The best thing about this gal is that she doesn't talk down to you from a place of superiority, she comes to you as a friend. Like, the kind of friend that always welcomes you into her home (which is kinda ironic because she's said that she used to be embarrassed to have people into her home.) Anyway, 100% of everything she says is craaaaaazy helpful.
When you were talking about the fact that looking takes away the scary part, I was reminded of an old kid's book my Nephew liked. "There's a Monster At the End of This Book". The whole thing was about not turning the page because there was a monster at the end. Often it is the "monster" in the paper pile, but when we look we realize there was no real monster.
My little brother loved that book, and I used to read it to him with all the expressions and excitement in my voice. He absolutely loved it, forty years ago! Thanks for the memories.
Thank you for giving me the permission to not be perfect. Perfectionism has resulted in many areas of clutter in my home. If I didn't have the time to complete a purging of an area, I wouldn't even start. Now, using your suggestions and support through you tube, I have accepted that progress, not perfection should be my goal. When I think that way I feel good about myself. When I feel good about myself I am more likely to tackle more clutter. Thank you so much for sharing your story.
She's probably less judgmental than my friends (wonderful as they are) b/c she understands our struggle from her own experience. She is just down to earth, honest and real -- and funny. So glad I found her channel.
I found you through Cas and Dawn. I have been binge-watching Nony vids and listening to your podcast episodes and I FINALLY feel like I've found the missing piece to my struggle with clutter and I am making progress! THANK YOU, Dana! Your kindness, understanding, compassion and humour have been a healing balm. Trash bag, donation box, and feet! AND it's also translated into when I shop. I almost made an impulse purchase of pens and thought, "Nope. I'll wait till I declutter pens. I bet I have some of these . . . somewhere." And I did, when I excavated my desk the next day. :-)
Your gift is talking us out of paralysis! In some things, I am good, on other areas, I feel emotionally stuck. You are so good at talking to us when we are there. Thank you!
“Because you’re the internet and you’re wacko and you don’t need to see my business” That will be the best thing I hear all day! 💕 I’m sitting next to a pile of papers. Thank you for the motivation and strategies to re-tackle it! (Re-tackle because this is at least the second time I’ve been through this particular pile.)
Oh my gosh, she gives the pep talk that gives me permission to just do one thing: look for the trash. I got rid of 2 piles because once I threw out, I had so little left to file, and it was all done and gone! I listened again today so I can do another couple piles. Thank you, thank you!
Thank you for this video. I watched it yesterday and loved that the first thing is "focusing on having less". We that have clutter are sometimes perfectionists and if we can't do a job "perfectly", we won't even start. So today, I focused on having less. I now have a full kitchen trash bag full of paper. I am not finished, but I have less! Success!
The "I just want to have less", was perfect for me. When it comes to paper, I'm in an odd place. I have near perfect control of anything coming in... I've worked on it. The issue is that I have the stacks that came in before I figured out how to stop it. The "I just want to have less", inspired me to clean out a few files while this played in the background. It wasn't much, about an inch of paper to toss from five or so file folders emptied, and now I think I found the next step to paper freedom. Thank you!
I cannot thank you enough or express the fullness of my gratitude to you for making this video. After 2 bereavements & end of a long-term relationship I have nearly stopped functioning but seeing your honesty about your own struggles I feel inspired to try again. With your kind words mentally repeated I'll start my own process of Deslobification!! 😍
Clutter threshold is everything. Oh and the container concept is everything too😆. I just listened to one of your podcasts on clutter threshold last night. It’s like a lightbulb went on. I have a very low clutter threshold and just function so much better with a lot less stuff. Even stuff that I love. 🤷🏼♀️ Thanks for the video😊
I’ve been listening to decluttering at the speed of life and it has been SO helpful. The question “would I know that I have this if I needed it” has been a game changer. Also just having less. Thank you!
I love your systematic and gentle approach. It puts my "all or nothing" thinking in check and makes me realize that slow and steady does win the race. Thank you Dana. I appreciate how you give us grace and space to tackle things over time and that chipping away at something deserves credit!!
Yes!!! That's what I have, I literally go through a Paralysis when I have to start decluttering. I just freeze! Like you said last week; I will sit down to make an organized list then I'm too tiered to work on my clutter. I have the best intention, but its very self-defeating. Then I get frustrated, and still nothing gets done. It's been a nightmare Merry-Go-Round. I have Purchased your class. Love it! I also have your books. (I've read a chapter or 2, then life happens and I say I'm going to get back to it). Thank you for posting these last few videos. I removed the trash from my Kitchen island tonight. Thank you again. No pressure! I love your solo videos. I can't relate to a minimalist (that's not my end goal). I just want to make it through my house and not feel like I am going through a slalom course. LOL.. Seriously. Thanks again for your honesty, 😃🙏 God Bless you.
I am so glad I found you through the clutter free January playlist. I feel like yours is the voice I need in my head while I'm cleaning and decluttering my house.
Thank you! This is great. I am 60 & my ADD is getting worse - paperwork is a terror! I got my other overwhelm tip from Kathy Roberts - Tidy Tutor. If the paper issue is huge, gather up ALL papers & do a broad sort. Rubber band every category & label with a sticky note. Place all of them in a container(s). This way, at a minimum, it’s not a mess & if you need something you can at least find it in the labelled stack. Then go through each stack as you can. This method from Dana feels like a great way to begin that part. I think I’ll do it as I update/purge my filing cabinet. Then do it regularly to keep things under control.
Thank you for sharing this tip. I have a huge mound of papers / filing to do but it is all jumbled up. By using a both ideas I can at least get a grip on what I need to do! Thank you again.
It’s like a huge way of life ..a prevention of excess crap coming into your home in the first place! I’m taking the class now I’m pretty good at the paper clutter thing but it sure can collect quickly! Dining room table is always a work in progress. Easy stuff first works!!!
I literally paused your video to write this comment because I need to say thank you. When you explained why you said trash was your first step it spoke to me. My area has a recycling program in place and I use it, but I have STACKS of dvd cases that are not excepted because the plastic is not the correct number (those who recycle know what I mean by that.) I have had these cases for the past 5 years (I’ve moved with them, twice) with every intention of recycling them. For me to do that, I would need to ship them to a recycling place in a different state. I am on a limited budget and the cost of shipping all these dvd cases would add up fast. So I just want to say thank you for explaining that you would recycle if it was easily accessible to you because I know that the cost of shipping these cases will not be easily available for me. I finally feel like it’s justifiable to let these cases go and not feel guilty.
This was such an eye-opener for me! I've always heard " Only touch paper clutter once, period". So unless I have time and mental energy to deal with it all, I don't deal with any of it. So now we have boxes full of papers that need to be dealt with. Thank you Dana!
My Mom’s friend kept a mannequin in her guest room showcasing her wedding gown. Very cool. Thank you for your encouragement videos. I so relate and it is helping me.
Around 4 minutes in, when you talk about wanting to stop the inflow of paper, I remembered a couple of overwhelming times in my office many years ago. The first one was the day I made a paper tent sign for my inbox saying, "Inbox closed for the day. Try a different destination." The second time things were even worse, so I took my inbox completely off my desk and replaced it with my trash can. Apparently I was onto something back then! 😅
I love how you explain the process and how you understand that overwhelmed feeling that leads to paralysis that leads to the clutter getting worse. I'll take a peek at your books 📚 . Thank you for this.
Limited focus, limited energy, etc.! Yes! I'm re-watching this video and ❤ that you speak out for those people who don't quite fit the mold of "traditional" organization systems!
Mid-video I went and bought the book online. Returning to the video having read 2 chapters and I am so hooked. It is a great addition to "just watching videos". Thank you Dana ❤️
You’re amazing and I’m so happy that you’re posting again! No pressure though, I’m still happy even if you don’t post another video ever. It’s just nice to see your face right now. I’m googling up both your books and they are changing my life and my home. Thank you for all that you do!
This was the best advice for me who is sooo overwhelmed. I have prob 5 plus large bins of paper. Thank you a ton bcs to even just hear to first toss the trash, to reduce the pile size- wow that is so freeing. I put a lot of guilt on myself bcs of this mess. I'd hug you if I could bcs I so needed that!😁👍
Right, you are not the only one. When I go through a box or a bag, some of it is junk and it is reduced. There are lists of what legally we need to keep, nevertheless it gives me decision paralysis as much is sentimental or other categories. Same is true with non-paper items.
Very helpful. At my worst, so far, I’ve had approx 6-8 bags of papers that I couldn’t bring myself to deal with. That included bills and insurance and everything. 😫 The whole idea of being in denial and avoiding it cuz I’m too scared and ashamed and overwhelmed. Yes. I love how you said just sit and look at them, quickly sorting them and hair get rid of the trash, and reduce the amount of clutter. That’s one of the biggest things that’s so helpful. Thank you 🌺
Honestly today is the first day Ive ever seen one of your videos and Im already ordering your books as this video was SUPER helpful. I do the exact same thing and bury it and not think about it. Thank you so much for covering this topic, Ive watched many declutter videos but not many touch on how hard it can be to start.
I fit with you more than the other ones giving advice. Paper is one of my big problems. I like your strategy that whatever amount you decrease is successful decluttering. I would try to tackle large piles with lots of initial energy, but I would find I can only sustain that for a certain period of time before losing energy and attention. A smaller amount at a time is much more efficient. I don't have bills only digital, because I would probably forget what is due and when. I need to have the bill come in the mail.
This was super helpful! Thank you! Today I "decluttered" my paperwork. I was not overwhelmed, I focused on "finding my lease" (which I did find 👍) and trash. I went through two boxes and a large pile on the floor. I filled a trash bag with shredding and half a shopping bag with paper to recycle. I am far from finished but my focus was on the now and having less and today I did that! Thank you for this video!
Dana, this has helped me in so many other areas of my life! When I’m behind on admin and I feel so overwhelmed I also go into denial and just ignore it as if it will go away. But now I tell myself “getting something done is better than what it was” and often I’ll get a lot more done than just the “something” I initially planned. Thank you for this! Your videos are helping me with decluttering, but also so many other areas of my life! 🌸
THANK YOU Dana for making this video, it came right when I needed it. My husband of 28 years passed away in July due to Covid. Now I find myself downsizing from a 2200 sq ft. home that we shared for 18yrs down to a 850 sq ft 2 bedroom to be shared with our daughter (Moving from Texas to Los Angeles, CA not sure what I’m thinking here). Paper clutter has become my biggest enemy in this whole process. As if our paper clutter wasn’t bad enough before now I’ve had to add new files to deal with probate, covid hospital bills, death certificates etc. you get the point. It has been so paralyzing and overwhelming. Trying to decide what to keep to be put into the moving POD has just left me so overwhelmed and frozen with indecision. Hearing your thought process and feelings about paper clutter is so relatable. Thank you and keep up the great work.
Oh my word I can so relate to you. Love how you show real emotion and keep it truthful. Love your container method. Up to now, I would just get more containers. I have tubs of stuff. I have just found your channel and I have now stated doing my dishes daily. I got rid of a lot in my kitchen. I decluttered my linen closet and making small strides throughout the house. The last 20’years (for real)we have been redoing our home. It seems like I keep moving one project from one room to another. I wish you could come down to my Texas town and help me with the emotional stuff. I feel like I need a counselor because I am attached to stuff. I could go on about how I had boys and they don’t have the same attachment to things. I could mention that I left my country and moved my entire childhood/parent homes “stuff” and now their memories and my childhood memories have no where to live but with me. Anyhow... just thought I would tell you to keep doing videos because you’re amazing.
And so here I am a year later listening to Dana while I clear trash out of a big bag of paper. Wish I could five it a second thumbs up. Okay, off to re-listen to some of her other videos so I can get through this bag.
I sincerely congratulate you three and frankly, ANYONE under the age of 60 (who has figured this out early)! The rest of your lives will be so much less anxiety producing!! I so hear you about the talking while fast forwarding!! It was hilarious to watch when you did it!!!
yes, this is all the very best advice. I love your approach. Just look, do the easy, just make a difference, if you get interrupted you still made it better not worse.
Wow, when I listen to you I am so thankful for the recycling system here in Germany. Every household has a paper container - at the house!! And it gets picked up once a month. That one and the yellow one which is for packaging recycling, plastics and tin cans and such (not glass) I picked up free of charge, to encourage recycling. And the black bin, which is smaller and it’s for “everything else, stuff that can’t be recycled but isn’t glass or special trash like batteries or electronics” The black one gets picked up every two weeks I think, if you put it out, and you get charged per pick up somehow. So that discourages the use of that bin, encouraging putting things in other receptacles as appropriate as much as possible. And containers for glass, three different colors, are located here and there, never very far from where people live unless you’re really remote but even there I’m sure they have them... Sometimes near/next to the grocery store. As appreciate that the recycling systems more and more often in the US and also some other countries I’ve heard about. I think this is only going to improve over time :-)
I am so grateful for you! You do come across as a friend and someone just like me! Emotional overwhelm and living with so much clutter and lack of organization has been my life, but now I am beginning to feel like it could be possible to conquer the clutter!
I just found this video . I have many years of paper clutter to go through . It is such a struggle just to get started . She has a way that will help me get started with my boxes of paper . So glad you are sharing your journey .
Thank you Dana. Love the Take Your House Back course Dawn@ Minimal Mom and Cas @Clutterbug. Also, I have read your books several times. Actually, I listened to the audio book. I highly recommend your AUDIO book. Your narration is so entertaining while so very very helpful for real world decluttering and home care. 😊
Thank you for keeping life real especially for those of us who are struggling with "getting it together." I appreciate that you share your real struggles to help us along.
I love your approach. I feel like it could be the basis for a hoarder recovery program too, because you pay attention to the emotional reasons for clutter buildup. 💗
Where have you been all my life? The words you are saying sound exactly like me. I just found you yesterday. I am SO glad I found you. Thank you in advance for helping me get my house decluttered.
Hi Dana, when I am in front of a pile of things I always ask myself "whats the worst that can happen?" just to tell myself its not like I am cleaning out the Horse manuver. Anyways the other day when I had the courage to "attack" a big old box of stuff that I had shifted from one corner in the office to another... I actually found a TESCO VOUCHER that would have expired the week after! This Box must have been standing there for 6 months minimum, and I felt so REWARDED when I saw what I was missing. x
I know you say to always look, but I had a box that had moved with me 3 times (over an 8 yr. period) & when it was time to move again I just knew that if I opened that box I would probably end up keeping it, so I didn't look, I simply walked it to the dumpster & tossed it in. In 8 yrs I'd never needed whatever was in there.
Hahaha! I do a lot of that... but one day I gave a pile of clothes from my daughter away and didn’t look through it... months later my mom asked me about a dress that had been my sister’s and passed down to every one of my nieces! My mom made it and it had hand made cross stitch! For them was a heirloom😱 and I just gave it away!!!! LOL I hope they will forgive me for it! Lol
I did that once with a boot-sized plastic tub full of art stuff, but luckily I had just given it to my mom because my social security card was in it. How it was need up in there is a mystery.
Thank you so much. I'm overwhelmed and paralyzed and in denial as you have been years before and desperately looking for advice. So I will check your videos for the first one and start at the beginning through the end. Perhaps I will find a way out of this misery. Love from Germany
You have a beautiful way of explaining. I feel like I'm between. I get easily overwhelmed so I totally relate to the lala if I don't look it isn't a problem. I also easily declutter when I actually do the process. I think there is some valuable information to share with my daughter. She has a huge pile of clothes and she knows she needs to go through it. If she just goes through looking for the obvious trash or no brainer good byes she will reduce the pile and feel better and see what's there.
Dana, you have no idea how much you have changed our lives in the last month. I'm not even done with decluttering yet, but my home and office at work are so much nicer. I didn't even try to enlist the help of my husband and daughter, but they love the results so much that they have happily started decluttering their areas around the house. Everything just looks so nice and neat and it's no longer stressful or overwhelming to keep it that way. And the DISHES!!! We all love not having to do dishes and never having dirty dishes in the sink or on the countertops. One little change and the dishes always seem to be done and put away. We now have regular routines to immediately deal with any new items coming into the house so that they don't become clutter. We apply your simple ideas to everything we do around the house and we love it. Thank you so much for everything!!!!
I like that you talk during the fast forwarding. You are pretty adorable. Thanks for being your honest self and sharing. You've really helped give me a boost in my progress.
Okay, I watched the other video on paper and don't think I'm ready for it, but this I'm 98% sure I can do. So, thanks for making a horrible task sound doable!
Your decluttering boo was my favorite (and I have read all the decluttering books). I love your approach! You are not only helpful, but super funny too! These were actual tips girl!
so, I'm fairly new to your channel and I love the container concept. As I'm taking inventory, I realize that I have some places where I employ the container concept already - the mail being one of the them. I tend to only get mail about once a week, and the mailbox is the container. lol. When it gets "full" then it's time to empty it. It's doesn't actually get completely full, but about once a week I "deal" with it.
I really needed this video! I am in the TYHB group and paper has my stress skyrocketing...It was easy to donate 90% of my clothing idk why paper is so difficult (it all feels important!)
I've read advice from so many other organisers who emphatically state that the paper pile must be gone through & how essential it is that each piece be dealt with, only handle it once, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. In my case (and others too, I'm sure) that advice & their recommended action is what actually results in failure. Or the feeling of failure. What you've suggested here is what I actually do. Having several chronic health conditions means that sometimes huge piles of paper develop. Perfection simply isn't possible. It's a bit silly that I needed your saying it's ok to not feel like I've failed, but there you go. Thank you.
This was really helpful for me, I was going through boxes of old kids toys (all of it needs to go) but I was getting super overwhelmed with all of the sorting so it can be dealt with properly. So, tomorrow when I start back up again I’ll just focus on tossing the garbage, then hopefully what is left wont feel so overwhelming.
I have learned to detach from material things by watching all of you “declutters”!!! (You, Cass, Dawn, Natalie, etc) It has been a great journey!the only thing that has been difficult as far as paper is photos and my music sheets (I have millions of both)🤦🏻♀️... but I am on my journey. And I love the container concept! Thank you thank you!!!
You are so much like me....I love how you say getting anything out is a win. I have been married 52 years and we have so much clutter....but did get rid of all my yarn, all my material, most of my books....so hard....but I love the idea to get the trash out first....thank you for your books, for your videos, for your blog!
Dana, just wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying your decluttering book. Your writing style is hilarious!!!....and very good decluttering ideas, too:)
I'm **so** glad I found this video. :) Getting overwhelmed is one of my big hurdles, especially with paper clutter! Now that I can no longer read independently due to vision loss, paper and forms is even more challenging and also important to keep on top of because half of it is forms I need to submit for disability programs. Gonna share a secret here, I'm still terrible at it, I still avoid it and get overwhelmed by it, but you've given some tips here that are super helpful for me. Plus, knowing I'm not the only one and that we all have to, like, be brave and still work at it, helps me!
"I am not a minimalist" thank you, thank you😄 Dawn sent me....your decluttering with feet is pure genius!!!! Finally a system i can follow.......absolutely dont get rid of that mannequin......if you do call me🤭🤭
I know what you mean about the mail. Ugh I hate it!! I used to actually avoid getting the Mail cause I didn’t want more mess and didn’t want to deal with it. 🤦♀️
We have a mailbox separate from our house at the front of our neighborhood. It’s a secured box so we let it pile up, unless we are looking for a check or orders that come through USPS. Sometimes it’s weeks before we go to claim it, even less incentive with COVID. I deal with it fast though and pare it down to what is ‘keep’ only, usually 25-33% of what the total mail pile was.
So happy with another video! :) Love your sense of humor. I don't have a problem with clutter- my issues are the day to day/week to week tasks. (dishes, laundry, etc) I find your perspective interesting and realistic.
Paper clutter is my nemesis! I know exactly what you are saying, nothing overwhelms me like all the paper that comes in My husband is self-employed so I panic because THAT paper may be vital to him. We are working on it! Thanks for all your insight and ideas. I enjoy you and your channel.
Thank you for giving us information that is actually worth our time!!! And thank you for telling us upfront exactly what you’re going to be addressing.
You are so helpful! Your mindset towards ‘thinning the herd’ is so logical & is what most do NOT consider. The papers are my nemesis! Sooooo many notes, bills, receipts, etc... It piles up faster than anything else for me.
Lost track of the number of times I nodded, said "Yup, that's me" out loud, or said "oh, yeah" in the first 10 minutes. Then came the cherry on top "You're the internet, so you're wacko!" and I got to finish the video with a LOL moment and a smile. Thanks, Dana! And a side note to Dana - I WAS a cheerleader, so I know it's more Dragnet ("just the facts, ma'am") than cheerleading when I say that your videos make my day every time I get a chance to see one.
I am soooo, sooooo very happy you are making more videos, Dana!!! 🎉🎉🎉 You are such a wonderful sherpa on this journey! ❤️ Please keep doing more. YOU are on the right path in helping people like you! You were meant for such a time as this, not taken any less seriously than Esther saving her people. Seriously. Your people need your help.🙏 (I’m also in the TYHB course, have 3 of your books, and on the podcast/blog journey with you as I can. Oh, and I am actually making progress and having less - it’s working. 🙌) Keep up the good work - but no pressure! 😂
The best thing about this gal is that she doesn't talk down to you from a place of superiority, she comes to you as a friend. Like, the kind of friend that always welcomes you into her home (which is kinda ironic because she's said that she used to be embarrassed to have people into her home.) Anyway, 100% of everything she says is craaaaaazy helpful.
I couldn’t have said this better! She is so relatable. 👍
Agree. I really enjoy watching her episodes.
She's the best. If you haven't read her books, they are literally life changers.
Yes! She went from a super slob to a you can do it coach!
I know right! It's like she's in my brain!
When you were talking about the fact that looking takes away the scary part, I was reminded of an old kid's book my Nephew liked. "There's a Monster At the End of This Book". The whole thing was about not turning the page because there was a monster at the end.
Often it is the "monster" in the paper pile, but when we look we realize there was no real monster.
Grover! Loved that book as a kid! Thanks for the comparison. 👍
My little brother loved that book, and I used to read it to him with all the expressions and excitement in my voice. He absolutely loved it, forty years ago! Thanks for the memories.
My kids loved that book!
Thank you for giving me the permission to not be perfect. Perfectionism has resulted in many areas of clutter in my home. If I didn't have the time to complete a purging of an area, I wouldn't even start. Now, using your suggestions and support through you tube, I have accepted that progress, not perfection should be my goal. When I think that way I feel good about myself. When I feel good about myself I am more likely to tackle more clutter. Thank you so much for sharing your story.
She's probably less judgmental than my friends (wonderful as they are) b/c she understands our struggle from her own experience. She is just down to earth, honest and real -- and funny. So glad I found her channel.
Everytime you say skip to another video if you want xyz I think... nah girl, I want you.
Dana, these videos get better with every one you do. I know they make you uncomfortable, but you're doing awesome :)
Yes! Love the videos and content ❤️
Agreed!
Agreed!!🙌🏻love these videos
I agree! Dana is just awesome 😊❤️
Agree! Love them!!
I found you through Cas and Dawn. I have been binge-watching Nony vids and listening to your podcast episodes and I FINALLY feel like I've found the missing piece to my struggle with clutter and I am making progress! THANK YOU, Dana! Your kindness, understanding, compassion and humour have been a healing balm. Trash bag, donation box, and feet! AND it's also translated into when I shop. I almost made an impulse purchase of pens and thought, "Nope. I'll wait till I declutter pens. I bet I have some of these . . . somewhere." And I did, when I excavated my desk the next day. :-)
I'm paralyzed right now. I keep moving it around. Thank you for your videos.
"Take my permission, because I wrote the book! " Love this!
"You guys are the internet...so you're wacko..." LMAO!! So true!!
Can confirm. Am the internet. Am wacko.
We are all the internet. We're wacko. 🇨🇵
We are many. We are one. One is all. All is one. All is wacko.
Nah, it's the influencers who are whacko. Who wants to put their life online? hahahahhaha
Your gift is talking us out of paralysis! In some things, I am good, on other areas, I feel emotionally stuck. You are so good at talking to us when we are there. Thank you!
💜
“Because you’re the internet and you’re wacko and you don’t need to see my business” That will be the best thing I hear all day! 💕 I’m sitting next to a pile of papers. Thank you for the motivation and strategies to re-tackle it! (Re-tackle because this is at least the second time I’ve been through this particular pile.)
Oh my gosh, she gives the pep talk that gives me permission to just do one thing: look for the trash. I got rid of 2 piles because once I threw out, I had so little left to file, and it was all done and gone! I listened again today so I can do another couple piles. Thank you, thank you!
“You guys are the internet, and you’re wacko” LOL…..I just love you, girl!!
Thank you for this video. I watched it yesterday and loved that the first thing is "focusing on having less". We that have clutter are sometimes perfectionists and if we can't do a job "perfectly", we won't even start. So today, I focused on having less. I now have a full kitchen trash bag full of paper. I am not finished, but I have less! Success!
JUST FINISHED LISTENED TO THE AUDIO BOOK !!! I am on a MISSON. ..my kids are scured 😳😳😳
I often feel bad for our very nice mail carrier. It’s like she’s a reverse-garbage man: delivers trash to my house then drives away.
that is delightfully hilarious.
Oh m’gosh, that’s hilarious!
So true
Yes! Mind blown. 😂
I commented to the postal worker when I was shoveling direct from P.O. Box to trash and he said it keeps the post office in business.
The "I just want to have less", was perfect for me. When it comes to paper, I'm in an odd place. I have near perfect control of anything coming in... I've worked on it. The issue is that I have the stacks that came in before I figured out how to stop it. The "I just want to have less", inspired me to clean out a few files while this played in the background. It wasn't much, about an inch of paper to toss from five or so file folders emptied, and now I think I found the next step to paper freedom. Thank you!
Dana, thank you so much for making me feel better about being frozen at the thought of addressing my paper clutter.
I cannot thank you enough or express the fullness of my gratitude to you for making this video. After 2 bereavements & end of a long-term relationship I have nearly stopped functioning but seeing your honesty about your own struggles I feel inspired to try again. With your kind words mentally repeated I'll start my own process of Deslobification!! 😍
@bonniewehrle5184 How are you doing? Hope you're ok.
Clutter threshold is everything. Oh and the container concept is everything too😆. I just listened to one of your podcasts on clutter threshold last night. It’s like a lightbulb went on. I have a very low clutter threshold and just function so much better with a lot less stuff. Even stuff that I love. 🤷🏼♀️ Thanks for the video😊
Me too! My closet is at least half empty 😊
I’ve been listening to decluttering at the speed of life and it has been SO helpful. The question “would I know that I have this if I needed it” has been a game changer. Also just having less. Thank you!
It's time for me to re-read Decluttering at the Speed of Life. When I follow your principles I make real progress
I have it on Audible!!
Me too
Right!? I was thinking the same thing. Time to re-read!
I just listened to this book and it was amazing!!!
The audiobook is amazing because she is the one reading it 😍 its like 6 hours of this beautiful and encouraging voice
I love your systematic and gentle approach. It puts my "all or nothing" thinking in check and makes me realize that slow and steady does win the race. Thank you Dana. I appreciate how you give us grace and space to tackle things over time and that chipping away at something deserves credit!!
Yes!!! That's what I have, I literally go through a Paralysis when I have to start decluttering. I just freeze! Like you said last week; I will sit down to make an organized list then I'm too tiered to work on my clutter. I have the best intention, but its very self-defeating. Then I get frustrated, and still nothing gets done. It's been a nightmare Merry-Go-Round. I have Purchased your class. Love it! I also have your books. (I've read a chapter or 2, then life happens and I say I'm going to get back to it). Thank you for posting these last few videos. I removed the trash from my Kitchen island tonight. Thank you again. No pressure! I love your solo videos. I can't relate to a minimalist (that's not my end goal). I just want to make it through my house and not feel like I am going through a slalom course. LOL.. Seriously. Thanks again for your honesty, 😃🙏 God Bless you.
omg, a slalom course!!!! I GET IT!
I am so glad I found you through the clutter free January playlist. I feel like yours is the voice I need in my head while I'm cleaning and decluttering my house.
Thank you! This is great. I am 60 & my ADD is getting worse - paperwork is a terror! I got my other overwhelm tip from Kathy Roberts - Tidy Tutor. If the paper issue is huge, gather up ALL papers & do a broad sort. Rubber band every category & label with a sticky note. Place all of them in a container(s). This way, at a minimum, it’s not a mess & if you need something you can at least find it in the labelled stack. Then go through each stack as you can. This method from Dana feels like a great way to begin that part. I think I’ll do it as I update/purge my filing cabinet. Then do it regularly to keep things under control.
Thank you for sharing this tip. I have a huge mound of papers / filing to do but it is all jumbled up. By using a both ideas I can at least get a grip on what I need to do! Thank you again.
It’s like a huge way of life ..a prevention of excess crap coming into your home in the first place! I’m taking the class now I’m pretty good at the paper clutter thing but it sure can collect quickly! Dining room table is always a work in progress. Easy stuff first works!!!
Yay for motivation!! 👍🏻
I literally paused your video to write this comment because I need to say thank you. When you explained why you said trash was your first step it spoke to me. My area has a recycling program in place and I use it, but I have STACKS of dvd cases that are not excepted because the plastic is not the correct number (those who recycle know what I mean by that.) I have had these cases for the past 5 years (I’ve moved with them, twice) with every intention of recycling them. For me to do that, I would need to ship them to a recycling place in a different state. I am on a limited budget and the cost of shipping all these dvd cases would add up fast. So I just want to say thank you for explaining that you would recycle if it was easily accessible to you because I know that the cost of shipping these cases will not be easily available for me. I finally feel like it’s justifiable to let these cases go and not feel guilty.
This was such an eye-opener for me! I've always heard " Only touch paper clutter once, period". So unless I have time and mental energy to deal with it all, I don't deal with any of it. So now we have boxes full of papers that need to be dealt with. Thank you Dana!
My Mom’s friend kept a mannequin in her guest room showcasing her wedding gown. Very cool. Thank you for your encouragement videos. I so relate and it is helping me.
Thank you for not making me break out in a sweat thinking about paper piles!
Around 4 minutes in, when you talk about wanting to stop the inflow of paper, I remembered a couple of overwhelming times in my office many years ago. The first one was the day I made a paper tent sign for my inbox saying, "Inbox closed for the day. Try a different destination." The second time things were even worse, so I took my inbox completely off my desk and replaced it with my trash can. Apparently I was onto something back then! 😅
I love this because I always feel guilty when I think of "only handle paper once', which I can never do!
I have a po box and each day I do pick up mail, I go through it right away and toss most of it.
I love how you explain the process and how you understand that overwhelmed feeling that leads to paralysis that leads to the clutter getting worse. I'll take a peek at your books 📚 . Thank you for this.
Limited focus, limited energy, etc.! Yes! I'm re-watching this video and ❤ that you speak out for those people who don't quite fit the mold of "traditional" organization systems!
Watched this while emptying my dishwasher and doing the “easy stuff” in our main living area. Really love your approach and ideas Dana! Thanks
Mid-video I went and bought the book online. Returning to the video having read 2 chapters and I am so hooked. It is a great addition to "just watching videos". Thank you Dana ❤️
You’re amazing and I’m so happy that you’re posting again! No pressure though, I’m still happy even if you don’t post another video ever. It’s just nice to see your face right now. I’m googling up both your books and they are changing my life and my home. Thank you for all that you do!
This was the best advice for me who is sooo overwhelmed. I have prob 5 plus large bins of paper. Thank you a ton bcs to even just hear to first toss the trash, to reduce the pile size- wow that is so freeing. I put a lot of guilt on myself bcs of this mess. I'd hug you if I could bcs I so needed that!😁👍
Only 5? 😀 I’m with you.
@@lynnettelg 😁👍
Right, you are not the only one. When I go through a box or a bag, some of it is junk and it is reduced. There are lists of what legally we need to keep, nevertheless it gives me decision paralysis as much is sentimental or other categories. Same is true with non-paper items.
OMG! THIS PAPER PARALYSIS IS TOTALLY AN ISSUE FOR ME❣❣❣ Thank you for addressing it. 😊❤🧡💛💚💙💜
Very helpful. At my worst, so far, I’ve had approx 6-8 bags of papers that I couldn’t bring myself to deal with. That included bills and insurance and everything. 😫
The whole idea of being in denial and avoiding it cuz I’m too scared and ashamed and overwhelmed. Yes. I love how you said just sit and look at them, quickly sorting them and hair get rid of the trash, and reduce the amount of clutter. That’s one of the biggest things that’s so helpful. Thank you 🌺
Okay, I love the eye roll with the "because, I wrote the book"
For those who watch this her books are amazing. I find purging and organizing overwhelming and it has helped sooo much!!!
Honestly today is the first day Ive ever seen one of your videos and Im already ordering your books as this video was SUPER helpful. I do the exact same thing and bury it and not think about it. Thank you so much for covering this topic, Ive watched many declutter videos but not many touch on how hard it can be to start.
I fit with you more than the other ones giving advice. Paper is one of my big problems. I like your strategy that whatever amount you decrease is successful decluttering. I would try to tackle large piles with lots of initial energy, but I would find I can only sustain that for a certain period of time before losing energy and attention. A smaller amount at a time is much more efficient.
I don't have bills only digital, because I would probably forget what is due and when. I need to have the bill come in the mail.
My parents are hoarders and it’s heartbreaking. I think some of your concepts might resonate with my Mom. Thank you so much.
This was super helpful! Thank you!
Today I "decluttered" my paperwork. I was not overwhelmed, I focused on "finding my lease" (which I did find 👍) and trash. I went through two boxes and a large pile on the floor. I filled a trash bag with shredding and half a shopping bag with paper to recycle. I am far from finished but my focus was on the now and having less and today I did that! Thank you for this video!
Dana, this has helped me in so many other areas of my life! When I’m behind on admin and I feel so overwhelmed I also go into denial and just ignore it as if it will go away. But now I tell myself “getting something done is better than what it was” and often I’ll get a lot more done than just the “something” I initially planned. Thank you for this! Your videos are helping me with decluttering, but also so many other areas of my life! 🌸
THANK YOU Dana for making this video, it came right when I needed it. My husband of 28 years passed away in July due to Covid. Now I find myself downsizing from a 2200 sq ft. home that we shared for 18yrs down to a 850 sq ft 2 bedroom to be shared with our daughter (Moving from Texas to Los Angeles, CA not sure what I’m thinking here). Paper clutter has become my biggest enemy in this whole process. As if our paper clutter wasn’t bad enough before now I’ve had to add new files to deal with probate, covid hospital bills, death certificates etc. you get the point. It has been so paralyzing and overwhelming. Trying to decide what to keep to be put into the moving POD has just left me so overwhelmed and frozen with indecision. Hearing your thought process and feelings about paper clutter is so relatable. Thank you and keep up the great work.
I am so sorry for your loss.
So glad you're posting videos! You have so much insight and I love it.
Oh my word I can so relate to you. Love how you show real emotion and keep it truthful. Love your container method. Up to now, I would just get more containers. I have tubs of stuff. I have just found your channel and I have now stated doing my dishes daily. I got rid of a lot in my kitchen. I decluttered my linen closet and making small strides throughout the house. The last 20’years (for real)we have been redoing our home. It seems like I keep moving one project from one room to another. I wish you could come down to my Texas town and help me with the emotional stuff. I feel like I need a counselor because I am attached to stuff. I could go on about how I had boys and they don’t have the same attachment to things. I could mention that I left my country and moved my entire childhood/parent homes “stuff” and now their memories and my childhood memories have no where to live but with me. Anyhow... just thought I would tell you to keep doing videos because you’re amazing.
💜 hugs!! Sounds like you are on a good path! Be gentle with yourself, and finding your path to how you feel most comfortable in your space.
And so here I am a year later listening to Dana while I clear trash out of a big bag of paper. Wish I could five it a second thumbs up. Okay, off to re-listen to some of her other videos so I can get through this bag.
I sincerely congratulate you three and frankly, ANYONE under the age of 60 (who has figured this out early)! The rest of your lives will be so much less anxiety producing!!
I so hear you about the talking while fast forwarding!! It was hilarious to watch when you did it!!!
yes, this is all the very best advice. I love your approach. Just look, do the easy, just make a difference, if you get interrupted you still made it better not worse.
You are the decluttering QUEEN!!! Thank you so much for all you do for all the "Slobs coming clean at the speed of life!" We are not alone any more
Wow, when I listen to you I am so thankful for the recycling system here in Germany. Every household has a paper container - at the house!! And it gets picked up once a month. That one and the yellow one which is for packaging recycling, plastics and tin cans and such (not glass) I picked up free of charge, to encourage recycling. And the black bin, which is smaller and it’s for “everything else, stuff that can’t be recycled but isn’t glass or special trash like batteries or electronics” The black one gets picked up every two weeks I think, if you put it out, and you get charged per pick up somehow. So that discourages the use of that bin, encouraging putting things in other receptacles as appropriate as much as possible. And containers for glass, three different colors, are located here and there, never very far from where people live unless you’re really remote but even there I’m sure they have them... Sometimes near/next to the grocery store.
As appreciate that the recycling systems more and more often in the US and also some other countries I’ve heard about. I think this is only going to improve over time :-)
I am so grateful for you! You do come across as a friend and someone just like me! Emotional overwhelm and living with so much clutter and lack of organization has been my life, but now I am beginning to feel like it could be possible to conquer the clutter!
I just found this video . I have many years of paper clutter to go through . It is such a struggle just to get started . She has a way that will help me get started with my boxes of paper . So glad you are sharing your journey .
Thank you Dana. Love the Take Your House Back course Dawn@ Minimal Mom and Cas @Clutterbug. Also, I have read your books several times. Actually, I listened to the audio book. I highly recommend your AUDIO book. Your narration is so entertaining while so very very helpful for real world decluttering and home care. 😊
Thank you for keeping life real especially for those of us who are struggling with "getting it together." I appreciate that you share your real struggles to help us along.
I don’t think anyone has actually understood me like this!! I am a new subscriber!
I love your approach. I feel like it could be the basis for a hoarder recovery program too, because you pay attention to the emotional reasons for clutter buildup. 💗
You speak RIGHT to my brain! Thank you SO MUCH for being you and being here to help!
Where have you been all my life? The words you are saying sound exactly like me. I just found you yesterday. I am SO glad I found you. Thank you in advance for helping me get my house decluttered.
I think I need to have this on a loop while I face my paper clutter. I love seeing new videos from you, you get through to me like no one else does!
Yes, I agree.
If you have less, you will have decluttered successfully. Thanks, I needed to hear that
Hi Dana, when I am in front of a pile of things I always ask myself "whats the worst that can happen?" just to tell myself its not like I am cleaning out the Horse manuver. Anyways the other day when I had the courage to "attack" a big old box of stuff that I had shifted from one corner in the office to another... I actually found a TESCO VOUCHER that would have expired the week after!
This Box must have been standing there for 6 months minimum, and I felt so REWARDED when I saw what I was missing. x
I know you say to always look, but I had a box that had moved with me 3 times (over an 8 yr. period)
& when it was time to move again I just knew that if I opened that box I would probably end up keeping it, so I didn't look, I simply walked it to the dumpster & tossed it in. In 8 yrs I'd never needed whatever was in there.
YAYYY YOU!!!!
Aaaaaa! I could never do that, no, not ever. Yeah, I’m just starting this journey. Lol
Hahaha! I do a lot of that... but one day I gave a pile of clothes from my daughter away and didn’t look through it... months later my mom asked me about a dress that had been my sister’s and passed down to every one of my nieces! My mom made it and it had hand made cross stitch! For them was a heirloom😱 and I just gave it away!!!! LOL I hope they will forgive me for it! Lol
Brilliant!!!👏👏👏
I did that once with a boot-sized plastic tub full of art stuff, but luckily I had just given it to my mom because my social security card was in it. How it was need up in there is a mystery.
Thank you so much. I'm overwhelmed and paralyzed and in denial as you have been years before and desperately looking for advice. So I will check your videos for the first one and start at the beginning through the end. Perhaps I will find a way out of this misery. Love from Germany
Thank you, you comforted me in my anxiety and paralysis today! 💕i can take some baby steps today.
You have a beautiful way of explaining. I feel like I'm between. I get easily overwhelmed so I totally relate to the lala if I don't look it isn't a problem. I also easily declutter when I actually do the process.
I think there is some valuable information to share with my daughter. She has a huge pile of clothes and she knows she needs to go through it. If she just goes through looking for the obvious trash or no brainer good byes she will reduce the pile and feel better and see what's there.
Dana, you have no idea how much you have changed our lives in the last month. I'm not even done with decluttering yet, but my home and office at work are so much nicer. I didn't even try to enlist the help of my husband and daughter, but they love the results so much that they have happily started decluttering their areas around the house. Everything just looks so nice and neat and it's no longer stressful or overwhelming to keep it that way. And the DISHES!!! We all love not having to do dishes and never having dirty dishes in the sink or on the countertops. One little change and the dishes always seem to be done and put away. We now have regular routines to immediately deal with any new items coming into the house so that they don't become clutter. We apply your simple ideas to everything we do around the house and we love it. Thank you so much for everything!!!!
Love you your so down to earth & relatable! Been watching some of your older video's.
I like that you talk during the fast forwarding. You are pretty adorable. Thanks for being your honest self and sharing. You've really helped give me a boost in my progress.
Okay, I watched the other video on paper and don't think I'm ready for it, but this I'm 98% sure I can do. So, thanks for making a horrible task sound doable!
This was fabulous. I stopped the video and went through a pile of paperwork I have been avoiding for months. It is much smaller!
Your decluttering boo was my favorite (and I have read all the decluttering books). I love your approach! You are not only helpful, but super funny too! These were actual tips girl!
so, I'm fairly new to your channel and I love the container concept. As I'm taking inventory, I realize that I have some places where I employ the container concept already - the mail being one of the them. I tend to only get mail about once a week, and the mailbox is the container. lol. When it gets "full" then it's time to empty it. It's doesn't actually get completely full, but about once a week I "deal" with it.
Yay! Dana, you made the paper clutter video! Whoohoo!
I really needed this video! I am in the TYHB group and paper has my stress skyrocketing...It was easy to donate 90% of my clothing idk why paper is so difficult (it all feels important!)
I've read advice from so many other organisers who emphatically state that the paper pile must be gone through & how essential it is that each piece be dealt with, only handle it once, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. In my case (and others too, I'm sure) that advice & their recommended action is what actually results in failure. Or the feeling of failure.
What you've suggested here is what I actually do. Having several chronic health conditions means that sometimes huge piles of paper develop. Perfection simply isn't possible. It's a bit silly that I needed your saying it's ok to not feel like I've failed, but there you go. Thank you.
This was really helpful for me, I was going through boxes of old kids toys (all of it needs to go) but I was getting super overwhelmed with all of the sorting so it can be dealt with properly. So, tomorrow when I start back up again I’ll just focus on tossing the garbage, then hopefully what is left wont feel so overwhelming.
smart smart lady.
I have learned to detach from material things by watching all of you “declutters”!!! (You, Cass, Dawn, Natalie, etc) It has been a great journey!the only thing that has been difficult as far as paper is photos and my music sheets (I have millions of both)🤦🏻♀️... but I am on my journey. And I love the container concept! Thank you thank you!!!
Yes , less. I’m with you. I get overwhelmed too. I relate but I can make progress and I am happy with that
I love your honest, compassionate advice. You understand people who struggle with these situations. Your strategies work and help. Thank you 😊❤.
You are so much like me....I love how you say getting anything out is a win. I have been married 52 years and we have so much clutter....but did get rid of all my yarn, all my material, most of my books....so hard....but I love the idea to get the trash out first....thank you for your books, for your videos, for your blog!
Dana, just wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying your decluttering book. Your writing style is hilarious!!!....and very good decluttering ideas, too:)
I'm **so** glad I found this video. :) Getting overwhelmed is one of my big hurdles, especially with paper clutter! Now that I can no longer read independently due to vision loss, paper and forms is even more challenging and also important to keep on top of because half of it is forms I need to submit for disability programs. Gonna share a secret here, I'm still terrible at it, I still avoid it and get overwhelmed by it, but you've given some tips here that are super helpful for me. Plus, knowing I'm not the only one and that we all have to, like, be brave and still work at it, helps me!
"I am not a minimalist" thank you, thank you😄 Dawn sent me....your decluttering with feet is pure genius!!!! Finally a system i can follow.......absolutely dont get rid of that mannequin......if you do call me🤭🤭
We asked our postmistress to not put flyers in our mailbox and that’s been a HUGE help in reducing the incoming paper amount.
Wow. That’s a great idea
I know what you mean about the mail. Ugh I hate it!! I used to actually avoid getting the Mail cause I didn’t want more mess and didn’t want to deal with it. 🤦♀️
We have a mailbox separate from our house at the front of our neighborhood. It’s a secured box so we let it pile up, unless we are looking for a check or orders that come through USPS. Sometimes it’s weeks before we go to claim it, even less incentive with COVID. I deal with it fast though and pare it down to what is ‘keep’ only, usually 25-33% of what the total mail pile was.
I've watched a few of your videos and I tried a little bit .I like that the overwhelming feeling was less.
So happy with another video! :) Love your sense of humor. I don't have a problem with clutter- my issues are the day to day/week to week tasks. (dishes, laundry, etc) I find your perspective interesting and realistic.
Paper clutter is my nemesis! I know exactly what you are saying, nothing overwhelms me like all the paper that comes in My husband is self-employed so I panic because THAT paper may be vital to him.
We are working on it! Thanks for all your insight and ideas. I enjoy you and your channel.
Dana - you are a gem 💎!
Thank you for giving us information that is actually worth our time!!! And thank you for telling us upfront exactly what you’re going to be addressing.
You are so helpful! Your mindset towards ‘thinning the herd’ is so logical & is what most do NOT consider. The papers are my nemesis! Sooooo many notes, bills, receipts, etc... It piles up faster than anything else for me.
Lost track of the number of times I nodded, said "Yup, that's me" out loud, or said "oh, yeah" in the first 10 minutes. Then came the cherry on top "You're the internet, so you're wacko!" and I got to finish the video with a LOL moment and a smile. Thanks, Dana! And a side note to Dana - I WAS a cheerleader, so I know it's more Dragnet ("just the facts, ma'am") than cheerleading when I say that your videos make my day every time I get a chance to see one.
I am soooo, sooooo very happy you are making more videos, Dana!!! 🎉🎉🎉 You are such a wonderful sherpa on this journey! ❤️ Please keep doing more. YOU are on the right path in helping people like you! You were meant for such a time as this, not taken any less seriously than Esther saving her people. Seriously. Your people need your help.🙏 (I’m also in the TYHB course, have 3 of your books, and on the podcast/blog journey with you as I can. Oh, and I am actually making progress and having less - it’s working. 🙌) Keep up the good work - but no pressure! 😂