to get rid of sentimental items I’ve been holding on to for thirty years. I gradually decluttered, now ready for the last step to a fresh start. Memories are in the heart, mind and soul, not stuff. 💕👍🙂
I did this 3 months ago. i have never been happier on daily basis. The no-ending cleaning affected me much more than I knew. I have so much freetime now and can spend it on my hobbies.
That's what I have been doing only I call it subtracting. I pick stuff up as I go , I bin straight away or if I think it's useful to someone i put it all in a box in the back of my car. If I forget what's in there I know that I neither need it or want it and I drop it off to a charity or the tip. Im getting better at just letting it go but I also need to get better at not replacing it with more crap !
"Can I live without it?" would have saved a dress suit that I adored but currently couldn't afford to tailor to my new smaller body. The regret I felt has me now saving a floral dress I love until I reach a stable smaller size, when I will then have it altered.
I did this when I had 2 toddlers, it's literally the difference between peace and depression, huge deal for moms, I got the whole home laundry down to 2 loads for 4 people. Previously it was 6-10 loads 😢 consistently
Great advice! I find I need to start with 'Do I have more than one of these?' And,.. 'Which one can't I give up?' before I move to, 'Can I live without it!' I have heirlooms that have emotional memories that I can live without but don't want too. However, there is more emotion in my own collections than I had realized. When I first started to fast (keto) where you don't really give up anything if you are already eating pretty healthily, but it was the 'fasting' where I realized I was an emotional eater! Who knew! How many times did I go to the refrig. when not hungry, but was avoiding a task by using food as a diversion. Or stressing about what I needed to be doing but was procrastinating out of stress while staring into the refrigerator? To me there is a correlation between the emotions in eating and collecting. Filling that empty pit. I'm discovering it's about healthy boundaries,..or rather not having healthy boundaries. The power of 'NO' has allowed me to take my power back since I was never allowed it as a child. Hearing myself say it, and feel it has allowed me to love and respect myself. Funny how the simplest of self discoveries will turn your life right side up!
Haha i love the Word ”minimal-ish” 👌🏼 i have considered myself kind of an aspiring minimalist for sometime as I for example don’t want to adopt a completely only utilitarian closet but minimal-isch sounds so much better 😁
Thank you for sharing this! I find the "do I need this?" question to be a black hole of excuses that just leads to frustration and overwhelm. I'm going to implement this!
I clicked on this because I saw you doing the "27 fling boogie" I learned this technique from the Flylady. Her tips have helped me tremendously with decluttering and cleaning.
It's difficult to de-clutter when living with someone who saves everything. I don't feel right getting rid of someone else's things. Frustrating but you have to pick your battles.
Thank you for this video as soon as you said I can’t live without it I started going through my closet my husband and I share and went through my clothes I asked myself will I ever wear this again, where would I wear this again, and a lot of clothes that. I have just been hanging out in my closet waiting for someone to wear them. I don’t go out anymore so I got rid of a lot of my dresses sad to say but, it feels good let’s some stuff go
"Minimalish". Love it!. That is gonna be my adopted title from now on! 😆 I have too many plants and jars of things displayed EVERYWHERE to be ultimately called a "minimalist" but everything in my house serves a purpose (except the plants 😅) and I don't have extras of anything (aside from shelf-stable essentials in case of emergencies, as well as stored dishes for guests). Minimalish! 😃
What worked for me in de-cluttering is asking "When was the last time I used this??" ... I've been shocked at how there were things I hadn't touched in YEARS, even decades (clothes, cosmetics, you name it). It's taken months of un-hoarding but I'm pretty happy with my mimimal-ish home now. 🙂
I started asking do I have room for it because I literally cannot stand clutter and if it’s not a place in a draw or cabinet or wall for it🤷🏾♀️it’s gotta go
I keep minimum stuff too. I love it. Quite a few years back, I stopped going to stores unless I really needed something. Also if when shopping I said "Isn't that cute!!". Alarms went off in my brain and I quickly put it back on the shelf and walked away from cute. Even my grandkids say that now 🤣.
It’s because people who have trouble letting things go can find a justification for everything. What they’re really saying is they want it, not need it, but if you present the question like that they will say yes almost every single time. Definitely better to ask them other questions to get to the heart of it all. I once helped a woman trim down her collection of 20 black t-shirts to about 14. I didn’t want to press her further but nobody needs 20 black t-shirts unless it’s your actual uniform or that’s all you wear in life.
Yeah, both of those taken literally mean the same thing and it's not truly what people are going for when they do this exercise. If you follow it to the letter you'll be left with food, water, heat, and shelter, and probably not very comfortable or productive. But you will still be alive. But I say use whatever wording or whatever perspective gets you into the problem solving mindset of "how can I arrange a happy life for myself that doesn't involve owning and maintaining so much stuff?"
I've asked myself if it would make someone else happier to have it in their lives than it makes me to have it in a box. I donated so many old toys and holiday decorations that way. You get less sentimental when you can picture how happy it might someone else
Great short. I’ve been trying to declutter for a long time, and little by little finally making headway. I was really forced to declutter after my mom died and I ended up with triples of everything. I ask myself if someone might enjoy it more than it sitting in my house or closet. Frankly, I’ve never missed anything I gave away, even things I thought I was attached to. I have concluded that you don’t own things, they own you. My goal is to pack one bag or box per week or more.
I struggle getting rid of old Curtains because what if I paint my walls and need drop cloth to protect the floor . Those flimsy plastic liners feel like they would be enough …
I love the way you describe this! I swear to goodness, I was just trying to "decide" if I was a minimalist or not......but after you explained ur "1 right question"..... I now realize that I am now a "minimalish" -- and I love it so much better(all except for my own art work...and nope....can't live without it).😊❤ Great video "shorts!"
I decluttered by saying “if I haven’t used it in a year then I’m not going to use it” me and my neighbors donated a lot of kitchen stuff to an organization that helps people get a fresh start that have to leave their situations
I LOVE this so much!!!! Also loving the term minimal-ish. 🤣 it’s right up my alley. I’m frugal-ish, tidy-ish, minimal-ish. Love it. Going on vacation helped me a ton. Staying in a house and realizing that my own house has way too many “just in case” items tucked in all the drawers. 😅
I have found a lot of times possessions end up in this space of representing who you want to be, not who you are. So asking yourself if it's actually part of who you are now vs who you want to be later can really help too! That's how i got rid of all my crafting supplies and overcame paralysis for the two hobbies i actually still do and like the most.
Omg that's true. I am trying to be minimalist, told everyone oh I wanna be John the Baptist. Your word of " can I live without it" really helps me to throw away things
also “do i have space for this” when buying a new thing is a good one to ask too
This is exactly what I taught my kid
Nah because if you do have space you'll end up with too much stuff. Lol
Yes!! Very valid point
Yes! We always ask, "where would we put?"
You can make space for almost anything...
Also a good one is, Would I buy this again? Makes you really think especially with today's prices!
That's a good one!
"If I did have to buy it again it would cost more so better hang on to this one since it cost less and I already have it."
And probably not as well made or durable. Things really were built better @@chelseajackman7730
@@chelseajackman7730 it's an investment at this point
@@chelseajackman7730the exact thought that goes through my brain when I have to declutter. 😅
"Can I live without it" is brilliant! Thank you!
Yes, its brilliant, now I have to be realistic and tell the truth.
Not brilliant. You can live without furniture, clothes, a car, a TV, a phone, so the question is too harsh. How about, "Can I still manage to live comfortably enough without this?"
@@anasaziroseI think she's referring to de-cluttering specifically when asking "can I live without it"...and not in a literal sense. I mean of course most of us can live without all of the things that you mentioned but is it realistic? I mean yes you're right, we could all live without clothes...but I mean seriously how realistic is that? I think most of us would tend to agree that clothes are pretty much a "necessity". I mean we can't all just start walking around & going about our days and nights naked 😂 & I'm quite sure that's not a sight that most of us would like to see! And we'd probably end up being ticketed/charged for public indecency 😂
I tie it to "... and if I suddenly need it, can I easily get it from a store or a loved one?" Makes it easier to get rid of things that are sort of useful, but maybe haven't been useful for me in a long time, and are just taking up space in my life.
@@anasazirose I think you missed the point... I invite you to read @scorbunny7737 post above.
I am the child of hoarders who were both children of hoarders, and that instinct runs strong in me. One of the things my husband did for me was ask, "can we replace it when needed easier than we can store it until needed?" He also asked, "what do you want more: not having to run a mile up the road to re buy that at the dollar store, or the peace of mind you get from having a manageable amount of stuff?" One trap I still fall into is the perceived value of things: I paid for it, searched hard to get it, it must be worth a lot so I can't let go of it unless I get $$$ for it. It's easier to not bring something home than it is to get rid of it later.
That's so true. You can justify the "do I need it ?" with a "yes". "Can I live without it" ? Surprisingly often"yes".😅
She can live without just about everything she has.... I'm not sure who that question helps. Like can she live without a vacuum! Yep! Could she live without double ovens! Yep.
Maybe it's good for people who don't interpret the question literally ?
@lauralaforge558 Or practicing Yoga. Then it comes down to water, food and air to bteathe. Tee hee
@@lauralaforge558- the difference is that you would never even ask that question about your vacuum in the first place.
@@lauralaforge558 You have to find the question that works for you to help you minimize the unnecessary stuff in your life. I don't ask "Can I live without it?" I ask myself "Will I use it?" Often followed by "Is there something else I own that can double for this use?" What happens is I often find I can consolidate my stuff to live more efficiently, so that there's less for me to clean.
I use less cleaners, and learned how multipurpose a lot of items are. I spend a lot less on single-use items.
Another question to ask is "Where will I store it?" Often if I don't have a place to put it, then I might get to "Do I need it?" Because then I can figure out if it needs a place. The "Do I need it" has a strong undercurrent of "Am I keeping this for sentimental value? Do I have guilt attached? Am I afraid of losing something?" Those are more personal and maybe attached to you.
Anyway, the point is to find the question that spurs that internal dialogue, and being willing to be honest with yourself.
Will I use it is the perfect question. @@Solonneysa
I love that term...minimalish. 🎉 I feel like that's what I'm striving toward.
Same!
Me too!
Totally agree. The minimalist approach is too bare for me. Seems to lack comfort and identity.
I just want to be “just right”. But minimalish sounds better.
I started to ask myself “when was the last time I even used/worn this” and it has been such a life changer. Working in retail you have a tendency to buy clothes and anything on sale with your employee discount. Since freelancing, I have realized there are things I haven’t used or worn in literal YEARS! So every so often I go through things and call a church to pick up for donations.
Agreed if you haven't used it yet or in some months then you definitely can live without it.
Okay I understand the idea but what about your seasoning clothing and I have always keep most of my life adult life the same weight except a couple of years when menopause hit, so I had to save my seasoning clothing to me dressing beautiful it makes me feel good and lift up my Spirit even if it's just temporarily; but many times that is exactly what I need it 🙂
@@taniatanner7483if you rotate your wardrobe seasonally then you can declutter it seasonally too. At the end of the season when you're getting ready to switch out your clothes look and see if there is anything that didn't get worn before you pack it up. Those things might be good ones to get rid of, especially if you know you didn't wear them the previous year either.
@@taniatanner7483 it doesn’t matter what season. I always keep what I know I use often and I donate what I know I haven’t used in years. I always use all my sweaters during the winter time so I keep all of them. I have some that I’ve had since I was 14yrs old. I take care of my clothes so everything always in excellent condition until it’s worn off completely and the fabric loses structure. Like clothes I use daily. And when that happens I throw them out instead of donating them
Thank you!
This is GREAT advice. If I’m afraid I might regret letting it go I put it outta sight, give myself a time, if I haven’t used it by the date I gave myself, it’s gone!
I read a quote “it’s better to have LESS than organise MORE” … it stuck with me!
Has been Super helpful!!
Where did you hear that from? I usually don't like any of the ideas people say, but I like this one.
How true!
@@brendalg4I’m not entirely sure but it always stuck with me.. if I do remember I will pop it back here for you 😘
@@jennifer12366I know it really stuck with me 🥰✨
I've also heard, if you keep it, would you know where to find it? If the answer is no, get rid of it bc you'll wind up buying another one.
Also the container principle is to treat each drawer as its own container, which should only be 80% full. Anything above that, something has to be discarded.
I imagine myself dying and my family being forced to go through my stuff. So I'm always trying to get rid of things, and make due with what I have instead of buying more. If you've ever been the one to go through a loved one's home after their passing, then you know we all accumulate way too much stuff.
Same here♥️- I do the same- I think about that a lot; I have been the one cleaning out a loved one’s place & it’s very exhausting and stressful. I want to make it as easy as possible for my children and loved ones when my day comes.
Please don't do it. You are manifesting your thoughts rather think about something good while decluttering
THIS WOULDN'T WORK IF YOU HAVE NO FAMILY. GOOD IDEA IF CLOSE FAMILY
This is called Swedish Death Cleaning, and it’s a great practice to get into! Even if you don’t have close family, it’s a good mindfulness to have, and it’s considerate to WHOMEVER has to come in and clear out your space. The less you have, the easier it would be for someone to decide whether or not to donate or trash your things. Also just less work overall; no one wants to wade through piles of a stranger’s stuff.
@@doyourbesteveryday6535depends on your frame of mind! If you’re going into it with a realistic and charitable mindset, like true Swedish Death Cleaning suggests, then it’s not manifesting anything negative. It’s a pragmatic approach. “We all die someday, and when that day comes for me, I want to leave behind as little mess and stress for my loved ones as possible.” 🙂
Oh my gosh...Truth. lol
I've been purging massively for the past few months. I feel like I am in an uphill battle. I have so much more to go. There are about ten young moms at my husband's job that really need donations of everything. It makes me feel so good when he tells me how they gasp, and can't believe what I'm giving them and get so excited looking through everything. They then bring pictures of their family's to show my husband and they say, my family thanks you. Big difference from Goodwill and St Vincent De Paul, you pull up to drop donations, two guys look at each other in slight disgust and start eye rolling. Knowing I'm helping all of these young moms w everything they need, motivates me to even give things away that I still love, because I know they will love it even more.
Your house is so clean and beautiful ❤
Than we have always people like this, that go on and on ranting about what they do for so many people. The world has to know how much they gave away, and especially tell how much people they helped.They can't imagine just being normal= do good, without bragging about it on the internet or elsewhere, imagine doing this and tell no one. Like normal people do. Doing good when no one knows, or is watching. That are the real ones. Now you made it all about you, how good you felt , I did this, I did that, I felt so good.
Whatever excuse you find to help you purge is good.
If you feel like getting rid of things is hard, and giving directly to families is better, and motivates you to get rid of more, then contact the salvation army. They place poor people into housing, but these people need everything.
I donated my new mattress and box springs directly to a young couple with a bunch of kids. No one had a bed to sleep on. When I realized this, I went home and took apart two more beds. I was holding onto them in case we had guests. We never had guests so I got rid of the beds.
The reason I found this info was out of desperation. I bought a mattress on Amazon, and it was awful. No one would take it as a donation. I didn't want to get charged by the dump for an oversized item, and I didn't want to have it sit in a landfill.
Happy cleaning.
@@IAMinfiniteandfree. The person isn't bragging about helping others. They are struggling with getting rid of their stuff. My mom does the same, but still holds onto more than she needs. Some people have a hard time parting with items.
If she was really looking to brag, then she would be listing all of the places she donated to, and the tons more families she helps out. In the end, she just passed her stuff along to the husband's coworkers, because it's easier than just getting rid of it or really taking the time to seek out needy families.
It's a way to justify getting rid of some of the many items they have.
It's a hoarders way of thinking and my mom's the same way.
They hate parting with what they own, but can't live in heaps. They do what is easy and convenient, and justify losing their items by saying....at least I'm helping out, but they aren't really. It's an excuse they use to get rid of items they're forced to part with.
@@IAMinfiniteandfree.Wow, you're pretty awful.
@@IAMinfiniteandfree. Perhaps you should be asking yourself, "Do they really need my comments? Are they kind? Will my comments benefit others?"
Keep the ill-mannered, unnecessary comments to yourself.
DON'T give those to others. No one wants them, needs them, will use them, or has any place to put them.
Meeee😂 I've donated at least 35 trash bags of stuff this year, not including bigger items that wouldn't fit. So much better to have less
For me, “do I use this?” Is the best question. And the follow-up would probably be “do I have something else that could be multi-purpose and take the place of the item in question?”
This! 🎉 ❤❤❤
Too complicated haha
Yes! ❤
Yes! I love how minimalism pushes you to be inventive with less. With clothing in particular, it's actually remarkable fun 😃
Yes - Do I use this is a good question to ask!
This doesn't work for everyone - my answer for "can I live without it" would be almost always 'yes' - even for things like bed or table (checked on myself, you can live without it), but it wouldn't be a comfortable life XD For me a better questions are: "would I want to get it if I had to pay for it" or "how sad/angry I would be if I lost it".
THIS!!!
I'm adding this question to my list. I also ask myself...
1.WHY did I get it?
2. What am I going to do with it?
3.When have (or did) I used it?
4. How is this helping me
move forward in my life?
5.What emotions are keeping me attached to this?
I have cleared out so much. For me, different items require different questions...especially those items inherited from my deceased mother. Those items are difficult to address because I don't feel the same way about them as my mother did.
Hoo boy, the struggle my family will go through when my dad passes away (beyond... you know). He is very sentimental and has a lot of big furniture pieces that he cares for. Baby beds that belonged to all of his kids, several pieces that belonged to his father... He knows we don't feel the same about these items, but asks that we respect his belongings while he's still around. I'm grateful that the stuff he keeps is high quality, so it might stay as family heirlooms... With a new coat of paint. My mom, on the other hand... Let's just say she's very crafty and creative and we have referred to her as a goldfish- grows to fit the container she's in no matter how large.
I love this. "Am I willing and able to take care of this?" is another one I like to ask, whether it's a new purchase or something I might already own. In a way, every item you have is an added responsibility.
I became a minimalist on accident.. long story short.. my fiancé died unexpectedly and I had no one there to help me move so I literally had to get rid of EVERYTHING . I could only take what I could fit in my car and I drove from California to Tennessee where my mom was.
Now I realize I didn’t need all of that stuff and I am very conscious of what I buy now
So sorry to hear of your loss ☹️ Glad something good came from something bad... I also went through a big change that shook me up & I now live simply instead of simply living.
So sorry for your loss.
@@anitas5817 thank you
So very sorry your loss.
Sorry for your loss, love ❤
I'd say Marie Kondo's "does this spark joy for me?" is a better question for me in most situations. It kind of encapsulates the "can I live without it?", but coupled with more emotion. I'm very emotional and get emotionally attached easily, and the phrasing of your question feels too emotionally detached in my mind.
Glad you found something that works for you though! 🥰
Same with ne, and I feel the same about the video. It's too impersonal.
I FOUND OUT form my granddaughter now that she's grown she didn't bring friends to my house because she was embarrassed because of all the clutter I CAN'T GET THAT LITTLE GIRL BACK EVER
Remember Simple living IS all they ask for THEN you have time for THEM
Instead of spending ALL YOUR DAYS cleaning and organizing never getting rid of stuff
1. I enjoyed these THING'S now its someone else's time
2. IT'S BETTER TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE. (My personal matra)
3. things are not the most important things in life
4. do I love this enough to take up space in my house
5. do I have a home for this
6. What really is most important to me in my life
7. AM I spending more time cleaning and organizing than I am with God and my family ?
🥺 did for 40 yrs DON'T LET THAT BE YOU 😢
So powerful!!!! Thank you for sharing that!!
Gruß aus Deutschland, ja ,ich möchten auch mehr Zeit mit Gott verbringen und bin auch zu viel Zeit mit hin und her räumen beschäftigt. Bin 60 Jahre geworden, der Test meines Lebens muss anderst sein.
To me, the key is in having everything you need and nothing you don’t, and then making sure that everything you have, has a home. That way, all you have to do is make sure you put things back in their home when you’re done with them and your house stays pretty tidy.
Yes, I tend to ask myself if I will/could possibly use something, since I already spent the money on it. But that money is gone, and having a cluttery house is costing me my time, energy, peace and happiness.
That's right❣️
See sometimes we end up spending MORW money when the house is cluttered cause we can’t find stuff.
I’m so tired of that so idgaf if I spent money on something anymore. If it’s not being used, hasn’t been touched, nobody wants it? It’s gone.
So many donations for the local library too! I just need a home where I don’t have to move stuff to do things.
Yeeees👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 i struggle with getting rid of things and thinking im wasting it coz ive spent money on it already plus throwing is contributing more to landfill.. till i found a buy nothing group on facebook for my area and its been life changing giving away the things i dont need to people who actually want/need them
Yes!
@@torakfett3351So true, I can’t find the stuff that I actually use b/c it has been combined with clutter somewhere. I’ve had to replace two things in the last month b/c I’m tired of needing them but not really having them!
For nostalgia items, a good trick is to take a picture of the item. Makes it easier to choose to let go of some things that are overly kept because they're sentimental. Not the family heirlooms, of course, but minor things.
I’ve done this! Takes the sting out, lol
😮😮😮 🔥🔥🔥🔥👍🏾
Thank you!
After our house burned down for the most part, around this time last year, the box (wood wrapped in leather) survived. But one of our laptops and one external hard drive did not. So I silll have all of my pictures (30+ years of it). My husband had nothing left.
I can live without curtains but it makes me very sad. I can live without books but they bring me a lot of joy. I can live without many things like lotion, shampoo etc but I feel more comfortable having them.
I am glad you found something that works for you, but it wouldn’t work for me. I am reducing clutter at the moment and for me looking at things and asking myself whether they bring me joy works better
Agreed! I threw out a few things when I said "I can live without it" like concert ticket stubs also because I didn't know how to honour them. And wouldn't you know it, a week later on Pinterest I found many pins displaying the tickets thrown nicely in a shadow box. A missed opportunity, kinda bums me out from time to time.
I agree
Same, like, happiness is important
I can't live without my curtains 🤷
If you are letting go of things I recommend taking photos of the things. We had an emergency move and had to give up a lot of treasures. I started taking photos of things I thought I might miss and be sad that we had been forced to donate them. I took to having a sign that said Goodwill and take a picture of the important things and the Goodwill sign.
I have the pictures of some of the things I treasured and it makes it easier to let them go, especially knowing that they are going to be treasures for someone else. Do not donate whine glasses or anything else breakable just before Goodwill closes. The person receiving our donations waited until we were outside to the enclosed area but hadn't driven away and chucked the box of glassware.😔 It has been hard to give them up and to hear them break really broke my heart
On the very day I moved into my current apartment all my things were stolen out of my moving truck. All of my furniture + many packed boxes. Naturally I was very upset and couldn’t afford to replace all of it. Within 1 month I started liking the look of my place without all the stuff. I bought 1 chair and lots of plants and I do have my artwork on the walls. I honestly love it this way, super minimalist. 18 months later people ask if I just moved in, if my things are in storage. Lol.
Getting rid of things is so freeing! It's crazy how much clutter creates chaos and stress, the excessive stuff owns us. With 5 kids I am constantly getting rid of stuff.
But, first of all, why do you buy it?
@@alla.s It's almost entirely others buying stuff for them.
Been said it affects your mind…I believe it … you know it’s there in all its clutter👍🏻
Having 5 kids, don't you think you should let some of them go? 😂 It's a joke!
I agree with you. Also think about cluttered stuff from relatives that thought your house could be their warehouse. 😂
She’s so right. I’m going to try ‘can i live without it’ now.
ME TOO
Thank you! A seemingly small 'tweak' in our thinking can make a HUGE difference.
THANK YOU! This is genius! I agree "Do I need it?" often turns into an answer like "I MAY need it later". smh "Can I live without it?". GENIUS!!
Growing up, my dad always taught me "Do I Need this or do I Want this?" This has always stuck with me til this day. And help me save money and be conscious of what I buy.
Awesome!!
I like that one want or need. Can want many things need few.
For decades i made decisions based on the want/need criteria .. until one day i realized i NEED my WANTS 😂
“Can I live without it” phrases the question so that when you answer “yes” you get rid of something…. It’s positive language. It’s naturally going to lend itself to taking action of decluttering.
“Do I need it…” “no” doesn’t have the same positive connotation.
Brilliant!
Or you could ask, "Is this item serving its purpose?❤❤❤
Good one!
I LOVE “minimal-ish”… a goal, yet space for personal customization- takes the pressure OFF! Brilliant!
And I love how you just put the meaning into words
Your life has to work for you, not for some outsider you don't know who wrote a best-selling book on minimalism! No comparison to some "standard" you can't, and wouldn't want to meet, no pressure!
I ask myself "is it worth my time"? Is it worth my time cleaning, keeping up with, dusting, etc, etc. I've gotten rid of a lot of my stuff this way. I'm 61, I've got chronic fatigue, chronic pain, arthritis, and one and on and on. I have a finite amount of energy and I'm very stingy with it. Some days I can't even do the dishes, so I don't. But if it's a day, or a cpl hours, that I have the energy I really want to make it count. I want to feel that my home isn't chaotic, I want a peaceful, relaxing home. If I have to get rid of unnecessary items to achieve that, I certainly will. Then I can spend my energy on more enjoyable things ❤
minimalism is like being able to breathe. you can keep some sentimental things in storage, but having your spaces clean and shit-free is like fresh air.
open up those windows and doors too every few days and let actual fresh air in.... it makes such a difference.
If you have things in storage, you may not need them at all.
I found stored items are rarely seen/used so why bother keeping them?
I started just taking photos of sentimental things. I don't need the actual things, just the trigger for feelings and memories. So I just have the photos and chuck the stuff.
Shit free is like fresh air lol😂
The art of Luften 😊
@@Ninjanimegamersometimes it’s things that can’t really be displayed but are still important sentimental type of things.
Somehow when we decluttered the kitchen we suddenly stopped running out of dishes!!! Instead of using and using and filling up the sink, we run low on dishes more quickly, which pushes us to do dishes more often. Somehow it works. Loads are smaller, and we havent run out of clean dishes ever since!! ❤
Love this mantra! For me, decluttering is primarily a mental struggle and this removes the emotional piece. Thanks so much! ❤❤❤
I did get rid of a lot of clutter in my life but some things with emotional or sentimental value I put into boxes and I have one for each of my lifes decades. I go through them every year but it makes me very happy to have them out of sight, but knowing they're still here to revisit when I want to 😊
We are a family of 5 living in 717sq ft we spend most of our time outdoors except winter. I manage to keep the home surface clean fairly well. When we move to our next home I assume we won't even have enough items to fill the home lol and I am so excited about that. I have 4 pairs of pants,3 shirts and 14 dresses. I do allow my littles to cycle through toys in the shed and that works well but it's going to be a very greatful experience moving into a home with more than 1 bathroom
I can " live" without a lot things. But can I thrive and be happy with everthing I can " live without"? Very basic things is all we need to live. But I like my books, my craft supplies, my extra pair of running shoes and my cat 😊 As another commenter wrote, I think it's more about space- do you have room for this? Would you rather be constantly tripping over things and have your closet arrange like a rubics cube?.....choices do have to be made 😅
Wow! That laundry basket and storage of it is fantastic!
Collapsible Rubbermaid. (I really like mine)
It's not durable though, the rubber rips apart after a few months
@@saiqhai9968 That's a shame. Rubbermaid used to be known for its durable products.
I ask myself 'Do I use it?' and it's been helpful in my 8 year journey of minimalism. Took me a long time to let go of items I 'might use'. I had to let go of my fantasy self, past interests and past self and keep only the things I actually use regularly. It's an ongoing process and I've realised now that decluttering is a recurring task because new things come into our home over time.
How true. And the same goes for the narcissists in my life. Can I live without them? Yes!
Why aren't the kids picking up their own toys and helping? That way, mom doesn't have to come home from work to more work, and they learn responsibilities and empathy for mom.
Cleaning every "free" moment is a self imposed penance of someone seeking control of the need for the approval of others, or to prevent becoming like a sloppy person/parent who inflicted chaos on their childhood environment. It will lead to stress, anxiety, and adrenal burnout.
@@kilodeltawhisky1504 didn't say every moment. I'm talking about a child learning personal responsibility.
@@Loraann54fi10Yes,and they learn to become responsible,and take care of their things,and develop good habits at an early age.
@loraann54fi10 she says that *herself* in the video. She spends every free moment of time cleaning and tidying…
Easier said than done
Great advice! I am there right now in my life.... always cleaning and don't know how to start decluttering because it paralyzes me.
But that question is a great starting point for me
Thank you so much for the helpful content!!
Likewise! I get so frustrated and feel like I'm making no progress. It can be very discouraging. 😞 However, this question is EVERYTHING!! I feel like I can start this evening with this particular question in mind, see a difference and get instant gratification!! Lemme start now...😊
@@christiejohnson2746 yes, it feels overwhelming. Someone said they just get rid of 1 thing a day 🤷. We could try that.
Start small. One drawer in the kitchen. How many can openers or cheese graters do we need. One? Maybe two? Choose a favorite. And get rid of the rest. Do the same for the utensils. How many do you use in a week, can you wash and use that again? If so keep just what you need.
I found going through little stuff, easy stuff, stuff that doesn't take much thought is the best place to start to declutter.
Another easy place to start is the medicine cabinet. What has expired, and what aren't you using. Maybe the last allergy medication really didn't work so why keep it?
Move onto the cleaning supplies. Pair down to what you use for the bathroom, kitchen, mirrors and hard woods. Keep just those items. We don't need tons of cleaners when you're reaching for the Clorox wipes, or whatever your go to cleaner happens to be.
Once you get the hang of the simple stuff, move onto a more challenging area, like the hall closet. What jackets do you always grab to go out? We tend to go for the same one or two, and leave the rest. That goes for all seasonal things. How many lunch totes do you need, or whatever is in the hall closet that can be pulled.
After that, the linen closet (where towels and bedding are kept). Do you find yourself washing sheets only to put them back on the bed? Why keep multiple sets when you're only using one or two sets?
A rule of thumb...
Look at what you're grabbing to use every day, and that is what you keep. Most other items can go.
Don't look back into the donation pile. Don't go through it. Once it's in the pile get it out of the house ASAP. The more you hold onto the donations, the higher the chance you start to second guess yourself. Don't change your answers, the first time around is as always the right answer. You chose your donations well and now go drop them off.
Don't donate perishable food items or medications. Throw those out.
@@blairwillis9199 that's a good idea too! I have a 'give away' pile that seems to grow...problem is not getting rid of it instantly, then going through and reclaiming things I know I don't need. Geesh, I'll start with one thing a day and see how that works. Thanks! 💕
@@Ninjanimegamer you hit that nail on the head when you mentioned getting the donations pile out immediately! 🎯 That's a big part of my many decluttering problems!! 😣 Thanks for the tips!! 💕
Thank you very much for a new mantra " CAN I LIVE WITHOUT IT?". I use to say "Less is better", but I LOVE yours better. Thank you again. 😊
Great how a slight change in perspective can be so helpful
Isn't it 🤗
I'm so Glad I came across this. I'm the queen of "Oh someone can use it!" Whenever I see something that is a good buy at a second hand store or yard sale. So I naturally have SOOO MUCH CRAP that is literally not for me or anyone else in my family but maybe someday someone I know might need it and I have been trying to get over that now that my kids are not small anymore this is a good way to look at it
So true! Didn't even realized that is what I was doing. I went through the kitchen thinking, can I use a different item to do what this thing does? Got rid of the garlic press. Got rid of the pizza cutter. A knife is sufficient. etc. I'm always looking for how I can use one item to do a lot and eliminate single fuctinality items.
I love how personalized this is. I could not live without my pizza cutter. An old injury makes using my dominant hand/wrist difficult and my pizza cutter is amazing for so many things. It's also got a pastry edge trimmer that encloses the wheel when stored.
My favorite use for my pizza cutter is the ease with which I can cut homemade pasta noodles, a task that would leave me personally with days of pain.
If something happened to my pizza cutter, it would be something I felt an urgency to replace.
There's many things I don't feel the same way about. Haven't owned a full sized ironing board in over a decade and the mini is only for crafting. Don't own any curling irons. Could live without my dishwasher, though my family would object. 😆
Interesting. I could live without the pizza cutter, but that would mean I would always have to cut my son's pizza, which I don't want to do. I definitely couldn't live without my garlic press. I'm about to buy a second one because I need it every day. I can live fine without a dishwasher, car and husband, but not without books, flowers/houseplants and art. That would no longer be living, it would just be vegetating.
"Minimal-ish" and "Can I live without it?"
Brilliant! I really needed this! This will hopefully be a huge game-changer for me!
Actually, that's EXACTLY how we've been doing our Minimalism, Organizing & Donating for Years! Bc we are in our 70s, we also organized all our Mementos into plastic, lidded bins & labeled them! That way, if we pass away, our sons can just go thru about 3-4 bins knowing what they contain!
I'vebeen taking my 2-3yr old clothing to a Resale Boutique (picking up checks avg $1000 per year) So that pays for any new clothes I want!
I also know a few young couples & have given them special dishes & Heirloom-like decor items (crocheted bedspread etc) & they have just loved me sharing with them! There's never a lack for me bc if I'm replacing something I donate, sell, gift 2-3 items in exchange!
Each p.m. before bed we make sure to spend 10min putting living room & kitchen in order, if needed! But when we had the boys at home, our rule was to take used drinking glasses, toys, jackets, shoes out of the living room/kitchen as soon as we leave the room! If I find it after everyone goes to bed, then it may end up in the Trash!
I really liked hearing this point of view!! It was and still is so hard to declutter for me, especially paperwork..Mahalo for sharing! 😊
Yes, the papers.. when I was growing up, my House Roofer Daddy had papers everywhere. When he heard that we were going to clean the house, he would organize his papers into stacks.. ( I miss my Daddy) ❤ "Lord, I need Your help in that area as well. Give me grace to let things go. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, our Resurrected Savior & Lord of All!"
Lord bless you with His peaceful presence today!!
Paper and books are my weakness. When I start my purge, I'll have to stop treasuring things bc I consider them valuable or think that someone can use this. Instead, I have to think does this fit my vision of my house, especially since I'm retired. So much is available online.
The less I have, the more open and clearer our home will be and easier to clean. This sickness of holding on, is taking away from the life we deserve.
@@vclay2547
Yes, and we don't have to figure out who the person is who could use it!!
☺️
I remodeled my house, DIY repairs, and work on cars. So my garage is FULL of tools & supplies that some men would be jealous over. Lol
I can’t get rid of stuff because I live by the motto “better to have it and not need it rather than need it and not have it.” I don’t want to have to go buy something I once had and got rid of, just in case I need it later.
I’m a pack rat and a penny pincher. Lol
But I do wish my hoard was a bit better organized.
I think something good to add onto the can I live without it question is do I use it a lot, because I’ve been ruthless with decluttering before and ended up regretting things I got rid thinking I didn’t really have to have it (could live without) only to realize I actually used it a lot and had to buy a new one. It’s a good test for things that you feel you might not have to have but actually use a lot! ☺️
I think having stuff is not an issue if already have a system to keep organized. I know some ladies who have husband or domestic partners it can be hard because many of them expect their women to clean up or put stuff up after them, and if have kids too young to pick up after themselves or any age with severe enough disability, that is also challenging.
But for some people, it can work if have a right way to keep clutter free and such. Myself, I have a system, like, plastic bins mainly, and also have a storage locker for when I do not have room for something that will be enjoyed or used.
I have a thing where no matter how tired or do not feel like it I feel, I put stuff away when done.
This is a good add on, because technically my house could burn down and I could live without EVERYTHING... But we still do need to live... Cook, play, work 😂
Agree, I tell myself will I buy it again if I throw it away no need to buy it twice 😊
@@holyexperience1976 Yes! You physically cannot put something away if it has no “home” to be put away in. That is the cause of probably half my clutter!
That is fantastic. You’re so right. It is so easy to come up with reasons why you should keep that old whatever that you haven’t used or worn in five years. Thank you for bring down to a simple question
I also use this while shopping 😅 you can find a reason to "need" it for almost every clothing item if you want.
Merci❣️
😅
My parents were babies in the depression. Learned to do with little. Repair, reuse, everything. Envelopes bills came in were turned inside out and used as paper.. THAT frugal. I don’t believe in stockpiling junk, but if I have paid my hard earned money for it, it’s made well, and/or came from a beloved family member, I KEEP it. Here in the south, we typically have big basements that help with that. You can’t imagine how many times, I have exactly what a family needs or wants.. to set up housekeeping, go to college, new baby, etc.. And yes, be mindful of all the JUNK that comes into your home. IKEA furniture is disposable. Buy a mahogany vintage piece from a thrift or antique store. Worth so much more in the long run. I have pieces over 150 years old, in perfect condition.
Love the advice ! I agree it makes your life easier and less clutter helps your mind and your life feel more free and relaxed .
My husband told me at this point in our life we shouldn't be buying and hoarding things. So he says we should buy to replace it. If we buy one thing we need to throw away one thing... and I also agree with your way. I started doing the same thing....
Yes! I love it. Iam over the clutter & the cleaning.
Can I live without it? Perfect!
You might ask yourself why you need to live in a showroom?
@@JPcommunicatesjust because you declutter and go minimalist, doesn't mean it's a showroom, or sterile. Think small, clean, neat organized cottage core. There's a lot of detailed items that are kept, but things are out of the way making the space easy to clean. Being a minimalist means you keep what you need, a few things you want and live a simpler life.
100 years ago, people didn't have as much, they didn't have the money for much so they made due. We over spend, over buy and shove our drawers, closets, rooms and houses full of crap. We can get by with far less. Corporate America is driving us to spend, and we need to stop their cycles of production if we want to live cleaner.
@@Ninjanimegamer
Also, when we buy we should pay attention to quality. Inexpensive things often don't last that long & wind up in landfills. Quality items should last longer, eliminating the need to buy again. I notice that products now reference its sustainability. Items having multiple applications can be a valuable feature as well.
My house is really tidy. I did a lot of minimalism a few years back and I didn't like it. It didn't look cozy at all. It looked like I was in the process of moving and had everything packed up.
exacty, mimimalism does not look cozy to me! I need to live in a cozy place !
For real. It's like an empty soul. Where are the memories in this big house? The extremes are crazy.
there's differnt stages in life for different things.. i live ina beautiful house with mutli laers, that collects dust like an occupation.. ive had a lot of accidents and injuries. i need the clutter gone.i need a smaller more practical space.
That's where being "minimal-ish" is great, because you can still have all of your cozy and lovely things, they just get to become more of a focal point when the extra unnecessary stuff goes away. It was interesting for me to observe my own decluttering progression because at first I worked to have as many totally clear surfaces as possible, but once I paired down enough to my "clutter threshold" as Dana K. White calls it, I started adding again, but with greater intentionality. Where I first swore off having any open shelving in my kitchen, I now find joy in it...because I now use all of it! ☺️
Looks impersonal, and if no one is living there; like when arriving at a B&B...
Thank you for this because for 40 years and 5 kids after raising I am so tired of everyday cleaning the same things over and over .
I’m getting ready to get rid of sentimental items I’ve been holding on to for thirty years. I gradually decluttered, now ready for the last step to a fresh start. Memories are in the heart, mind and soul, not stuff. 💕👍🙂
I did this 3 months ago. i have never been happier on daily basis. The no-ending cleaning affected me much more than I knew. I have so much freetime now and can spend it on my hobbies.
I have been a minimalist since the 1980's and I do not regret it! Two pairs of shoes, 10 outfits 2 hand bags and two sweaters.
That's what I have been doing only I call it subtracting.
I pick stuff up as I go , I bin straight away or if I think it's useful to someone i put it all in a box in the back of my car. If I forget what's in there I know that I neither need it or want it and I drop it off to a charity or the tip.
Im getting better at just letting it go but I also need to get better at not replacing it with more crap !
Wonderful! I love your term “minimalish”! And also the right thing to ask oneself while trying to choose what to let go. So helpful!
I LOVE THIS. I feel like this is the thing I’ve been missing in my attempt to get back to minimal life. Thank you so much.
"Can I live without it?" would have saved a dress suit that I adored but currently couldn't afford to tailor to my new smaller body. The regret I felt has me now saving a floral dress I love until I reach a stable smaller size, when I will then have it altered.
Should we use this advice regarding people we have in our lives? 😅
Sometimes, yes lol
Your house is really pretty!
I think it looks empty and cold
I did this when I had 2 toddlers, it's literally the difference between peace and depression, huge deal for moms, I got the whole home laundry down to 2 loads for 4 people. Previously it was 6-10 loads 😢 consistently
Classes are over and with the time I have now to declutter, I can finally ask myself if I can live without it. Thank you so much 😊
Great advice! I find I need to start with 'Do I have more than one of these?' And,.. 'Which one can't I give up?' before I move to, 'Can I live without it!' I have heirlooms that have emotional memories that I can live without but don't want too. However, there is more emotion in my own collections than I had realized. When I first started to fast (keto) where you don't really give up anything if you are already eating pretty healthily, but it was the 'fasting' where I realized I was an emotional eater! Who knew! How many times did I go to the refrig. when not hungry, but was avoiding a task by using food as a diversion. Or stressing about what I needed to be doing but was procrastinating out of stress while staring into the refrigerator? To me there is a correlation between the emotions in eating and collecting. Filling that empty pit. I'm discovering it's about healthy boundaries,..or rather not having healthy boundaries. The power of 'NO' has allowed me to take my power back since I was never allowed it as a child. Hearing myself say it, and feel it has allowed me to love and respect myself. Funny how the simplest of self discoveries will turn your life right side up!
Haha i love the Word ”minimal-ish” 👌🏼 i have considered myself kind of an aspiring minimalist for sometime as I for example don’t want to adopt a completely only utilitarian closet but minimal-isch sounds so much better 😁
Thank you for sharing this! I find the "do I need this?" question to be a black hole of excuses that just leads to frustration and overwhelm. I'm going to implement this!
I clicked on this because I saw you doing the "27 fling boogie" I learned this technique from the Flylady. Her tips have helped me tremendously with decluttering and cleaning.
It's difficult to de-clutter when living with someone who saves everything. I don't feel right getting rid of someone else's things.
Frustrating but you have to pick your battles.
Maybe tidy storage containers and organizing can help. 🙂
Wtf!? You just changed my life. I decluttered 5 items in front of me while watching this reel. I am so excited. I can live without ALOT.
🙌🏻
@ohmystarnes8199 that is sooo encouraging that you were able to do that right away!! 💕 She (@OrganizedChaos4) gives such great advice!! 👌🏽💕
❤
Thank you for this video as soon as you said I can’t live without it I started going through my closet my husband and I share and went through my clothes I asked myself will I ever wear this again, where would I wear this again, and a lot of clothes that. I have just been hanging out in my closet waiting for someone to wear them. I don’t go out anymore so I got rid of a lot of my dresses sad to say but, it feels good let’s some stuff go
"Minimalish". Love it!. That is gonna be my adopted title from now on! 😆 I have too many plants and jars of things displayed EVERYWHERE to be ultimately called a "minimalist" but everything in my house serves a purpose (except the plants 😅) and I don't have extras of anything (aside from shelf-stable essentials in case of emergencies, as well as stored dishes for guests). Minimalish! 😃
"If I was moving to another country would I take it with me or happily leave behind" was a good one for me :)
What worked for me in de-cluttering is asking "When was the last time I used this??" ... I've been shocked at how there were things I hadn't touched in YEARS, even decades (clothes, cosmetics, you name it). It's taken months of un-hoarding but I'm pretty happy with my mimimal-ish home now. 🙂
I started asking do I have room for it because I literally cannot stand clutter and if it’s not a place in a draw or cabinet or wall for it🤷🏾♀️it’s gotta go
I keep minimum stuff too. I love it. Quite a few years back, I stopped going to stores unless I really needed something. Also if when shopping I said "Isn't that cute!!". Alarms went off in my brain and I quickly put it back on the shelf and walked away from cute. Even my grandkids say that now 🤣.
This is brilliant!!! I felt like you were talking specifically to me. I've been asking the wrong question all this time!
People would be happier with smaller homes too as soon as they declutter. They'll realize they actually don't need big houses!
THE BIG HOMES ARE JUST FOR THEM TO SHOW OFF!
i thought "do i need it" just means "can i live without it". they're the same to me and i've been asking the same question.
It’s because people who have trouble letting things go can find a justification for everything. What they’re really saying is they want it, not need it, but if you present the question like that they will say yes almost every single time. Definitely better to ask them other questions to get to the heart of it all. I once helped a woman trim down her collection of 20 black t-shirts to about 14. I didn’t want to press her further but nobody needs 20 black t-shirts unless it’s your actual uniform or that’s all you wear in life.
Yeah, both of those taken literally mean the same thing and it's not truly what people are going for when they do this exercise. If you follow it to the letter you'll be left with food, water, heat, and shelter, and probably not very comfortable or productive. But you will still be alive.
But I say use whatever wording or whatever perspective gets you into the problem solving mindset of "how can I arrange a happy life for myself that doesn't involve owning and maintaining so much stuff?"
Same. I was thinking, "That really doesn't mean the same thing to other people?" But I guess it's because of how I taught myself to identify a need.
I've asked myself if it would make someone else happier to have it in their lives than it makes me to have it in a box. I donated so many old toys and holiday decorations that way. You get less sentimental when you can picture how happy it might someone else
Decided that I can't live without seeing and hearing more of your content. Just subscribed.
Thank you for being here!
Great short. I’ve been trying to declutter for a long time, and little by little finally making headway. I was really forced to declutter after my mom died and I ended up with triples of everything. I ask myself if someone might enjoy it more than it sitting in my house or closet. Frankly, I’ve never missed anything I gave away, even things I thought I was attached to. I have concluded that you don’t own things, they own you.
My goal is to pack one bag or box per week or more.
Love this! I've been doing the same thing lately, and my house is clutter free and peaceful! ❤❤❤❤
I struggle getting rid of old Curtains because what if I paint my walls and need drop cloth to protect the floor . Those flimsy plastic liners feel like they would be enough …
I love the way you describe this!
I swear to goodness, I was just trying to "decide" if I was a minimalist or not......but after you explained ur "1 right question"..... I now realize that I am now a "minimalish" -- and I love it so much better(all except for my own art work...and nope....can't live without it).😊❤ Great video "shorts!"
I decluttered by saying “if I haven’t used it in a year then I’m not going to use it” me and my neighbors donated a lot of kitchen stuff to an organization that helps people get a fresh start that have to leave their situations
I LOVE this so much!!!! Also loving the term minimal-ish. 🤣 it’s right up my alley. I’m frugal-ish, tidy-ish, minimal-ish. Love it. Going on vacation helped me a ton. Staying in a house and realizing that my own house has way too many “just in case” items tucked in all the drawers. 😅
I have found a lot of times possessions end up in this space of representing who you want to be, not who you are. So asking yourself if it's actually part of who you are now vs who you want to be later can really help too! That's how i got rid of all my crafting supplies and overcame paralysis for the two hobbies i actually still do and like the most.
Yes your so right...people don't need half of what they own
Omg that's true. I am trying to be minimalist, told everyone oh I wanna be John the Baptist. Your word of " can I live without it" really helps me to throw away things
Thank you!!!!!!!! That's THE perfect question. I needed this lesson.
Love the term Minimalish❤❤❤ not everyone can be a minimalist, but we sure can be little minimalish. Thank you so much👏👏👏